The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-06-08

Ostend at the other and the Belgian
mail steamer between. We went on
board with, brave heart,-we had been
sailor before. A stiff head wind pre-.
vailed and we had the satisfaction of
acSlting in an incredible short time, and
were happy with company. Five hours
brought us to Ostend, just in time to
miss "der sch1aell Zug," and await the
next three hours Before landing wei
were examined by custom house officials
Our valise being merely opened and
passport presented-the magic words
Omitted States" were sufficient-it was
not read. 1--WE endeavored to make our
self as miserable as possible for the re-
mainder of the day and succeeded most
admirably. The effects of our voyage
had rendered the provision market worse
than lifeless, and the old town noted
for the "Ostend Manifesto" contained
little of interest, and we were not dis
posed to be interested. At $40 p. M,
we were off, and. as long as daylight
lasted, let nothing pass unobserved. The
country was a dead level, entirely des-
titute of fence except small enclosures
about the houses. Darkness soon shut
out observation, and tedious nights
ride was before u.s. We felt cross and
ill-Tatured, and to add to our happiness
between Brussels and Louvre, six huge
Belgians filled the compartment with eta
bak fummes," while one drunken gentle.
man with stove pipe hat insisted on
keeping the windows closed, which we
gently opposed. He spouted and we
did the same, neither understanding
what the other said, but we guessed
when he shook his fist, we returned
the compliment, then looked him fercely
in the face for q moment and-laughed
at him. We had no further trouble from
him. At 5, q. M, reached Cologne, where
we should have been at IL, p. M, pre-
ceding, and hurried on board the boat
to ascend the Rhine, merely passing by
the great Cathedral which we had hoped
to have time to examine. A porter car
rjed our valise to the boat but q short
distance, taking whatever he pleases from
our open hand, but on reaching the boat
demanded more, but we NIGHTS ferSteso
DeWtclse, and turned into the cabin. To
Mainz or Mayence, one hundred and
twenty-seven miles, was d ride of thir-
teen hours. at Bonn twenty miles
from Cologne, commences the scenery,
consisting Of a Succession OF highlands
similar to the highlands Of the Hudson,
continuing one hundred miles, and cul
tivated to the vine in every available and
accessible spot. Vineyards seemed to
stand almost edgeooase, so steep are the
bluffs, and where impracticable other
wise, are built in small terraces by means
of walls, in places which seem accessible
to nothing but a mountain goat, and this
cultivation is continued the whole dis
lance. Ruins of old castles and abbeys,
perched on almost inaccessible crags, are
numerous on the whole route, particular
| ly in the vicinity of the noted Bingen
on the-Rbine Fragments of old Roman
walls still exist in numerous places, and
some of the antique buildings seem to
have been erected in Roman times. We
cannot describe the scenery-other writers
can do it better-it is not our province.
At Mainz we found note from Mr.
French, written and left at Hotel de
Paris the morning previous, giving US
directions where to reach him, he being
then on a trip into France with his fami.
ly. Having couple of hours at our dis
posal before train time for Strasbourg
whence we had telegraphed to Mr.. F.
the evening previous, we called on the
uncle of our friend Haber, a merchant
of the city, who was exceedingly pleased
to see some one from Peter We called
into requisition all the German we were
master of, witch was somewhat more
than his stock of English to
him that we were Peters 'treund" in
America-which the letter also informed
him-bought our groceries of him, &c.
Our Interview was exceedingly interest
ing, interspersed with hearty laughs,
shakes of the head and "pichts," till he
called in a neighboring young man,
formerly OF Texas, who made our CONVEX
sation more Ineligible. He proposed
to take me out to ride to see the camp
of the French prisoners, but our time
smoothly shaver, and resembling the late
Alonzo Campbell. Above Mayence the
highlands recede from the river fifteen
to twenty miles, leaving vast plain
between of light, sandy soil, which
cannot be naturally fertile but is all Gull |
tivated. Cows and women work in the
field-the former draw by ropes passing
around the forehead; sometimes are
seen two cows working together, some
times alone, and occasionally, a COW and |
horse together. Much of the ground is
dug up with the spade and hoe Reached
Strasbourg at 6, p IN but Mr. F. had
not arrived. This city of $4,000, shows
the effects of the bombardment Of last
season, but if the people can dispose of
all the pictures and relics of the war
bullets, fragments of bombshells, &C., at
the figures asked, they can repair the
town and afford to stand another siege
About five hundred buildings are said
to have been totally or partially destroy