The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-02
European Correspondence.
to- Social Life i'm Germany.
FRANKFORT ON THE MAIN, /
2" MAY list, 1876 {

L
city has settled down into quietness once
more. These Semiannual fairs art
among the most ancient institutions of
Germany and have contributed as much
as any thing else to the veal b and pros
perity of Frankfort A thousand years
ago when the country as divided off in
! to petty municipalities, and governed by
ro5her knights, except few leading
nations to whom these robber knights pre-
| tended to owe feality, it was not safe for
merchants or others travelling with goods
| from one country to another, to go unless
| in large caravans. These caravans for
mutual protection would go in large
bodies and at night take such precaution
ary measures as TO protect them from
attack 4 Finally il became so unsafe for
them that these enterprising merchants
made demands upon the different govern
ments for armed escorts which were accord
ed to them. Sometimes these caravans
would reach the number of several thous
and wagons laden with the choicest
goods, coming perhaps many Of them,
from oriental countries. AS they passed
from one country to another on the Dor
ders of each there would meet them
sufficient force to protect them to the
next country and so on until their desti-
4 I - y "a -. rst lnE Q s t n
nation was reached. In the course of
centuries the fairs became a fixed institu-
ton, In one of the oldest quarters of
the city there is now a small square
named after this escort. 1t was here,
after these armed. warriors, all mounted
men in complete suits of mail, had been
paid by the merchants, they met and had
tilt, peculiar to that class of men.
Here they were entertained too by their
employers and here they bid them a6ieu.
But not withstanding centuries have
passed away and thesvhanges incidenr to-
civilization, the railroad and telegraph,
yet there are many of the old features
left SO soon as the day comes, let the
weather be. what it will, little after
sunrise music is heard ell over the city.
Those who perform believe generally
come from abroad. They go in bands
from three and four TO a dozen. Among
the first performers are those from the
Tyrol. They are known not only by
their appearance but national costume
They dress In green and hrye feathers in
their sharp conlcaL caps. They are
privileged to go, into all public and pri-
yate houses and it is customary for every
one to give them q triae. At the end of
three weeks everybody gets tired of this
music, The. working classes during this
time have grand jubilee and holiday.
Places of cheap amusement are opened
in different parts OF the city for all classes,
not forgetting the children. u
Hearing that the principal place of
amusement for the last class was at the
Bleich garten, we started With our young
man OF four years, one. pleasant afternoon.
Knowing q street by the same name in a
distant part of the city wegstarted for the
garden, as all public places Of amuse-
ment are called, supposing that the
place we wanted to visit was on the same |
street This street was circular and once
followed the wall After reaching the |
street we were told TO follow it to the
right We kept doing so for nearly an
hour until we finally goe round to within
thirty rods Of our hotel the starting point /
I thought was pretty well posted in the
highways and byways ofFrankfort before
this event But here we found the gar
den which consisted of an open space of !
about one acre surrounded by old build
ings and high old walls. The whole
place was literally stuffed with children
and a few of those grown up. Around
the outside was row Of little booths
filled with every thing to please the
juveniles and mixed in with little sum-
mer theatres, galleries for shooting, stalls
containing fat women, dwarfs, giants. &c.
&C.. In the centre was the great attrac-
ton. There were two pavillions painted
and decorated with every thing in the
shape of Cinderella attraction that could
be devised. These moved around by ma
chinery and the Same machinery ground
out very fine music of the organ kind. !,
little horses, sleigas and !
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