Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-08-17
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
Sights in Austria-The People, Iheir Fer-
sOnal Rights and FreedOm-Ihe Schools
PRAGUE, BOHEMIA, July tt, IoI'

PRAGUE. BOHEMIA, July II, 1870.
The ride from Dresden here, up the river
Flbe and through Saxon SWltZerlanu, Is
seven hours of good entertainments Inc
first forty miles is through country COW
cred with high hills and countless rocky
peaks, the latter frequently crowned WIN
rusty old castles of themiddle age, which
we can see very plainly as they are pro-
iected on the clear sky. 1t was 10 one Oh
these castles that the King OF oaAolly re-
moved all his jewels and plate during the
last war. At Bodenback we reacheu tilT
Bohemian frontier, ana tle lri.lIi l'"l les
half an hour while a dozen Austrian OH
cials i'm uniform examined the baggage.
The rest of the way was through II rough,
rocky valley. which is full of terraces ana
much more of cultivated land than before,
As usual in Germany the women are AT
work in the fields; but we cannot nelp no
ticinp that very few men are at work AT all.
I feel nrouder OF America than | ever did
haforo have heard that Ameri-
cans i'm Europe were apt to praise
their own country, and | thought | would
keep silent on that subject, and 90 through
Europe admiring its collected treasures OF
aces and only hope that my own iand
,Siobt he better when older; but much as
there is here to admire, museums, galleries,
magnificent buildings and great cities, as
we'll rs the houses and tOmbs OF so many
of the worlds great and good men, Amerl-
ran ideas and civilization are so mucn bet
fer and worth so much more, that 1t Is no
wonder when Americans are mere tne% see
il and feel il, and " talk too much ~ about
their own country. 1t is true enough, per-
haps, as a general rule, that Europe mas
more thoroughly cultivated lana, greater
universities, more treasures III ART ana
greater wealth, but we have broader helde,
and we are growing much faster, ana our
wealth is not confined to the tew-or to
4 ,.pi,, il Above
ALI. the barriers between different grades
of society are not 50 impossible. 1t Is sald,
however that there Is more security Tor
person and property here than III AmeIl-
ca, and the truth is that law Is most rigldly
enforced here; that in all the little details
of business the eXactlons OF q written
edict must be fully observed. Inc hlnG
has most of the wealth and power, and he
must protect himself. In doing this he
protects many Others but he certainly OPP
presses great body of his people.
Prague has many attractions-oldW walls,
with turrets and battlements, well pre-
served statuaIy of the middle ages; oeNt-
raj very large and old churches, one OF
which has it, interior ieveled with pre-
cious stones of great value, and contains be-
sides a solid silver tomb said to be the largest
piece of silverware in the world. The signs
here are all written in both Bohemian ana
German, while the languages that one may
hear SPOKEN IN any tt,jt 'OllHilNI 'AlNIl'
Russian, French, Italian, Hebrew, Greek,
and some others. The Emperor l. trying
10 prevent the schools from teaching the
Bohemian language, but so far he has fail
ed. They seem determined to learn their
own language, and they Will probably have
their own way about il. The Emperor of
Russia has tried to stop the teaching OF the
Polish language in the public schools OF
Poland. and he has also failed. There are
some things an Emperor cannot do-he
cannot change the language OF a people.
1t l. surprising that 80 great number
of the people here understand the nature
Of the United States Government. They
have learned it through little whisperings
that are going the rounds, and which must
not be talked out too much, and therefore
1re all the more impressive. They know
All about Lincoln. and wonder very much
what sort of a land il can be where "a poor
nsasant can become an officer. They are
lust learning something Of private chart
ties. and wonder how Cooper Institute anl
Nanar College could have been built with
out aid from the King. They have al leas
one philanthropist in Bohemia man o
fortune and high attachments Volt;
Naprstek He has collected plcture--eene
rally small phOtograph--O all the charita
bic institutions in the world that have beeI
the result of private charity. These h'
enlarge- 50 a. to be suitable Tor lCcluu
room, and he is calling the people to.eth
or and telling them the facts, and maxim!
il popular to 90 and do likewise.
/ 90 to Nuremburg this evening. =.
Sights and RecollectiOns of Italy-The For