Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-12-15
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.

DRESDEN, Oct. -Otn iSoo.
The Saxon Capital is q city gifted US but few
cities are Nature and art seem to have ii
vailed and to be still rvalng each other in prod-
gality to the lovely "Ebe-Florence," as its
inhabitants delightito3 o3nameits people with
plenty Of money and good conscience, Dresden
must indeed be an Elysium, and a sojourn in it
like the beginning of the Millennium; for having
these two indispensables, nothing else is want
ing. Truly one can make very tolcrab!e Par
adise Of it without either, and that is Gel anly
saying the utmost for its charms. So numerous,
SO diversified and on such an imperial scale are
its Art-Coections, that they have given to it
the reputation Of the Mecca Of German Art
and Artists. Strange to say. the buildings
which contain these treasures arc all situated
within stones throw Of each other; in fact
most of them arc connected and form as it were
one eliiicc and in an open part OF the city,
lying Immediately on the Eibc, one immense
garden. Here is.tlc famous "Zwingcr," which
is the name given to about an acre Of level
sanctuarics of art, that is, the Picture Gallery,
the Gallery Of Sculpture, the Amory, the His
torical and Natural Historical Museums and the
Geological Collection. This vacant space is
filled during the summer with orange trees in
huge tubs, making an artificial orange grove
These trees, two hundred in number, and most
of them quite large, are looked upon as one Of
the chief prizes of the city, and so soon as the
cold weather approaches, they are removed to
an immense glass conservatory devoted especial
ly to their preservation, and known as the
Orangerie. The ornaments of this tastefully
arranged spot, besides the orange trees, are two
fountains and commanding monument and
statue to the memory Of Friedrich August the
Just the most revered of Saxon kings.
The Zwinger has four entrances, one toward:
each point of the compass, and is surrounded
on three sides by an cxquisitely cultivated gar
den. These entrances are formed by wide ane
lofty arched passages which lead through the
first story of the buildings, and each is sur
mounted by cupola or dome. The garden on
one side, or the surface of the earth rather, rises
into an abrupt hill parallel with the tops Of the
houses, which are fiat, and by this mea5s il
formed promenade where people saunter ant
look down upon the orange trees, the fountains
tie monument and the throng; for during eight
months in the year, the Zwinger is thronget
with sgbt-scekers, peasure-seekcrs and idle
Haunting, tricked-out promcnaders, to say
nothing Of unavoidable nursery maids and inev
liable babies. This promenade is continued al
most entirely around upon the flat roofs, ant
under tue hills lies lake led off from th'
Elbc, containing an island with a summer hous
upon it.
Fifty yards perhaps from the Zwinger, still
nearer the Elbe, and with nothing intervening
but the garden, stands the superb and measure
less Theatre. Fifty yards in another direction
stand side by side the far famed and matchles
Roman Catholic Cathedral (wherc the Music
the submest out of Heavcn) and tue dizzy oil
royal castle, their towers rising together lik
twin giants, the one above the house OF tn
King of the Universe, the other above th
house of the King of Saxony.
Opposite the castle, across the river, for Dres
den is built equally on both sides the Elbe
towers the Japan Palace, SO called from tn
eastern style Of its architecture, and which con
tains tue royal library. Around this palace
reaching to the very waters edge, stretch til
most transcendantly beautiful gardens, whic
are at all times open to the public. Directly i
front Of the Cathedral leads off the stupendou