Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-05-26
LEWSBURG, UNION COUNTY, PENN, FRIDAY MAY 2o' loo+


room has around its walls the portraits Of
all the Emperors from Conrad the First,
and by prophetic accident the last niche
was occupied by the last Emperor's por-
trait.
Pfarrthurm is q tower connected to the
Dome, or Cathedral, two hundred and
sixty feet high. One hundred years were
employed in building it and then it re-
mained unfinished, as i: is at the present
time. Originally it was designed to be
capped with a pyramid which would have
made it sixty feet higher. The expense,
however, prevented its completion. A
round top was placed in its stead, which
is divided into rooms, and the bell-ringer
and his family occupy them as their habi-
tation. Although the tower is attached,
yet it does not belong to the Dome, and
it is said, "The church is Catholic, but
the tower and its bell are not" The Dome
for long time after the reformation be-
longed to the Lutherans and when they
were obliged to return it to the Catholics,
they retained possession Of the tower, on
the ground that it was not the church.
From the gallery which surrounds the top
of the tower, one enjoys view which
amply repays the trouble of ascending.
We find here panorama that not only
embraces Frankfurt and its environs, but
the whole of the lower Mayne yalley,while
in the distance the picturesque Taunus
mountains skirt the horizon. Innumera-
bic villages and villas are scattered over
the scene. All around the Free City are
seen the round towers which mark its
confines; and below is the city and the
winding Mayne, giving an enchanting
beauty to the whole.
Pfarrthurm is near the Bridge, the latter
a large stone work built in the tenth cen
tury. 1t has upon it statue Of Charlie
magne, and near the statue is an iron post
with a golden chicken upon the top. The
legend is that at the time Of the building
of the bridge, two days were wanting Of
the time specified in the contract, for its
completion. The builder, finding it impos-
sible to fulfil his engagement, in despair
and anguish called upon the Devil, as bis
last resort, to assist him. His Satanic
Majesty agreed to finish the work by the
time required, provided be might have the
first living creature that crossed it. This
having been conceded, the bridge, on the
morning of the second day, was found by
the builder entirely completed He i'm
mediately drove Chicken across, but the
Devil, having desired human soul, seeing
himself thus duped and tbwarted, incensed
seized the chicken, tore it in pieces, and
threw it through the bridge. Two holes
ensued, which remain to this day, and il
is said can not be closed, for the work
done during the day is demolished by ar
unseen hand at night!
We also visited the Deaf 4 Dumb 1nsti
tute, under the direction Of DR.. Schwarz
His system, I believe, differs from thai
used in the States. The children ar,
placed under his care at an early age, ant
are taught first to describe the principa
features of familiar objects with theil
hands in the air, then to produce sounds
to pronounce words, and finally to speal
by means of initiating the positions Of th'
mouth, lips, and tongue required for th'
various sounds. The degree Of profcienc!
some of them had attained, was astonish
ing. Questions which were addressed Il
them were easily understood by observing
the movements of the mouth, and thei
replies were perfectly ineligible. Th'
expenses Of boarding, tuition &c. are tw'
hundred year.
I The Fairs of to-day are but remnants o
their ancient greatness and importance
The necessity of their existence has passed
away, and force of custom alone sustain
them. Those at Leipsic and Frankfurt ar
the most important in Germany. That a
the latter place is principally noted for 1T
leather market, and this year have beer
informed it has been of less consequence
than any of the preceding. There wer'
some large purchases in jewclry by Anne
rican houses.
This city was the birth place Of Goethe
and the citizens have honorcd him by Civ
ing his name to a large Square and erect
ing in its center a colossal statue in bronz,
to his memory. On this Square is th'
Episcopal Church, in which there is Eng
lish preaching, the first l have heard sinc'
leaving Liverpool.
Before closing my account of Frank
furt, must mention the Jewish Quarter
street to which in early times the Jew
were limited. The houses, some five o.
six centuries old, are situated on each sid
of On exceedingly narrow passage, whicl
can hardly be diguifed by the name o
street. The ole, dirty, dingy, smokes
buildings, their grotesque style, the filth