CURFEW RINGS AT 8

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9619, 27 March 1917, Page 6

CURFEW RINGS AT 8

BRUSSELS LIKE A TOMB LIFE UNDER HEEL OF PRUSSIAN INVADER. German newspapers print a letter from Brussels, sent by a German resident of that city, which gives a graphic picture of life there under Prussian domination“lf there is any man with a good memory who can think hack to 1914 before the war and remember how things were in Brussels at that time T would beg of him to resurrect in his mind the picture of that glorious time. What a- life that was then! From morning until night the air was filled with entrancing music coming from all sides, and up and down the boulevards paraded gaily dressed men and women, laughing and chatting. Brussels laughed, sang, and danced in those days. “Vi'hat a difference now I A few days ago, in honour of King Albert, some too-zealous patriots held a religious service and made use of the occasion bo distribute manifestos not only in the church, but also in the streets. At the same time, they insulted some German soldiers. The result was that the Governor of Brussels placed a fine of a million marks on the city and issued an order that all cafes and concert halls must be closed at 8 o’clock in the evening, and that the merry Belgians must go to bed at half-past 8. This is a hard blow to citizens who so much enjoy night life. “After 8 o’clock at night Brussels is as silent and as dark as a tomb. The only sound heard is the heavy tread of the Prussian soldiers on patrol duty. A few German restaurants have permission, to remain open until midnight, and for the benefit of their patrons, the main street car line can run a car once an hour. “While many look upon this as a joke, - it has its tragic side, for thousands who made their living at night working in the various places of amusement arc now without a position. However, citizens of Brussels are resourceful, and instead of enjoy-

ing themselves in the evening they now do their own singing, drinking, and dancing in the afternoon. The theatres all have matinee performances, and the cafes and danc© halls do a big business in the afternoon. The closing down of all these resorts after 8 o’clock in the evening has no doubt had its good effect in the farfiily circle, for many a good wife now has the pleasure of having her husband homo with her in the evening—something that never happened before. The order also has stimulated reading of good literature, and the various libraries have never had so many calls for books.

“But, joking aside. Brussels is like a tomb. Save for the rumble of distant guns on the Somme, a walk through the streets after dark is like walking in a cemetery. Only a German can be out after 8 o’clock, and even he must be ready to give a good account of himself. Occasionally the rumble of supply and ammunition wagons going to the front is heard in the streets, and they look like spectres as they disappear in the fog of tho night. A few nights ago a Zeppelin passed over the city, and her propellers made such a noise that they awoke nearly the whole city. Almost every window in the city was opened, and faces wore seen peering out into tho darkness, hut the Zeppelin quickly disappeared. Then tho city went to sleep again.”