The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-09-19
ALONG THE DANUBE.
Hts Beautiful Valley. Mountains.
CIiHs. Bays and Foliage.

From Life and Letters of F. W. Faber.l
No language can possibly describe the
superb scenery of to-day's journey. 1t
far transcends anything [ ever saw or
conceived of woodland or of river seen
cry. 1t is the part of the Danube where
the waters break from the great basin of
Hungary through the mountains. When
we first left Orsova, the hills were one
great wilderness of massive and unbro
ken foliage, and the views up the valley
were very sweet indeed. But soon huge
and shadowy cliffs began to show them
selves among the woods, and once or twice
the Danube pressed its waters 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 magniti-
cence and almost fearful grandeur of the
scenery drove the Rhine utterly out of
my thoughts The woods were principal
ly deciduOus trees, with an immense pro
fusion Of walnut, and they were all mat
ted together with wild vines, clematis and
very large white convulvulus, while be-
tween its banks the river writhed and
boiled over bars of rocks, efectually for
bidding all navigation. But now the
cliffs receded, and there came some miles
of incessant wood, with beautiful valleys,
through whose woody gates we obtained
exquisite glimpses up the mountainous
glens. One in particular l remember of
consummate loveliness. 1t was on the
Servian shore and far inland there rose
a huge mountain, in shape like crouch
ing lion, and the valley broadened out
and left the mountain standing alone
against the sky. Then came a large sea
like bay, with a Servian village and
| church on a tongue of green field. The
broad river went by gently, wheeling So
lemnly in glossy eddies. 1t was scene
of perfect loneliness. Not feature could
| be heightened or improved. Then came
the cliffs again, no longer white and
hoary, but deep notified red. For the
next hour was well-nigh beside myself !;
| had it been the time of many colored
autumn, instead of brown-leaved June,
with its heavy green, [ should have lost
all my senses. Red cliffs, masked the
infinitely various degrees by foliage, OF
standing abrupt like walls, or shooting
up into spires and pinnacles like castles,
here recedlng from the view, there throw
ing themselves forward and abutting the
waters up into a narrow, turbulent rapid
these were the features of the scenery.
To describe them is quite impossible. Al
last we turned from the cliffs and saw the
deep wooded hills above Drenkova backed
by the deep, dull crimson of stormy
sunset, and we arrived absolutely wearied
with the strength of the impressions made
upon us by the scenery. Such glorious
and divine mingling of grandeur ana
loveliness of natures smiles and frown:
as decks the royal Danube all this days
Tourney l never saw in my life, and
believe l shall never forget the silent
establishment in which travelled for man,
hours. | almost envied the birds wh'
were free to drop anywhere III the leafy
wilderness, or on the rocky lodges, or t.
suspend themselves in the air over tn,
middle of the Danube.