Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-06-07
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
MO XVII.
PARIS, Jan. 20, 1860.

Ny "A singular novelty on the khlu
ut is the bridges Of boats extendin
across the river at the principal eli
les. They consist Of some fi(t
boats each anchored at equal dis
tance from each other. upon wbic
is built the superstruciure; an open
ing is readily made for the passag
OF steamers and immense RATS @
timber, which are floated down tn
river, by allowing portion Of th'
bridge to float a little way dow,
stream. | saw likewise a success
sion Of floating giist-mills anchored
in the middle of the river; the un,
der-shot huge water wheel being
turned by the current, thereby OBJ
tanning water power at little expense.
As to the scenery of the Rhine, it
lis varied; at times it is tame aud un-
interesting; but, in places, grand aud
picturesque. Naturally, it is not
superiOr to much of our American
scenery on many Of our lakes and
rivers; but age, art and numerous old
castles and chateaux, with It's great
historical associations give to it an
interest and renown which our coun-
try, OF course. does not posses; it is
these that have given the Rhine its
beauty and romance, and not its much
boasted scenery.
After visiting Cologne hod all the
principal towns on the Rhine, | has
tened on to the Dn;ch Kingdom of
land-stopping at Amsterdam,
Harlem, the Hague and Rotterdam
At HARLEM is the celebrated organ
which plays once week for the en-
tsrtainment of the public and travel
lers.
At present there are several ia.
nous organs extant. | heard the
celebrated organ at Freyburg in
Switzerland. This has seven thou
sand and eight hundred pipes, while
that Of HARLEM has only five thou
sand. 1t is truly wonderful what
power, variety and sweetness these
instruments possess; varying from
the most terrible and impetuous thun-
lsr storm 70 the softened notes of
he most exquisite melody. These {
performances have a singdlarly i'm.
effect ell the listeners -
Seated In an immense church in to- i
.al darkness rs we were Mt Frey
)urg, not sound or whisper to be {
heard, while suddenly, the organ
,ursts forth in all its power and deaf, t
ming voiumqs of sound, almost rails d
ng us from our seats-imitating a s
hunder storm accompanied by oeea. |
'ional vivid flashes Of lightning; !
inaliy sofiening down to the calm of 4
summer evening.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are /
eally singular and very quaint old
owns. Amsterdam has been called ]
he Venice Of the North. Nearly
il the streets of these two cities are I
reversed by canals filed with boats. a
Some Of them are large enough to !
'dmis large ships, which give the a
,lace singular appearance. The 6
are brick and are built on I
tiles, which the extreme soilness OF J
he ground renders necessary. i I
observed that several buildings leaned ?
from perpendicular, e
aused by a decay Of these piles and {
be sinking Of one side Of the build
ngs into the muddy foundation.- t
These canals, queer houses, narrow t
trests filled with market women, e
women washing all sorts OF dirty h
insn. dog carts, girls packing their !
with wooden Jokes bearing Q
G their burden, nurses carliUg about Q
heir dirty brats and every sort Of a
lenders hawking their wares about t
he street in a peculiar sing song g
one, present a scene TO be found 10 v
10 other city in Europe. And T
shat adds to the variety is, the sin /
,ulariy grotesque style Of female Y
Iress; particularly the female head v
Ear, is decidedly unique; such COM s
cal looking chaps with bright metalic a
'rnaments both over and under them. c
saw some wearing, under neatly a
pen. worked cap, glittering plate 4
t brass or gold, covering the entire t
lead and coming forward to the brow h
md temples, presenting d very snowy 9