The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-27
THE, STATUE OF CHARLEMAGNE
10 ON THE OLD BRIDGE OF 4
sa3 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
A TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN
net0s3Eg BY NELLIE FRENCH.

at.o33fy By NELLIE FRENCH. M
On the east side of the old bridge
which JOINS Frankfurt with Sachsenhau
sen, stands statue, worked out of red
sandstone There stands Charlemagpe
He stands on high pedestal, a high
square stone so that every one can see il
from far away. He appears as if he was
musing. He looks over on both sides of
the Main, and upon cities far away. Any
one would think in looking at the statue
that he was gazing upon objects long
since passed away. On his head is placed
the emperor's crown. He has long hair
and flowing beard. The rich mantle de-
scends from shoulder to his feet. In
front the mantle turns back so as to ex-
pose the toga underneath. His toga is
held together with belt, and on the hem
ofthe coat there are eagles printed. He
puts his right foot out a little; he has
very nice shoes on. In bis right hand he
holds the emperor's sword and in the left
hand he holdsan imperial GLOBE He
holds his sword strong and firm aud
upon the imperial globe there stands a
cross, an emblem that Christianity shall
rlle over the whole world, and that the
emperor was the most powerful prince
on the side OF the Christian religion,
1t is now more than thousand years
since the emperor Charlemagne lived.
He was an emperor of great power He
ruled over what is now called Germany,
and also over the country now known as
France, and also portions of Spain and
Italy, All the countries last named were
then called France. i,'4s <1a Ii.ss,a
These countries then did not look as
they do at the present time! At that
time there were not SO many towns and
villages, but SO much the better, there
were more forests and fens The inhabi-
tants did not then cultivate so much land
as they do now, but engaged more in bus
mess and trade as in our own time. Then
there were no artists are learned men to
be found in France. There were only. a
few people who could read and write
The Germans were then fond of hunt
and war. aa a e .9ias.a II
But Charlemagne wanted to improve
the cond ition of his people He wanted
to show his people how to improve their
condition how to cultivate the soil and
to take care of their CATTLE he overlook
ed them, and advised them that they
would followah his good example. He let
the fens dry up, and made roads and
built bridges. He founded new churches,
he caused good clergymen to be found,
and brought from Italy singers and organ
pla yers. After that the singing was car
RED on with systematic order. He also
schools and institutions of learn
ing. He believed that he himself was not
too old to learn, and he looked for men
that were scholars and highly educated.
He was diligent writer, himself, and fond
of reading aloud. He was also fond of
the society Of learned men,. He prized
them very much, and did not not .consid-
er it beneath his dignity to associate with
them. He wanted to make himself more.
with science o4iiH
Charlemagne was a large, commanding
and lstrongly built man. From his youth
he had great physical strength, and he
practiced fencing, riding and swimming
He took particular pleasure in hunting.
and drinking he was moderate
His dress was simple and plain. Only on
holidays he put on splendid dresses.
The city of Frankfurt is much indebt-
ed to him. Before the statue stood there,
where now the beautiful town lays, there
was only few houses. The place was
then small and remarkable for nothing
Theriyer Main was then very shallow.
In times of drouth any one could walk
right through. You could very easily
walk from one bank to the other. That
place was called ford and was very in
portant to the inhabitants, because then
there. was only few bridges in ali Ger
many. A great many Franks in olden times
crossed at this ford and from that fact |
the place was called frankfurt. He led
the army against the saxons great mary
years. frequently he took the Frank
furters with him. Charlemagne some