New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-25
MATTERs AND THINGS IN THE PRUSSIAN
CAPITAL.
v,om o., Own Correspondent.

slow people So says one of our fast Yankees
here. who 10 "doing up" grand tour in Ameri-
can style, and who, after having FINISHED"
England, France, Belgium and North Germany,
rs lust going of south--as wise as when he left
hsme. He has been rushing from place to place
with guide-book in hand, and has filled his head
with confused mass OF sights, among all Of
which he seems TO have distinct recollection
OF some four or Eve things only, viz: German
bed, German stove, English ale and coppery
oysters, French women, and the waiter who
cheated him on the little, nasty, black, abomi-
pable apology for a steamboat on which ne
crossed TO the Continent. If he referred TO
steamboating in calling the Germans slow, he
had better apply the epithet to our English
eousips. as they are the slowest of the slow IN
adopting such improvements as might make
their boats endurable; but we may as well ex-
pect cheap Ocean postage so long as one line OF
steamships has its monopoly guaranteed by Con-
gross, as 10 hope for the space and ventilation
of an American steamboat where nobody bat the
"Steam Navigation Companies" dare run boat
at all. Furthermore until our German friends
cease reading of the blowing up Of some thousand
or two Of their emgrant friends annually on our
waters, they may be pardoned for sticking to
style of boat which has proved safe and satisfactory
to their public for thirty years.
But let us get on shore. My Yankee friend does
not like the want of ventilation in the Opera
House; nor DO ], in any concert or other public
room in which j ever was in all Germany.
/ admit the slowness herein exhibited. At
the Winter concerts it is absolutely intOera-
BILE to such as have been used TO something bet
ter--the Germans have not. But the Germans
do not feel the effects Of want of ventilation we
do, for two reasons they never heat their rooms
to sufi0catiOn; and secondly, they do not shut
Themselves up as we do. Come with me to the
Brandenburgh Gate-frOm here ten minutes
walk, and accessible from the most distant part of
the city by omnibus at expense of seven es ht
cents. From the Gate westward what noble
avenue, some two miles long, perfectly straight
and level, very broad, and inclOsed either side
by q wood which reminds you of the everlasting
forests at home! Ten or twelve hundred acres of
land are here covered with wood, trayersed in all
directions BY avenues and paths and everywhere
open to the use of the public. This is the famous
Thierearten There is nothing slow" in this
splendid provision for the lungs of the poor deni
cellars and garrets, and the general health
ness of the children shows its wisdom. From the
City Gate avenues and paths branch off like the
sticks of fan. 1t is immaterial which we take,
are crowded with people, who, having finished the
labors of the day, have come out for the reviving
influences of the woods.
We will turn down to the left and keep along
near the street which borders the Thiergarten on
the south for this is perhaps the most fashionable
promenade, and we may meet some persons one
would like to see. The fashionable carriage and
horseback routes are also here. What wilder
ness and wealth of flowers, and not few among
them old American acquaintance Yes, the mar
ginal street 10 this part OF the garden is named
after Linneus, and if they would only put the
names of all the plants upon them, one could well
study the great mans science without book In
The public grounds at Breslau this is done, and the
finest trees saw there except the native lindens
and beeches are the American plane and the sugar
maple-the arbor-vita never attans the fine pro-
portions here that the cool waters and breezes and
rich soil on the shores of our great lakes give it.
But what variety in, and what number OF these
gardenspots scattered all about through the woods
Yes, no two alike-here is one in the old French
taste there another in English style-indeed one
can really get quite an idea of the history of gar
deniDg by simply walking about here. branch
of the Spree has been brought by canal to this side
Of the city, which beside serving the purposes of
navigation furnishes the water for innumerable
small ponds and romantic little sheets, seas" as
they call them here Further on there is tract
of many acres suffered to grow in all the wildness
of nature, and that is my favorte resort in this hot
weather. l like to 90 there and dream of our
wild woods at home, and the nearest approach to
inconsistencies have had was when, walking here,
the breeze came to me redolent with the perfume
Of ustblossoms-the American Acacia being
favorite tree here, as well it may be. How
"orderly and quiet everyt thing is here At home
"such place would be but resort for rowdies
"and the scene OF such dOings as would drive off
"all respectable people"
Not at all. Rowdyism flies from respectabity,
and were the New-Yor project for a Park carried
out-and New-York, in the words of Mr. Bundle,
is an ass if it don't carry it out-there would be
the more difficulty in preserving the place free
from objection on that score than there is here or
at Mt. Auburn or Greenwood Cemetery.
But let us look at the people; To one who has
just come from America think hardly anything
Is so striking TO such multitudes of children
from six years Of age down TO six weeks, all rud-
dy plump, healthy. Look at the first five hundred
you meet, and that universal American nuisance
crying baby, isnot to be seen. Why should they
cryl They have plenty of simple food-no devour-
ing of pound-cakeif the child asks for bread they
do not give him such stone-have plenty of fresh
air and play here and sleep in their plump nurses
arms and wake md play and sleep again. The
children certainly do not look so delcatey beaut-
full as with us-fSries, but frail far-still were
1 a parent should thank God for the honest, round
rosy. plump faces OF these children.
Speaking Of these children, l am constantly
struck with the great number Of these little tod
hers Of two three years end under who rejoice in
the beauty of handy legs. That little chaps legs
would do for hoop to an eightgallon beer cask,
and fit well, and no cabinetmaker could desire
finer pair Of callpers than that other little one
is trying to balance himself upon. Is il fashion
Or are some of the members of the Academy of
Science trying the experiment Of introducing here
fla cf