The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-09-18
THE FATHERLAND.
Tenmesseean's Visit to the CITY oil
Hamburg.

A Temmesseean's Visit to the CITY of
Hamburg.
Out of the channel into the North sea
or German ocean, and at three O'Clock
in the morning we find ourselves far up
the Elbe. Leaving our ship, we take a
tug which conveyed us to Hamburg,
along the green turfed shores of the
river, with here and there beautiful
suburban seat with highly cultivated
and interesting country beyond, now
and then a windmill with its air of great
antiquity. After two hours run. our
destination is reached. Amid the great
est confusion and want of system, with
luggage secured and thrown into a
"drozky" "a species of two seated car
riage, behind a frame of Eorse, SO
attenuated that were the philanthropic
Bergh to See him, his heart would
bleed, We start from the wharf or piers
and rattle along the cobble-stoned pave
ments in the narrow streets, and look
wondering at the quaint, old-fashioned,
small Widowed, dingy houses, and
vainly endeavor to read the signs which
are all Clutch" to us. "Hotel de
LEurope," sings out the cabman. We
get out of our cab and modern Ham
burg bursts upon us. What metamor-
phosis from the dingy, dirty streets
that we have meandered through from
our ship landing. The Alster is the
pride and Joy of Hamburg-an we'll
may the Hamburgers be proud of their
enchanting, their charming Alster, which
is an immense and beautiful lake in the
very heart of the city. have wandered
little in foreign lands and at home,
but never have I seen anything which is
exactly like the Alster. A large, beau
tiful clear, limpid lake, divided into two
parts by light, graceful wiry bridge ; it
has splendid hotels, magnificent castel-
lated private residences all along its
shores, ornate gardens sloping down to
the waters edge, rare exotics laving
themselves in the crystal water, the air
ladan with their sweet perfumes, flow
cry walks along the banks, multitudin-
GUS cafes, in which the pleasure-l loving
population is slipping coffee and drink
ing beer. Fsrry boats in miniature, ca
pable of containing not more than fifty
people, dash here and there with the
shrek of whistle, which seems more a
toy than anything else. Nothing can
be more beautiful than these vari-col-
ored boats, painted in white, blue and
SICCns Wu1CA COhfCy SOu 1OA q GUM Vi
two cents to any part of the lake. Long
necked, graceful swans float about on its
placid bosom; white winged saii-boats
fit like swallows across it. At short
distance from the shore beautiful trees,
luxuriously leafed, arch over inviting
promenades, along which the r sy-
checked German women leisurelY walk.
Hamburg resembles more in its busy
commercial aspect an American than an
European city. We must not infer from
its Alster and other places of amuse-
ment that, like Paris, it is solely city
of pleasure. The city is wholly and
essentially cosmopolitan in almost every
particular, its people. from the merchant
prince to the small tradesman, speaking
fuently several foreign languages
One OF the features of the place is the
Geological garden, one of the finest in
Europe, containing specimens Of almost
every known bird and beast.
The surroundings of the city are mag
nifcent. Owing to heavy dews the vege-
tation and foliage is very luxuriant. All
around are elegant country seats, with
grounds in that ornate condition of cul-
ture, only to be found in European
countries.
Public gardens abound, offering to
the pleasure seeker the best of music,
the shadiest of retreats, the neatest and
freshest of smiling waiteresses, who
bring great foaming tankards of beer,
which is always refreshing in Europe, as
the water is simply disgusting and un
drinkable.-Cor. NGShViLle Union and
1911 1ey.joO71