Peeps At Many Lands: Belgium

these there are not many, but they belong to old families, some of which have been famous in the history of their country. They have often fine country-houses, and

isie are like our middle class, and there is no difference between them and the petite noblesse as to the way in which they live. Below these are t

ing to speak, for they are a very numerous class, and their cu

child is a boy, the box is tied with pink ribbons; and if it is a girl, with blue. Cards announcing the birth of a child are often

however, for girls is Marie, a name given in honour of the Virgin Mary, to whom many baby girls are devoted from their birth. The mothers of these little girls vow never to dress them in anything but blue and white till they are seven years old. When the baby is baptized, the godfather gives a pair of gloves to

re called, are paid very little, and are often careless and stupid. The result is that the children are constantly with their parents, and, to keep them quiet, are dreadfully spoilt and petted. It very often happens that, when a Belgian lady has a friend calling on

u will hear a Belgian mother say to her young daughter: "Imagine what your father has done!" Or if the husband is angry with his wife, he will turn to his boy, and exclaim: "

ly child: "Would you like a little brother or sister to play with?" "Oh! no, no," replied the child, "because when my father and mot

eir tumblers of beer or wine (for they are allowed to have whatever their parents are drinking), talk at the top of their voices, and really make such a row that the older people can't hear each other speaking. The moment they have had as much food as they want, they jump up, push their chairs noisily aside, and begin to chase each oth

re is no such law in Belgium, and parents, if they like, may leave their children without any education. The number, h

VILLE, BRUS

st all children have to learn the Catechism at home. They need not understand it, but they must be able to repeat the words. This is to prepare them fo

wears black trousers, a black jacket, and white gloves and tie. But great thought is given to seeing that a girl looks well in her white dress, and other nice new things. She thinks and talks of nothing but her clothes for ever so long before, and especially of her "corsets," which she then puts on for the first time. Her mother takes her to the shop to try them on,

tioners' shops are full of little white sugar images of boys and girls saying their prayers, and even the poorest people manage to have a feast of some sort on this occasion. They often beg money for

th scarcely an exception, to first Communion, and are confirmed, for the

s the chief event in the