Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-30
TRAVELS IN GERMANY.
INTERESTING GLT1PzEs II Vicious
PARTS oF TIE BMgTRR
Ancient Cities and their Lttractiona-A
Euge Parel-Costumss and Supersti-
tons Of the Bavarians-Etc.

For the PEcoRD UNION by Professor Kemen.l
Alter leaving Frankfort we passed
Darmstadt, the capital of the Grand Duchy
Of Hesse Darmstadt. This is neat town,
located in fertile plain and surrounded
by gardens and trees. Il IS neither large
nor lively, but, on the contrary, very quiet.
Toe streets are kept excessively clean and
it Is most pleasing sight 70 enter the
town from the railway station through the
Rheinstrasse, a broad street lined with
fine baildings, and TO cross such handsome
squares as Louisenplstz Msrktplatz, Pa
EadspTatz, Manplatz and Nsckarplatz. In
front Of the ducsl palace, on the Sehlosz-
platz, stands high column and statue.
The duoal residence contains library Of
100 900 volumes. His Highness, q very
stout man, is much beloved by his subjects
for his kindness and simplicity of manners.
although it Is said, he has also his little
weaknesses. Thus, for instance, he is very
particular ABOUT the appearance Of his liz.
tie army and If on parade, he discovers a
loose or rusty brass button on one Of his
soldiers his good hnmOr leaves him. Not
far from Darmstad5 is Heidelberg. noted
for its university and picturesque location
This town lies on the river Neckar and at
the foot Of the Gels berg, a mountain which
is itself overtoDped by another, called
Ksiserstuhl, or Emperor's Chair, on which
stands lofty tower. The place has
ducal place. and there is an old ruin of
castle on the Geisberg, in the cellars of
which the great wine barrel of Heidelberg
is shown to strangers.
TIE BARREL HOLDS 10000 GALLONS,
And is said to have cnce been filed with
wine. a staircase leads to the top, on
which is gallery, where number of per-
sons may walk around. We saw the
Rhine again at Mannheim, Baden, at the
confluence Of that river with the Necksr.
This city Is one of the abandonment in Ger
many. It's streets are broad straight and
clear its squares spacious and beautiful.
The dueal palace and the theater are large
and fine buildings Between Mannheim
and Mairz lies an old and classical town
which deserves mention. 1t is Worms,
once a large city and capital of the Empire,
but now almost deserted and falling into
decay. It's cathedral is perhaps the Oldest
in Germany. The neighborhood has good
vineyards, and one brand, the Liebfrauen.
mich literally, Our Lady's AIilk), has
high reputation for excellence. Our next
stopping-place was Carlsruhe, the capital
of the Grand Duohy of Baden. Before
continuing our journey through this laby.
Tinth Of duchies, grand duehies and princi.
Eaai1fTne naxr NOT he or,,S-r %
words about the
POLITICAL DIVISION OF GERMANY.
To foreigners, even those versed in reog.
raphy, the division of tie German oonfed-
GRAFTON has always been perplexing. Up to
1866 there were in the confederation, be-
side Austria, five kingdoms-Prussia, Ba-
varia Saxony, Hanover and Wurteuberg.
Austria, although forming a separate en-
pre-, belonged TO the confederation, and
eXeTted, until the last twenty years, the
principal influence. Gradually Prussia
gained the upperhsnd, Austria was ex.
PEELED, and the former swallowed Hauo-
yer and 8 number OF smaller States. Pre-
vious to that time there were thirty-ive
governments IN all, including the kingdoms
and four free cities. It is not our inten.
ton TO name all those countries. which
ranged from the larger ones already named,
to the smaller principalities. Fortunately
for Germany their number has lessened.
These petty sOvereigns had their court
retinue, their ambassadors, Ministers Of
War, Justice, Interior, etc, the same as
powerful pOtentales. In some instances
their army did not foot up more than few
hundred men. Most Of them were
so MANY LITTLE AUTocRATs,
Who ruled their subjects almost despotic.
ally and made travel and commerce oner
GUS for the rest of Germany, as well as to
foreigners. Traders and commercial trav.
elers had to have their license recorded or
renewed wherever they went, and not IN
frequently passes were required for ashort
soJourn, There was neither uniformity in
weights or measures nor coin, and we re-
member passing several of these States in
3 single day and being refused railroad
tickets because we had only Prussisn
money. Happily this Is changed greatly
now. There are at present, besides the
four Kingdoms, eighteen Of the smaller
States and three free cities, forming what
Is called the German Band or Confedera.
ton. The city of Carlsruhe is built IN
semi circle. There are some nice residences
and several tine squares, of which the
Schlossplatz, IN front of the ducal palace
the Marktplatz, with its pyramid the
Rondel, with high column, and the
Ludwigsplstz are noteworthy Among the
edi6ess, the ducal palace, with a marble
ball IN which the meridian OF Cassini was
drawn the palace of the Msrgrave of
Baden, having a frontispiece resting on
Corinthian columns, and
A CURIOUS SIX coRSERED TOWER,
Called Bleithurm, are worth seeing. CARTS.
ruhe, as well as most German capitals, has
its museum, art galleries, natural sud min
eral cabinets, and it's collections Of antiaui-
ties. In that respect the smaller States
are richly provided for. And this is re-
deeming point in the abnormal political
division Of The country, which has pro-
duced some good results. Indeed, this
very division was certainly the cause why
each sovereign We'd with the others in pos
sessiny, IN default of territory or power.
attractive capitals. This must have been
also the reason why arts aud sciences were
much cultivated In central and southern
Germany. Artists, poets and writers al
ways found encouragement shere. After
Carlsruhe we visited Stuttgart, the capital
of the kingdom of Wurtemberg. This city
is divided into the old and new town. The
latter is very pretty. Il has not grand
appearance like Vienna, Berlin or Munich,
but is, nevertheless, very pleasant place
to reside in. Tae people are lively and
sooiable; the living is good and cheap.
There is and has always been
A STRONG COLONY OF AMERICANS
Residing in Stuttgart. The King of Wur.
temberg has several palaces in town,
summer residence at Berg, which is
watering. place, and palace, built in the
Moorish style, at Cannstadt. Stuttgart is
rich in art collections of all kinds. TAT
the art school there is a picture of Charles
Nahl, of San Francisco, representing
Wsllenstein and SEMI Among the re-