. The spell of Flanders; an outline of the history, legends and art of Belgium's famous northern provinces, being the story of a twentieth century pilgrimage in a sixteenth century land just before the outbreak of the great war . re dominating and om-nipresent does his personality become. Eventhe very arms of the city bear a mute evidenceto his generosity and sense of humour. It isrelated that on a certain occasion the Emperorand his stately train approached the city with-out being perceived by the sentinel stationedin the tower of this very Hotel de Ville to an-nounce his arrival. On reaching
. The spell of Flanders; an outline of the history, legends and art of Belgium's famous northern provinces, being the story of a twentieth century pilgrimage in a sixteenth century land just before the outbreak of the great war . re dominating and om-nipresent does his personality become. Eventhe very arms of the city bear a mute evidenceto his generosity and sense of humour. It isrelated that on a certain occasion the Emperorand his stately train approached the city with-out being perceived by the sentinel stationedin the tower of this very Hotel de Ville to an-nounce his arrival. On reaching the gates,therefore, the Imperial cortege found no oneto welcome the great monarch. The Burgo-master and the members of the Council, whoshould have been there in their robes of state,were conspicuous by their absence. Had thishappened to his ancestor Charles the Bold,whose fiery temper brooked no discourtesy,even when unintended, it might well have gonehard with the unfortunate officials. As it was,the Emperor overlooked the slight, but not longafterwards he maliciously inserted a pair ofspectacles in the arms of the city, remarkingthat in future they would thus be able to seemore clearly the approach of their WOODEN DOORWAY, CARVED BY VAN DER SCHELDEN, HOTELDE VILLE, AUDENAERDE. Audenaerde and Margaret of Parma 375 Adjoining the Salle du Peuple is a smallerchamber, the Salle des Echevins, or the CouncilChamber of the ancient commune. Here thereis another stone fireplace slightly inferior tothe one in the larger hall, but resembling it ingeneral design. The statues here representthe Virgin Mary in the centre, with Justice andHope on either side. The chief masterpiece inthis room, however, is the wooden doorwaycarved by Van der Schelden, who was instructedby the burghers to make it as beautiful as pos-sible. How faithfully the artist performed histask the result shows. Around its top standwooden cupids surmounting a richly carvedentablature containiilg the arms of C
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1915
