The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-11-03
LETTER FROM GERMANY.

RUDoIsTADT, GERMANY, Sept rs, II.
ED. MILAN ADVERTISER:
DEAR S1R:-Thinking that an occasional
letter, describing the 'sights and scenes" Of
Middle Germany, would not be uninteresting
to the many readers of your worthy paper, l
venture to send the following.
But first, concerning my journey here. The
day after my departure arrived at Niagara
Falls, a recent impression of which I wished
to carry with me, being as it is, not only the
greatest, grandest wonder of America, but Of
the world While there, what could do but
stare, wonder, worship and dream, but ones
dreams are soon dispelled by the many appeals
to his pocket What pity that the falls can
not be parcelled out and sold by piecemeal.
Farewell. glorious NiagraI Queen of wonders,
and hot house of human leechesl
arrived in New York, September 1st,
where the roar and noise, day and night, that
I was once so well accustomed to, now COM
peeled me to seek quieteT quarters in Hoboken,
There found excellent accommodations at
Bush's Hotel, Mr.. B. himself doing everything
in his small way (his weight is $50 lbs) to
make his guests comfortable.
On the I'd Of Sept. took passage on the
HRhine," an iron-screw steamer, 1854 feet long
and of 700 horse power, the finest and fastest
on the "Lloyd Line" very beautiful vessel
The number of passengers, according to
printed list of which every cabin passenger
received copy, was 224, of which $50 were
cabin passengers. Everything appeared favor
able and all felt convinced that the passage
would be short and pleasant one, but when
about $50 miles out at sea, the shaft which
connects the screw with the propelling power,
broke, and our hopes of speedy voyage with
it. After signaling and drifting about all day
we were fortunate enough to call an English
Steamer to our rescue which towed us safely
back to Hoboken. The next day, Sept 7th,
most of US started again onthe steamer Frank
fort of the same line a smaller, slower steamer
but Just as comfortable. This landed us at
Southampton on Thursday, the 2lst of Sept,
hefe We remained "A hours, which gave the
passengers an opportunity to visit the town
and surrounding country and zee the many
things that are of interest to the stranger.
The morning was devoted to "doing" the city,
and the afternoon to points of interest in the
vicinity.
Southampton is one of EngIand's oldest
cities, having population of 10000 to $4,000
inhabitants; and with Its fine harbors, stone
docks, nice clean street,, well preserved hou-
ses, its parks, attractive from the statues of
eminent men and the rich coloring of the
grass, its people, vehicles and a thousand other
things, furnishes much that is of interest to a
stranger just off a disagreable sea voyage.
But of far more interest to me was the old
part of the town, with its quaint old houses,
nearly all contained in a single street, which
commences at Bar Gate, erected by Edward
LII. Here are found the old castle prison,
and close by chapel ready to crumble to
pieces. Further back and in connection with
the old fertilization, is the old Town Council
House, of great age, and containing two paint
lngs bearing the date 1886. King Stephen
Henry Il, John, the three Edwards and Hen,
rvs ~, Y. and VI, took much pains to i'm
prove, and rebuilt its Notifications, which had
been much injured and destroyed by Roman,
Dsnish and Norwegian depredstors and other
enemies. Among the other venerable struC-
lures, may be mentioned the St. Michael
Church, with its tall tapering spire, and the
AIl-Holy and Holy-Rood Churches.
In the afternoon small party of US visited
Netley Abbey, Cne of the most interesting
ruins in England. We went by way of
Northam Bridge and returned by the floating
bridge. requiring walk of nearly ten miles,
full Of interest and pleasure however. On our
way we looked at Billine Muiser House, occu-
pying the site and partly built of the remains
of the ancient Saxon buildings which were
here constructed, within the Roman camp. of
Clausentum, and still further the ramparts
and ditch to the outer camp. Next we passed |
the pleasant Lodge of Cheul Honse on the |
right, then one mile farther on we passed an
ancient pear tree, surrounded by a strong iron |
fence of historic repute, which furnishes the
name of beautiful greene, on which stands |
Jesus Chapel, surrounded by an old grave |
yard full of interesting monuments. The |
chapel was built in the sight of Queen Eliza /
beth, partly of material from Clausentum. |
Nor must we forget the Cross House, med |
ieval relic, near the Itchen Fall House, con-
sisting OF two wall crossing and supporting
conical roof This was the ancient ferry house
of the village of Itchen. Next we passed
Netley Hotel, neat Eizabethian building,
empty and deserted, while below was the old
fort, now villa, and in the distance Calshot
and the Isle of Wight. I certainly never
passed over more delightful road, and in
spite of my foot sore condition, I shall always
remember this afternoon as one Of the pleas
antest of my life.
But few steps from the hotel is Netley
Abbey. Unfortunately cur visit occurred on
on day when the doors were closed to all vis-
itors, excepting those having special permit
But giving the keeper to understand that we
were Americans and must see the Abbey be-
fore leaving, he quickly admitted us. We
found Netley Abbey to be beautiful ivy
crowned ruin, built in the 18th century by
some Estercian monks from strance; and it
must have been an immense structure for
those days, as the church could seat over 2000
persons, while adding to this the necessary and
customary buildings, such as horse-stalls,
houses of different orders for monks, ETC., ETC.,
and person can form some idea of the size of
this remarkable structure, Peter de Rupilus,
Bishop of Winchester, who died in 1898, was
by some considered the founder; by others
Henry III, who died in 1889, Many additions
were made, and after many and various own
erships, the estate, including this structure,
dassed into the hands of Mr. Chamberlayne,
Esq, or bis heirs; but G. Hunt, ESQ of South
ampton, is in leave-hold occupation now. The
architecture of this ruin is of the period of
Early English Style,or an Early Pointed Goth
&c. Nearly the whole Of the Abbey was orig
inallY constructed of Caen and PuTbeck stone
the former being used for dressings, grain
ings, carvings, piers, facings and all the main
shafts Of the building, while the filings and
vaultings, the onamented shafts of the choir
and chapter-hOuse, with the doorways, etc.,
were of PuTbeck marble, The clear length of
thechuroh proper was about 2ll feet, by 81