The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-10-03
OUR GERMAN LETTER.

1lncance and The cultivation OF tn
arts. IL has always been q jealou
upholder of German nationality. /
is now the capital and. metropolis O
the German Empire. 1t is, and hal
been the home OF one the most illus
triOus families which occupied th,
Royal State. These have added
much of beauty and interest. Th,
seven kings have buih in and about
Berlin fourteen or fifteen palaces, al
OF which are royal indeed. What
these palaces have cost, and what the
fitting up the apartments have cost,
must be an immense amount. But
that is little difference to US Repub
licans, as we, come to see and report.
The largest palace in Berlin has six
hundred apartments. The paintings,
furniture, and ornaments, are some
groteeque,and some exquisitley beau
tiful, but all costly. Beslin is also
the seat of The principal officials and
head quarters of the most powerful
army now existing. Every day the
tramp, tramp, tramp, of the common
soldier can be heard, as he passes
through the rough, stony, paved
streets of Berlin, in or out 10 the
drill ground. 1t is wonderful how
exactly these men move upon the
field They dress well. Their dress
and armor is clean and bright. When
on the field they move as though one
thought moved every man. Not a
turn of the face, a move of the hand,
and scarcely tWitch of a muscle,
but in unison. Prussia isa.. nation OF
soldiers, and in this she possesses
much greatness.
Now, / shall give some statistics
with regard to Berlin. To most they
will probably be of no interest. But
| will remark just here that Berlin
is, for Europe, very thrifty and en-
ergetic city, And those who are IN
terested in comparing our beloved
America with other countries may
consider them Of some value. Eight
hundred years ago, Berlin was two
fishing villages. Under the wars of the
twelfth century German settlers were
introduced. But up to the time
when the Great Elector rut down the
little lords, there was little prosperi
ty. The Great EIector, ,Fredric Will
liam ruled from 1640 TO 1858. During
his reign the town was endowed with
municipal privileges, and under his
fostering care increased to. 10000
inhabitants. Under Frederic Will
liam, the city wss much extended and
embellshed, and iDcI essed so greatly
that at his death, in 1740, there were
10000 inhabitants. Under the next
king. Frederic the Great, the populs-
ton increased to la 600 in l7s6. In
1900 the city contained $4,000
Now it contains about $50, 900. We
must not. forget that Germany has
gone through many serious civil and
religious struggles, Of which Ameri
ca knows nothing. Such prosperity
is wonderful in Germany. The city
now possesses about seven hundred
public buildings, halfa hundred OF
which are the places where worship
ping Christians meet. There are in
tho city fifty-eight squares, naost of
which are adorned by some work of
art, aEd few by master pieces. p.
OF course it is impossible fer me
to describe the city Ininutely. The
most beautiful is always the most
pleasing So shall give you q con-
densed description of the finest street
in the city. 1t runs east and west.
1t is not half as long as the longest
street in The city. 1t is only one
English mile long, but fifty-five yards
broad, knd studded from end 20 end
with four rows of linden trees, from
which it derives it's name, "Unter
dem linden" l. e. "under the linden "
On either side are shops, hotels and
residences, which are very beautiful.
A bazaar extending to the next street
south, is said to be surpassed by few
in the world. At the east end Of
..Unter dem linden" ia the statute Of
Frederick the Great, called the grand
est monument in Europe. II repre-
scn,s the great King upon his horse
his coronation robes about him, and
his walking stick in his hand. This
upper section rests upon Q block,
by four figures, A9der-
alton. Justice, Wisdom, Strength.
From here you have the finest view
Of Berlin. To your right ia the En-
peror's Palace, the Hedwig Church,
ihe Library, the Opera House, the
Palace of The Crown Prince, and the
Ban Academy. To the left, the
Acsdemy, the University building,
the Royal Guard Houee, and the
Arsenal Beyond you the PsIace,
the LustgsIten and Museum. Al
ore sine you see fourteen monu-
ments one OF them especially is sig
nifeant. Victory Is teaching bon he
history Of he heroes. The palace be-
fore YOU is the one which contains
six hundred apartments. The Royal
collection OF arts, though in some
things called inferior, has many val
liable specimens. 1t consists OF be-
tween 500, 600 and 1000 coo objects,
including 100000 copper prints
TO be seen here There are collect ions
Of every art, useful ard polite.
At the west end OF "Unter dem Lin
den" is the B andenburg gate. 1t is
seventy feet Ligh and two hundred
feet wide has five different passages,
and / su port d by massre D., C