The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-10-27
Our 0lio.
BADEN BADEN.

6, 1888, writes to the Nelo York Sentry
the following interesting description
This place was a delightful surprise to
our party. Coming up from the southern
cities, most of them large and densely pop
ulated, the restful sense of repose which we
found here was most refreshing expe-
rience to our tired nerves We had heard
of its charming situation, its salubrious air,
and its manifold attractions, but the half
had not been told us, and we had never
been able to disassociate the thought of it
from the terrible phantoms which in the
past had clustered around its gaming tables.
Coming through the Black Forest wherein
we had not been able to spy a single brig
and of even the mildest order, we had
feasted our eyes as we supposed on every
variety of landscape which it could afford
US. Here was another change in the
changing panorama.
Germany has a legend for nearly every
foot of her soil, and the one allotted to this
lovely place is in accordance with its sur
roundings. The story runs that an in
censed Deity commanded His angels to
carry the garden of Eden to heaven, but in
their haste to obey, part Of it fell back
upon the earth The people of Baden
claim that the lost portions of Paradise fell
into their keeping. We never dream of
arguing down legend under any circum
stances. This one suits us entirely too
well to be disputed. We roam around in
our Eden and enjoy it.
The mountains here do not tower up in
Alpine grandeur, but rise in beautiful
swells, dome-like in form, and covered to
their tops with forests of rich green, which
crown their SUBMITS like the well-deserv-
ed laurels of a favored poet. Valleys of
soft verdure push their way, in gentle fash
ion, between the receding hills, luxuriant
vineyards and fragant meadows finding
their appointed place, while the river Oos
winds gently past the town. Old ruins and
more modern castles and palaces add their
various shades of change to make the per-
feet picture.
The town rises from the river on the
slope of one of the hills like great amphi-
theatre, ready to give its audience the finest
spectacular effects. The climax is not
reached at once The enchanted visitor is
led, step by step, to the very heart of the
town, admiring the exquisite little bits of
beauty which rivet his attention on the
way, like the side-scenes in grand opera,
preventing the plot from being too sud
denly developed Nothing can be more
beautiful than the final picture when the
heart of this Eden of Germany is reached,
and the entire view is obtained from the
promenades.
1t is not easy on the approach to it in
the distance to disabuse the mind of its
original prejudice against the place, from
its association with the gaming table. We
expected to find the trail of the serpent
still visible in this modern Eden. The Of
tenders have been driven out, and the
garden blossoms like rose. As water
ing-place it must always be popular. In
all Germany, Wiesbaden alone can compare
with it in favor The Romans were, no
doubt the first to discover its sanitary pro-
perties. We are told that it was held by
them as long ago as the days of Trajan,
who, with his successors, fortified and held
the place through many ages. The baths
were instituted or improved by Caracalla,
and the fame of its waters and its location
grew with its advancement in civilization.
In 1112, Herman Ii. became Margrave of
Baden. The court took up its residence
here soon after, and its prosperity steadily
increased up to 1909, when Margrave Lu-
dovic removed with the court of Rustatt.
Much to our surprise we find that gam
ing was not introduced to any extent pre-
vious to 1903, after which, luxury and the
attendant evils of gambling centre reigned
supreme in beautiful Baden. Its delight
ful climate, central location, and manifold
advantages made it popular at once with
the fashionable and superficial class, as well
as invalids or lovers of nature who soon
found the place less desirable for their pur-
poses than it had been in its more primi-
/ tive days Luxury and license in all di-
rections followed the introduction of gam
bling. Buildings, the cost of which was
fabulous, were erected and furnished in the
most magnificent manner for the entertain
ment of the frivolous or desperate, who
staked their very lives on the throw of the
| Qlce, ana when Juelf all WAS lOSG DOWeu
themselves out of the gorgeous saloons with
the smile of a Chesterfield in desperation
so terrible that frequently death alone
could quench its intensity.
The Grand Duke Leopold began re-
form, and the Grand Duke Frederic, now
ruling, has completed the change in the
condition of things in Baden. The renters
of gaming tables were notified as early as
1867 that their days were numbered, and
in 1872 their occupation was entirely abol-
ished. 1t was natural that some apprehen-
sion should be felt,as to thefate of Baden
Baden, after the stimulants to its original
prosperity should be withdrawn. But the
change came upon it without sudden re-
vulsion or any actual collapse in its business
relations other than what was directly con-
nected with the gaming tables. Before the
allotted time for their discontinuance, the
far-seeing Princes had by degrees intro
duced new order of things. They began
the erection of attractive and costly build
ings, and fostered love for art and science.
Men of culture and refinement were called
into prominence, employment given to arti-
sans and laborers, and the gambling inter