Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-10-08
MUNICH.


But I must away to Munich. to
its palaces and beautiful parks, to its gal
leries of art, its bronze foundries, its manu-
factories of eXqisite glass and china, and
last but not least, its triumphal arches,
gateways and monuments erected in honor
of its soldiers who fell in the many wars
when Munich all her banners waved
And charged with oil her chivalry."
Three days here, pleasant, profitable
days. Leaving Munich next
stopped ut Baden Baden, a large
village, situated on small stream
between some high hills and mountains of
the Black Forest, only mile or SO from
the Rhine Valley, and so long noted as the
great
GAMBLING HELL OF EUROPE.
Truly, they have done all that could be
done here, aud spent fabulous sums of
money to make this place beautiful and at
tractive-assembly rooms, conversation
halls, opera houses, all built in the most
exquisite style Of architectural beauty, gar
dens, fantasies, promenades, where every
evening bands Of music aid in entertaining
the many thousands that assemble here in
the summer months. More than fifty
thousand people come here every summer,
and have since 1850, and although gam
bling is now prohibited, and a different
class of people come still the numbers do
not diminish. j, with my friend, Gen.
W., wandered out Of the place and up the
steep mountains clothed with dark, ever
green forest, that overlooks this beautiful
summer resort, to "the old castle,n 1.-THE
ruins Of Hohenbaden," and first examined
this strangely picturesque ruin. The first
castle here built (some of the walls and one
large square are still standing) was the
work of the Romans and dates away back
TO the beginning of the Christian era. 9th
er walls and towers were afterwards added
I,trt I,o To Of Do 4 of
ten been besieged, sometimes captured
"grim-visagcd war; has often swept around
these
WALLS or CEMENT AND PoRPHYRY,
And this was long a stronghold overlook
ing the beautiful Valley ofthe Rhine-that
valley that has been the jewel for which
nations have fought and struggled since
Caesar fought the Almatii down to the war
which overthrow Napoleon III, in 1870.
But in 1859 the troops OF Louis XIV de-
stroyed this castle. Time has completed
what a conquering army began, and desc
lation and solitude reign over the scene of
destruction. Ivy has woven it's green veil
over the ruins, and the pine trees rooted in
the crnmbling walls, wave their green arms
through the window openings. But this
ruin also furnishes splendid view. 4
silver thread away off to the right shows
where the Rhine winds its tortuous way
among the vineyards and villages of AL
SAGE and Lorraine. Stretching away on
the left are the dark green hills of the Black
Forest, and at your feet smiles little green
valley where Baden Baden rests as calmly,
as sweetly as an infant in the arms of its
mother. No sign there of the crime and
sin, the misery and debauchery that has
polluted this place for more than CEN
fury; no black flag in memory of the
fortunes spent at the gambling table, CT
the broken hearts, crushed hopes, and
ruined homes that this place has caused.
Crowned ENTHUSIASTICALLY, both
male and female, as well as commoner
people, have long came here to engage not
in one only but in all kinds of dissipation
walls, those gardens and avenues that look
so beautiful to-day, tell if they should un-
fold all the scenes they have looked upon
So thinking-feeling that this valley
should produce health-giving waters, (for
has it not been well believed with the
tears Of widows and orphans?) I left the
castle, left Baden Baden and bent my steps
towards Strasburg.
/ shall not attempt to describe its cee-
brated cathedral with its wonderful clock,
nor the appearance of walls and buildings.
marked "a they are by shot and shell, but
simply add, that having seen this city 1
passed through Nancy, Chalons, &C., to
this, the great French capitol, city noted
since the days when it was occupied by
the Romans, and now acknowledged to be
the finest in the world. In my next / will
try to tell you of some of the things / see
here and the thoughts they suggest /
now expect to go to London on the 10th
inst. J. NJ. II.