This omission is certainly to be regretted.
If only history, or in default of history the
chronicles, or in default of chronicles the
traditions of the country, made mention
of Quiquendone! But no; neither atlases,
guides,
nor itineraries speak of it
Joanne himself, that energetic hunter
after small towns, says not a word of it. It
might be readily conceived that this
silence would injure the commerce, the
industries, of the town. But let us hasten
to add that Quiquendone has neither
industry nor commerce, and that it does
very well without them. Its barley-sugar
and whipped cream are consumed on the
spot; none is exported. In short, the
Quiquendonians have no need of any.
body. Their desires are limited, their exis-
tence is a modest one; they are calm,
moderate, phlegmatic-in a word, they are
Flemings; such as are still to be met with
sometimes between the Scheldt
