The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-13
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL.
by G. W. W.
LETTER NUMBER KIN.
HAMBURG, GERMANY, 1866.

The stirring events of tho past few months add
,nuch interest to the great Prussian Metropolis.
unont two DAYS in Berlin, and regretted the time at
INV command would not allow mo wcok in this in
,orestiup CITY. Tho Prussans entorprising
nation. Whatever they undertake must be oxe-
cutcd on grand scale and thoroughly. have
soon no whore in my travels moro striking
monument than that erected to the memory Of
FREDERIC THE GREAT. 1t is true, they havo
been slow in offering this tribute to ono to
whom they are so much indebted for their
preatnoss FREDERIC was to Prussia wha WASH
IsoToN was to the United States. He was both
{, hero and statesman, and is regarded as
tho Father Of his Kingdom. The monument in all
it's proportions is splendid. The horse on which
tho King majostically sits is noble looking ami
NAL, sevonteon feet in height Tho entire monu-
ment is some fifty feet high. The bronze pedestal
ia of huge dimensions, and is raised on blocks Of
beautifully polished granite Tho entire monu-
ment consists of at least forty figures, and, as
work of art it has never boon excolled in Europe.
drove through beautiful grove of trees that
would do credit to an American forest, to the Pal
ace of Charottenhof, situated O few miles from
Berlin. The buildings, although fino, will not COM
pare with the dazzling palaces Of the city.
Tho sight Of the palace is good-standing in
park beautifully ornamented with trees-the
growth of centuries; the walks are lined with
orange and choice shrubs; but there is stiffness
and want of life in tho old palace, and felt as if
moving among scenes of days long passed away,
while really stood in the homo of living mon
archs. The marble statues scattered through
the park have dingy appearance; they look like
neglected monuments in deserted churchyard.
Tho most interesting spot in these grounds was
the mausoleum in which the late King FREDERIC
III. and his queen lie inferred Except that of
NApoIEoNs in Paris, these tombs are the finest
have seen on the Continent. The lay figures are
exquistely cut in puro white marble; the delicate
blue light admitted from the dome of stained
glass adds greatly to tho beauty Of the monu-
ments. Tho Queen was quito young when NAPo-
LEON, in 1906, entered conqueror of Berlin. She
was clever and spirited woman, and NAPOLEON
suffered in the estimation of the Prussians in con-
sequence Of his treatment of their favorite Queen
She died at tho carly age of thrty-fvc while FRED
ERIC lived to the age of seventy-two. No travel
Ter should leave Berlin without visiting these mag
ni6cent monuments.
In one Of the public squares arc exhibited q
large number Of cannon captured recently from
the Austrians. The Royal Botanical Gardens in
Berlin not as extensive as those in Paris, but
the exotics, which grow in mammoth glass houses
Interested me very much. The enyirons of Berlin
hcent public parks and pleasure grounds, filled
with beautiful trees and towering shrubs, sur
pass anything have yet seen in Germany. Villas
and summer-houses for refreshments are scattered
through these parks. Under these grand old
trees rich and poor assemble to listen to the music
or mingle in the dance. Berlin was the birthplace
Of the most distinguished naturalist the world
ever produced-Baron Won HUMBOLDT. He was
great fayorite with tho sovereigns and people of
Germany and his name is universally honored and
respected for his vastacqurements, attained by ex-
tensive travels research and study, and his mind
was clear and active even at the advanced age Of
eighty-four No man of his day possessed such
general information or had seen 30 much Of the
hsbitable globe. His great mind grappled with
and comprehended nearly every branch Of human
knowledge. He was eminently working man he
knew the value Of time, and that knowledge was
only to be acquired by toll, and it is said that he
seldom slept more than four hours out Of twenty
four. When this ripe scholar had reached the age
OF fthree-score-and-ten-f of glory and renown-
it scoms he might well have rested from his labors;
but not so; he was as diligent in scientific re-
search at eighty as at any former period Of his life
Would that the young men Of our country, whose
ambition it is to retire from business at forty-to
live a life Of ease and idleness-would study the
life and initiate the bright example Of the great
ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT.
left Berlin early in the morning. A few hours
by the lightning express" and find myself in the
quaint and to me deeply interesting old town of
Hamburg. In the new town are splendid streets,
with magnificent buildings and royal palaces,
while the old is composed Of narrow streets and
alleys, filed with population Of tho poor.
explored one Of these alleys, where found the
people even moro degraded than in the Five
Points OF New York. Iproposed to my guide to
accompany mo- He declined upon tho plea that
gentlemen did not visit such places. just imagine
street six feet wide, with houses on each side
from four to six. stories high, to say nothing Of
the cellars beneath, all Of which occupied eac
room frequently accommodating two or moro
families.
These narrow streets are several hundred yards
in length, and what adds to tho flthiness and
discomfort OF the buildings, is that there is but
one ingress or ogress. The dirty, half-clad wo
mon stared at me, tho smut and grease dripping
from their black faces. The squalid children heli
out their hands, begging for coppers. stopped t.
take a peep into alley No. Q, when my guide as
sured me the smallpox and icholera were raging
there. had seen enough Of poverty and wretch
edness, and had no desire to extend my visi
among that class OF citizens inquired of q ply
sioian in reference to the health Of these dirt,
alleys, and he informed mo that the mortality wal
not greater hero than in the best portions O
Hamburg. Was surprised to find in one Of th'