Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-09
Letters from Germany.

eur enthusiasm was reused to Its highest pitch
by our first mountain experiences This re-
gion Is a place Of great summer resort and
within easy travel from this city. A boat
ride of twelve English miles up the Elbe land
ed us at Wayland in Saxon Switzerland,
where procuring ponies and guide for each,
TO carry our traps and to point out the differ
ent spots of Interest and beauty, we went the
long way Of many miles up the mountain OF
Bnsterr and such scenery as we found on our
way IL has never been my privilege to see be-
fore. Our path forever turning and twisting
winding over rocks, then under high cliffs,
that seemed ready TO fall on us, now past a
pretty babbling brook, and again In deep
yavine with long vista before us, when sud-
denly turning, an entire change appears. Half
way up we RECALLED on strawberries sold by all
old woman, who had her market on a large
rock. Also near was restaurant, with bark
tables, rustic seats and stand where peasants
sold rustic and carved work. At last, the as
cent was accomplished and we were $50 feet
above the river. cannot describe the lovli-
ness that was before us, it was enchanting
We stood at various points taking in the views
of the distant mountains, the deep valleys and
the Elbe at the foot Of our emineHce. At the
top of Bastcr we found hotel andee course,
a garden, too, with tables and seats, and there
we took dinner How like the toy images of
my childhood appeared the miniature men
moving in tile valleys below, amid the tiny
trees and fields Of grain, and how Insignificant
10 the minds eye seemed all humankind and
human handi-work in the presence of such
grandeurt Coming down we saw many Gu
rious caves and steps in the rocks, stair-cases
and stone seats-all very rude. Of eouySe-
made by the robbers who in years gone by
had their castle there and from the high rocks
weTe accustomed TO throw stones upon the
passing vessels below Many curious legends
are connected with these laces, which the
guides rolled off 10 us in German, much to the
amusement Of our gentlemen and W us, when
they had time to translate thena 10 eur won
dering eaLs- .......
Another day we took carriage at Schandau
and drove through the lovely valley Of the
Kirmtsch TO the Haidenmuhle. Here at a lit
tie tavern we stopped to refresh ourselves
with glass Of creamy milk, then on herse-
back rode mile to Kuhstall, a romantic spot
up a steep, woody hill. Through naturak
arch 30 feet high and 40 wide, we passed To- II
ledge from which we had n beautiful view
Looking from the other side, this arch forms
frame for fine landscape picture. Leading
up to the top of the hill is long staircase
between the Immense rocks, so narrow, that
certainly, Our refund friend, Or. r., corrlSS not
go through How longed to be a child again
70 kaYs = day here OF rare fun in hide and
seek among the numbcrless inches and hiding
placesI While tbeTe we watched with much
interest, the school children WHO had come
up with their teacher fNR hofiSiay, playing
their German games aud dancing Polonaise
to the music OF yiolin played by a father
and mother and their little girl alternately.
During the 80 years war the peasants would
drive their cattle to this spot for snfcty-hence
the name "iuhstall" Cow. StalD, After de-
scending the hill on the other side by foot
path, ] was glad TO get to my brave little
Fritz" again, and we rode joylully for long
way through valley, then up a very steep
hill, going around innumcrablc turns in the
ascent, our guide stopping us often to point
) out some spot of historic interest, or to call
our attention to rock resembling Sn animal
or n lAiRsaa face. We were fully repaid as we
reached the top Of this Lesser Winttrberg by
the magnificent view that met Oup eyes,
Thence we mounted still higher 10 the Greater
Winterberg, one Of the highest of the bergs.
This was the 6nea view Of allra storm had
been threatening and lrelha this point we
watched the rain at one side rs IL approached
until the mountains were envelopcd in mist
while on the other side the valleys and hills
were basking In the sunshine; the storm did
not reach us, and we rode down the other side
of the berg. Half way down, we found an
old man and woman sitting under little
she'd just large enough to cover the happy
old lovers, playing away on their harps; con-
cealed behind some rocks we discovered theiT
small hut where Glove in n cottage" has prob
ably iiouBished for many long year. They
seemed to me Ike the veritable old pair who
were so kind 10 Mercury when the people Of
the village taovs.h which he was passing
at one time hooted him. Here together they
sat, as In the neurological story, near their
humble dwelling and by the door on wood
en- bench was the little pitcher for milk that
that Mercury kept constantly full rs reward
to them; also the dish.on which the woman
brought the grapes to him. When so theie
again expect to find the two trees sprung up
in their places, If they are gone There IN
fiont of their little hxr we sat perched on q
rock, the top Of which slanted down at an an
gle Of thiriy.6ve degrees, and ate lunch Of
} "blaek bread Swiss cheese, raw ham and
Hungarian (souT wine Had 1t been beer
this would have been complete German
meal. The black bread is always quite sour
and sbe Slleess anything but pleasant TO the
palate and the oliactorics, and yet people come
to like II all Af(or this, VIC rode TO q still
larger arch, a hundyed feet broad and two
thirds az high This was In Bohemia--our
dinner we ate in Austria, with Saxony across
the road from US. The hong, long way down
this mountain on foot was very fa,iguing and
l was glad to gree, my "Frtz'-my nice little
pony and the pet Of the party. Through a
long, pretty valley, BY the side Of q babbling
brook VIC leisurely rode, passing ON our way a
figUSe of a saint holding crucifx, making us