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Botanic Garden. BRUSSELS. 10. Route. 123
now a conyent) the Duchess of Richmond gave her well-known ball
on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. The actual dancing took
place in the adjoining building, Rue de la Blanchisserie 42 (comp.
Sir Wm. Fraser’s ‘Words on Wellington’). Farther on, to the right,
rises the Hosrrrat or Str. Joun (Hépital St. Jean; Pl. B, 2), an
imposing structure erected by Partoes in 1838-43.
On the opposite slopes are the grounds of the *Botanic Garden
(Pl. B, 2; adm., see p. 96), with large hot-houses (built in 1826).
The excellent bronze sculptures here were placed at the sug-
gestion of C. Meunier and C. van der Stappen (p. Ixxvii), who ex~
ecuted the first sketches for most of them (1898-99). Near the
W. entrance are seven statues of girls (among which may be
mentioned the Thistle, by Fr. Joris, the Rose, by J. Dupon, and
the Goose-girl, by A. de Tombay). In the middle of the grounds are
Spring (shepherdess), by Hippolyte Le Roy; *Summer and *Autumn
(reaper and sower), by Const. Meunier; and Winter (wood-gatherer),
by P. Braecke. Beyond these are the *Way of life (‘le temps mon-
trant la voie a la jeunesse’), by Ch. van der Stappen, and Night and
Morning, by L. H. Devillez. On the staircase to the right, below the
boulevard, is a relief by P. Braecke (Awaking of Spring). To the left,
on the side-terraces, below the hot-houses, are figures of *Fame
(laurel), by J. Dillens, and Martyrdom (palm), by V. de Haen (these
two to the left) and of Strength (oak), by E. Charlier, and Peace
(olive), by L. Mignon (to the right). On the lower terrace are a
Panther, by J. Gaspar, and other figures of animals, and two candel-
abra with decorations, by Victor Rousseau (Four Ages, Four Winds),
On the upper terrace are two flag-staffs with decorations by (right)
J. Lagae (Four Ages), and (left) Paul Dubois (Four Elements) and
several candelabra by V. Rousseau.
The entrance to the. Hot Houses (Serres) and to the Museum of Forestry
(Musée Forestier or Woudsmuseum; adm., see p. 95) is at the E, end of the
terrace. The latter contains specimens of trees and timber, illustrations
of the diseases of trees, etc. Amongst the specimens are a piece of a
300-year-old lime-tree from the turf-moors of the Belgian coast, a section
of a 1350-year-old Big Tree of California, and a block of mahogany weigh-
ing 6 tons. — The flight of steps opposite the entrance descends to the
Rue Royale.
“Beyond the site of the former Porte de Schaerbeek (Pl. E, 2),
to which the name still clings, the Boulevard du Jardin-Botanique is
proses 2d by the Rue Royale (p. 100; junction of tramways Nos. 4,
, 14, & 15). The terrace of the Rue Royale has a balustrade
ee with Candelabra decorated (birds and reliefs) by
Y. Rousseau, D. Duwaerts, J. de Haen, H. van Hoeter, Ed. Roskam,
and Fél. Coosemans. It commands a pretty view of the Botanic
Garden and iGo the N.) of the domed church of Ste. Marie in Schaer-
beek (p. 135). — To the right, opposite the hot-houses in the
sotanic Garden, is a modern Gothic Jesuits’ Church.
The line of boulevards is continued by the Boutzyarp BiscHorrs-
HEIM(PI. I’, 2,3), which is adjoined on the left by the Place Quetelet,
Biepueeee Belgium and Holland. 45th Edit. 8 |