Modern Buildings.

Monument To Leopold I.

The Queen Of Belgium.

The Queen of Belgium is a Princess of the House of Hapsburg, and like most of the ladies of her family is a famous horsewoman. In fact, for many years she was in the habit of herself breaking in the wild Hungarian horses brought to Brussels for her use. When "Buffalo Bill" with his troop of Cowboys and Indians was in Belgium, in 1891, he gave entertainments in Brussels for two weeks, and the Queen, accompanied by a large number of the nobility, attended several of his exhibitions. Before leaving Brussels, Colonel Cody with a few friends obtained the privilege of visiting the superb Winter Garden of the King at Laeken. After spending two hours very pleasantly in this conservatory, which is one of the finest in Europe, as they were about to leave, they saw the Queen approaching, accompanied by officers and ladies of her suite. She graciously asked the gallant scout if he would not like to see her stables and horses, and on receiving an affirmative reply, this democratic sovereign personally conducted the party through her royal stables, going into the stalls herself, leading out her favorite thoroughbreds, commenting on their fine points, and in every way showing her intimate knowledge of horses and horsemanship.

This reference to "Buffalo Bill" and his associations with royalty recalls an amusing circumstance connected with the visit made to Berlin by this distinguished representative of American frontier life. It happened that at the time of Colonel Cody's advent into the capital of Germany, old Emperor William was entertaining there three kings of the smaller Germanic powers. One feature of "Buffalo Bill's" performance is the exhibition of the antiquated Deadwood coach, containing passengers who are attacked by Indians and rescued by Cowboys. The Kaiser asked to be allowed to ride in this vehicle to parwith his royal guests, and ticipate in this interesting experience. The request was of course granted, and when the coach was fiercely assailed by howling Indians, its inmates were as usual saved by the gallant Cowboys. After it was over, and as the royal party was descending from the coach, the Emperor remarked, "Colonel Cody, I don't suppose this is the first time that you have held four kings?" "No, your Majesty," replied the quickwitted scout, "you are right, but it is the first occasion that I ever held four kings and the royal joker at the same time.".

The Chamber Of Deputies.

The level plains of Belgium have furnished Europe with its battle-fields for many centuries. From the time of the Franks under Clovis, down to the siege of Antwerp, in 1830, the wars of western Europe have, to a large extent, been fought out in Flanders. Within a radius of fifty miles of Brussels there are at least twenty-five broad plains, which offer admirable ground for the maneuvering of large armies. Hence, notwithstanding the fact that the neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by the five great Powers, the Belgian government is so fearful lest this little country should be invaded either from the East or West, in case of war between France and Germany, that, of late years, it has constructed along the Meuse and Sambre a continuous line of powerful steel forts, in order to defend the country and to protect its neutrality. These forts somewhat resemble our turret monitors, being manipulated by powerful machinery which causes them to disappear below the surface of the ground after discharging their tremendous guns. They are well located at strategic points along the two rivers, and, in case of war, would prove a serious obstacle to an invading army. They were designed by the distinguished Belgian military engineer, General Brialmont, who, a few years ago, was sent for by the Sultan to plan extensive fortifications along the Dardanelles, and whose works on modern defenses are used as text-books in our artillery school at Fortress Monroe.

Palace Of Justice, Brussels.