Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-12-19
VIC Castle of Friedenstein- on a. s,,nn.

The Castle Of Friedenstein, on the sum-
NIT Of the hill on which the town leans, IS
the old residence of the Dukes of Gotha,
before the union of this Duchy with that Of
Coburg. It IS massive, imposing pile,
forming three sides of quadrangle, open
to the south, and looking across twelve
miles Of grain and tnrnip fields To the way-
ing blue lino Of the Thuringian Forest. A
residence no Hlore, it now contains curious
collection of pictures by the old German
matters. Library of 10000 volumes, an
excellent museum Of natural history, and
oae Of the best collections of Chinese and
japanese articles out Of Holland. The adj
joining park ID noble piece Of ground,
Just sufficiently neglected to make it de-
lightful A few footpaths meander through,
its groves Of superb oak, fir and beech trees.
and long, lazy pools Of dark green water
furnish swimming room for some venerable.
swans. There is an island in the largest
pool, in which lies one of the Dukes, .whoat
his own request, was buried there, in the
moist earth, without shr0ud, coffin or head
stone. The parks and gardens are open
day and night to everybody, and already
feel as much right Of possession therein az
the Oldest inhabitant.
The JaErBsarkt, or annual Fair, Was held
here last eek, and drew together crowds
Of the peasantry from the surrounding VIII
lagos The Fair itself was insignificant,
compared with what | have seen in the
larger German cities, but found it interest,"
ing to watch the jolly peasants who hoyered
around the booths, and bought glaring hand
kerchiefs, immense pipes, winter caps, dream
books and "Rinaldo Rinaldini" or 'The
-Four Sons Of Haymon." They are strong,
stnrdy. ruddy race n little too purely ani-
lmai, to be sure, but with a healthy stami-
na which is not often seen among our rest
less American people. The girls, in partic-
ular, arc as fresh as wild roses, with teeth
which can masticate tougher food than
blanc mango, and stomaclIS, have no doubt,
of equal digestive power. Their arms and
ankles are too thick and strong, and their
hands too red and hard for our ideas of
beauty, but they are exempt from multi
tude of female weaknesses, and the human
race is not deteriorated in their children
They are an ignorant, honest, simple-heart-
ed race, and, although so industrious and
economical, are generous so far as their
means allow them to be.
Lately, the feld-laborers on my friends
property commemorated the close of the
season by bringing him, according to Gus
tom, an Erntekranz (harvest wreath) of
ripe rye and barley stalks, mixed with
wild grasses, and adorned with fantastic
strips of colored and gilded papers. This
wreath was formally delivered to the land
lord, who, also, according to custom, regaled
the laborers with plum cakes and wine.-
They passed the afternoon and evening in
one of the outer rooms settling their ac-
counts and partaking Of the cheer, after
which gittern was brought forth and the
room cleared for a dance. We had some
of the old Thuringian songs, with chorus
moro loud than musical, and two-step waltz
es danced to the tinkling gittern. / was
content to be listner and looker-on, but
was soon seized by the strong hands Of tall
nut-brown maiden, and whTled into the
ranks. Resistance was impossible, and at
the end of FIVE minutes was glad to beat 3
giddy retreat.
! must not close this gossip from Gotha,
without referring to the map-publishing es-
adjustment of Justus Perthes, whose pro-
ductions, for thoroughness and correctness,
are unsurpassed in the world. | relied up
on them for my guidance through Ethiopia,
ASia Minor and India, and found them far
more perfect than any others. In Africa,
in fact l boldly ventured to contradict my
guides, whenever their statements differed
from my map, and the result always iusti-
fed me. Mr.. Perthes commenced last year
the publication of monthly periodical en-
titled: "NittAeilimgen u5er aOichtige neue
EIforschamgent auf dem Gesanantge5iets
der Geographic" Communications concern
ing new and important Researches in tho
realm of Geography the editor of which IS
DIR. A. Petermann, who, although a young
man, ranks among the first living geogra-
piers. This periodicali is admirably gotten
up, and its contents are of the highest inter-
est and Importance. 1t has already at
tanned circulation of 1000 copies about
100 ofwhich go to the United States. If
our colleges, libraries and literary societies
were generally aware of the value of this
publication. its circulation among US would
be greatly increased.
l shall write to you once more before
leaving for the North. BIT.