Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-26
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Dailu Kennrttr .5ournal.
My Trip to Europe.


Cologne, on the Raine, IN Germong, July
20 Before leaving Amsterdam, l ought TO
mention the grand ship canal from that city
10 the ocean, 81 miles. which greatly facili-
iatcs the commerce of Amsterdam. II is l25
feet wide. and II deep, and is said to be the
largest in the world. The locks are larger
than those of the Liverpool docks. and are
said 10 he built on piles driven down into the
sand. In speaking of the three famous
principal streets of Amsterdam. l forgot to
state that there is a canal in the middle ot
each, bordcred with magnificent rows Of
trees. And in justice 10 the Dutch women.
,ught to say that they do not all work in the
streets probably hut few in proportion. We
saw many at the doors of their houses, and
on the sidewalks, with fair and delicate COM
plexions, very neatly dressed and wearing
caps with pretty ruff,es. as white ~ driven
snow. In the early morning. persons ofboth
sexes nigh, be observed. washing the side
walks and pavcmcn,s in front oftheir houses.
Neatness appears to he a national trait, not
withstanding the filth of the canals.
Ok To GERMANY.
We lef Amsterdam yesterday morning
after breakfast. hy rail. The cars were not
pnly comfortable but luxurious. Each COM
partment holds eight persons, when full. In
the one where / was seated, We had u very
pleasant company of four gentlemen and
-hree ladies and when there was nothing.
new TO ste. we passed the time in convcrsa-
ion. or leaning against the cosy head and
III, 4
sweet will" Here they not particular
rs in England, to lock up all the passengers.
But if any one gets out ut way station, the
ficials scold them very volubly in Dutch or
German.
The Hat Dutch scenery. with rich grassy
meadows, fat cattle and sheep. and here and
here windmill continued for some hours
# our journey. Then there was belt of
ountry rather desolatc md barren looking,
apparently intervening between Holland and
Germany. About noon We crossed the lire
'ctwccn the two countries. and had our bag
age examined. They made it mostly mat
of form. but they did not hurry them
elves. One gentleman, who had packages Of
andy. had to pay duty on them. Another
had cigars the officers weighed them, ard
II them pass as within the limit.
Once in Germany, we soon reached a rich
md fertile region. an agricultural and grain
rowing country. On each side of the rail-
'ay were fields Of wheat, rye, barley, oats,
potatoes and turnips as well as grass. The
and is apparently highly cultivated Hay
fields and pastures. cattle and sheep. were not
50 abundant a. in Holland. We had left the
'cgion of bitches, hut fences also were very
scarce. Field is joined to field for long dis
ances. with no visible barrier. Houses ap-
pear TO be very comfortable, with good barns,
10Th built of brick, with tiled roofs In lIol-
land. barns were small, if any. and hay is
kept in stacks, rs in Scotland and England.
CoLoo>E.
We reached Cologne between j and q in
he afternoon. II i, city of about l25, 900
Inhabitants. in the form Of scmi-circle, on
the let, bank of the river Rhine. The German
name is koln. 1t was a Roman COLONY
aencc its name. 1t is surrounded by walls.
and has PLAYED various parts in history.
Ofcoursc. the first thing in order was din
ner. AS a curiosity, will once more give
the bill OF fare; |, soup ., salmon with po-
tatocs and gravy; 3, roast mutton, potatoes
and gravy: L. shclled beans with carrots.
&c. ), chicken with bread; 6. boiled eggs in
quarters; :. stcwed plums and cherries; =.
ice cream 2, pudding with sauce; 10. very
delicate pastry in small cakes of different
shapes ten separate courses! Out of them
"'i' Nh' touiu h't Dc rdtlsucus
BRIDGE OF BoATs.
In the evening went with a friend across
the Rhine on a bridge which rests on boats
anchored in the river. The Rhine here il a
broad river, and its current is very swift. I
did not learn the depth, but it must be quite
deep. large number Of strong, heavy boats
are anchored n few feet from each other. and
the floor timbers Of the bridge rest on them
Nc N tho hriI bnn IN
up to pass through, and witnessed the process
of opening the draw. II was a very curious
and novel sight but one which is difficult 10
describe. The floor timbcrs of the bridge are
keyed together. These have to he lOOsened,
and then that portion of the bridge which
constitutes the draw is swung round out Of
the way, boats and ALL by means of chains
and wheels. winding up and unwinding. The
boats that run on this river are very long and
narrow, and the forward part quite sharp.
This is on account of the swiftness of the
current. The steamer that passed through
was tug. and drew after it deeply laden
vessel. We saw the draw closed again, by q
similar curious process. Vast numbers of
people are constantly passing and repassing
this bridge. \ crowd was on it all the time
Many Of the women wore nothing on their
heads but their own hair. 1t is the only
bridge across tine Rhine at this point except
the railroad bridge.
There is a village at the other end Of the
bridge called Deutz. There was beer gar
den both at the right and left of that end of
the bridge, brilliantly lighted up. and multi
tudes Of people were sitting there, probably
slipping lager beer. There was band Of
music in each garden. We stood on the
bridge awhile and listened to the music, be-
fore We returned to the hotel for the night.
SABBATH IL COLOGNE.
This morning. church bells began 10 ring
at about O'Clock. and they rang as often as
once every half hour until 8 or later. This
city is very largely Catholic, and suppose
the bells were ringing for some kind Of SER
vices. Ny room is very pleasant one, in
the fourth story, is well furnished, and has a
large window opening sideways, like blinds,
with lace curtains. The window looks out
on a pretty yard, with shrubbcry, flower beds.
fountain playing, and fish in basin or
reservoir. not gold color. but light red.
After breakfast we all went to the great
Cathedral The music was very Hnc There
was an abundance of ritual and ceremony.
There was moderate crowd in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of the services, but it looked small
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