The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-14
Ttlistellantous.
WlLHELMSHOHE.
The Prison Of the Ex-Emperor

leon:
CAssEL, Sept. 11.-Wilhelmshohe, or
"the German Versailles" as it has been
often termed, has just now assumed
greater interest than it had since it was
the Summer palace of the Elector of
the Hesse. Cassel, Frederick the Sec
ond. No American is likely to forget
or forgive this monarch having acquired
most of his wealth by selling the lives
of his subjects to the King of Great
Britain to fight his battles in America
and elsewhere. From IL 6 to 1884, 12,-
900 Hcssians were sent to our country
for the sum Of 500 1000, 600; but this lit
tie claim, unlike "the Alabama" was
settled long ago and as / walked about
the Frederick's Platz the largest square
in any German town and admired the
statue of the Elector after whom it is
named, | was wicked enough to enjoy
thinking how his own Government had
met precisely the fate he had wished
| for ours,
You may walk or drive three miles
from Cassel through straight avenue
of lines to the palace of Wilhelmshohe
and beside il stands the theatre built
by Jerome Bonaparte when King, and
in which he himself used to act. Just
behind is the highest fountain in Eu-
rope Except that at Chatsworth) which
throws up its fairy spray IL inches in
diameter and $50 feet high. 1t springs
from lis imperceptible jet in the center
of bed of messy lawn, and so light
and airily does it play amid the spark
ling sunshine that when the hour is
over and you suddenly miss it, like
child hunting for rainbow, you look
up at the blue sky over head, and won
der to what part of it il has flown away.
Further up is an artificial waterfall, de-
scending from tall aqueduct over beds
of stone arranged in exquisite taste, and
on Sundays and Wednesdays, when
the waters play, great crowds flock to
see them.
The Aquatic Staircase and the Octa-
gon Temple of the Winds, with the
statue and other eXtravagances connec-
ted with it, are reported to have en-
ployed 1000 men for II years. When
their labor5 were completed, the cost
was found to be so enormous that the
accounts were burned, to destroy all
records of it.
The Cascade of the Harrisburg is an
other. of the many wonders of the place
"a flight of steps, 900 feet long, over
which a stream of water is at times per-
| tnI 10 E,1I 81 4.
is the Giant Euceladus, rudely repre-
sented lying on his back, with a noun
tain of rocks heaped upon his breast.
The artist intended a jet of water 80
feet high should spout from his mouth,
but none plays there now. The stair
case Of this "Chateau d'Eau" is sur
mounted by an octagon building 1912
feet above the Fulda, surmounted by a
pyramid serving as a pedestal to the
colossal Hercules, 81 feet high, of beaten
copper. Nine persons, it is said, can
stand at one time in the hollow of the
club and enjoy charming view
out of little window formed in it, l
have rarely spent day more delight
fully than in exploring all these NOR.
sells of art and extravaganza and set
ting them all aside, the natural beauties
of the Park are far beyond those of any
other on the continent. In the midst
of it is Il toy castle-"LuXembur
built to initiate stronghold of the mid
die ages, with draw-bridges, battle
ments, towers, and bitches. Among
the rusty suits in the armory is one
which belonged to the Great Conde.
There is also very curious collection
of drinking. glasses, series ofportraits
of the Tudors and Stuarts, and q libra
ry filled with romances alone. The pub
lie are not content that the Kiug has
devoted 50 magnificent a refuge to his
fallen foe, and doubt if he will be per-
mitted to remain there long. The wo-
men are particularly savage on the sub
ject, and have heard number pro-
pose that he should be exhibited in
cage through the streets of all the Ger
man towns, ut a groschen head, and
then be sent to end his days at st. Hell
ena, as his illustrious uncle, whom he
50 much liked to initiate.
The grounds were in splendid order.
Some women were cutting the lawn
and clearing out among the shrubbery
the day that we were there. The pret.
tiest face have yet seen in Germany
peeped out from among the rose.bushes.
She was trimming, as we passed out of
the gate and, but that feared to lose
the train, should have looked longer
at picture that gave me so much plea
sure. The coming of even an ex-Em-
peror and his suite will be an immense
excitement in the lives of these peasant
laborers and l think if my pretty
friend is standing where left her when
the French officers pass into their splen-
did exile, her sweet eyes may some
what soften the hardship of their fate.
In railroad car the seats were all