Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-19
For the Journal.


FROM FRANKFORT TO COLOGNE.
Having packed our luggage at the Hotel de
Ripple, we bid adieu to Frankfort on the
Maine, where Charlemagne held council in
1874, which will give you some action of its
antiquity. From 1854 till 1866 it was free
city, having a government of its own, when
the irrepressible Bismarck brought it with
the surrounding cities, under the PrussiaR
sceptre, to the very great dissatisfaction of
the young men who were practically con-
scripted into the army. Some of the most
notable men in literature and finance have
lived here. Goethe, whose inimitable Faust
and lands, was born here, and Schiller too,
whose William Tell gave me so much pleasure
when boy. They are both remembered here
in marble and bronze. The Rothschilds
originated here, and one of them now has
beautiful villa near the town.
An hours ride brought us to Mayence,
where we were to take the boat for an excur-
sion to which we had looked forward with
much pleasure. Arriving i'll the afternoon
and to leave at nine in the morning, we had
but little time to 60 over the town. which is
really one of much interest The fortifca-
tons of the town, the ancient cathedral if
had not seen SO many, and other objects rich
in historic associations would fain detain me,
but engagements must be kept, and SO after
this day / can answer in the affirmative the
ever recurring question, have you been down
the Rhine? So on one of the brightest morn,
ing's we looked for the last time upon Mainz,
as it is called in German, and the first eccle-
siastical city in the Roman Empire, and what
is more, had the eternal honor Of giving birth
to Gutenberg, the inventor of printing, whose
memory is made green by fine statue, said
to be chiselled by Thorwaldsen. 1t is diff
cult to communicate or give expression to
ones feelings in relation to things of beauty
so that others can feel our enthusiasm or
have even just appreciation of them. AS
the boat brings us face to face with some sur
passingly beautiful views, the universal hum
of admiration settles the question of taste, in
relation to which there is certainly no dis =
vineyards, cultivated to the tops of the hills,
among them some of the celebrated vintages
in the world, the Johannesberger, Hook
heimer and Rhudishcimcr among them, most
of which, have no doubt, find market before
reaching the 'homc of the free and the land
of the brave l have heard travellers insti-
tute comparisons between the Rhine and
Hudson. In holdness and ruggedness OF
scenery the latter undoubtedly surpasses it,
but in quiet beauty, in elaborate cultivation,
in historic associations, in that indescribable
grace of outline and in volcanic ruins, find
here a pleasing and satisfying effect that
| have not felt elsewhere. With what a lively
interest we watched for the seven mountains
rising thousand feet above the river, the
chief of which Lord Byron touched with his
inspiration ~ TIE rTG mel x
t"The castled crags of Drachenfels
Frowns DER the wide and winding Rhine,
| Whose breast of waters broadly swells
| Between the banks which bear the vince
But one thing want these banks OF Rhine
| Thy gentle hand TO clasp in mime" 7S
The ruins of castles are seen at every turn
of which know nothing, preferring rather tC
use my eyes than study my guide book. VIZ
noticed the beautiful palace of the King O.
Prussia, and the "Wite Tower" where the
French army crossed in 1897 in spite o.
stout opposition on the part of the Austrians
and Julius Cesar more than two Thousand
years ago led over his Roman legions against
the Sicambri.
There are many considerable towns along
the river, but our stop was short, and we got
= no satisfactory views or idea of them, except