The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-24
OUR EUROPEAN coRRnspoNDEso5p.
MANNHEIM, May A.

| 10 THE EDITOR OF THE OHARLEsToa DAILY News:
have boon for some Gttlo timo horo in Mann
helm, city vol known to tourists, and annually
visited by thousands OF English and Americans. It
Is on tho right or eastern bank of the Rhino, and
ne1t to Karlsruho (tho osptal) tho largest city Of
tho Grand Duchy OF Badon. This little sovereign
State, bounded by Rhonish Bavaria, Hcsso Darn
stadt, Wurtemborg, Switzerland and Franco con-
| tainH On area Of 5904 square miles, and popula-
tion OF about 100000 souls. It ia worry densoly
populated, seoing that four-afths Of it's extent is
mountainous, tho Schtoa'z,cdld or BLACK Forest
| forming kind Of yortebral column. The country
from this ridge 70 tho Rhine, oil along that stream
Is continuous plain, tho basin Of tho Rhino anu
Neckar, which latter river omptios into the former
at this point. The soil along tho rivers Is very
fcrtilc and yieds abundant harvosts OF tho ceroas
wine hemp, laI, and tobacco. The country along
tho Rhine Is subject to overflow, and notwthatant-
Ing tho extensive and skilfully constructed en-
bankmonts, tho poor people sometimes in Tow
days lose the proceeds of a whole years ar
duous toll: The government is constitutional,
having it's two little Chambers OF Peers and Dc.
puties. Tho majority Of tho population is Roman
Catholic, although the reigning family is Protcs-
tant, as is tho oaso also In Belgium. Tho prese
Grand Duke FREDRRIo, young man stu, is very
vol lkod by his subjects and considered Inoder-
atoly liberal. His wife is tho daughter OF the King
OF Prussia, and enjoys remarkable degree Of
popularity. Tho Grand Duchy Ia subdiyided Into
four circles tKreise) Lake, Upper, Middle and
Lower Rhine. ys.tI$
Mannheim, tho capital Of tho last named, hos
ab,ut $4,000 inh ,bitants, and is accounted very
handsome city. Like every other placo in this
"ould worlda country, IL has it's history and trad-
tions, ofwhich eyon tho stbgrest and most COM
mon-Placo burghotH arc proud; and this with good
reason, Tor these Old Void talos rRprescnt sub
stantial capital, which brings them handsome div-
dehds, attracting q constant stream Of rich aud
liberal tourists, who contribute no, mean share to
tho ospority, of'the Plnco. I Mannheim, during
tho last century was thscapitai OF tho Palatinate
and tho residence Of tho Electors Pulatino. It had
then tho meretricious glory Of Conrt; whereas
now it's vast palace is deserted. lut In this thero
is little to regret for it is now infinitely moro pros
porous than in those days Of its electoral gran
deur. Situated at the confluence Of two naviga-
bio rivers, In the midst Of one Of the most fertile
regions Of Europe, tho centre Of 10 mognifoont
network OF railways. and on tho highway betwcon
the romantic part Of tho Rhine and Switzerland,
It's trado Ia very considerable, and steadily on the
increase. g. #-.igS ..i q i4.HII :,
sonnIKH, the great German poet, as Is well
known, iyod hero several yoars In tho carly days Of
his poetic career, being "1aedterdicher" then and
still a recognized position in Germany, sometimes
hold by tho frat poets Of tho nation. Here, ut
this Old theatre taa steSy strahsr is! iptarmed),
"Thb Robbers" we're FIRST actsd, and in this city
scvoral Of sou1ILEK's most: celebrated poems and
dramas were written. Tho theatre Is still here,
and the poet is enshrined In the affections Of tho
people, thought think the present geioration caro-
moro for tho practical nrt OF money -making than
for tho idoal creations Of tho Gorman laureate. A
largo bronze statue Of ScnnLEn adorns tho front
of tho Theatre. >i.
like Nav Orloans), ombankmonts being necessary
TO preserve it from inundatton. Handsome btrid-
ges spun both tho Rhine and the Ncokar, and thus
greatly facilitate commerce with the surrounding
country. Although I know some. OF your German
readers will dispute the fact, shnll, nevertheless,
soy what strikea every .Engliahman and American
who remains long enough in the country to goin
an insight into the customs habits and manners Of
tho people, that there Ia but little home life In this
country, i.e, ea we understand it. do not mean
that families md relatives are not as aectionate
as. with us, or not equally, not to say eYan moro
virtuous, than people in the samo position in
England or Amerca; simply moan that thoy are
less fond ofsiayng at home, moro promo to col
lcct in places Of public resort OF evenings, and on
Sundays and holidays. In faot, enjoyment scems
70 iIieah crowd Whether this is the causo Of
tho almost entlre absence Of country Life lin our
aeuse:people living in isolated farii houses, oyery
man having his land around his dwelling), esps-
cially in South Germany, ior whittier this is only
the consequence Of such social economy, ain un-
able TO say. As one OF tho results however, We
300 most German towns built mp compact, and
monotonons, with none Of those protty lawns,
shrubbery and flower yards which grace our cities!
Tho 'gardensn rro all together I'M ithp snburbs,
ard fc-:: c p!os ssar: place for evening walks and
drives. Parks and squares arc lound in all Ger
man cities and towns, and these and tho Boer-g ar
dens arc tho places Of popular. resorts Here The,
gardens aro situated along the banks Of the Rhine
and tho Neokar, md present ayery picturesque
nppea ranco TO tho traveller as ho enters or leayes
the city. &, ,,l,r -
The Palace, an immense ediaceof red sandstone
is moro remarkable for its size than elegance Of
architeotureI resdmbling 'quitd as much an am
bitious extent Of barracks .ss anything else. T.
tanning 800 rooms. Il uas built about = hundred
aud lily yearH SINCE by Eleotor Palatine Carl
ph,lp, on Te@eying Biz oeG5t tn HSIaslbsrg to
tho former place on account Of the Indignation OF
tho citizens over an attempt to deprive the Pro-
Of Of e t The AGy
Ways been used by them, and the other by the
An abstract OF the entire Controversy may bb
found in Tho fret volume Of Cnryle's "Frederick
the Great" wnere Of course 1t is treated with tue
supsrctlious nonohalancsf characteristic OF this
writer when passing under review tho foibias OF
his fellow-men, eitherlof thistor q former nBe.
But the glory II brought to Mannheim wes abort
lived, and departed altogether utter theIlast bonn
bafdncnt Of tho town, by the Austrian nnd French
in l704-95 At that tlnno, half OF tha palace MAS
burned and only fourteen honHea were left hnfn,
jurcd. When the old Palstinate WAS no Muuffe
and Karlsruhe became the Capital OF tho Dnehy oi
Baden, the ramparts Of the town wore removed,
and tho little city, which had seen stormy times
ever sinco It's brth, s6ttled down into It's present
quiet. :as: q xse.:..Gii -, !.
part Of tho palace aeryes as q museum and
gallery Of paintngy,5 collection Of plaste Sasts
90. S6lne OF tho piptureH 6te 1ns6feghhe -2nd
I fow hr8 Hhe. was shown through q largo mum.
ber OF immense rooms, containing fresooes, tapes.
| tries furnituro poftFnltsE 30, "A they have re-
manned since lis occupation. The tapestriee those
woven pictures, Hhioh covered the entire walls oi
these great phambers, though beantifu and jnter.
csting, helped to mike them more utorh fortAbly
lroony aud as thero are nowhere any ycogy santl,
|menta corners, IL did not seem strange tEst peo.
Pile who dwet in such palaces should pr0vorbially
'hnye little domestic inclination. Ihe tapestries
collections fplRster o1sts and many othoE srtoes
woro presented to the Dnthoss stophanio by toe
Emperor Napoleon ~ a. = -. 'trE
| Tho Duke never comes here TO have little "sea.
son" now and then, for the delight Of tho Mann.
heimsrs, as he often does at his several other pal
aics thrppghout the Duohyi and itiotrtainy is'no
wonder. " lt would take . Ore equal TO thai Of Q
small c0nfaQrntfon to Wnrm 6hlB lmfnons3 uAse o