The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-08-26

Illuminated with almost innumerable
lanterns Of every color, Enthusiastically ar
ranged, forming arches, circle: and
! figures. Here the young European does
his courting, sitting at beer table with
his hat on one side OF his head, his ci-
gar or pipe in his mouth and his mug
OF beer in his hand, whilst his dulcines
sits at his side putting her cigarette ani
quaffing her beer with a gusto. while
the band plays an accompaniment to
the sweet words he is pouring into her
tear. This may be called an advanced
stage Of civilization and refinement, but
your correspondent must confess that
his education is too defective to see it.
Belgium is the most densely popula-
ted country in Europe, the ratio OF the
population to the geographical area
being 430 persons to the square mile
! The greatest per cent. OF its inhabitants
are Flemish. The French language is
generally spoken, and French coin the
medium of exchange. 1t was matter
OF some conjecture al first, how so ma
ny people could subsist on such small
extent OF country as that comprising
Belgium, bnt after viewing the country
and the manner in which it is cultivs-
ted, the mystery was solved. Every
inch Of land that will raise grain is put
under cultivation, while the low lands
are kept for pasturage. Horses are not
used TO any great extent in farming, and
what few cattle are used for dairy, are
also used for draft purposes. Dogs are
hsrnessed is small wagons, and FREE
quently women and boys assist them in
drawing the produce OF the farm.
Most of the land is dug by hand, in"
stead of being plowed. Throughout
Europe, women do most of the field
work. The wheat and rye were being
harvested as we passed through the
country, and there appeared to be an
abundant yield.
From Brussels we passed through a
very fine country to Cologne. After
crossing the Meuse river at Liege the
country becomes more mountainous, and
the principal industrial persuts is the
manufacture OF iron. At Cologne we
struck the waters OF the Rhine. Taking
the steamer in the morning for May
ence we sailed up the Rhine and reach
ed Mayence in the evening, viewing the
hill scenery, for which the Rhine is
celebrated as we passed along. The
natural scenery Of the Rhine is very
fine and has been much improved by
art. On both sides the rugged hills OF
solid rock rise to the height of from six
hundred to one thousand feet. On the
east bank, and in many places the west
bank also, these steep rocky hills are
terraced by stone walls for the purpose
Of Cultivating the grape. These walls
are built OF finely cut stone, and are
from seven to twelve feet high. The
hills are so steep that in many places
walls twelve feet high will not give a
terrace level Of more than ten or twelve
feet in width. In many places, and
especially opposite Bingen, these hills,
or rather rocks, are terraced to the top.
The ascent to the terraces is by finely
cut stone steps leading from one to the
| OlUeT. NO Bull NudltNtI 10 " NC hCSu
on these terraces, and it is wonderful
how the vines grow on the rocks. These
vines are not more than two feet in
height, and are said to bear the finest
VINE grapes in the world. A railroad
is constructed along both banks of the
Rhine, the beds Of which are support
ed by walls of solid masonry. The
banks OF the river itself for miles and
miles are protected by solid stone walls,
There is more stone masonry along the
Rhine from Cologne to Mayence than
there is in New York and Brooklyn
combined. All this stone work was
done under the direction OF military
engineers and is OF the most solid and
substantial character. The ruins Of
numerous old castles destroyed by the
French at different times are also to be
seen. On the heights opposite Coblenz
stands the strong fortress Of Ehren-
brcitstein which commands the disput-
ed territory between Prussia and France.
1t is q massive stone structure COM
manding all the approaches. Ia was
| delivered TO the French about the year
1880, and was held by them for a num-
Der Of years. After the French had
abandoned it they captured it after a
protracted seige. Within the last thirty
years the Prussisn government has ex-
pended immense sums OF money in re-
building and extending it, and it is now
one OF the strongest fortresses in the
world. It has capacity for mounting
four hundred guns, and its store houses
are large enough to contain provisions
for 5000 men for ten years. A person
may pass all through it aid not be
able to tell whether there is a single
gun in it. Everything in il ia encased
and no person knows OF what It's arm
ament consists except the officer in
command and the Prussian Govern
mcnt. The general and reasonable
opinion is, however, that it is strongly
and heavily armed with the largest and
best guns in the Prussisn army. On
the other heights around Coblenz are
fertsiAlexander and Constantine, both
bomb proof and constructed on the
modern plan Of fortifcation.
Leaving Cologne for Berlin, via Han
over, we passed through a very fertile
and productive country till after we
passed Hanover, where we again saw
the women and girls performing the
heavy labor OF gathering the harvest
while the men were either playing sOl-
der, smoking pipes or drinking beer.
After passing Hanover we entered
sandy and almost barren country which
continues till within fifty or sixty miles
Of Berlin, when we reached the lands
drained by the Elbe which are rich and
fertile.
Berlin, the capital Of Germany, a.
though very fine and elegant city, did
no; come'up TO your correspondents
, expec tstions. The finest street Is Inter
I Iar 1rIa, ITTrI--