Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-10
TRAVELS IN GERMANY.
SCENES AND CUSTOMS II PARTS OF TIE
EMPIRE.
A Blooming Rose Bush 1000 Years Old
Prominent Buildings and Places Of
Interest at Berlin.
From E. KEMES for the REooED-Usros.i

From E. KEMEN for the REcoED-UNIoSl
Having left Leipsic, where my last letter
was closed, we passed Halle, an industrl-
GUS city in Prussian Saxony. This place
is far from being handsome, but there are
some good.looking squares and public edl-
fees. 1t has well.frequented and richly
endowed university. A battle with Napo-
leon was fought here, in which the French
were victorious. Next to Halle we saw
Brunswick, capital of the duchy of the
same name. A great portion of the coun.
try is mountainous. Here lies the Harzge-
birge, chain of mountains presenting
romantic scenes, and visited by many tour.
lists. It is formed in regular terraces, and
has some very fine views. The country
people have conserved the
OLD GERMANIC CUSTOMS
In manners and dress. The men wear
smock- frocks, short leather pants, buckled
shoes and fur caps the women, red dresses
with yellow or green borders, short Jackets
and round hats or fur caps. The city OF
Brunswick has many narrow ard irregular
streets, but fine public squares and hand
some residences. There are also several
palaces. Among the churches, the cathe-
dral with the Ducal family vaults, and the
church of st. Andrew, with tower three
hundred and eighteen feet high, are worth
seeing. The reigning family of Brunswick
Il and has
many occasions distinguished itself in the
history of Germany. 1t is surmised that
after the death of the present ruler, who is
childless, the duchy will fall to Prussia.
Near the frontier of Brunswick is the
town of Hildesheim, in Hanover, which
possesses a curiosity worth mentioning.
This is the
THoUsAND.YEAR.oLD "RosE BUSH"
Or rather tree, spreading its branches along
the wall of the cathedral. There are two
legends concerning the origin of this rose
bush; one refers to Louis, the Picus, the
other to Charles, the Great. If either of
these legends were true, the supposed age
of this marvel of roses would be proven.
But, without giving full credence to them,
EQeT6 are pOelLlfO RAOOlo Va AeS
great antiquity in existence among others
those presented by DR.. Kraetz in his work
about the Cathedral of Hildesheim, in
which he proves that centuries ago this
rose bush was already considered as being
very old. A transplantation or substitu-
ton could not have taken place, on &C.
count of its peculiar position. The stem
is ten inches in diameter, and runs through
Al IL, foaA
in thickness. The roots lie under the main
altar, where they are walled up in the form
of large coffin. Its branches and twigs
are protected on the outside by an iron
trellis. 1t is a common wild rose, belong.
ing to the specie Rosa Gamma, or dog rose.
THE CITY OF MAGDEBURG.
Before reaching Berlin we pass Magde-
burg, on the river Elbe, with population
of about one hundred thousand inhabit.
ants. This is a strongly fortified place,
having an old. fashioned and unfriendly
appearance. The cathedral, built in the
twelfth century by Emperor Otto l., and
renovated by King William Ill, Is the
only remarkable building. The unmis-
taxable signs of a strict military and
bureaucratic rule, which ia common feat
ure in Prussia, are distinctly noticeable.
Uniforms are as thick as flies around
sugar bowl. Besides the numerous soldiery
and police, the postoffice employees and
nearly all public functionaries, down to the
night-watchmen, wear them.
BERLIN, THE CAPITAL OF GERMANY.
Were it not for the prominent part
Prussia has played within century in the
history of Germany, and the success it has
met with in its late war, Berlin would per-
haps be an unimportant place to-day. But,
as it is, it has become very large city and
attracted the attention of the world. In
deed. considering its unfavorable location
in a barren and sandy country, which
offers no resources whatever, it is aston
ishing how rapidlyit has grown to its pres
ent size The country around Berlin is an
immense heath, offering scarcely any
chances for agriculture or Embellishments.
Admitting frankly that we have no great
admiration for Prussian rule and politics
with regard to the ell.being and freedom
of the people, the fact that this Govern.
ment has brought Germany to the power
and station which it now occupies among
nations must be recognized by everybody.
1t has
ACHIEVED THROUGH ENERGY AND FORCE
What could not be done through mild
Measures United Germany. 1t has done
away with the discussions and petty ieal
ousies of the different States of Germany,
which had been so long tbs weak side of
that country. This the German nation
owes to Prussia and should not forget
The policy of the First Napoleon was to
foment and maintain this disunion, where
with he gained his great power over Eu-
rope. Had Germany been united then, as
it is now, he would never have been so sue
cessful. Berlin has had OF late a remark
ably rapid growth. In the last decade the
uopulation has increased nearly 400, 600 in
habitants, so that it has over 900, 900
now. The principal streets are the Lin
den, lined with palaces and four rows OF
trees the Frederick, William, Louise,
Leipsic and Royal streets. There are,
also, a number of
FINE SQUARES AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS.
Notew orthy among the palaces are the
Imperial, with its six hundred rooms and
halls the Royal Palace on the Friedrichs-
werder Monbijou and park, containing a
rich Egyptian museum the palace Of
Prince Charles, with precious collection
of arms, and the palace of the Prince Of
Prussia. The museum is the finest and
most artistic building in the city. The
arsenal is the largest and finest in Europe.
Its contents are sufficient to arm immedi-
ately I75, 600 men. The opera house and
the city theater are also beautiful struct-
ures. The library of the University of
Berlin contains 700, 900 volumes. The
geological garden occapies an extensive
space Of ground, and is well supplied with
animals and if we add that there are rich
picture galleries, and numerous scientific
and artistic institutions in Berlin, it will
be seen that the capital of Germany is not
deficient in curiosities. With all this,