Cathedrals and churches of the Rhine . man influ-ences have left many and visible remains. Crossing the plain of Neervinden, one en-ters the province of the Liegeois, where theFrench were defeated by the Austrians in1793, thus releasing Belgium from the Gallicyoke. At Landen one recalls that it is the townof the inception of the family of Charlemagnewhich gave to France her second race ofkings. Liege has been called the Birmingham ofContinental Europe. It might better be calledone of the foremost industrial centres of theworld, for such it is to-day. It is beautifully placed in an amphitheatre
Cathedrals and churches of the Rhine . man influ-ences have left many and visible remains. Crossing the plain of Neervinden, one en-ters the province of the Liegeois, where theFrench were defeated by the Austrians in1793, thus releasing Belgium from the Gallicyoke. At Landen one recalls that it is the townof the inception of the family of Charlemagnewhich gave to France her second race ofkings. Liege has been called the Birmingham ofContinental Europe. It might better be calledone of the foremost industrial centres of theworld, for such it is to-day. It is beautifully placed in an amphitheatre-like valley, and its tall chimneys, its smoke,and its grind of wheels bespeak an activityand unrest of which the former ages knewnot. Formerly the Liegeois were a turbulent andtruculent folk, if one is to believe history. If, however, one does not care to go backto history, he might turn to the pages of Quentin Durward and read of the spirit ofromance which once surrounded Liege andits people. The famous Legend of the Liegeois re-296. Cathedrals and Churches of the Rhine counts how a working blacksmith found aninexhaustible supply of coals for his forgethrough the aid of a gnomish old man. Previously the smiths fires had burned low,and only the old mans song inspired him toforage on the hillside, with the result that thefuture prosperity of the city grew up fromthe accessibility of this inexhaustible coal sup-ply. The old mans story ran thus: Wines good in wintry weather. Up the hillside near the heather, Go and gather the black earth, It shall give your fire fares the hide when the buckler wants mending,111 fares the plough when the coulter wants tending. When Liege, through its prosperity, hadgrown to good proportions, its governmentwas assigned to a sort of prelate-proprietor. These princely prelates were often but ladsof eighteen or twenty, who became identifiedwith the Church, frequently enough, simplybecause of the power it gave them. The craftsmen and artisans
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