Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-09-17
European Letter.
tFrOm an occasional Correspondent
Frieberg. Baden. Aug. 25

good weather. No part of Europe i
better situated for excursions. Railway
bring one over the comparatively fat an,
tame approaches and drop the tourist il
the very lap Of all that Is lovely, an,
fresh, and romantic. Both for driyin,
and for walking the Black Forest is equal
| ly eligible; and those sensible person
who wish to enjoy the pleasures of pcdes
trianism, without many Of lis unqucstion
able discomiorts, find an excellent system
of public conyeyances, by which the lug
gage can be sent forward and the comtoru
OF 4 change of clothes secured. Trampinl
it with a knspSack and umbrella Is muci
more common in Europe than IN America
and 1t is al, very well for those who ar,
fOud OF wetting, and not over particular
as TO personal publication, and who find
or say they find, a pleasure in roughins
it; but the majority of people, and those
who have most common sense, will enjoy
travelling all the more for having little
of their customary comforts along with
them. The man who strives at hote
half an hour before dinner, wet with per.
spiratlon or soaked with rain, and who
finds that his valise has arrived before
him, with the essentials Of c.ean linen.
fresh clothing, aud thin boots, has an ad-
vantage over the more Spartan pedestrian
who has TO sit down in his damp clothes,
and either endure Lis not and dirty boots,
or outrage European proprioties by coming
to the table in his slippers. Al! through
the Black Forest, by making a little in-
quiry beforehand, and never trusting to
the statements OF waters and porters, or
indeed 20 anybody without verifying them
BY comparison with the Guide Book. one
en- send his ya,iso in advance with rea-
sorable confidence. The stopping places
are so frequent, and the accommodations,
generally speaking so fair, tina; very
lazy or very inefficient walker can get
along quite comfortably. Being German,
The Black Forest is not cheap place.
Everything ir Germany is supplied in a
scanty fashion; portions are measured with
such an economical hand, and the prices
charged for them are usually 50 high, that
Germany is perhaps the dearest country
for travellers Of al Europe except Spain.
There is, however, not much absolute
cheating, in which respect Germany is
much better thar France Italy, or Spain.
There is a printed tariff for allnos. every
thins, and this documen, r,cs. b Produced
on demand. The roads aGd conveyances
in the Black Forest are excellent. For
pedestrians there are ample provision OF
iOot-l aths, finger posts, and resting places
IN ali parts; and, Of course, as in every
part Of Germany, there are most excellent
maps. Take it all in al there are few
parts Of Europe SO suitable for walking
excursions. One great source of amuse-
meut is found in the many Cures" or
bathing and watering places that are so
numerous in the Forest These are all
available SIS stopping-placcs by passing
tourists, though they are intended mainly
for health seekers, bathers in mineral and
other waters, and drinkers Of whey, milk,
and all the varieties Of nastiness to be
found in the almost infinite springs which
bubble up il this land OF streams and
fountains The MANNERS and customs OF
the German middle classes rsy be obServ-
ed much better 1T places like these than
st more miscellaneous places like Baden
and Hamburg The young German
female can be studied here admirably.
She is very fair, has either no shape or q
very clumsy shape, Is always badly dressed
and dowdy eats literally, and Is deeply
sentimental. She wislds the implements
Of the dinner table more as weapons OF
war than as accessories Of civilized nutrl-
ton. She Is = vast consumer Of bread
and butter, and leaves on the mind Of the
observer s general impression Of whey.
One OF the best centres In the Black
Forest is Triberg, where there Is al excel
lent hotel, the "SchwarEwald," in an eX-
cellent situation. From this point the
tourist can branch out in all directions.
1t has q railway station; and tie line Of
the railway from Treberg TO Hausaeh is
one Of the most remarkable pieces OF
engineering il Europe, and quite as re-
markabie as the Senmering between Vi
emma and GrS;z. Triberg is i-mous for
clocks and watches and II i 10 be re-
marked that over one OF the largest clock
making establishments in the village there
is a large clock which has no hands; and
that almost without exception, every clock
to be seen in the hotels or other places is
either stopped altogether or is entirely
wrong as to the time.
The etiquette Of these German bathing
places is very peculiar. In one Of them
the following Is written IN French on the
bedroom doors; Those persons recently
arrived shall place themselves al tie foo;
Of the table. 4 bather desiring to have
visiting friend near him at the table
may be accorded this privilege, but fol
one repast only. Such favOrs as select
ing a place of his own choice, passing
/ Immediately to the head of the table, oil
of sitting opposite whom one pleaSes, vii
not be accorded for the reason that they
would result in the juxtaposition Of per
sons not agreeable to one another" Th'
advancement 10 the head Of the table il
not coveted merely as matter of distinc
ton; for it includes the appreciRble ad
vantage Of a first presentation OF dishe
at dinner and supper and the difference
of a plate as it comes NJ from the chef
and the same plate when it has passed
| Ele of hungry Gerruans. mAla and female