The Hotel De Ville.

On the other sides of the Grand Place, as it is often called, are still to be seen a number of imposing buildings, con-structed three or four centuries ago, yet well-preserved, with elaborate facades and Gothic roofs; and these, together with the Hotel de Ville, are eloquent reminders of the days when the rich and powerful Flemish Guilds governed all Flanders, and brought their country to as high a position in respect to manufactures, military prowess, material prosperity, and the fine arts as was attained by any European nation of that age.

House Of Charles V.

One of the most curious and interesting of these buildings is known as the House of the King. This name, however, did not indicate a residence of royalty, in the usual sense of the term, but merely signified the official residence of the King of the Guilds, who, as the Chief of the Municipality, lived here and entertained with sumptuous hospitality the city's guests; for the liberty-loving Flemings held only a nominal allegiance to the House of Austria, and practically knew no other king than the chosen sovereign of their industrial Unions. Even now in the active life of Brussels the Grand Place still holds a prominent position. It is not only the centre of all business pertaining to the Municipality, but it is also the site of some of the most interesting temporary markets that are held in the city. Once a week, for example, from six to nine o'clock in the morning, there will be found within this area a great bird market, when hundreds of canaries, nightingales, mockingbirds, thrushes, and parrots may be seen flitting about in their cages, chirping, singing, whistling, and filling the air with almost deafening, yet melodious, sounds. On such occasions, the square is chiefly occupied by the shrewd, jovial Flemish and Walloon peasant women, who are often somewhat boisterous in their eagerness to exchange the silvery notes of their feathered songsters for the musical clink of silver coins. Twice a week, also, at the same hours, there is held here a flower market, and the whole square becomes fragrant with the perfume of exquisite roses, carnations, and other floral products brought in enormous quantities from the country districts. A visit to either of these markets, on a bright spring morning, is a charming experience, and gives a picture of the industrious habits, and the happy and contented life of the people, that will never fade from memory.

The House Of The King.

Entrance To The Bourse.

On one side of the Grand Place, in front of the House of the King, stood - until recently, when it was removed to a highly ornamented city park - an impressive monument commemorating the illustrious heroes of the Netherlands, Counts Egmont and Hoorn, who, on the 5th of June, 1568, were executed here by order of the Duke of Alva. These men, though Roman Catholics by birth and faith, had steadfastly opposed the cruel persecution of their countrymen by Philip II., and were on this account condemned to death. The execution of Egmont was unusually revolting, even for that age of pitiless severity, since it revealed the most shameful treachery and the blackest ingratitude on the part of the Spanish king. Count Philip Egmont was one of the loftiest types of knightly chivalry and soldierly character that Europe ever produced, and he won for his ungrateful sovereign, in a desperate conflict with the marshaled hosts of France, the brilliant victory of St. Quentin, in honor of which Philip had built the Escorial in Spain. Hence Egmont's military renown and distinguished bravery were the pride of the Flemish race. William of Orange, his devoted friend, had repeatedly warned him of the treachery of Philip, and implored him to escape. But Egmont trusted both the Spanish sovereign and his perfidious agent, Alva, forgetting the popular proverb in regard to the former, "His dagger follows close upon his smile." When told of his inevitable doom, Egmont, despite his well-known courage, was for a moment overwhelmed with horror and surprise, and exclaimed, "Alas! when I should think of God alone, I am unable to forget my wife and children." Then, recovering his composure, he remained calm and self-controlled until his death. A moment of profound silence succeeded the executioner's fatal stroke. Tears filled the eyes of many of the Spanish soldiers; for they had admired Egmont as a gallant warrior. The French ambassador, as he gazed upon the scene from a neighboring window, whispered: "There falls the head before which France has trembled twice." As for the people, notwithstanding the presence of the troops, they could not be restrained; and, rushing to the fatal block, they dipped their handkerchiefs in Egmont's blood, to thenceforth keep them as memorials of the crime, and as incentives to a terrible revenge.