The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-16
OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS.
LANDAU, June 20, 1866,

MesSrs Editors Methinks hear many of your
readers, on seeing this, exolaim: Landau and
where in the world is that2" Be patient, my
gentle reader, and I shall tell thee all about it..
Landau is German federal fortified town, in the
Palatinate or Rhenish Bavaria, a few miles west
Of the Rhine, which here forms the boundary be-
tween the Pfalz and Baden, and few miles north
of the Lau'er, which separates it from France.
My last was from Frankfort; but in the present
uncertain state Of public transportation, cannot
feel sure that it reached you safely. / designed
staying some time longer in Frankfort, but it is
too near the headquarters of the Federal army, to
be at present an agreeable place of abode In
deed 1 may say, in a measure, it is in q state OF
siege, being certainly the objective point of the
PrusBian army in the southwest. Nothing would
more delight the relentless BIsmARK than to bag
the whole Diet, take the whole Bund, and lock it
up at spaudau, stettin or Wetzlar. There is in
| consequence at Frankfort good deal Of anxiety
| and unrest, and both business and pleasure
called me further south, followed their bidding,
| ct me uoici!
I can recall the time when this journey was
deemed formidable undertaking. The merchant
who twice year went to the Fair at Frankfort to
make his purchases-just as your Charleston mer-
chants go to New York-was elaborately euuipped
at great outlay Of trouble the part of his faith
full spouse, who, on parting, olung to her too ad-
venturous lord-with her fearful eyes chiding his
bold aud reckless spirit that would for filthy lucre
entrust his precious person to the uncertain Gus
tody OF the conducteur Of the diligence, and ride
through those great dark and uncanny forests
Now the anxiety is very muoh diminished, as the
railroad car lands you on the bank Of the Mayne
in few short hours.
The country we traversed, on our way hither is
one OF the most charming to be seen anywhere in
the world. True, the rapidity OF the steam car
allowed US but slender opportunities for viewing
the landscape or admiriug the scenery. We could
only take in the general effeot-reserving the ex-
animation Of details to future day. I revelled
in the delightful climate. The atmosphere is de-
liciously cool and bracing. The vicinity of the
Oden,odld and the Haardt Mountains tenpers the
vertical rays Of the MONDAY sun, even in June.
The sombre green OF the forest-ooyered noun
tain peaks stands in beautiful relief against the
clear and cloudless azure Of the sky. About half
way down the slope you observe regular line,-a
difference in the shade Of green between the
trees above, and what, upon inquiry, we learned
are the vineyards below. These vineyards are too
far off for you to them to any satisfaction, as
You rush rapidly by on Ito wings Of the iron
horse
But occasionally tho railroad runs right through
the midst OF vineyard, and then you can see
that the vines are differently trained here from
what you see them in Spain or Italy. They are
planted in rows the whole length OF the piece of
land, at intervals Of from three to six feet,-dis
tance between the rows about the same The
vines are carefully pruned every year, and are
never allowed to exceed four or five feet in height
They are fastened to short posts, and these again
are connected by laths, nailed lengthwise on top
OF the posts,-thus forming long rows Ct posts
and laths on which the vines are trained. The
land here being naturally fertile, and moreover
very highly manured and carefully cultivated, the
vines are vigorous, and the yield usualiy good,
unless the season is specially unpropitious The
vineyards at present are thckly covered with a
dark green foliage, very pleasing to the eye of the
passing traveller.
Here and there rows of trees are seen along
some macadamzed road, Of which there are
great many all through here. These trees arc
almond, walnut, cherry apple, pear, and some-
times chestnut. The avenues they form add
great beauty to the landscape.
AS you look through the window Of your car,
you see village spires all around you. There is
| usually only one church in village or town; but
so numerous these, and so close together, that
the traveller on the railroad, who only gets
passing view, is tempted to believe the whole
Kreis (circle or province) one vast country town.
AS the bell rings at sx o'clock in tho morning the
laborers come forth with picks, hoes, shovels,
spades and hods, entering on tho days toll, quite
forgetful, apparently, that fierce war is raging
in the land, and thousands Of their felow-coun-
trymen may perhaps be called upon that very
morning to bleed and to die for their country
Yes for King and country to all these good
people are synonymous and interconvertible
terms.
We now leave the mountain side, and enter on
a vast plain. Here the vineyards gradually give
way to fields Of waving corn (rye), wheat, spelt,
oats, barley, poppy, rape, hemp, fax and clover.
Again your guide may point out field Of tobacco.
chicory or sugarbeet Here again is beautiful
valley and there are many such, redolent of the
delicious smell OF new-mown hay. AS far as your
eye can reach up and down the stream, for about
mile on each side Of it, you see one vast
body OF meadow land, covered with millions of
the most beautiful wild flowers. Here and there
the mowers are at work, still using the old
fashioned scythe others are raking the grass,
and others again are building huge stacks Of hay.
When our road ran close to the deciyity Of the
mountains we saw the quarries, which are very
abundant here, furnishing an unlimited supply OF
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