Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-29
An Old German City-Interesting Account
= IOFNIb" IVVVVI-"IIV0I UHuo IyIDfV /"
Leipsic; t

of LelpsIc. ......,... ---
A foreign letter-writer thus refers to
Leipsic: tr
The town was founded by Sclavonic fisher
men, and was by them called Lipzk, which
signifies "place of the Lindens," poeticAl
enough for fishermen. In 724, st. Bonifaee
succeeded in hooking these heathens on a
Christian line, the bait was most probably i'm
munity from taxes or some similar argument.
In 922, Notifications were constructed to pro-
tect the inhabitants from the non conforming
Sclaves and Wendes In l0l5 the place as
sumed the dignity of a city, issued bonds,
shinplasters and other obligations indicative
of a corporate body. In ll34 wall was con-
structed-althoughto torn down at later date,
it was again rebuilt. In 1900 0thon laid the
foundation for the annual fair, which exists
to this day. The privilege of coming money
was granted in 1913, and in 1907 the annual
fair Yves extended into three fairs per an
mum, but previous to which, l4O9, the Uni
versity was founded. In 1919 Luther had a
war of words with the great champion of
Rome, Esk, and twenty years later the seeds
of the Reformation took strong root During
the various wars of Germany, Leipsic received
nearly as many kicks as her fairs brought
her coppers, notwithstanding which the
book-trade, from too strict censor, was
driven from Frankfort, here, in 1867, from
which time it has continued to increase, and
now IL is said Leipsic, with population of
10000, publishes four times as many books
as Vienna, with 100000 inhabitants.
The Notifications Of LeiDsic we're finally
leveed with the ground toward the close Of
the last century, thanks TO the Burgmeister
Muller, who is honored with a monument for
his zeal in this matter and now the city is
surrounded with a beautiful promenade
finely planted with shade-trees, and instead
of scarpements, trenches, battlements and
portcullis "to fright the soul Of fearful ad-
versary," gentle glades, peaceful Shades
running brooks and quiet hooks have taken
their place. H .a.. t -.
The commerce of this place is very import.
ant being second to no city in Germany.
The three fairs--New Years, Easter (three
weeks afterG and st. Michaels (frst of 0cto-
ber)-briDg an immense coneourse of people
from all parts of the world. 'Tis then the
turbaned Turk, the smooth Hindoo, the
Christian dog and the bearded Jew, cease
from prosecuting each other, and are glad
enough to find common quarters. Land
lords, coachmen and purveyors generally
reap rich harvest; rooms, carriages and
eatables are scarce at double their usual
price. The annual business transactions of
these fairs is estimated at nearly $50, 900.
The book trade is immense; there are l30
book stores, thirty printing establishments,
employing 200 hands, and forty steam
sent every town, and even village, in Ger
many, and the principal large cities of Eu-
rope. Any book published out of Leipsic is
Immediately forwarded to this common CEN
ter, and, through the various agents, is soon
disseminated throughout Germany. NJ.
Mariner relates the following, which illus
trates the system: Being desirous of send
ing book to friend in Copenhagen, from
Berlin, he was compelled to send it first to
Leipsic, where q note of it was taken by the
/ Copenhagen agents, who .hsd it sent to a
/ bookseller in that city, who delivered it to
the party to whom it was directed.
Books are sold on long credits, never less
than twelve months, and the settling day is
always at the Easter fair. Then the various
! booksellers, or their agents, hand in q list of
what has been sold, debiting those they have
! furnished, and returning the "crabs," as
those books not sold are Technically termed.
Leipsic has her museums, gallery of paint
] ings, &c, &c, and. though of much interest,
we will not tire the reader with descrip-
tion of them. The new public buildings
are like those of Berlin, succeed, and sub.
! ject to all the inconvenience of this mode of
construction. The University, which occu-
| pies portion of what is termed the Au-
| gusteum, or Auguste Platz, is justly cele-
brated for the commercial knowledge it i'm
parts to the students. Its library is very
! fine, numbering 100000 volumes, sc.