Sun., July 26.--Tir du Roi and Grand Fête Gymnastique, followed by concert, Fête de Nuit and a ball. Sun., Aug. 9.--Fête d'Enfance, distribution of prizes to school children with public exhibition of school gymnastics, etc. Sat. and Sun., Aug. 15 and 16.--Kermesse in a third quarter, with archery contests and concert. Sun. Mon. and Tues., Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.--Annual Kermesse, with archery contests of both kinds, concert and sports and games. Sun., Sept. 20.--Archery au berceau and rifle contest. Sun., Oct. 25.--Same. Sun., Nov. 21.--Archery, perche. Sun., Dec. 13.--Rifle contest. It must be confessed that this programme is somewhat monotonous, but in the larger towns it is considerably amplified and varied. Still to one who was brought up in a small country village in New Hampshire it seems very good, both as an evidence of the popular desire for healthy and rational out-door enjoyment, and of the disposition of the Government to promote and foster legitimate amusements of all kinds. The kermesse is an European rather than a Belgian institution and requires no description further than that it is a jolly good time for everybody. It has existed in Flanders and throughout the Walloon provinces from time immemorial, as ancient paintings and still more ancient historical references conclusively show. Its most interesting feature to the American visitor is the night dancing out of doors on the rough cobble-stones of the town square or on the soft grass of the village green. Lighted by flaring gas torches, or sometimes only by the moon and such stray beams as fall on the dancers from the open doors and windows of adjacent cafés, the spectacle of the gaily dancing couples carries the observer back to the days when the world was young, and love and laughter and happiness reigned supreme. [Illustration: AN ANCIENT PAINTING OF THE FLEMISH KERMESSE, BY TENIERS.] CHAPTER VII WHEN YPRES WAS A GREATER CITY THAN LONDON