These machines are little houses on wheels, in which people dress and undress. Horses are hitched to the houses. They pull them to the water's edge, where the bathers jump into the sea for their swim.
From Ostend they journeyed to Courtrai (kōō-trĕ') and the flax fields.
Philippe noticed how much the Belgian people living near the border of France resemble the French people.
In sections of Belgium close to Holland, the people wear wooden shoes and look very Dutch. Their language, Flemish, is indeed almost the same as the Dutch language.
As they wandered through the Belgian villages the smell of cows and fresh hay greeted their nostrils.
Nearly everyone is poor in these villages. The women wear bedroom slippers in the street.
They now came to Tournai (toor-nĕ'), which is one of the most ancient towns in Belgium. It dates from the time of Julius Caesar.
As they approached the city of Mons, (môns) they passed great coal mines. These mines were taken over by the Germans during the World War.
While armies were fighting in France and destroying French property, Belgian farms and factories were being well run by the Germans. That is why our travelers, wandering over the country of Belgium, saw few ruins.