Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-09-15
. From Shnrpe's Magazine.
JOURNEY EROsI LIEGE 70 AIX-LA-CHAP-
.I PELLE.

arrived at the coach-ofnce Just as they
were putting the horses to, procured my
ticket, and was putting it in my pocket
when by-stander rather significantly said
"fou had better read it, sir" | took his
advice. These tickets, for the convenience
OF travellers, were printed in German and
French. found / was to occupy the
fourth seat in the vehicle, and strictly for
bidden TO change places with my fellow
travellers, even if such an arrangement
should be agreeable to all parties. This
despotic military discipline was a sufficient
indication of our nearing the territories of
his Prussian majesty, Frederic William
However, when once snugly ensconced in
my corner, the tyranny OF his majesty gave
me but little concern Il fell fast asleep,
and enjoyed as fine nap as it could fall to
the lot of any man in land of perfect lib
erty. 1t was about three O'Clock in the
morning-that is to say, daybreali-
! awoke the rocking of the carriage-so
soothing to the drowsy--had ceased, and
my slumbers broken. AT first I anticpa-
ted some evil--the loss of wheel, horse
fallen down, or some unfortunate accident.
| advanced my head to the carriage win
dow; all was right there we were, alone,
brought to stand on one of the most beau
tiful roads ever saw took my ticket
from my pocket, too see if could gain in
formation as to this rather unusual method
of travelling. Not a word but as there
was no prohibition to my holding conversa-
ton during the journey, why, | turned to
my neighbor, and asked him if we had been
thus stationary for any length Of time.
"About twenty minutes" was the reply.
'Twenty minutes" exclaimed. "Pray,
sir, may I, without indiscretion, ask what
we are doing here?"
ave are waiting.'
"Oh! we are waiting. And pray what
are we waiting for!'
''The hour.'' .
sWhat hour ," a t..
''The hour when, by right, we enter the
town."
SIS there, then, fixed hour 2"
"Everything is fixed in Prussia"
''But supposng we happened to arrive
before the hour!'
''The conductor would be punished"
Sand if after!"
''Punished the same"
"That's well looked to at any rate" was
my observation.
'.Everything is well looked to in Prus-
sia," responded my neighbor
! bowed my head in token of assent
Not for the world would ! have differed
from gentleman who was so thoroughly
impressed with the superiority OF the laws
and ordinances of his country; independ-
ent of which, he had been too complaisant
in answering my many questions to admit
of my wounding his feelings amour propre.
| saw that my silent acquiescence to his
opinion had gratfed him; SO ventured to
resume the conversation, by inquiring the
precise hour at which alone we had the
privilege of entering Aix-la-Chapelle."
"Thirty-fve minutes past four in the
morning." ...
''But if the watches and clocks don't
agree ~
"Watches and clocks always agree in
Prussia"
There must be something more than
meets the eye, thought l, in this said king
dom Of Prussia, when even time seems reg
ulatcd by dictatorial cdict. Really puz-
zled, | begged an explanation.
''The conductors" continued my COM
pahicn, ''have timepiece placed before
them in the cabriolet, which is secured by
paddock, to prevent all touching of the
works TO suit their convenience. These
are regulated by the clocks Of the Message
ries, and by them the moment Of arrival at
each town and village is ascertained, to
our final entree at AiX-la-Chapelle."
s.With all these precautions, how hap
pens it," / continued, ''that we are obliged
to be waiting here, on this bowling green
of a road %
81 suppose the conductor, lil'a yourself,
sir, fell asleep, and during the time the
postiilons pushed on at too great a speed,
and now they have to pay. for time oper-
spent"
"Oh! if that's the case, will profit by
the halt, get out of the carriage, and look
about me little"
"You cannot get out of diligence in
Prussia till the end of your Journey"
| was nearly tempted to utter deep and
bitter imprecation against Prussia and all
who belonged to it. l, however, suppress.
sed my anger, and begged to know what
were those ruins | saw at little distance.
at is the castle of Emmaburg."
Sand what is the castle of Emmaburg ~
1t was there that the adventures of Egin-
hard and Emma tool, ploca ,,