=TOURCOING= shared the fate of Flanders during the course of its history. The English and Flemish burnt it during the 14th century, while the French seized it in 1477. In 1566-1568 it was twice sacked by the Gueux, and the Duke of Albe held it to ransom. From 1667 to 1708 it was annexed to France by Louis XIV. Later it fell successively under the yoke of the Austrians, Dutch and Saxons. On May 18th, 1794, the French beat the Duke of York's troops at Tourcoing, and paved the way for the Victory of Fleurus on June 26th. =Tourcoing= is essentially an =industrial town=. Its population has steadily increased since 1491, when it numbered 2,500. In 1851 it had grown to 27,615 and in 1914 to 82,644. From time immemorial Tourcoing has been a =wool manufacturing= centre. Here, the wool is first washed and dried, then treated with cocoanut fat, before combing, and lastly spun. Since 1845 the combing has been done mechanically (Heilman's system). The same may be said of the spinning, which, since 1811, was done on Bobo machines. Before the War, =5,000 tons= of spun wool were exported annually. Among the =specialities= made at Tourcoing were: =fine thread=, =tablecloths= and =tapestry-work= of mixed silk and mercerised cotton (well known for their fine colouring and reasonable price), and =carpets= of the Wilton and Oriental types. [Illustration: +PANORAMA OF ROUBAIX+ _(Cliché LL.)_] ROUBAIX Itinerary: _Leave Lille by the Boulevard Carnot at the Place du Théâtre, between the Theatre and the New Bourse. Follow the Boulevard des Trois Villes to =Roubaix=. Enter the latter by the Rue de Lille, follow its continuation, the Rue Neuve, which leads to the Grande Place: =Hôtel de Ville= and =Church of St. Martin=._ Hôtel de Ville The present building is the work of the architect _Laloux_ (1911); it replaced the old Town Hall, built in 1845 and pulled down in 1907. The latter, as the town grew, had several times been enlarged and otherwise altered, but had finally become too small for a population of more than 50,000 workpeople and an annual production exceeding 500,000,000 frs. in value. [Illustration: THE HÔTEL DE VILLE _(Cliché LL.)_] The new Town Hall is a fine building, with a =frieze= representing scenes from the local industries. A wing on the right serves as the =Stock-Exchange=, while another on the left contains the town's records. Church of St. Martin This church, which was rebuilt and transformed in 1849, recalls vaguely the 15th century Gothic style of the original edifice. Only the =steeple= is ancient. The church has five naves and contains four =ancient tombs= and a Flemish =altar-screen=. _Take the Rue de la Gare, to the Nord-West of the Grande Place._ At the corner of the Rue Nain is the =National School of Industrial Arts=, to which has been added a =Museum= of =Paintings= and =Sculpture= (recently organized by _M. Victor Champier_), a =Textile Museum= and a =Library= containing 15,000 volumes.