Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-19
ANCIENT GERMAN CITIES.
Worms, Frankfort. Mayenee, and
WieSbaden.

! Frankfort and Mayeace Worms did not seem
to be desirable place to stop in for any length
of time. Itseemed quite life!esS as if exhausted
by its great age and the blistering heat and dust
of that summer afternoon. "a shabby thing 10 say
/ Of ancient and most interesting city.
To the protestant the memory OF Luther seems
the principal event in its history It was at the
| Imperial Diet before the Emperor, Charles V, in
I52I, that the reformer so nobly defended his
doctrines. The grand and costly monument which
now stands in the midst of the beautiful gardens
is fitting memorial to 50 great man aud TO
| the Reformation; and yet welooked with deeper
interest when in Rome at the Scala Sancts, or
sacred stairway where, when creeping up on
his knees, Luthers doubts first came upon him
From the monument to the cathedral was but
short distance, and soon we were looking up at
what is considered one of the finest examples of
Romanesque architecture in Germany-a noble
pile built of dark red stone and hemmed in by
many shabby building. Nothing now remains
OF the original structure; but the Oldest part of
the present building dates from the I1th century.
In the open space before the cathedral took place
the quarrel between Brunhiiie and Chriemhilde
mentioned in the Nioelimgen-lied. The Interior
though very plain was 10 US most impressive,
being built of the same red stone in some places
much difgured by misplaced and tawtiry decora-
tons. There were some very Interesting monu-
ments aud sculptures of great age to be seen, no
tally the tombstone of the three Franconian Prin-
ccsses, which struck us al once as being pathetic
and yet caused US to smile From the cathedral
We made our way back 10 the station through
narrow and quiet streets where women were
| calmly scrnbbing and polishing the eobble,
stones and men calmly looking on. But what
had we not seen women do since leaving Eng
land? IN Munich they seemed TO saw and split
| and carry all the wood, as well as sweep the
streets and keep the parks in order. In France
they worked in the fields and broke stones and
dragged canal boats. In some places they were
even hitchei il with cows aud one never-to-be-
forgotten incident was where we nearly ran
down a small cart. drawn by a team made up Of
| a woman and dog, and laden with MAN ON a
bundle of hay. The woman is useful animal,
indeed, abroad.
At the station we joined patient waiting
crowd, including two young Americans who did
| notcare whether they ever saw anything again,
German and his wife who travelled first while
their numerous children went second class, and
our friends (2l from near New York, whom it
seemed we could not lose. The time drag
ged slowly on while we read. talked, and
drank cooling beer The ride to Mayence
was unInterestng and our first glImpses of the
lower Rlna disappointing. Mayeace reached,
then cane the desperate effort to catch the
Frankfort train in which We were successful
only by the loss of much dignity. 1t was late in
the evening when We reached Frankiort-on-the
Main: and II was a great relief to be driven to a
delightful hotel and there tind the rest of our
party. After tea and a short rest we. usual,
started forth TO explore. and soon found our
selves seated near the Goethe monument eating
ices and drinking what were called sherry
cobblers.' 1t was like American summer
night, and We enjoyed eur cool refreshments
accordingly.
We found ueAt day that Frankfort though old
and with II long history was equal TO most
modern cities in yigor AMI enterprise, and that
some of its streets were in their way a. hand
some as any in Paris IN the cool af the morn
ing we visited the principal monuments which
were near our hotel the Schiller. Goethe, and
Gutenberg monuments. The last erected IN
honor o: the iecoverer of the art Of printing is
especially t. be admired. Afterwards we went
whea occupied by the famous poet. Like the
birth places Of most faaous men ii is in no other
respects noticeable. The old townhall, or
Hu,HeU, W found very interesting, especially
from an architectural point of view In the
large HaiScrSaal W. saw the portraits OF the En-
p>gorS. beginning with that of Charemagne. The
Romerberg, or market square, in front used In he
the scene of great rejoicings and is now as
quaint Il square ~ one can see, surrounded rs II
is by such old fashioned buildings and the bean
uful little church on the south side. The build
ings are for the most part gabled, each story
PROJECTING. over The one below, AMI with all the
timblrs carved aad orDamented in grotesque
fashion. This square was forbidden ground To
all Jews until the end of the last century Times
have changed elnce then and Frankfort Jews
have become the great moneytary powers of
the world.
Everyone who goes to Frankfort goes 10 see
Daunecker'S Ariadne an exquisite group repre-
senting Ariadne panther and kept III
special building where keeper lures one into
an aicove and there ia mysterious light tafps
The masterpiece while he explains in the grutie,t
tterinan lis history. From the Ariadncum we
drove along the beautiful promenade. au'i
through the most interesting gateway we had
seen since leaving Coustance-the EscEenheitner
Thurlu built in 1lJO and the only one Of the
ancient tower-aates left. Until dinner We spent
most of the time at the 3tadel Art Institute, 1t
building containing Il fine collection handsome
Of paintings and casts.
The weather was 50 very warm that con
Guided TO leave Frankfort sooner than intended,
AMI try 70 rest meanwhile at Wisstbaden. Thus
Il was tiiat uftara long rumble in the Jews
ter tmo>t interesting and visit to the cathedral
and glimpse of the old stone bridge, and few
other excursions here ana there we LEFT Frank
fort resrctGuIly, AMI travelled along Oh a sultry
night in an over crowded train to wiesoGden.
As we drew near our goal we could hear great
curou sings. and strains from German songs came
floating over the fields aud vineyards. At Kas-
tel we took Il great mob of hoiiday-foik,
and on reachtng Wiesbaden thousands seemed
| to alght from The train. We wondered at the
time at seeing 50 many uniformed officials and
even more than the usual number OF soldiers 50
| plentiful in all parts Of Germany and at hearing
| 50 many sturdy CRIES Of - lIoch! Iloch'" rend
| the air. on inquiry We found that the KinG and
| Queen OF Greece, family, and suite were like
! ourselves amongst the new arrivals. They also
! had come to drink the waters and to rest. After
waiting patiently until royalty had driven off we
were allowed u seek our hotel and rest our
weared frames.
| We found Wiesbaden, next day, Il charming
! place aud we'll filed with visitors OF all nations
anu degrees Rut ii could not be compared with
| Badel.-Baten in our opinion either in natural
or artificial attractions. 1t seemed too large and
| had an every day look about ii. OF course We
made haste to taste the waters and discovered
the celebrated. Kochbrumen ct the end of a long
| covered promenade hemmed in by large hotel
like bath houses. The waters dubbed up with
| great heat and considerable smell and reminded
| Us forcIbly Of tie odor of water in which eggs
have been boiled one sip sufficient and
male Us look with increased respect on the diff
| fereut people seated about. plaeidly enjoying
their third and fourth glasses.
Luckily il rsined our first day at Wiesbaden
soon after we had taken our stroll along the
co!ouaaes where the pretty shops are, and
through the delightful park at the back OF
the handsome Cursaal. The rain made the
air much cooler, and We made charming
excursion after oar early dinner to the Greek
Chapel, whence very fine view is had Of May
ence, wiesbaeu aud surroundings. The chapel
was erected a a mausoieum for Russian