The Evansville journal., 1870-08-20
MAYENCE, ON THE RHINE, [
TuIv % 1870

HngSz6U long on the hnln0 Dank
at Coblentz last night, so facinating
was the scene. The line of lights on
the swaying bridge of boats magically
reflected in the deep, silent water, and
the old fortress became gigantic
mass of foliage and symmetrical wall,
under the varying sheen of the stars.
In the narrow streets there were no
noises of brawls, no drunken excite
ments; the only sound / heard was
harm 0nious and was a belated de-
taehment of reserves marching over
the bridge, singing:
Eu-pi-dee i-dee ,i-de
E1-pf-dee-i-da."
By and-by, too, out Of the glitter
Ing column which went through the
great market-place on their way to
battle, came that superb song, The
Rhine Wat3h," in which the har.
mony seems bound to break the bonds
OF hesh and sense, and soar away to
heaven. Then at last nothing was
heard save the sentinel solemnly
pacing, and the whir Of an occasional
ly arriving steamboat, belated by the
general dearth of business below.
THE MOsELLE VALLEY PRUs-
SIAN FRONTIER TOWNS.
1t is plain to see that all the troons
leaving Coblentz are bound for Saar-
bruck and the French frontiers; and
L do not need to ask the questions
wh5f b certainly would not be answer
ed. They go up to Bingebruck-a
small station not far from Bingep
on the Rhine, " and Mayence; and
there they change to the railway.
which takes them through a wildly
picturesque country, to within four
miles of French guns. The MoseIle
valley, you will remember, is ny MANY
considered superior to the Rhine:
and 1t Is even now being visited by
adventurous travellers. who have no
objection to seeing little bloodshed.
Both through this valley, and by
the BIngebruck route, troops are rap
idly concentrating, and battle can
not be lar off. There have been no
encroachments made by the French.
as yet; but the Prussiaus have twice
driven IN the French pickets, and |
yesterday shot fifteen soldiers who |
were guarding small custom house |
on the extreme frontier. The val |
ley, or rather a succession Of valleys |
and mountains between HinRebruck |
on the Rhine. and Saar-L -Louis and |
Saarbruck, on the frontier. are of the !
widest beauty. The region is filed |
with lquarries. and remarkable fossils |
are found IN the coal mines. which
supply the main industry of that sec
ton. AT Oberstein, half wav nm
from the Rhine. there are two mag
nlneent cliffs: Each capped with a
medieval castle. All this section is
volcanic, rugged, rude; in one place.
not Tar from Saarbauck, there Is a
burning mountain, which jgnited
nearly two hundred years ago. and
has been slowly burning ever since.
Saar-Louis, atawhich three railway
ndn Ilnes centre, and where at least 50,-
OOV russians are now oamped, is
noteo Ier fortress which Louis
fourteenth s architect, Yauban, built,
0n wager, IN one year, In the times
"Aen the French held all that sue
;eSsion OF towns now Prussian strong
noids., The river Saar here cousti-
-utes the frontier. At certain seasons
Z Is naVlgable for small boats; but now
me French could cross it without wet
ing their knees. Saarbourg, not far
beyond Saarbruck, is grim old town,
WITH homan relics, aud there the Mo- |
ellie starts down under an ancient
bridge, on its tortuous journey to CO.
llentz. Henceforward one can 90 to
rreVes, the oldest town in Prussia,
aptured by Julius Cmlar before
,hrist was born, and made the capital
f Gaul. 1t was IN French hands in Z
be last century. but was given back I
0 Prussia In 1915. The French will Z
think il worth ooounvinr /