Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-08
AN Augusta Man I'M Germany

G~oTTINGEN, Nov. 18th, 1876,
Perhaps the best way of forming a cor
rect idea Of another country and its inhab-
itants is by comparison with our own.
From any of the heights in Augusta coun-
ty, a glance over the country around will
reveal the great amount Of land, still sha-
ded by primeval forest, showing that,
though called old Virginia-lt is yet a new
country and not inhabited to it's full ca
pacity. The fields are large and separated
by tall fences, that require enormous
amounts of timber, to make and keep them
in order, and pieces Of untitled land will
meet the eye on all sides. Not so if you
perch yourself upon the top of some hill or
in the upper story of some high tower.
here in the North of Germany, a land in
habited and cultivated for centuries before
the existence of America was ever con-
ceived of by civilized man. With the ex-
ception of the HarZ mountains, and some
respectable hills, the country is very
level, woodland is remarkably scarce, but
as it is not used to a very great extent for
fuel, and not at all for fencing, there is
not so much use for it as with US.
If you walk through a piece of woods
here, you will not find a single log over
which to stumble, nor a single brush heap
to obstruct your way. Even the very
twigs have been carefully collected by the
poor people, who are allowed by the gov
eminent to pick up fallen branches during
certain days of the year, but they are
strictly prohibited from cutting any. These
forests usually belong to the government,
and are kept in order by men called forest
ers, who are employed for that purpose.
Most of them have been planted by the
government and are therefore called artif-
cial forests. One cannot help but mark
the contrast between those puny trees of
man. setting out, and those great pines
and oaks all over Virginia, that lift their
proud heads, as giant monuments, in
groves Of Gods own planting. But the
principal beauty of the landscape is in the
varied appearance Of the ope3 country.
Not a fence OR gate meets the eye. The
courses of all the small streams are marked
by rows of bea utiful willows, that are cut
off about fifteen feet from the ground and
by that means are made to send up a
bushy top, which makes a good shade and
a beautiful appearance. Not a foot of
waste land anywhere; good pasture grows
to the very water edge, and not a grub or
brier exists.
People work more for future years and
for posterity than they do in America.
The roads have rows of beautiful shade
trees or both sides, many of which
were planted there by hands that returned
to the mother element many years ago.
Yet these monuments of their in
dustry will stand and cast a friend
ly shade over all who pass beneath
them,-many of them are fruit trees, and
owned by the nearest town. These roads
are models of smoothness and apparent
durability, being in most respects far su-
perior to the "Valley Pike" which stands
at the head of Virginia roads. Upon them
a horse may often be seen t%rotting along,
and drawing a load that would astonish
Augusta farmers. Such roads seem adapt
III W uuO uoC VI llSut NcHlCioo, UuU uolC uuO
American idea of lightness and strength
does not exist. They have no buggies at
all, nor spring wagons, and never anything
that rises to the dignity of a four horse
team. The peasants and burger people
walk, and the higher people drive in clumsy
hacks. Perhaps the reason why buggies
are not used is because German mammas
are extremely careful, and never allow
their daughters to go out for a drive un-
less they accompany them, and as it would
be rather i%nconvenient to have that indi-
vidual, who is not usually very small, as a
third party in a vehicle affording accomo-
dation for only two, they are wisely aban-
doneu.
The greater part of the land is owned by
the peasants who work it. They very
small patches of land, and consequently
the country is divided up into hundreds of
small tracts, and cultivated on the garden
principle, and yields large crops. Most Of
the field work is done by women, while the
old men are apparently at home, brewing
beer, and the young men serve in the large
standing army, all over the country. The
people do not live in isolated houses scat
tered over the country, but entirely in
villages and towns, in the most crowded
possible. From these one can see
the droves of COWS and sheep, and focks of
geese driven cut to pasture every morning