New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-10

bring.
Regarding the city politics it is well
known to every one that Hamburg as a
free city. is q small republic in herself; of
which each citizen is as proud, and feels as
important as if the good and bad Of the
whole world we're depending upon their
conclusions. Imagination is good thing.
but one must have been brought up in, and
never have left Hamburg, to believe in the
republican welfare Of all her classes. The
United States laws give equal ats to all,
regardless of standing and occupation;
the Hamburg laws give different rights,
well regarding standing and occupation;
herein lies the great difference which must
be apparent to every one; and although
justice here is unpurcnasable, and strict
protection to the rights named in their laws
is secured to every one, still the idea of
being a republic is and will remain nothing
but dream! And if they seek defense
in proolaiming that they have given these
laws themselves, it can By no means be
misunderstood that their constitution does
not merit the name of republic. Those
who understand this better, call the city
government simply democratic one, and
80 in fact it is; the Senate of the city is
independent, at least so far as not to med
die in the political affairs Of Germany, to
whom she belongs, or rather 30 far as to
execute in quiet obedience the more i'm
portant political arrangements of Germany,
who OF course gives her q slight show Of
being tree in herself, by not meddling IN
her private affairs, Of little or no Importance
to her own politics.
Hamburg is surrounded by some scenes in
nature untouched by the hand of art, beauti.
full indeed, did not heaven in her melancho-
" moods weep so many sad tears over them;
to be enjoyed and appreciated, the visitor
must select one of those days when the sun
triumphs in one of his seldom gained vic'
tories. Chiefly among them lis the view
from the ramparts over the Crosse Alster,
which is romantic stream emptying by
channels through the city, into that mighty
and imposing river the Elbe. Lombards-
brucke is another point from where may be
seen the Uhlenhorst, st. Georg, and Binurn
Alster, three charming sights. Stintfang
mountain, with it's romantic cliffs and beau
tiful wild grasses, the first Of them all, has
already been the theme Of some of Ger
many's best landscape painters. From this
mountain, which is on the city side of the
Elbe, you may look across into deep forests
Of oak trees, while far down the Elbe wan
ders the eye, and dreams the soul along
until the mind is lost il, thought as onward
a iv,h hor ts,t tho
North sea!
Culture has done much for the appear
ance of the city. The Botanic Garden
merits we'll the attention paid it by the cit
/ liens. You enter narrow gate aud are
soon in the presence of over 200, 900 plants
and flowers. Here may be seen every
variety and form of plant, flower and tree,
from the humblest mountain grass and
tender-eyed violet to the loftiest palm of
tropical zones. Most worthy of mention
is the "Victoria Regia Haus," as it is called
from reason 5f its being constructed entire
ly of the "Victoria Regia" Queen of the
Night, the exquisite perfume of which can
not be forgotten when once inhaled. Fur
ther back in the garden is q beautiful foun-
tain of water, the properties of which are
iron, and is much used and valued by
physicians and chemists.
The Geological Garden, although not very
old, may be classed as superior to anything
Of it's kind in Europe. 1t isremarkable as
we'll for the talent exhibited in it's construc-
ton as for its great variety of animals and
birds. Both winter and summer dwellings
are provided for them-large, comfortable
quarters, containing trees, rocks, water,
and all peculiar to their wants and habits.
towers as cages for the brown and ice bears;
the latter contains two of the finest samples,
| male and female, surely ever exhibited.
Rocks of from eighty to ninety feet high
are rising from the background, and foun-
! tains of fresh water are constantly flooding
| over these rocks, discharging themselves III
| large eighteen feet deep water basin in
the middle of the tower. Lazy and sleepy
| lie the bears around, and it is curious to
watch them in their natural habits, taking
their shower baths with half closed eyes
| and comfort able growlings, especially in
| winter. when the running water covers the
| rocks with ice This is fine spectacle, and
| transplaces the visitors mind with all his
| Imagination and knowledge of natural his
tory, for the moment in the never seen and
never felt regions of everlasting mountains
of snow and ice. From the North Pole we
| turn to our right, and find ourselves before
an Egyptian country house, at one side of
which floats a little rivulet, running over
pebbles, where hig water plants and plenty
of water reed grow. This is the home of
the handsomest red, gray and white
| Flamingos that can be imagined. Ibeses,
| curlews, stone plOvers, avOsets, Oy stercatch-
ers. ETC., in short, hundreds of water birds
! of all colors. Then follow eagles and
| condors OF Africa and America; mon
keys and macagurs from all parts
of the world; elephants. dromedaries and
| rhinoceros, lions and tigers, foxes and
| wolves, alligators and snakes-in short,
everything known Of in the animal king
dom. The greatest impression to be real
| lied, however, is still reserved to US. Let
us enter the great and wOrld-unrivaed
aquarium Here we descend about fifty
| feet under ground and discover ourselves
| into a reception hall. From this we are
| guided again until we enter long alley
| way, whose glass walls form the different
departments Of the aquarium, ten in num-
Der; the bluish-green light (the only light
| falling in comes through the sea water be-
| yond the large glass wallis illuminates the
! way mysteriOusly. The effect in appear
| ance is beautiful. We seem, indeed, to
stand upon sea ground, with all the inhab
| itants of the sea around us; the stone and
| sand bottom; the streams and motions of
the water are SO natural; the requisite
beauty and finish Of the arrangement shows
| a masters hand. Here can the lover of
natural scenes find practical field for the
illustration of his studies. Here, living in
peace and at war, in beauty and in horror,
every variety in the fish kingdom, crabs,
shell and the so-called living sea stars
| fechinodirma), sea flowers tcoeienterata or