Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-03-14
Letters from Abroad. &.
From Mrs. c. Of NesO- York, addressed tOhev chill
DIRE" at TIE Young Ladies' School, Litchfeld
PoTsDAAG, (Prussia,) Aug. ~, ls43.

VSSssS A$sAASsCO G%StGNytGtUs
PoTsDAnG, (Prussia,) Aug. ~, 1s43.
Mr. DEAR CH11DREN,- ..f,
must 60 back to Ostend, which
we reached at half past in the afternoon Of We'd
nesday, August q As have written aunt H. an
account Of the places we visited in Belgium
ana Holland, which she will probably send YOU.
will only give you list Of the places, and com.
mence my description with Ham6srgh.
Weleft Ostend at 6 A. M: by railway, and were at
Brussels by II P. M. think Brussels the most
beautiful city we have yet seen. We remained here
three days. and left Saturday the 5tb by railroad at
IL A. M. and reached Antwerp thirty miles distant
at p. M. In going from Ostend (o6r landing
place from England) to Brussels we pass through
the old towns Of Bruges, Client and Mechlin. We
with the city and its fine churches and paintings.
We sailed down the Scheldt in steamer, passing
no place Of much note save Dortrecht, and arrived
at Rotterdam half past i've, took guide and spent
the time till o'clock in walking about the city,
and then after visiting the cathedral the ssotue and
house Of Erasmus, we took seats in diligence
and were at the Hague, 12 miles distant by 10. We
were up betimes the next morning, and having
seen all we wished, were ready to leave at 3 p M,
and by coach and railway were at Harlaem by half
past S. Went to the cathedral and heard the "a
nous organ and walked about the place, and merit
morning left at by railroad, and were at the Ho-
tel at Amsterdam little after 9, and after seeing
the curiosities here, visited the unique village Of
Brock, celebrated as the neatest village in the
world. 1t contains about 800 inhabitants, and we
found it was not overrated. At every door we saw
number Of "sabots" (wooden shoesl which are al.
ways left at the outside, when the owners Of them
enter the house in stocking feet lest they should
soil the floor. We went into large dairy where
cheeses are made. As the front doors are never
opened, we were ushered in at the side or kitchen
door, The china (of which the people here are
very proud) shone like silver We saw the stalls
win 1UhS
kitchens in New York, with the exception of the
floor, which was Of brick. Twice week the cows
and swine are washed.
We left Amsterdam in a steamer at 2 p. M. for
Hamburger, sailing up the Zuyder Zee and the
North Sea and 80 miles up the Elbe. LANDING at ri.
about o'clock Friday afternoon in the midst Of a
pouring rain: Hamburger is altogether business
place, containing little that is beautiful or orna
mental, and it still shows the effects of the DESTROY
ing element which ragged here so violently some IA
months since, leveing most ofits largest and most
beautiful buildings. 1t has however some delight
full walks and drives, and some fine views Of the
Elbe and the Elster, at the junction of which two
rivers Hamburger is located They have here some
of the prettiest costumes Of any which we have any
where seen, that Of the maids who attend upon the
children or 60 to market particularly. They have
their hair combed smoothly down on either side OF
the faces and it is neatly braided behind and taste
fully arranged low down on the neck. On the back
part OF the head they wear a close fitting cap OF
gold or silver tissue, fastened on with broad bands
of gay ribbon floating down in long streamers be.
hind tight fitting bodice Of some bright color,
with frillat the waist belinda skirt with broad
gay stripes, short sleeves, and long black lace
gloves; long narrow basket 10 carried under the
arm, concealed by large handsome shawl Of bright
gay colors in which they seem to delight, completes
the costume. Then there are the Dutch Flower
girls from Guelderland, who wear velvet slippers
Ssu g hose s2ess 1n skirt e bright
round the bottoms bodice of some dark color is
laid over vest Of different shade OF color; small
round straw hat with black bows and streamery
falling from beneath it, and their loose white hang
ing sleeves, give pretty effect. We passed one
evening Pavilion or Cafe, where were thousand
people at least, sitting around little round tables
eating, chatting and listening to an orchestra of
some Of the first German performers. Sunday we
rode few miles out of town to place of great re-
sort called Blankenhese which is in the kingdom
of Denmark. Parties were eating their breakfasts
under the trees and in the saloons, and here too
they had music. On the way, at the town of Alto.
ma, we passed the grave and tomb Of Klopstock in
front Of the church, under fine large shady tree.
we went into cemetery our way; it was
divided into plots by walks like garden path
each plot devoted to family was covered with
green turf and ornamented with Towering shrubs.
green moss mingled with bright flowers formed in
to wreaths, crosses letters and baskets of flowers,
&c. ornamented the head stones of almost every
green. but all estying that those beneath had not
been while living unlOued, or unhonOred, and tho
dead were not ,'remenabered or forgotten Soon
after leaving the cemetery we met funeral pro-
cession bending their steps towards it, consisting
not as with of the friends Of the departed, but Of
some 10 or 20 hired mourners, who always act up
on these occasions az well at marriage festivals,
They were all dressed in black with plated rufles
round the neck, curled and powdered wigs, no hats.
shorts, Spanish cloaks and swords The hearse
was shaped like huge cantelope melon, black.
| and streaked with gold. 1t was borne by eight men
who walkd with slow & measured tread but with
a sscGggering gait, makingthe hearse swing to and
fro like hammock; and this was all-no carria-
ges or other procession. We rode out again after
tea; the people were returning--the streets were
6lld-the windows Of the shops displayed all kinds
OF tempting things; and the people instead Of GO
ing to church were bending their steps towards the
opera, which commences at 6 o'clock and closes al
A. M, and this not in Catholic country. but
where the inhabitants are mostly Lutherans, or of
the Greek church. Monday morning we left Ham
burgh at o'clock in n steamer. The sail up the
Elhe !: rather undressing. though up to Ham
ourgh 1t was very beautiful. It 10 navigable 21O
miles. The only things new to me were the inn
nense RATS Of timber which were floating down
the river. We saw often some twelve or fifteen
men towing sloop up the river by rope attached
to the top OF the mast our horses tow canal boats
and IN passing boat or town they FIRE cannon
from the boat by way of salute which is very disa>
greeable One principal cause Of sail on the Elbe
above Hamburger being uninteresting is the high
dykes or embankments built on either side Of the
river to prevent its overlooking the adjacent
towns and villages, thus preventing our seeing any
thing but their roofs and chimnies. After sail Of
SO hours we arrived at Potsdam (the Prussian Yer.
sailles, situated on the right bank of the Havel.
branch Of the Elbe) about 2 P. M. Potsdam is
~ H. sA.. l.. r. x