PEACE SONG OF THE BELLS OF BRUGES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 83, 2 January 1919, Page 4

PEACE SONG OF THE BELLS OF BRUGES

♦ - - . WHEN THE KING CAME BACK TO . HIS OWN. The heroic King and Queen of the Bel- 1 gians 'helve re-entered the famous city of Bruges, now happily released from the presence of the pestilence. "The Queen rode on the left of the King, and on his right was young Prince Leopold, in the uniform of his regiment of Carabin-_ eers," says Mr. Philip Gibbs, in the "Chronicle." " .' • "Every soul in the city was in the streets or at» windows and balconies, and there were flaming fires of enthusiasm. about the people, who had waited four years for this day, when tho entry of v the brave soldier who has stayed with his army in the narrow strip of groUnd which was all his kingdom would symbolise to them the. return of their liberties.' - • ' '..t i "IVjr a time, while King Albert reviewed his troops, the people of Bruges held back in a hollow square, but afterwards, when lie went up the steps of the Governor's house, they broke bounds, and tens of thousands of them surged round' him, cheering that tell figure, who looked down upon them with his hand at the salute, with most .joyous and wonderful emotion. ' ./•. "From hundreds of old houses in Brunei long- banners floateu with ine rich colours of the Belgian flag, and on x this, splendid day of: autumn the: trees along the canals and the walls of the \ houses above the stone brK ge ■ and scarlet 111 the glory of their djing fnlince so that Bruges was like a painting in'an old illuminated book, and one went with wonder into the heart 0 it. "The belfry rang out a joyous carillon, and from other tall towers of churches built high lib} dream-castles abo\e gabled roofs there was the booming of . deen-toned bells, very solemn below the ; singing notes' of belfry chimes. Wees , of many centuries seemed to mingle ,?itTthe shouts of living people, ana four years of agony were dravra mtojhe past history of Bruges when there were . other wars and other servitudes, and the J mnqtp of the bells ivas full of th© old > sadness of life, mingled with .that dancing carillon the laughter of child "After party had dismounted and ascended the steps of the Go - .■ ernor's house, in the groat square, the people would no fcnger be r^rained, rrvs Mr Perry Bobmson, in the WW News. An officer who was watching from a window,- loosing down y sauare, said -it was an unforßottabio scene when, as if by one populace grew, out of hand, and from au *UL at once forward the lines of guards with it, 1 jn » versal rush to get near the Someigu.