Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-27
HEIDELBERG.
A Visit TO TIE Old Cast ---tn
Interesting Letter.

From the Baltimore Cartel
Romantic and picturesque as Is tn
attraction Of the Castle of Heidelberg
one sees al a glance, hat it does not be
long properly to the feudal times, bu
that it i forms a link, as it were, between
the architecture Of the lawless middl
ages and that of more civilized and sub
sequent periods. Indeed the old feuda
castle was situated high up on the hill
far above the present one. Little of j
is now to be seen. The ste however i
beautiful and the prospect grand. Al
enterprising Doctor has built himself
chalet on the spot, were the weary climber
can refresh himself or where the Whey
cure can be INDUCED in by those who
fancy it.
With the exception of the particular
delights of this sort of exclusively Ger.
man medical treatment, all this and moro
can be had at the more modern castle
or rather palace, below for the castle,
which may have been originally intended
for q second rate feudal stronghold in
the fourteenth century, was afterwards
found too small for a princely residence
By the Kurfurst or Prince Elector, Ru-
pert III, when he was unanimously
chosen King of Germany in = 0 and
was from time to time enlarged and
adorned BY successive princes until it
became in fact a superb palatial resi-
dence. fitted for the Court Of the Electors
Palatine of the Rhine. The grounds in
the rear of the castle are laid out as a
little park and at the upper end near the
terrace, which is raised upon arches and
projects ever the Neckar. a small garden
Is laid out where you can at all times get
very good refreshment and occasionally
hear excellent music. The view from
the terrace is renowned. Its reputation
is indeed almost worldwide; but the
view from the Altan or platform terrace,
in front of the FrisdrichsJau, which was
built in the early part ofthe 18th century,
if not so magnificent is certainly as charm
ing. As you tread up and down upon
the square stone tiles or as you lean
over the balustrade, and look down upon
the steep precipice below you, or upon
the river, the town and the vine-clad hills
beyond, you are still conscious that you
are within castled walls, that there are
behind you the grim teeth of portcuIlis,
which once could have cut you of from
the outer world and that around you Cd
three sides Is a deep ravine. which in the
DAYS of bolts and arrows or = In the
early days Of gunpowder, formed in itself
a sufficient defence against hostile forces,
the position Of the castle being thereby
rendered almost inaccessible. Il was
upon this Allan that knights and danes
in the gay costumes of the period took
their promenades, the only one which
was open 10 them, and it was here that
they amused themselves with the song
of the minstrel, who still dreamed of the
departed glories Of the Minnesingers, or
with the joke Of the fool in his motley
garb, who ratified his bells and danced
his antics, making the most of the time
that was left 10 those who made folly a
profession. 1t must have been a dull
time for these poor creatures-not the
fools, be II understood-when the men
had nothing to do but to look after their
horses and their and when their
talk was chiefly Of the stable and of war.
and when the one having no facilities
as at present 10 pass the whole of their
lives In intrigues or firtstions, occupied
themselves probably with the soberer
amusements of embroidery and needle
work and entertained themselves possibly
with q talk Whichthe French, who ought
70 know, say is of rags"
Though the Friedricksbau is a palace
in itself, if is. but one portion Of a great
built at different periods and in
different styles by the various Electors
who held their courts here. The oldest
and p~lainest part of the castle, on the
left as you pass through the archway and
under the teeth Of the p~ortcullis. is that
built by Rupert l in the middle Of the
fourteenth century. There is nothing
in its architecture TO attract. Rupert
did not trust his fame to stones. In
l34S when a terrible epidemic visited
portion of Europe and when the people.
vent to evil passions and obeying
the dictates Of blind superstition accepted
the report that the Jews had poisoned
wells in South Germany and tortured
and murdered over 1900 of H., people
Of this prosecuted race, Rupert nobly
threw open his domains to them, offered
hem refuge and an asylum and protected
hem against further persecution. 1t
vas he too who founded the University
If Heidelberg, another imperishable
monument which, while history lasts and
triumphs, viii tell Of his name
md his fame. ,
Other Electors IN later years We'd with ]
ach other in the grandeur Of the palaces
hey could erect and on the richness Of t
he decorations which they could heap !
pom them externally and internally. &
building of Otto Henry. known as
be Ritter Saal, built in the C~inquecento /
lyle, is very elaborate and magnificent.
t is in the best style of Italian arehitee- S
ure and its facade is richly decorated
nth figures and statues Of heroes from /
aered and profane history. The facade /
! u rrtedrtcksOdH Is excessively Ticn. o
obtaining among other ornaments stat b
Of the Electors from the time of d
'hsrlemagne down to the 18th century. &
In the eating hall Of one Of these build o
rs is a curious old German stove, or il
the remains Of one, the plates Of e
hieh are covered over with enameled {
ictures and coats of arms One Of them J
memory of Dorothea Of Denmark. C
ife of Frederic II, is curious as show q
g the literary taste aud capacity Of the v
owe poets Of the period. Below the 0
ortrait Is the following legend; a
4 emaholi v q Kor u e slamm a
~ . Do utf~a Isl lDr pan o
60 re IT NJ - % aC De emarkh :
wssen, 5 Nv d. r -KonigreieA Stare h q
The verses are certainly to the point \
ut they remind one Of the we'll knovR Il