Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-10-10
A Glimpse Of the. Danube.

Danube is an object of great In
terest. The following description
of it by Frederick William Faber,
d. D., is worth reading:
"No language can possibly de-
scribe the supurb scenery OF to-
DAYS journey. 1t far transcends
anything l ever saw or conceived
of woodland or Of river scenery.
1t is part of the Danube where the
waters break from the great basin
of Hungary through the noun
tains. When we first left Orsova,
the hills were one green wilderness
of massive and unbroken foliage,
and the views up the valley we're
very sweet indeed. But soon hugh
and shadowy cliffs began to show
themselves among the woods, and
once or twice the Danube pressed
its water through awful walls OF
sheer precipice. At first thought
it like the Rhine, only much, very
much superior, because OF the
woods, instead of miserable, tame,
formal vineyards; but presently
the magnificence and almost fear
full grandeur Of the scenery drove
the Rhine utterly ont OF my
thoughts. The woods were princi-
pally deciduous trees with an i'm
mense profusion Of walnut, and
they were all matted together with
wild vines, clematis, and very large
white convolvulus, while between
its banks the river wriihed and
boiled over pars of rocks, effectu-
ally forbidding all navigation. But
now the cliffs receded, and there
came some miles of incessant woods
with beautiful valleys, through
whose woody gates we obtained
exquisite glimpses up the noun
famous glens. One in particular
remember, of consumate loneliness
It was on the Servian shore; ano
far inland rose a hugh mountain
in shape like a crouching lion, ane
the valley broadened out and lef
the mountain standing alone agains
the sky. Then came a large sea
like bay, with a Servian village
and church on tongue OF greer
fields. The broad river went b,
gently, wheeling solemnly in gloss.
eddies. 1t was a scene of perfec
loneliness. Not feature could b
heio or improved. The
came the cliffs again, no longe
white and hoary, but a deep mot
tied red. For the next hour ] wa
we'll nigh beside myself; bad
been the time Of many colore
D autumn. instead of brown leave
e June, with its heavy green, ! shout
have lost my senses. Red cliff
masked in infinitely various d.
: grees by foliage, or standing abruE
: like walls, or shooting up I'M
: spires and piunacles like castle
e here receding from the view, the
throwing themselves forward al
- shutting the waters up into ma
: row, turbulent rapid these we
. .he features of the scenery. :
describe them is impossible.
last we turned from the cliffs al
saw the deep-wooded hills abo
Oh Drenkova, backed by the dee
y dull crimson OF stormy suns
IS and we arrived absolutely weari
IN with the strength Of the impr'
sions made upon as by the scene'
1g Such a glorious and devine mir
ed ling of grandeur and lovelines
u natures's smiles and frOwns,
lie decks the royal Danube all &
ad days journey, | never saw in
life, and | believe / shall never 4
al get the silent establishment
,;a which | travelled for many hou
49,. I almos, envied the birds who W
90 free to drop anywhere in the lie
IA wilderness. ar on the rocky ledi
,a- or to suspend themselves in the
over the middle of the Danube.