BELGIUM. 



formed the subject of an interpellation in the 

 House. The Minister of the Interior promised 

 a thorough investigation and the punishment 

 of the guilty. In the animated debate which 

 ensued in the House, the Catholics held the 

 entire Liberal party responsible for the dis- 

 turbances. 



BELFRY OF BRUGES. 



Brussels was the seat of several important 

 international conferences during the year. The 

 Health Congress, held in September, was pre- 

 ceded by an international exhibition of objects 

 relating to public health and safety. The ex- 

 hibition was opened by the King on June 26th. 

 Upon arriving at the entrance the King was 

 received by the Count of Flanders and the 

 chief members of the executive and the vari- 

 ous committees, including M. Warocque, the 

 President of the Chamber of Representatives, 

 General Renard, Lord Alfred S. Churchill, and 

 Major Burgess, chairman and secretary of the 

 British Committee. The opening ceremony 

 was of a very simple character. An address 

 to the King and Queen was read by M. 

 Warocque, who dwelt on the difference be- 

 tween this and other exhibitions, explaining 

 its objects and intentions, and expressing the 

 gratification of the executive at the aid they 

 had received from other countries. The ad- 

 dress concluded with a few words especially 

 addressed to the Queen, and referring to the 

 interest she is known to take in the Belgian 

 Bed-Cross Society. The King responded very 



briefly, merely expressing his gratification at 

 the excellent prospects of the exhibition, and 

 the pleasure he felt in opening it. The mem- 

 bers of the different committees were then 

 presented to him in a reception-room which 

 had been prepared for the purpose, and after- 

 ward proceeded to their different galleries, 

 where they attended the King in his inspec- 

 tion of each in turn. The exhibition building, 

 which was in the park, was of rather a singu- 

 lar character. In order to interfere as little 

 as possible with the ordinary condition of the 

 park, it was made to follow the lines of the 

 walks, and therefore consisted of a number 

 of long buildings of different widths, meeting 

 at the points of junction of the paths, but 

 otherwise separate. Each country had a whole 

 building or part of one, and was thus com- 

 pelled to make the best appearance it couldj 

 without much reference to the general effect. 

 Of the countries exhibiting, Belgium had the 

 most space, with England following closely, 

 these two being the largest exhibitors. France, 

 Germany, and Russia, were well represent- 

 ed, while Austria, Hungary, Italy, Norway and 

 Sweden, Holland, Denmark, and Switzerland, 

 the other contributing countries, were not so 

 largely, and the United States was not at 

 all, represented. 



The Health Congress, which was held as an 

 appendix to the exhibition, was in session from 

 September 27th to October 4th, and was attend- 

 ed by delegates from all European countries. 

 The Congress divided itself into five sections, 

 which held their sessions in the mornings, while 

 in the afternoons all the sections united to a 

 common session. Of the common sessions, 

 six were held. In the first the important 

 question of laborers' dwellings was discussed. 

 The debate limited itself to the question 



INTERIOR OF TOWN-HALL, BRUGES. 



whether it was preferable for the laborer to 

 possess his own cottage, or to be a tenant. 

 Most of the speakers advocated the former 

 proposition, while among the few who advo- 

 cated the opposite side M. Rolin-Jacquemyns, 

 of Ghent, made some telling arguments. The 

 two following sessions of September 29th and 



