The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-25
OUR GERMAN LETTER.
First Impressions of Berlin Observations Of
New Orieanian Abroad.

in the early night Of last Saturday, when it
streets, palaces and monuments were al
draped in spotless snow, which shone, whit
and glstening, beneath the rays of a moor
some three-quarters full, and, cold as it was
was tain to wander awhile on the wintr,
streets, upon which the crowd of passers-b,
was fast thinning out as the night advanced
but which to stranger seemed to possess q
certain charm of beauty. Berlin is full OF
statues and monuments of diff rent kinds,
and these looked strangely picturesque in the
mysterious moonlight, with their frosting Of
snow, which showed in striking contrast with
the dark bronze Of which most are cast.
Some of these figures are represented with
banners and shields, held aloft in air, and
with mantle Of snow resting upon them,
banner and shield, sword and spear, all shone
from afar like weapons reared by demons of
the night. Passing thus through the
streets, would meet little parties of peo-
PIE hurrying along, all mutiied in furs and
greatcoats, and seeming to be in haste
to escape from the cold air of the night while
|
cafes, ETC., came sounds OF conviviality, which
told Of merry makers Willing away the even
ing hours with eating, drinking, billiards
and cards. Entering one of these places of
popular resort to obtain some light refresh
ments, the first thing that attracted my atten-
ton was party of well-dressed English
speaking idlers, who were devoting their time
to billiards and to the destruction of beer.
cold roast beet, ETC., and whom l soon discov-
cred, from their manner and conversation, to
be Americans, fact which I had surmised
from the first, for there is peculiar air about
many of my countrymen by which I fancy
can generally recognize them abroad, and SO
far have only made one mistake, which was
in the case Of a German who spoke excellent
English.
There is for orc thing, a popularity in the
language and expressions Of Americans and
this shows more strikingly in foreign coun-
try than at home, where it is so general, aside
from which there is a lofty air Of proprietor
ship about the average American traveller, by
which one who sees him lording it in indolent |
ease at gorgeous European hotel, or cafe,
can most always determine his nationality. 1t
is true that the English are much given to the
same manner of deporting themselves, but
there is distinct difference between them
and most Americans, for while with the really
we'll bred English, this lordly air seems more
easy and natural than with upstart Americans,
who assume it. it must be said that the up-
start English are far inferior to our country
men in the art Of putting on airs, for they
'lways betray themselves by some glaring in
Of department. fault which
americans usually have the .shrawdness to
void
There seems to be great many iilo Ameci-
ans here, and the little party of six or eight
'hom left smoking and drinking in the s
lace in question represented types of that in
olent and superficial class of young men q
Tho 60 to make up go large portion OF fash
Enable society at home, such as one can meet
! crowds at any evening party in an American
lty, and such as edo the magnificent for $
ne edifcation and amusement of sensih,a S
eople in foreign countries every year.
Passing again into the still and snowy ii
rect, now tenanted almost solely by senti-
els and watchmen, took my way toward nv
opping- place, walking part Of the distance r
J that famous avenue, : Inter den Linden,
it'll its great palaces aud public buildings
oming up on either side, on the one hand
light with moonlight and on the other dim
ID shadowy.
In front OF the Emperor's palace sentinels
ere slowly pacing up and down. while over 81:
ad the great silken royal standard with its or
owns and eagles could be seen tapping e''
avily in the sharp, cold wind Just beyond n ,,'
Sc the great Opera House, and farther still =. -,
9 palace of the Grown Prince, also guarded ~
helmeted warriors. Across the street on the SIC
le where the moonbeams shone full and DO
ar, one could see the massive Grecian vel
,hitecture Of the University, building
lch stands away from the street in the form -
hallow square with the front side open. II
which, though colossal and imposing, can l
rdly be said to possess any special archi. De,
tural beauty. In the distance could be lar
n the dark forms of church towers with toy
'ir Illuminated clocks, and above all the gai
airy sky. with its ligat, driving clouds and MO 9
d, bright moon, while around on every "a
y oSAoeSuOA LAG Aousos SbSlll, 6uOW- ClHU, | NJ
Gets of the sleeping city. VI
such is the picture of Berlin as it appeared
that bitter cold but lovely Saturday night
doubt if it will ever seem as picturesque
me- again, for if there is anything that can
est strange scene with romantic beauty,
ing all the deformities and faults, and en-
ICING the attractive features Of all that is m
utlful, It is the magic influence of snow i
moonlight, which, in combination, can cele
lsform the bleak desolation of ruins or Nv,
try forests into enchanted pictures CT
er making every distorted shape of NO. Ora
or ruined art seem like fantastic crea-
IS OF dream. and casting over the whole m
range glamour that is at once awful mys-
GUS and beautiful. Under the magic spell
it's said that the time-stainedand
pidated palaces of prince!y Venice are
ored to their once splendid appearance
by the dim and friendly glimmer of the
ID, the discolored marble Of their walls