Returned once more to our railway carriage, a change has come over the spirit of our journey. We lose the red-legged soldiery of France, exchanging them for others with grey and pepper-and-salt continuations. The military, too, are men of taller stature, with more flesh upon their bones. Generally, the Belgians feed better than the natives of the north of France, and show it in their personal appearance. Piebald or rusty-brown monks and nuns flutter about and read their breviaries in greater profusion. Belgium is still a monastic stronghold of brotherhoods and sisterhoods; and the clergy are struggling hard for an increase of power. The aspect of the country from Mouscron to Ghent is ever rich and highly cultivated. The crops are mostly grown in ridges, with deep furrows between them, indicative of a strong clayey loam, but wet. Of wood, as in France, little is to be seen compared with England, except where congregated into forests. Here and there are a few plantations of Scotch firs, set very thick, to spindle them up for poles and railings. Railway travelling is cheaper (by something like a third), than in France, and, consequently much cheaper than in England; children under eight years of age pay half-price; under three, and in arms, nothing; but certainly the article you get for your money is inferior in quality to that furnished by the first-named country. In France every traveller is allowed sixty pounds (French) of luggage gratis, independent of his small personalities; in Belgium none at all. Whatever you do not take into the carriage with you, such as a carpet-bag or basket of moderate weight, has to be paid for in addition to your ticket. The first-class carriages are handsome and comfortable, but small. The third-class chars-à-bancs are open at the sides, exposed to the wind, the rain, and the snow, which sometimes rake them fore and aft; in inclement weather, they are not fit to carry sheep and cattle, much less human beings. Dogs in Belgium pay third-class fare, but are snugly stowed away in a baggage-wagon. In one of these locomotive pens for men, women, and tender children, a fat hog might have his health seriously injured as the consequence of a long day’s journey.