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m HOME AND COUNTRY Overseas Tour Issue (Continued from page '7) District Country Women‘s Associ- ation. Mr. W. H. Enklnur, burgo- master. said in welcoming the guests: “Ladies, dear Canadian friends. I am delighted to speak a few words to w‘lcuiiic you to our municipality of Holtenl We appreciate that you have come to Holten on your long trip through Europe When tidings came that you were to Visit us. we dis- c ssod what we could do for you in so hurt a time. There was one thing we must do and that was to bring you here. Our municipality has many ties with your country. We hold in our soil the bodies of so many lll‘xn'e Can- Ln soldiers, who have bought our in dniii with their lives. It is with pleasure that we receive you now. here in our country and in our village. We see in you the representatives of that brave people, to whom we owe so much." From addresses given by Mrs. Buursmmllejung, vice-president of Orer'sscl and Mrs. C. Nagelhout, president of Holten Country Women’s Association, and others. much was learned about the work of tho Neder- landsi‘he Bond van Plattelandsrrou- wen. There are now in The Nether- lands 32.583 members in 450 bran» ches. 0 of these members are in Orery._el. The women like to listen to lectures, attend short courses in mods, clothing, health and home nur- sinu, but they are still reticent about being individually activei During the ilast year special study folders on innada and Australia have been dis tributed. The Netherlands’ women in their report state: “Many executives have gradually got their members to give hints. read short stories, give a small act. or arrange an afternoon enter- tainment. thus making members exer» cise their talents and give them a new look at themselves. This is espe- cially necessary if fresh executive members are to be found.” > In North Holland an officers’ traine mg course was instituted. During the summer exchange visits between members in the various provinces of The Netherlands are arranged and classes are held at the Folk School. The executive co-operates very closely With the rural home economics schools. Handicraft competitions have been sponsored in order to reeawaken an interest in the old crafts. Many social welfare projects are undertaken with a special interest in the Home for the Aued. Excursions to visit museums, factories, or other places of interest are verv popular. The dav in Overyssel was brought to a thrilling and happy climax when, after vis ing Dutch farms and the surrounding countryside, the group was entertained to tea in an immacuâ€" lately clean barn where all manner of interesting Dutch foods were served. Afterwards, a dance was staged in another barn, The Canadian women were very pray as they “tripped the light fantastic" with handsome Dutch- men dressed in picturesque costume, complete even to the wooden "klom- pen". That evening the Canadians pro» ceedcd to The Hague where their charming hostess, Miss Jann‘a Brink, executive secretary of The Nederland- sche Bond van Plattelandsvrouwen, met them. The next day, September 21, was full of interest and excitement as they visited a co-operative flower, fruit and vegetable market at Naald< wij'k from which produce is pur- chased and shipped to many foreiz'n countries, a rural home economics school in Poeldij'k where girls 12 to 14 years of age were taught academic as well as home economics subjects. the famous Peace Palace. scene of many international meetings, the Mesdag Museum in which is housed a cyclorama realistically portraying the Schevenigen coast, an instructive visit to the Country Women’s Associa- ation office, and afternoon tea at the home of the Canadian Ambassador to Holland at "Great Haesebrock" in Wassenaar. The story of Holland would not be complete without mention of tho windmills, cannls. dykos, picturesque costumes and quaint little shops which the Canadians saw en route. Dutch silver with intricate design, beautiful blue llelt‘t ware, attractive tiles and reproductions of the Dutch masters all caught the eye of the shoppers. Their stay in Holland was all boo short. But it will last long in the memory of the happy group. The Canadians felt they had a great deal to lire up to when they recalled the respect and love which the people of The Netherlands had shown them. Busy in Brussels Belgium, too, showed the discour- aging imprint of war, although conâ€" ditions appeared excellent in comâ€" parison with those in Germany. This beautiful little “low-country" at the crossroads of Europe has suffered much through the years because of her strategic position. But she has much to otter the visi- tor by way of her art treasures, hei- quaint little shops, her cathedrals and her countryside. It is unfortunate that the Women's Institutes in Belgium have not sur- vived. It is especially sad when it is recalled that the first International Conference of Women's Institutes was held in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1930. the year in which Belgium cele- brated her hundredth anniversary of freedom from foreign domination. Mrs. Laura Rose Stephen was dele- gated to this conference by the Can- adian Government and Mrs. A. E. Walker represented F.W.I.O. Also, Belgium was the first country in Europe to have Women’s Institutes. In 1908 the Belgium Ministry of Agâ€" riculture sent a commission to Can- ada to study the movement Mr. Putnam, then Superintendent, spent much time with this commission. On its return, the Belgian government was so impressed with the commis- sion’s report that Women’s Institutes were immediately organized. It is too bad they have “fallen by the way- side." Belgium needs Women's Insti- tutes. They could do much for the country. The Canadian delgates had only one day in Brussels. It is safe to say “grass didn’t grow under their feet". The morning tour took them to such places of interest as the majestic Palace of Justice, the largest of its kind in Europe; the Edith Cavell monument and war memorial; the little Mannequin de Pisce fountain with his 66 different uniforms; the gay little Place du Petit Sablon Where 48 beautiful miniature statues depict the various guilds of ancient Brus- sels; the house where the Bronte sisters lived; the plaque to commemo- rate the writing of Childe Harold by Lord Byron; the beautiful ’l‘riumphal Arch Brussels built in_ 1880; the Column of Congress built in 1837 with its flame of freedom at the tomb of the unknown soldier buried after the war of 1914-1918; on the other side of the Column of Congress is the grave of the unknown resistance movement worker buried after the war of 1939-1945. At the Collegiate Church of St. Michael and St. Gudule the Canadians saw some of the finest stained glass windows in Europe de- signed by Bernard Van Orley and pre- sented by Emperor Charles in 1-538. This fine edifice was started by Duke Henry I of Brabant in 1170. At the Royal Square in Brussels was seen the Church of Gaudenberg erected in 1776. The climax of this historical and cultural tour of Brussels was the visit to the majestic "Grand‘ Place". Through its authentic reproduction the Grand’ Place stands as a fine example of those early market squares. This square is dominated by the highly decorative town hall, the splendid Gothic kings’ mansion and the old guild houses which still show the sign of the guild outside. Belgium lace shops were very faa» cinating. The only control over the purse strings was the fact that the Canadian customs officials had to be remembered. Then, too, several other countries had. been visited and money r a scarce commodity. Belgian \glhis, brasa and intricate handâ€"made dolls were among the souvenirs most sought by the party. After lunch a full afternoon was spent by some in the famous Brussels Fine Arts Mu- scum. Here could be studied on home ground the world famous original paintings of Rubens, Brueghel, Bouts, Mending, Van Eyck and. many other Flemish artists. Satisfying this cul- tural hunger was a delight to the tra- vellcrs. FOUR FLEETING DAYS IN FRANCE Four fleeting days in_ France Knvc the Canadians a Containing taste of “Gay Puree" and the ancient The dc Franco surrounding it. This was a much relished taste, one which sav- oured of gaiety, wonder and excite- meatâ€"at the same time enticingly flavoured with old-world atmosphere, enriched and mellowed by age. Ar- riving in Paris by 9 pm. Saturday. September 23, the Canadians were in time to explore Gay Paree by night light. Paris was wide awake. The streets were crowded, the music was gay. and sidewalk restaurants were a hive of activity. Animated, carefree conversation could be heard and deli- cious odours, which only a French cuisine could produce, wafted their way into the midnight air. As the days went by, the Canadians could see that the former “Gay Puree" had a sombre note, toned down by war, occupation and tangible destruc- tion. Even more disastrous was the intangible effect on the morale of the people. The Parisians endeavoured to put on a brave front-the Canadian party admired them for trying. Sunday dawned clear and bright, a gorgeous day for the tour of Mal~ maison and Versailles. Starting from l'Eglise Madeleine, the party travelled en route down' Rue Royale to the Place de la Concorde, out the Champs- Elyséea, and past the Arc de Tri» omphe. History lived for the Can- adians. Imagination took them back over the centuries. Ghosts of kings, emperors, artists and philosophers were conjured up every inch of the way. This day was enchanted with memories of things past. The Madeleine. now a church, was originally built by Napoleon as a temple of glory to keep alive the memory of his victories. It was built on the site of a graveyard in which victims of the guillotine had been buried The body of poor Marie Antoinette was interred here for a time after her death on the guillotine. Opposite the Madeleine is the site of the restaurant where Boulanger met with friends to discuss a Coup d’EtaL Place de la Concorde, at the foot of the street, reeks with memories. first laid out as a square in the eighteenth century, it was built to honour the than young and opular Louis XV. At the time of t e Revolution, the Place Louis Quinze became the Place de la Revolution and the guillotine was erected. With a vivid imagination one could almost see Madame Defarge and her friends sitting in the front seats, knitting and counting the heads as they dropped. In 1799 Napoleon changed the name of the square again to the Place de la Concorde and used it for military displays to impress the Parisiana. The famous buxor Column given to the Citizen King by the Sultan of Turkey now dominates the square. In the Chambres dea Députés, just across the Seine from the Place de la Concorde, the beginning of the Second Republic took place, where Alexandre Dumas helped to decide thati France would never again have a rig. The Champs Elyséea, that beauti- ful wide straight avenue planned by Marie de’ Medicia in 1616, iii crowned by_tlie _imposing Arc de Triumphs. This triumphs] arch was built by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate the Victories of the Empire. Under the great arch lies the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, placed there after the first world war. Close to it that ringing battle song, La Maraclllnlae. is chiuelled out of the stone. Beyond the city, the 113 de Iii-um... "a garden of flowers and atom!" brought delightful adventure inn; royal estate! and an emperor's lie"..._ Malinaiaon, "a heart-break house" is haunted by the tragic souls of twd Eeople. Once the home of Napoleon onapartc and Josephine, this "my mansion is situated in the midst n'l' beautiful gardens, vivid with colour. and banked by clipped yew trees um] spruce. The rooms and their cniliol. lisliments portray the character mm charm of the former owners. '1‘}... Canadians enjoyed visiting this rem. deuce, filled with the gracious memor. ice of Josephine and the happy yum-t she spent with Napoleon. Versailles, that classic palace, ‘lll‘ largest of its kind in Europe, in. built by Louis XIV, not only as n magnificent residence for a king, Imi as ii symbol for all France of thv greatness at The Nation. Fronchmm and foreigners alike were to in impressed by the victories of tho armies through the ortriiyiil oi appropriate scenes on t e walla flllll ceilings. They were to be dazzled by the power and wealth of Frniim through the embellishments and L'l'lllir deur of this palace. The building m Versailles was used as a stimulus in foster native talent. Le Vau aim Mansart, the architects, Lebrun, thi- artist, and Le Ni‘itre, the landsuéipi architect, are great names ossm-i ated with the creating of VerSflilll‘S Lebrun not only showed unique talcni in his highly decorative painting. liui he also designed the tapestries 05.1%" cially woven for Versailles by thw famous tapestry weavers at Gobelins Le Nfitre exhibited real genius as in turned swamp and waste land inti. matchlcsa formal gardens. Thousands of trees and shrubs were planted and water brought many miles to com- plete the symmetry with canals, founr tains, artificial lakes and waterfalls The statuary in the park is mac» nificent. The petit Triaan at Versailles is particularly associated with the wife of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette. Her.- she could escape from court life and enjoy the freedom of this more deli- cately furnished country house. At the foot of her garden is the quaint little hamlet where she and her ladios used to play at makeâ€"believe as (lllil maids, shepherdesses and millers' wives. Versailles in its original scitinu stood for absolute monarchy. I A note of amusement was brought in as the guide explained, "Louis hl’l‘ built Versailles, Louis XV enjoyed ll. but Louis XVI paid for it"â€"and pay for it he did. Because the peasants of France and the bourgeoisie of Paris tired of the unjust taxes levied to pin" for the extravagances of the court in Versailles, the Paris mob marched on Versailles. Louis XVI paid for the cxtravaganceaâ€"with his head. _ To describe the rooms at Versailles would require a complete volume, One room. the Galerie des Glaces. or Hall of Mirrors, might be called the crown- ing feature of Versailles and holds special significance. Here, in 1871, :1 Treaty of Versailles was signedâ€"at which time the Hohenzollern German Empire was proclaimed. Then in Jim0 1919, another Treaty of Versailles Was signed in this same Hall of Mirrorsâ€"this time all Bismark had won for Germany was aigncd‘away The Canadians reflected for a time as they viewed that table where the treaty was signed. They wondered if peace treaties could not be made to mean moreâ€"sometime. RURAL FRANCE The French Government eourteouslr arranged for the Canadians to auend a full day in rural Fizaiice. The}' learned much as they waited farnis en route through Chantilly, SenhS. Pierrafonda and Compiegna. The farms visited were large farms â€"batween 1,000 and 1,200 sages each. One farm specialized in anions and putatoea. another in the distilling of alcohol from sugar beets, and in gun- ning pear. Farming, as the Canadians