The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-09
A WESTERN GLANCE AT EASTERN
bUENkRY.
The Bhlne and the Moselle-Wies-
baden-Vice and Virtue Frank
f0rs HtStne-BOnn University and
Munich Stsined Glass.

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
BIooSfrSeToN, Indiana, Ap7i 10Th 1870
Editors Journal:
In my last I promised some account
Of the scenery, &C., on
''The banks or the Blue MosciIe."
Ausonius, a Roman Poet, lived in
Trier OF Treves, past which the Mo-
sells flows, and celebrated the wine
made from the grapes grown along its
banks. These still retain their an
cient reputation. No doubt much
sold under that name, may be of an
equally good quality. although grown
on the banks of some Of the tributa-
tary streams, such as the Saar. The
Moselle wine Is chiefly a white wine;
but / was informed that the color Of
the wine does not depend so much on
the color of the grape skin as upon
the process adopted. If the skin and
pulp are macerated Immediately after
gathering, tho acid generated In fer
mentation is sufficient to deprive the
wine ofits color. When, therefore, q
red wine is desired, the grapes remain
several days untouched in the vat, be-
fore the tramping process with
great boots is commenced. The vines,
I observed, are almost invariably. in
this part of Germany, pruned very
close and traihed usually on a single
stake, so as 10 admit the sun as much
as possible all round the punches of
grapes, to develop the grape sugar.
Before leaving the Moselle, I may
mention that there are numerous
boats built at Treves, resembling our
keelboats, there being abundance of
good lumber, as the forest near here,
the Hochwald, connects with the ex-
tensive timber regions of the Hunds-
ruoken; and it may be also worthy of
note hat the Treves station, or Depot,
cost about $685. 600, this railroad be-
ing owned by Government.
.N, When companies can be found to
undertake a road along n profitable
thoroughfare, they are encouraged
10 do so by privileges; but If connect
ing roads lead from coal mines (aine-
tenths of which are often owned by
government) the roads necessary for
the development and sale Of the coal
are constructed By government. We
noticed much coal being taken out
at Saarbruck, also at Louisenthal on
our route.
THE RHINE FROM MAYENoE TO COB
LENT.
After leaving our kind friend and
host at Mettlacb, we took train for
Wiesbaden, crossing the Rhine near
Bipgen, celebrated in song. Leaving
our baggage at Wiesbaden, we took
steamer down the Rhine as far as
Coblentz, with the noted fortress of
Ehrenbreitstein, on the opposite side
of the river. This embraces nearly
ell of the most romantic scenery along
this far famed river, including be-
sides princely and baronial residences
which have been frequently described,
robbers castles, rendered classical by
Schiller, and others, in dramatic and
legendary lore, as well as the hauuts
of the fabled sirens. who, like those
described by Homer in the Odyssey,
lured on luckless mariners to de-
%struction.
On this trip we passed one of those
enormous RATS, mentioned by travel
ers. and counted fifty seven men using
the various steering oars at the bow
and stern, to keep this floating village
with its rows of houses in a safe chan
mel.
Having made this trip on such a
craft. for the want of a better, when
formerly in Germany, l was scarcely
prepared for the number of fue
steamers, and for a railroad on each
bank of the Rhine, frequently de-