Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1838-08-11
IA Carlsrhuev So much for being among
people of strange tongue.

Ihere seemed to be uniformity OF costume
in several of the towns. Red vests and breech-
es and broad-brimmed hats, were universal a.
mong men an6 boys; I. e., of the peasantry
only for they are distinct order of beings on
the continent. The most laborious part Of
farming, etc., is performed by the women; the
fair SEX here are expected to hold the plough,
rake the hay, and Dig the potatoes. What
brutes must the men be!
Carlsrhue,the duke of Baken's capital and re-
sidence,i one Of the neatest towns have seen
on the continent. The streets are broad,
straight, and, well-paved, and tho buildings
all of stone, painted cream-color. The cha
teau of the duke is in the form of crescent,
opposite block of private houses in similar
style, thus making an elegant circle, with a
garden and orangery in the centre. In the
rear of the chateau, is an extensive hunting
park. The whole Of this duchy appears to be
one level plain, not specially fertile: and there
is little to remark in riding over it, except the
extensive squadrons of geese, tended by the
lasses like flock Of sheep, and the battallions
of ganders, in the shape of the dukes SOL
diers.
Our introduction to his Serene Lowness, the
Rhine, did not give us the most favorable i'm
preston of his majesty. If one should see that
part of the river between Switzerland and
Mayence, and no more, he would pronounce it's
far-famed beauties all joke. 1t passes here
through this flat uninteresting duchy, the
banks affording nothing more attractive than
pine bushes, six feet high; and the river itself
has lost its primitive attraction at Schaffhau-
sen, for here it is of brown muddy color, in
stead of it's once transparent green. Occa-
sionally, however, the monotony of the shores
is relieved by pretty town, which, the atmos-
phere being clear, and the view unobstructed,
others, we passed Spires and Worms, noted
for their cathedrals, which are very conspicu-
GUS objects from the river; and Mannheim, a
handsome town, with fine palace, (now chief
ly in ruins,) in the midst of a beautiful park.
Near Mannheim is Heidelberg, celebrated for it's
university, which is the Oldest in Germany
These places are in the sGrand Duchy' of
Hesse-D -Darmstadt, which adjoins that of Baden.
The boat stopped short time at Mannheim,
and we went on shore to see the palace.
1t was dusk when we came in sight of the
famous and very pretty town of Mayence, our
steamer passing through the bridge of boats
over the Rhine, which was promptly opened
to admit it. The spires, and domes of the
town, as seen from the river, give it quite an
imposing appearance. We stepped on the
quay, with very little hustle, and without any
obstruction or examination. The hotels near
the river were all full, but we found good lodg-
ings at the Trois Courounes' in the interior.
shall proceed tomorrow to Frankfort and
Lepsic, with the intention Of returning here to
take the Rhine to Cologne.
FRANKFoRr ON THE MAINE, SEPTEMBER T.
The ride from Mayence to this city occupied
three hours and half. The approach to
Frankfort is not remarkable, except for the
beautiful grounds and gardens laid out on the
site of the ancient walls and Notifications in the
environs. Frankfort, you know, is one of
the four free cities of Germany (Hanse-
Towns,) and is entirely independent of any
other state, being co-equal member of the
Germanic confederation, and important also as
the seat of the Diet. Some parts of the city
are very handsome, and the whole has an air of
busy prosperity: it seems to be very like Paris,
on smaller scale. The hotels are renowned
for their size and excellence; and as the great
semi-annual Fair is in operation, they are at
present abundantly well patronized. This
Fair is quite an important affair to the city
all the public squares, quays, etc., are filled
with temporary stalls and magazines of arti-
cles, manufactured in different parts of Germa-
ny, the merchent announcing himself from
Berlin or Dresden, or Leipsic. They often
bring samples, only, of their wares, and from
them make extensive package sales
should think that one half, at least, of these
were filled with pipes-a fair illustration ofthe
smoking propensities of the Germans. These
pipes are long and clumsy, but most of them
are very prettily ornamented. The Germans
are verify inveterate lovers of the weed. They
smoke every where and on all occasions; the
toll-keeper puffs away while he opens the gate,
the conducteur, regulating the diligence, the
while he makes your bill. All
classes and degrees are alike in this respect
the duke, the professor, the peasant. The
charms of the practice are especially exempli-
fed in the interior Of a crowded diligence on
hot day, when three fourths of the passengers
are doing their best to suffocate one another
with fumes of smoke from pipes, and birthstone
from matches. Remonstrance from novice
in the science is vain, for though otherwise po-
lite and obliging, they seem to think smoking
oO hu I'll u iuuStCi VI NVuicCj w PtlnC ~ uuoNO
their meat and drink, oven above their wine,
that they do not imagine it can be disagreea-
bic. 4 4
The river Maine, which falls into the Rhine at
Mayence, or Mainz, is an insignificant stream,
,nly navigable by fiat boats which 60 do,on
with the current, and are drawn up by horses,
Is in canals. Frankfort is built on both sides
# the river, but the greater part is on the
north. The qnays are broad, and afford a
handsome architectural display, the buildings
,eing oil of light cream color like those of
he French capital. Iobserved no very SPLEEN
lid public buildings, but The principal street,
several of the great hotels, is very
Ipacious and stately. In the Hotels de Vile
3 preserved, among other archives, the origin
i of the celebrated Golden Bull
#Tha ofbers are Han,huroh Rremer,. and