Brussels
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Brussels. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the capital of Belgium; on the river Senne, communicates with Antwerp and the North Sea by means of the Scheldt eldt canal, and railroads connect it with Germany, France, and , as well as Holland with all the principal towns of Belgium. The city is built partly on the side of a hill and partly on a fertile plain. French is spoken in the upper part of Brussels; in the lower, Flemish is prevalent, and in one quarter the Walloon dialect is spoken. The English language, owing to the number of English who reside in the city, for economy, is also very Besides the fine park in the common. Upper Town, which covers an area of some acres and is ornamented with fountains and statues, and surrounded by the King's palace, the Palace of the Prince of Orange, the Chamber of Representatives, and other buildings, Brussels has several other squares or places, among which the most noteworthy are: the Place Royale, with the colossal monument of Godfrey of Bouillon; the Grand Place, in which is situated the Hôtel de Ville, a splendid Gothic structure, erected in the beginning of the 15th century, with a pyramidal tower 364 feet high, surmounted by a statue of St. Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, and where, in 1568, the patriot Counts, Egmont and Horn, were beheaded by order of the Duke of Alva; and the Place des Martyrs, where a memorial has been erected to those who fell here in the Revolution of 1830. Among the church's of Brussels the largest and finest is the Cathedral of St. Gudule, which dates from the 12th century. In the Palais des Beaux Arts is the picture gallery, containing the finest specimens of the Flemish school; the Public Library, with its 234,000 volumes and its 20,000 MSS. The observatory is one of the finest in Europe. The educational establishments of Brussels are numerous, the principal being the free university, founded in 1834, with four faculties. It is the seat of the Provincial Government of South Brabant, as well as of the General Government of the Kingdom. Brussels is one of the chief centers of the industry of the country. Its lace is particularly famous. Of carpets which pass under the name of Brussels carpets only a few are manufactured here, most of those of Belgic make being produced at Tournai. Brussels was occupied by the Germans Aug. 20, 1914, and held by them until November, 1918. Pop. about 180,000, with suburbs, 730,000. See BELGIUM, and WORLD WAR.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
the capital of Belgium. It has an inland position fifty miles from the North Sea . It is said to be a miniature edition of Paris. The old walls have been replaced by boulevards, five miles of which are planted with elm and linden trees in four rows, quite encircling the older part of the town. There are fourteen public squares. Sumptuous modern government buildings are disposed about a park of seventeen acres. The city hall, dating from 1401, with a spire 364 feet high, is a noble specimen of Gothic architecture. The Cathedral of St. Gudule was founded in 1010. It is celebrated for its sculpture and paintings, stained glass and pulpit. The presence of the court, a university, museum, art gallery, observatory, a public library of 350,000 volumes, a conservatory of music, a zoological and a botanical garden , and several learned societies, make the city a pleasant home for people of means and intelligence. Brussels has long been famous for lace, carpets, and jewelry. Some of the finest lace is valued at $40 a yard. It is a city of many factories, foundries, breweries, and machine shops. Coal and iron are near at hand. A large trade is carried on with adjacent territory. The language spoken by the court is French. Many of the people, especially those living in the older parts of the city, speak Flemish. The population is about 500,000. See Belgium 2026 Editor's Note: The "miniature Paris" became the effective capital of a continent: Brussels houses the European Commission and Council and the headquarters of NATO, so that "Brussels" is now a shorthand for the EU itself in political argument across Europe. Its Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its most-photographed resident remains a small bronze boy relieving himself. (Ed: BR 2026-07-06)