Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-31
NO. q.
Daily Kfnnetri 5ournal.
MY TRIP 70 EUROPE.

| cean. II was forwarded from London by
Gaze 4 CO.. and was dat July l. need
not add that il was very welcome. This
morning the bells of Cologne rang from time
to time, from half past till 8 or . o'clock.
very much as they did Sabbath morning.
The cabs and carriages were rafting over tho
pavements all night, as in New York and
| l., n lon.
| One o! the curiosi;ies We saw in the cathe-
iral. have not yet mentioned. I had read
nf ''holy Cologne" and the 'thrce holy
kings" whose bones the emperor Frederic re-
moved from Milan to Cologne. was at
loss to know what it meant, as kings are not
often OF that description. But the mystery
was solved by our guide in the cathedral.
rhc three holy kings were the wise men from
the east who Travelled to Jutca to offer gifts
to the infant Savior at Bethlehem. Our guide
exhibited to us the skulls Of these three wise
men, kept withgreat care in a case amongst the
shrines and relies in the treasure room. ltis
said, .seeing is belicving"--wc saw, and Of
course We believed. Would not you? Al
another church. some of our party were
shown the cup which the Sa'ior usei at the
last supper, and one of the firkins in which
the water was carried which he turned into
wine. After this, no one need inquire why
the city is called ''holy Cologne"
But To leave Cologne without referring to
the famous perfumery, Eau dc Cologne,
would he like the play Of Hamlet with the
part of Hamlet omitted. This celebrated
perfume was invented by the Farina family.
and there are at present between 20 and 80
factories in the city. II is manufactured of
five or six different essential oils. citron, ber-
gamot. orange. rosemary. &C., mingled to-
gether. in recti6ed spirits, and is the mort
popular perfume in the world. Those Of our
party who had trunks did not fail 10 purchase
supply whilst they had the opportunity.
VOYAGE ur THE RHINE.
WIEsBApEN. July 22. We embarked on
board beautiful steamer aNAut . yesterday
morning for a days voyage mp the Rhine.
The sky was overcast but the rain of the pre-
ceding night had ceased. The wind blew,
and though in midsummer the air was chilly.
But the wonderful scenery more than made
amends for all these discomforts.
1t must be admitted. howevcr. that for the
first two or three hours. we were all rather
disappointed; and some of the party declared
they had seen finsry scenery on the Hudson
river. But the Rhine and its surroundings
grew more and more bold. picturesque and
attractive rs we proceeded. A railway ran
ulong the shore. and the cars. beheld from
the steamer. looked like playthings. with the
mountains towering above them. The river
is not so wide as the Sagucnay, but the
heights on either hand as you proceed on the
voyage, and the swift flowing current Of the
stream. continually remind you ofthat famous
Canadian river. The likeness, however, 10
hut partial. In every thing except the
breadth, depth and volume Of the current, the
Rhine far exceeds the Sagucnay. Its banks
are higher. sleeper, more broken; its cliffs
and mountains are mole numerous and diver
sificd; and the Saguenay lacks the pictur.
esque ruins of baronial castles Of oldcn
times that are found everywhere along the
Rhine. The surroundings Of the Saguenay
are wild and solitary almost without excep-
ton; whilst every now and then, on one side
or other Of the Rhine. wherever there il
room for it. some beautiful village. with hne
stone churches, houses and places Of business.
is TO be seen. and marks of cultivation are
all the way intermingled with the grand pic
turcsque scenery.
CASTLES.
We passed. probably, during the day, near.
" fifty ancient castles, mostly perched on
the top Of high cliffs, and more or less in
ruins. A few. however. were built IN the
cases. there we're scattered towers at consid-
cradle distance from the main cdifice, either
isolated. or perhaps near or even in the very
heart of villages that have grown up Of late
years at the foot Of the mountains. OF some
Of these castles. high walls and lofty towers
are still standing amidst the surrounding
ruins.
What immense labor and expense these
vast stone structures must have cost! And
how the fierce old barons and counts that
built and occupied them. no doubt tyrannizcd
over the people, ard what hardships and op-
preston the poorer classes suffered! And
lnow all that these castles and their depend
encies are good for. is to please the eye Of
the tourist in search Of the romantic and pic
turesque.
One Of the first castles we observed, in
voyaging from Cologne, was Drachcnfels.
dragons rock on the summit Of cliff Of
the same name, 1000 feet high, being one Of
the "Seven mountains" the others lying back
Of it, and of still greater height
THE castle crag of Drachenfels
Frowns DER the wide and winding Rhine."
The mountain rises abruptly from the river
and is covered with brush wood nearly to the
top. The prospect from the summit must be
magnificent. The cave il shown on the side
If the elf. where the dragon used to live,
who gave the name to the mountain. (Wc
did not see the dragon) There il . legend
that in old barbarous times beautiful lady,
Christian prisoner, was condemned to be
sacrificed to the dragon. She was taken 10
the vicinity Of the cavern, and bound TO q
tree; but as the fearful beast rushed out 70
seize her, she presented the cruci6x. and he
turned and dashed into the river, never to be
seen again.
Ehrenbrcitstein, (honor's bright stone, }
formerly famous easily on . rock, has been
changed into a strong and massive Prussian
fort. and called Fort william, after the name
Of the emperor Of Germany.
One of the castles was named Mouse Cas-
: tle,) and another KafzeDbrrg (cat's castle. }
But the most curious was the Mouse
Tower. which stands in the river, With water
all around it, It is related that certain
bishop Hatto Of old times had great stnre
i Of grain laid up. and in = time Of famine
Z withheld it from the poor, but the mice gbl
into his grancry and ate up all his graio, md
3 then followed him tn his tower in The dVes,
{ aud devoured him also. The whole reRi9h q
1. full Of legends. Seven rocks IN The river q
|. one point, are called the Seven Mnidenx
they were seven sister. and being beseigea bs
IL throns Of lovers, attempted = secape n |
(Ceuain.sd = reurlh Haeo.)