Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-04
TRAVELS IN GERMANY.
SCENES IN PRAGUE, TIE CAPITAL OF
BoREMIA.
Vienna the Beautiful City-Tomb of Max
tmilian-c atacombs-Fi Parks
The Population-Etc
For the REooRD.UNros by Prof. E. Kemen.


rises in tiers from the waters edge on the
slope of lofty eminence the aspect and
form of its numerous doHes, turrets and
spires appear grand and imposing. Tower
ing maiestically above the rest of the city,
the ''Hradschin, the ancient palace of the
Bohemian Kings, commands the attention
and admiration of strangers. This castle
is remarkable for it's huge size, its Won
drous interior arrangements and it's his
toric associations. Within its Enclosure are
the Cathedral of st. Veit and the Church
of st. George, the Oldest in Prague, dating
from the year 900. The cathedral is filed
with curiosities. 1t contains great treas
ures, not merely in decorations but in solid
gold and silver. Besides the mausoleums of
many Kings and Emperors, the tombs and
shrines of St. Wenzel, st. Veit and st.
John of Nepomuk, are loaded with precious
metals. In the neighborhood of the Hrads-
chin are the palaces of the Grand Duke of
Tuscany, of Prince Schwarzenberg and of
Count Czernin. In another part of the
city is the palace of Prince Thurn-and-
Taxis, a most magnificent building, which
contains many art treasures. In the
PICTURE GALLERY AT THE PALACE
OF Notitz originals of Albrecht Duerer,
Van Dyke, Holbein, Rembrandt and Ru.
bens, attract the attention of visitors the
library contains a manuscript of Coperni-
Gus. A highly interesting monument is
the palace of the celebrated "Wallen.
stein, which, in its bright days, is said to
have been filed with splendors. One of
the curiosities of Prague is the massive old
bridge over the Moldan, which connects
the Alstadt with the Keinseite. Its
length is 1880 feet. 1t is adorned with
fifty-ive statues of saints, among them
that of st. John of Nepomuk, the patron
of bridges, who was thrown from the
bridge by order of King Wenceslaa w.,
because he would not divulge the secrets
which the Queen had confded to him in
confession. A chapel and altar have been
erected on the spot and are visited by
thousands of pilgrims. At the west end
of the bridge stands q high old watch
tower or gate, ornamented with scul ptures
and devices and rich in historic associa-
tions. At the east end is the Karlsdenk-
NAL. 4 monument which was erected IN
1S4S to commemorate the five hundredth
anniversary of the University of Prague.
Not far from this bridge is
THE CLEMENTINUM,
A vast building forming part of the univer-
-, ,--;sl, 4ha foo-IEias IS 4bo,Ioox, 81
philosophy. It's library contains 100000
volumes. The Carolinum, or university
proper, lies in another part of the city.
The University of Prague was founded in
l34S. 1t is frecuented by about l, 500 stu
dents at present but when the celebrated
John Huss began to teach those doctrines
which caused him afterwards to be burnt
alive at Constance, it is said that $4,000
students resided in Prague, of which mum.
Der two.thirds seeded and, scattering over
Europe, became the founders of the Uni.
versities of Leipzig, Heidelberg and era
COW. The Jews are very numerous in
Prague and occupy part of the city called
Judenstadt, or Jewish town. In former
times they were forbidden to reside in any
other part of town, and were punished if
found after o'clock P. NJ. outside of their
quarters. Now, however, they may re-
side wherever they please. From Prague
few hours ride will bring you to
VIENNA, THE BEAUTIFUL IMPERIAL CITY.
At Vienna the Danube expands in two
broad arms and two smaller rivers cross the
town. The city is divided into two parts
the interior city and the exterior city
Strange to say, the interior city is the
smallest of the two, and has less than
100, 900 inhabitants, while the exterior has
500, 900. They are separated by wide
glacis which was formerly encircled by a
rampant. The exterior city is composed
of thirty-four suburbs, some Of which
offer handsomer appearance than the in
terror itself. A number of the principal
streets lead to the Stephansplatz (sq uare),
liveliest portion of Vienna. The st. Ste
phen's Church, with its lofty spires looms
up high above all ether edifices, and can be
seen from all parts of the city. This
cathedral is masterpiece of antique Ger
man architecture, and dates from the year
1l44, although it was only finished in the
fifteenth century within its nave there
are thirty eight affairs. The aspect of the
interior, however, is rather gloomy The
tower, built of granite blocks, is the high
est in Germany-442 feet. As interesting
as the view over the whole city from the
balcony of this tower may be,
THE cATACoMBs OF THE CHURCH,
Which extend far underneath the adioin.
ing streets, are no less SO. The catacombs
contain thirty large vaults, including the
tombs of many Princes. Noteworthy
among the public squares are the
" Michaeler Platz," on which stands the
"Burg," or Imperial residence. The 'Hof"
has in it's center a column and hand
some fountain. Here the Minister of War,
Latour, fell victim to popular fury in
lS4S. The "Graben" and Stephansplatz
and the adjoining streets are the rendez.
vous of the fashionable world. On the
i" Neumarkt" is the Capuchin Church,
which holds the imperial family vaults.
On the "Spitalphlatz" stands the old
opera house; the new opera house is To-
Gated near the Burgthor, and is one of the
finest in Europe. On the Lokowitzplatz"
is the Austin Church, the most inviting of
Vienna, which possesses a magnificent BE-
pulchral monument of Archduchess Mary
Christina, made by the master-hand of
Canova, and also
THE TOMB OF THE UNFORTUNATE EMPEROR
MAMMALIAN OF MEXICO.
The Petersplatz" and the University
square are also worth seeing. The Para.
dissgarten" and Volksgarten" are two
public parks. In the latter is the cele-
brsted "Theseus" temple with Theseus
group by Canova. The principal streets of
Vienna are the Kaerthnerstrasse,
{" Ringstrasse, " Kohlmarkt," ''Grabsn,"
"Gisela" and Rudolph" streets, etc.
Over a hundred palaces adorn the Austrian
capital, among which are, besides the resi-
6ences of the imperial family, those of
Prince Esterhazy, of Prince Metternich, Of
Prince Lichtenstein and of Count Czernin
prince Lichtenstein is one of the wealth
lest Princes in Europe). Vienna is well
provided with public edi6ces and with art
collections and museums. The Imperial
Museum in the Belvedere las over 1000
paintings of all schools. Remarkable is
also the riding-school of Vienna, which is
the largest building of the kind in the
world and the passion of the Empress of
Austria for equestrian exercise has much
contributed to its establishment and i'm
portance. The surroundings of Vienna are
beautiful A splendid view of the city and
the country can be had from the hills of