The Grande Place was at its best when there was a _kermesse_. Then the windows of the guild-halls and the long galleries of the Hôtel de Ville--the glory of Brussels--were lined with people looking down into the square. Flags streamed from the buildings, and there was good music, and groups of happy burghers were drinking their beer at little tables. After dark there was continuous illumination of the lovely spire of the Hôtel de Ville, with varying coloured lights that showed its tracery and design in beautiful, mysterious relief--an entrancing sight. Not far from the corner of the Hôtel stood the famous little fountain figure of the Mannikin, the "First Citizen of Brussels." He was dressed for the _kermesse_ in his best Sun-day-go-to-meeting suit, as was proper for the occasion--a plum-coloured velvet with ruffles and embroidery, a three-cornered hat with feathers and cockade, buckled shoes, and white stockings and gloves. The Grande Place was the civic center of Brussels. The Government buildings were grouped about a park half a mile away, with the royal palace at one end and the Palais de la Nation, the House of Parliament, at the other. Close by, on either side, were grouped the various departments and the fine houses provided for the Ministers by the Government. The Palais de la Nation was only moderately impressive. The senate chamber was decorated with frescos, while the "deputies" was bare and plain. Like our two houses in Washington, the upper was rather dignified, while the lower was in apparent disorder all the time. While Parliament was in session _huissiers_ with their chains of office about their necks were on guard throughout the building. One of the points in Brussels most familiar to me was the Gare du Nord, near the long public greenhouse and park, where the narrow shopping street began, in the lower part of the town. This led to the Bourse, the Place de la Monnaie, and the Grand Théâtre. Then there was the upper Boulevard with its tram that climbed the hill from the Gare du Nord, and a foot and bridle path which led through the Quartier Leopold--and on for miles to the Gare du Midi, changing its name with every block. There were three good motor roads leading out of town: one from this boulevard to the avenue Louise continued on through the Bois; another extended from the Quartier Leopold to the Musée Congo, while a third led in the opposite direction, through the lower town and on to Laeken, where the Summer Palace of the King was located.