Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-23

tourists. We soon reached Mainz, in Hesse
Darnstadt, at the confluence of the rivers
Maine and Rhine. This city is strongly
fortified and has, Notwithstanding its lofty
buildings, a dark and unfriendly appear
ance. It is the birth place Of Gutenberg,
the inventor Of the art OF printing. He
was born in the year 400, and colossal
bronze statue has been erected to his mem
ory. Mainz has several palaces and a
number Of Roman antiquities. Its museum
and library containing 100 900 volumes)
are worth seeing. Opposite Mainz lies the
town Of Castel, from whence we proceeded
by rail to Frsnktort.on. the Maine. While
We have been extolling the beauties of the
banks OF the Rhine we said little OF the
bsrrenuess of a portion of the Rhenish prov.
ince. The Rhine is the pride of Germany.
But after all it is only its vicinity that is
attractive. The country we are now en-
tering is really
THE GARDEN SPOT OF GERMANY.
The southern and central part, embracing
such countries as Nassau, Coburg, Hesse-
Darmstadt, Baden, the kingdoms of Wur-
temberg Bavaria and part Of Saxony, is
the best part of Germany with regard to
soil, climate and intellectual progress.
Should we incur the di1pleasure of some
Of our German readers we are compelled
to say that the northern and western dis
tricts are not much blessed with the gifts
Of nature. Neither are the arts and sci
ences much cultivated there. 1t is in the
southern and central part that the cradle
of German progress and civilization lies.
It is there that arts and sciences were first
cultivated it is there that the best insti-
tusions OF learning can be found and it is
there that most mea of genius were born.
Nearly all of Germany's great poets and
writers lived and died there. Frankfort
op-rhe. Maine was formerly one of the four
free cities Of Germany until after the
Prusso- Austrian war, when it lost its indie
pendence, and with it some of its import
ance. It's location is
MORE FAVORED BY NATURE
Than any other city in Germany. Lying
in the midst of fertile country, on the
river Maine, and not far from the Rhine,
with the Taunus mountains in the back
ground, and within short distance of a
number of fashionable pleasure resorts,
such as Soden, Mannheim, Hamburg, Wies-
baden, Friedriehbad, Baden Baden, etc.,
| it has long welded the scepter Of COM
mercial metropolis, and ia yet one of the
principal money markets of Europe. Its
neighbOrhood IS charming, and the city
itself attracts q large number of visitors
| from abroad A belt of beautiful walks
| surround it, aud such pretty villages as
| Bockenheim, BJrnheim and 0berrad con-
| tribute to enhance the charms of the land
| scape. The streets, with the exception of
a few, are not pretty, but full of life, and
a few of the squares may be called hand
some. The bathing places Soden, Maui
| helm and HOmburg lie a short distance
from town, and may be reached by rail or
| lines of omnibuses. Hombufg has world
wide reputation as a pleasure resort, and
iu its kursaa" representatives. of the
fashionable world of all nations congre-
gate. 1t is
A NOTED GAMBLING PLACE,
And, the same as Spa, has caused the ruin
of many wealthy people. The Jews are
numerous in Frankfort, and it must be
aaid to their credit that they have contrib
uted greatly to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the
city. Frankfort is the birthplace OF the
Rothschilds. The house, where the frs.
of the Rothschilds amassed fortune, and
which is still their business place, stands
on the "Zsil, the principal street of
Frankfort. 1t is a massive but dark. look.
ing house. Drays, laden with kegs of
money, may be seen frequently entering or
leaving that house. Among the remarka.
bic edifices in town are the "Roemer,"
where the German Emperors were formerly
elected, and the cathedral where they were
crowned the "Thurn- and Taxis" palace !;
the library building, including the Braun
fels and Exchange on the "Liebfrauen-
berg :" and several other public buildings,
devoted to the collection of objects of art
and endowed with funds obtained through
the liberality of private citizens. Goethe,
the great poet, was born in Frankfort. On
the opposite bank of the Maine, and con-
nected with the main portion of the city
| by a stone bridge OF fourteen arches, lies
tbs suburb Saohsenhausen, teeming with
! life.