| Full text |
xviii Railways. BELGIUM.
lish iin time (but in West Flanders like e), u like the French u, eu
like the French eu, eew like the English a (in fate), oe like 00, aa
or ae like ah, ou as in the English word hour, wi like the French
eu-i, oei like we, sch like s and the guttural ch in the Scotch loch,
and sch at the end of a word almost like s.
After what has been said, it need hardly be added that a slight
knowledge of French will enable the traveller in Belgium to con-
verse with everyone with whom he is likely to come in contact,
and that an acquaintance with the Flemish and Walloon dialects
will probably be of little use except to the philologist. Those
who are ignorant of French will be glad to know that English is
spoken at most of the principal hotels throughout the country.
VII. Churches, Picture Galleries, and Theatres.
The Cxurcurs (Roman Catholic) are usually open all day, with
the exception of the midday hours 12 to 3 or 4. In some of the
larger churches the works of art are shown only at fixed hours
(usually in the afternoon), when an admission-fee of 4 fr. is charged.
If the architecture or the pulpit be the chief object of interest it may
be inspected also in the morning (ca. 10-12), care being taken not to
disturb worshippers or services; but when pictures are to be seen
it is best to keep to the prescribed hours, for the attendance of the
Sacristan is generaly necessary in any case, as the best pictures
are often covered with curtains or concealed in side-chapels. In
most churches the fees are fixed by tariff, and then no fee need
be given to the sacristan.
The great Proturs Gauusries and other public ConLEcTIONs
are generally open gratis at fixed hours (seldom before 10 a.m.),
but in certain towns a trifling fee for admission (!/-1 fr.) is some-
times charged. For admission to town-halls and similar sights the
fee is usually about the same. In visiting a private collection a
single traveller is expected to give a gratuity of about 2 fr. — The
subject and the name of the painter are generally attached to the
frames in the picture-galleries; but the latter is by no means always
in accord with the results of modern research.
The chief Turarrzs resemble those of Paris in their general ar-
rangements, and are usually closed from April or May till the end
of September. When ladies are of the party seats should be secured
in the bowes (Zoges de face, in the middle; loges de cété, at the side;
baignoires, on the level of the stage), fauteuils d’orchestre, or stalles
d’orchestre; for gentlemen the stalles des premieres loges or stalles de
galerie are recommended also. Places should be secured beforehand
(‘en location’). The performance begins at 7, 8, or 8.15 p.m.
Gentlemen usually wear their hats until the curtain rises. |
