Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-08-11
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
No.
An,rrhpAa, June a. ,s3

AMSTERDAM, June a, 80.
Mr. DEAR SIR,--A peculiar feature of most
OF the continental cities that have seen is
grove in the immediate vicinity Some of these
are very extensive, often two or three miles in
length BY one in width. They are intersected
by roads and walks which are finely shaded, and
there of all evening the people go for relaxation
and fresh air. In these groves are their pleasure
gardens, which are great places of resort, espe.
clally with the Germans who are very fond of
cheap and innocent nmusements. A band of
music Is necessary appendage, and hundreds
of men with their wives and children may be
seen strolling about the place, or seated around
small tables under the trees, refreshing them.
selves with coffee or beer | have never seen
spurious liquors in those gardens. But Ger
man will smoke, and custom makes it allowable
every where in the dining room, in the railroad
car, or diligence, in the company Of ladies', it is
nll the same; he smokes his pipe with cool in
difference. The objection is raised by some
persons, that these grves are resored to on Sun
days afternoon. have no doubt, that many more
go there on that day, than any other in the week
but before we condemn the customs, we shoulC
examine the cause. Thousands in every large
city find it difficult to support themselves and
large families respectfully, by working six days
In the week in close workshops TO them, such
change gives new life and impulse to the sys
TEN. 1t inyigorates il for the labors of the com
ing week, and ! am satifed, that if we had
more places Of innocent recreation around oul
American cities, where Intoxicating liquors were
not cold, we should see fewer sallow faces
among our laboring classes and is II not bette
that the people should enjoy such innocent AM
refreshing exercise, than to waste their time il
lstless inactivity at home, or in visiting the grop
shoPs' From Berlin to Hamburg, requires
eight hours by Railroad over an extremely e
vel country, presenting no obstacles to building
road greater than an occasional sand hill Of
trifing elevation. Hamburg is situated on the
Elbe, eighty miles from us mouth, and Is the
principal port Of entry for Germany. Ships Of
large size come thus far up the river without diff
hculty. They have no docks, but ships anchor
in the stream and transfer their freight into bar
ges, which pass through the numerous canal
directly to the back door Of the warehouse of IN,
merchant 10 1912, more than seventeen hun
dred houses, being large portion of the CITY
were destroyed by one fro; but that part ba,
been since rebuilt forming very marked diff
ference in the aspect Of the two parts. The OLD
is constructed with pointed gables to the stree,
with steep roofs covered with the reddest kind q
tile, while the new part has incorporate,
all the modern improvements. Some estimat,
OF the extent Of the business may be forme,
from the fact that four thousand vessels ente
the port annually. The country people, as see
IN the market place, present novel feature /
their dress. The milk men with their pointe
hats their spencers with bright buttons and ga
small clothes and stockings, and the flower girl,
wearing on their heads acovering made of straw
OF the size and shape Of an ordinary milk pa
bottom side up, with large black bows hangin
~down behind and wearing skirts of some brioh
color ana extremely short, while the cook inya
riably canies her marketing home under he
arm, covered over with the gsyest kind Of
shawl. A ride Of sixty-fye miles by diligence
carried me from Hamburg to Bremen. Tn
r. country. Was gently undulstng and in hig