chapel is situated only at the distance of a
few paces from the main building, and is
connected with it by means of a roofed corridor;
thus obviating the difficulties which prevent
old people from attending places of public
worship when, as it frequently happens, they
are situated at long and inaccessible distances
from their dwellings. In winter the Chapel
of the Hospice is carefully warmed and
secured against damp.

"At the time of my visit to the Hospice
des Vieillards in Brussels, the establishment
contained about seven hundred inmates, of
both sexes, between the ages of seventy and
eighty. Of this number six hundred and
fifteen were maintained at the charge of the
establishment, and seventy-five, being in
competent circumstances, defrayed their own
expenses. That the number of those able to
maintain themselves should bear so
considerable a relative proportion to the rest, is a
fact which bears strong testimony in favour
of the merits of the establishment. Those
who support themselves live in a style more
or less costly, according to the amount of
their respective payments. Some of the
apartments into which I was conducted
certainly presented such an air of comfort that
persons, even of a superior condition of life,
could scarcely have desired better.

"I learned from the Governor of the
Hospice that the average cost of the
maintenance of each individual was about seventy-
five centimes per day, making a total diurnal
expenditure of six hundred francs, or of
two hundred thousand francs per annum.
But as this estimate includes the wages of
attendants and the expenses consequent on
repairs of the building, it may fairly be
calculated that each individual costs about three
hundred francs per annum. The Hospice
frequently receives liberal donations and
bequests from opulent private persons.

"For such of the pensioners as are able to
work, employment is provided: others are
appointed to fill official posts in the veteran
Republic. Now and then a little task-work
is imposed; but the Hospice being rich, this
duty is not exacted with the precision requisite
in establishments for the young, where
the inmates having a long worldly career
before them, it is desirable that they should
be trained in habits of regularity and
industry. The pensioners of the Brussels
Hospice des Vieillards, enjoy much freedom;
and they are even allowed some amusements
and indulgences, which it might not be proper
to concede to young persons. For example,
they are permitted to play at cards; but it
will scarcely be said there is anything
objectionable in such an indulgence to old persons
who have run out their worldly course; for
even were they fated once more to enter
into society, their example could neither be
very useful nor very dangerous; Here and
there I observed groups of the pensioners,
male and female, seated at cards, staking
their pocket-money of which each has a
small allowance, on the hazard of the game.
The penalties assigned for misdemeanours are
very mild, consisting merely in the offending
party being prohibited from going out, or, as
it is called, la privée de la sortie. In extreme
cases the delinquent is confined to his or her
own apartment.

"It has seldom been my lot to visit a
charitable institution, which created in my
mind so many pleasing impressions as those I
experienced in the Hospital for the Old in
Brussels. It was gratifying to observe in the
spacious court-yards the cheerful and happy
groups of grey-haired men and women,
sunning themselves in the open air. Some were
playing at cards, whilst here and there the
females were seated at work, and men
sauntering about smoking their pipes and gossiping.
Every now and then I met an old man
whistling or singing whilst he paced to and
fro. More than one of these veterans had
been eye-witnesses of interesting historical
events, which now belong to a past age.
Several of them had served as soldiers during
the Austrian dominion in Belgium. Of these
the porter of the Hospital was one.

"The most remarkable character in the
whole establishment was an old Dutchman,
named Jan Hermann Jankens, who was born
at Leyden in the year 1735. At the time
when I saw him, he was one hundred and nine
years of age; or, to quote his own description
of himself, he was " leste, vaillant, et sain."

"II nous rapelle en vain
Apres un siècle de séjour,
Ses plaisirs ainsi que ses amertumes."

"These lines were inscribed beneath his
portrait, which hung in his own apartment.
I remarked that the painter had not flattered
him. ' You are right, Sir,' replied he; ' the
fact is, I am much younger than my portrait,'
and to prove that he was making no vain
boast, he sprang up, and cut several capers,
with surprising agility. His faculties were
unimpaired, and he was a remarkable example
of that vigorous organisation which sometimes
manifests itself in the human frame; and
which excites our wonder when we find that
such delicate structures as the nerves of sight
and hearing may be used for the space of a
century without wearing out. Until within
two years of the time when I saw Jankens,
he had been able to work well and actively.
His hand was firm and steady, and he
frequently wrote letters to his distant friends.
When in his one hundred and seventh year,
he thought, very reasonably, that he might
give up work. ' And what do you do now ? '
I enquired. ' I enjoy my life,' replied he; 'I
saunter about the whole day long, singing,
smoking, and amusing myself. I spend my
time very gaily! '

"'Yes, Sir; he dances, drinks, and sings
all day long! ' exclaimed, in a half- jeering,
half-envious tone, another veteran, named