The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-05
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL.
BY G. w. w.
LETTER NO. IL.

LETTER NO. 18.
BEBL1N, PRUSSIA, September, 1861 am now in
the capital of the great Prussian Kingdom-once
the homo OF FREDERICK the Great. OF course,
felt moro than an ordinary interest in visiting this
city OF victorious generals. Shortly after leaving
Saxony, you enter q fat, sandy country; in many
places the lnnd is too poor to produce even the
barron heath. traveller is surprised to find here
one Of the finest and most prosperous cities in
Germany, with population Of 900. Berlin,
with its broad, parallel streets bounded by mag
nifcent houses, reminds me more Of Philadelphia
than any city have seen in Europe Its large
squares, splendid palaces, churches and other
buildings, are scarcely to be equalled. The royal
palace and museum contain a rich cabinet Of Gu
riosities, paintings, medals, statues, etc. The city
is encircled by wall fifteen miles in circumference,
which WAS being leyelled to the ground at the very
time BENEDEK was threatening to march his army
into Berlin. The late improvements in artillery
render these ancient Notifications Of little value.
The city has aourishing trade, growing mainly
out Of its manufactures Of cotton wool, silk Prus
sian blue, cutlery etc. The fact Of it's being the
capital Of great nation, adds greatly to its wealth
and prosperity. The city has communication, by
water, both with the Baltic and German Oceans.
q spree, perhaps it is because they live on the
river Spree. In 1906 NAPOLEON captured the city
and held grand court in the royal palace. The
Triumphal Arch, with numerous fine paintings,
were sent by NAPOLEON to Paris, but nearly all
were restored in 1916, and tho old "Arch" stands
now proudly in it's former position. I was anxious
to see King WILLIAM and his Primo Minister; this
not difficult, as tho King could be seen almost
any day driving out. Count B1sMARK has tre-
mendous head, and looks as savage as Russian
bear; he has the reputation Of being one Of the
most unserupulous politicians in Europe he is,
however, diplomatist Of the first order. II Bis
MARK is permitted to make o few more territorial
strides, he will quite absorb the Fatherland. Eng
land and France are very jealous Of the unprece-
dented SUCCESS Of the Black Eagle, and will do all
in their power to stay it's territorial flight Austria
is quite ruled out Of Germany, and it will be many
long, long days before she regains her former po-
sition.' The Double-headed Eagle is crippled, but
not dead; far from it. The great revolution, or
reformation Of MARTIN LUTHER, has been steadily
advancing for three hundred years. The revolu-
Hon resulted in the reestablishment Of the princ-
pies Of early Christianity. LUTHER laid down the
broad doctrine that ell power is derived from God.
In Germany, those who are opposed to the Ro-
man Catholic Church called Protestants, but It
does not follow, because man is opposed to
Romanism, that he is Christian, or even be-
lever in the Christian religion. Myriads Of the
Germans are Observation-Disclosures. At the beginning
of the present century the German Empire was
composed OF three hundred distinct and indepen-
dent States divided into ten circles; each little
State was weighed down by numerous petty royal
families, to be supported in their extravaganza.
The French Revolution wrought many changes in
Germany. After the downfall Of NAPOLEON there
WAS reorganization Of the German States; they
were reduced to thirty-eght States and one EN-
pre, which constituted the Germanic Confederaoy,
with Frankforton- -the-Main for it's capital. The
Confederation had q standing army Of 400, 600 men;
1000 were regiments Of cavalry. It was coales-
cling Of sovereigns, pledged to sustain each other
on their Thrones which at that period we're totter-
ing. Austria and Prussia, with their allies, had O
population twice as numerous as That Of the Unit
ed States, situated in the centre OF Europe. When
united, they became an irresistible power. The
Germans, as nation are devotional, il not religi-
GUS. They are hght-hearted, merry, and fun-lov-
ing. They are industrious, economical, energetic,
and the outside world think them very stub
born. When NAPoLRoN I'LL wanted few
feet Of their territory, merely to straight
en- old lines, he found them particularly 90.
They 60 from church to the public gardens,
where they engage in music and dancing, which
are enjoyed by rich and poor. The Germans are
noted for their economy This trait in their charac
ter ia carried to such an extent that, in the sight
Of the prodigal Americans it looks like stingness
They allow nothing to go to waste you see the wo-
men gathering the sweepngs Of the public roads
which they transfer to their little farms and gar
dens Land that has been in cultivation for 80 many
ages is only kept alive by constant applications O.
manure and fertilizers. Every foot of ground il
forced to it's utmost in producing food for the mil
lions who inhabit the Old Country. Iwiah thes'
careful Germans could be transferred to our ow1
slovenIy cultivated farms; every inducement shoult
be offered to encourage them to emigrate to the
South. I wos surprised to see 80 much land deyo
ted to pasturage this is found necessary, not onl,
to rest the land, but to produce food for the i'm
mense herds Of CATTLE sheep, horses, etc. A goot
farmer changes the crop nearly every year; tn
soil would soon become exhausted IL rotation o
crops was not observed. In many places in Ger
many tobacco is cultivated with great success: th.
wheat and oat crop seldom fails; the 'Irish'
potato is favorite vegetable and principal foot
in some sections; the beet turnip, cabbage and Car
rots are cultivated extensively. The hop and crap
vineyards flourish, but not 30 well as In France
Manufactures In nearly every branch prosper, from
he factt that the Germans work cheaply and max
honest goods.
have drank many glass Of common bee
aa m axouoa IN ba dom aatio n