The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-20
Foreign Correspondence.
PARIs, 1912.
CONCLUDED.

MORALS OF that long and dark period IN European
history, when the feuda system extended its non
sway over the whole land and il territory was divd-
ed among thousands Of fierce and waIlike mobiles ;
who, like so many petty sovereigns jealous OF each
Other and Of the kings and empeIors their superors
in power kept the whole country in terror oil 'heir
depredations, and carried on incessant wars among
themselves These castles al once their palaces
and fortresses, in which they dispensed their rude
hospitality, and ruder justice, so long as war or
plumber did not call them into the field and in which
they shut themselves up when defeated in battle, and
from behind their solid batements defed the assaults
of their enemies The great number Of castles which
crown the steep promonores Of he Rhine is readily
accounted for by the admirable facilities which the
situation afforded, both for depreciation and for de-
fence Every traveller and merchant whom the river
waited beneath their castlewalls, forced TO pay
toll to these "robber chiefs" and if threatened with
punis hment for their insolence or their crimes fled
up the steep to their strong holds, and from their high
perched robber-nests, babe defiance to their pur-
suers. For the purpose of securing the most favora-
BILE situation possible for commanding the passage OF
the river, and collecting tribute om all way-farers,
some Of these castles were built upon rocks in the
One Of them called the Pfalz is provided with sub.
terraneous or rather slbaqueous dungeons, followed
out of the rock, under the bed of the river. The
wives of the Count to whom it belonged, used it is
said, to resort thher when they became mothers,
either to take refuge from the violence Of their neigh
bors or the castle to their children by right
BIRTH its situation in the middle Of the river render
ing its position otherwise doubtful.
But the day Of retribution at length, when the
proud and tyrannica barons received the longde-
served punishment of their violence and injustice. -
The inhabitants of the Rhensh towns tired Of their
oppressive domination, and conscious of their own
growing strength, formed league against them and
with the aid and countenance of the Emperor, who
himself glad Of opportunity to curb their I'M
ruly spirit drove them from their srong-holds, and
destroyed or dsmantled their castles. This happened
toward the close of the thirteenth century and it is
this early effort of the spirit Of liberty that the
Rhine owes the peculiar and melancholy grandeur Of
its scenery
But is not to history alone that belong the chron
ces Of the caste-ruins Of the Rhine Tradition and
legend have their own, and not the least interesting
share of the story. The times OF feudalism and CHI
valry have always afforded rich themes for the 10
and the baad-writer and it will naturally be
inferred that region rich in eudal ruins the Dor
ders ofthe Rhine, must equally abohnd in legends Of
knighty feats of arms of pathetic of love and
despair and of dark and fearful tragedies which so
often disgrace the annals Of baronnial rule Almost
every castle in fact has its story which gives it
thing of poetic interest to the lover of the romantic
and the marvellous, and which, like monumental
inscription perpetuates to succeeding ages the story
of the scenes which It has witnessed. The very
rocks and hills fruitful Of romance and table, and
as specimen of the legends which cling about the
glorious scenery Of the Rhine may be altogether
devoid of interest," give you the translation of one
which find in French work The scene Of the
story is one of the grandest parts Of the Rhine,
to the town of ST. Goar where the river shut in by
rocky barriers of more than usual height rushes with
great velocity bed of sunken rocks and forms
sort of whirlpool rapid which renders the naviga-
ton not without difficulty and danger A short dis
tance below, the stupendous Rhenfels, the most i'm
posing and vast Of all the ruins Of the Rhine rears its
majestic front from the summit of rocky cliff, while
above in sudden bend Of the stream stands preci-
pice of black rock, naked gloomy and peri molecular,
and Using to he height Of several hundred feet above the
surface of the water. This precpice, called the Lur-
ley berg, produces remarkable echo, which is said
under favorable circumstances to repeat less than
fifteen times There is difficulty in accounting for
this extraordinary echo, when consider the form
ofthe precipice, which is broken into great number
Of perpendicular surfaces which succeed each other
in regular graduation, and form SO many planes of
gradually increasing in distance from the
,ent of Rut fha nf ha al
satisfied with physical demonstration Of extraordi-
nary phenomena, especially when they are furnished
by SO sublime an object as the Lurleyberg Here is
the explanation which tradition gives of the echo
In former times, there often appeared upon the
summit Of the rock of Lurley at the close of day
Dr. by moonlight, maiden who sang with such
sweet voice, that all who heard were enchanted
with its harmony 1t not unfrequently happened
hat boats descending the stream were Ias he'd to
pieces against the rocks, or swallowed up in the whir
,ol which foams at the base of the precipce; the
boamen, charmed by the divine melody, forgot the
LANCER that surrounded them, and giving themselves
10 the sweet Illusion they foated destruction
without the power of making effort to save them
'elves The nymph who uttered the charming sounds
Was meyer except by some young fishermen, to
whom sue sometlSes appeared al twilight, showing
hem where to cast their nets, and they never failed
n Their good luck so long they followed her direc-
ions. Wherever they went they spoke with raplures
If the graces and beauty of the mysterious songstess
The whole country was filled with their marvellous
eports, and at length reached the ears of young
might whose father Ca count Palane) was holding
lis court in the neighborhood. The young mans Gu
iosty and love of adventure ere excited to the high
st pitch by what he heard, and Fastening to WeseI,
e took boat and descended the stream forthwith to
he scene of so many charms and dangers determined
possible to enjoy sight of the beautiful nymph
The sun had set and the evening star was shining
bove the horizon, when he arrived he precpce of
.urley. "Do you see her." cried the rowers "yon-