The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-11-17
Scenes in and About Belgrade.

To get from Vienna 10 Belgrade is by
no means difficult, yet by no means
pleasant. There are two ways Of 60
ing. One, partially by rail; the other
entirely by steamer. By the former
route one may travel on the railroad as
far as the small Hungarian town of Mo-
hacs, and there 90 by boat TO Semlin,
which connects with Belgrade by 3 fer
nv. ANY one who takes this route will
wish he hadn't taken il, as the train
goes only little faster than an ordina-
nv pack mule, and the supposed con-
nection with the steamer at Mohacs IS
in most cases an extreme uncertainty.
The other route, by water 10 Semlin, Is
much preferable, though by no means
unobiectionabie. Almost every one
who goes 10 Vienna goes a little further
and sees Pesth. This part OF the Dan
ube, between the Austrian and Hun
garian capitals, is, of course, not equal
to the Rhine, or Hudson, or St. Law
renee, or the Mississippi. There Is
really no scenery. Pesth bids fair soon
10 rival Vienna. Its situation Is far SUI
perior. Since the situation Of the two
towns on either side Of the river there
has been immense enterprise shown in
building, and every year the city grows
in extent, in the magnificence Of its
public edifces and in the beauty Of its
architecture.
The steamboat leaves Pesth for Sem
lin three times a week At the advice
OF the Captain | went on board the
night before, as he said '.the Russians
filled up the berths early in the morn
ing" IL was not hard 10 understand
the caution when, on the following
morning, soon after sunrise, about two
dozen subjects Of the Gar and allies of
he Serbians came .cuiiling on board 10
secure places in the cabin. The pres
ence of the ordinary Russian Is, per-
I haps, least agreeable on a small river
steamer. Their table manners are, 10
say the least, not appetizing, nor DO
/ they occupy the cabin and conduct
themselves during the hours Of repOse
in either a graceful or attractive man
ner. To relieve the mOnOtony, how
ever, we had the pleasure OF the COM
pany of several Serbian dignitaries, at
tired in long, black robes and gorgeous
blue sashes. The language Of the Ser
bians and Russians, combined with a
sprinkling OF Hungary and Germany,
afford a good idea Of the confusion OF
tongues" at the Tower Of Babel. The
most invigorating and celebrating
thing. was TO see the additions of thess
gentlemen, in a moderate-sized basin
The absence Of any towels on tbs
steamer added lively interest TO the
scene.
The Danube below Pesth is not famil
lar to the ordinary European traveller
The river is quite broad, the banks low
and the country a good deal wooded
but, in many spots, very fertile. Con
sidering that the river Is navigaoie al
the way, and the water power tolerabl.
good, il seems extraordinary that there
are SO few towns Of any size along tn
banks. Often, for miles and miles, tn
only signs of life and activity are tn
b floating grist-mills, Of which there AT
1900 in Hungary, on the Danube sn'
its tributaries. The appearance OF tn
, peasantry is a strange mingling OF Tn
? western and the Oriental. TIE me-
wear long flowing white robes, like pet
. ticoats, except the shepherds and herd:
men, who dress in sheepskins, and loo
3 like Asiatic nomads. The women ST
7 less extraordinary in their attire. The
are chiefly noticeable for their brilliar
. red petticoats, which are very conspi'
uous in the fields or along the rive
i Belgrade, as regards its situation, Is d.
j, cidedly attractive. On approaching
e you imagine il TO be one
= the prettiest Of towns. Ii is built O
5 the slope of hill running dow
to the Danube. At the most prom