The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-31
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its army of figures and images is one Of
the finest ecclesiastical edi6ces in Europe
and is pronounced by many the finest IN
the world. Its length is $50 feet and its
width at the transept 200 feet. From
the pavement to the top of the arches OF
the nave is $50 feet aud the South tower
is 511 feet high, the loftiest work OF man:
Unlike most cathedrals, it has no central
choir screen, thus giving an unbroken
and most impressive view throughout its
entire length. The stained glass windows
are especially fine and represent various
scriptural scenes. The chapel of the
Three Kings contains gorgeous shrine
which encloses the bones Of the Magi
which were taken to Constantinople in
the 5th century, afterwards brought to
Milan and from thence transferred by
Frederick Barbarossa to Cologne. Many
other costly relics are kept for exhibition
in the treasury. The church of st. Ursula,
not far from the Cathedral, is reputed to
contain the bones of eleven thousand
virgins, who, with st. Ursula, were
slaughtered by the Huns in the fifth
century, when returning from a pilgrim
age to Rome. The bones make most
ghastly exhibit, being distributed about
the church in cases built into the walls
and used for decorative purposes gen.
orally. They may do very well as relics,
but, according to Professor Owen, many
of them are from the lower order of ami
| mails.
The praises of the Rhine have been so
often sung and in 30 many different keys,
that to pass an entirely original opinion
upon it is almost an impossibility. The
tourist who takes the steamer at Cologne
for the trip, will be very apt to expert.
ence feeling of disappointment, as from
that place to Coblentz, almost the only
point of interest Except Bonn, with its
University is Drachenfels' or Dragons
Rock, which, with its ruined castle rises
on the East bank, about 900 feet above
the river. Here, in cave which can
still be seen, according to the legend,
once dwelt terrible dragon whose con-
stitution required diet of beautiful chris
tian maidens. But one day damsel was
thrown to the aforesaid dragon who had
| the presence of mind to hold out the
cross to the monster as he sprang with
open mouth to receive her; and he was
so thoroughly disgusted that according
to one version he forthwith drowned him
self in the Rhine; while others say that
he was slain by the maiden's lover who
afterwards built the castle. This is q
fair specimen of the legends which are
connected with almost every castle on the
Rhine; but as scarcely any two versions
of the same legend can be found which
agree, our readers can just as we'll manu-.
facture their own legends and spare us
the trouble of repeating them. Alas
however, for the dragons, alas for the
legends. The whistle of the locomotive
is heard in the Siebengebirge and rail
way runs to the very top, where
'The castled crag of Drach
Frowns DER the wide and winding Rhine"
Coblentz, one of the most important
cities on the Rhine, is situated at the
mouth of the Moselle and has popula'
ton of about 10000. 1t is, however, as
military position that Coblentz is
Important. On the opposite side of the
river rises the mighty fortress Ehrenbreit.
stein, the "Gibraltar of the Rhine" 1t
is practically impregnable and has
accommodations for 10000 men. The
garrison at the present time consists
of only 1000. From its walls a fine view
of the Rhine and Moselle valleys can be
obtained. From Coblentz to Bingen,
distance of about forty miles, includes
the most interesting portion of the Rhine.
We pass Stolzenfels, Marksburg-the
only Rhine castle never destroyed-Bop.
pard, Sternenburg and Liebenstein or
the Brothers, Thurnburg, and reach st.
Goar on the West bank with the Rhein-
fels, the largest and most imposing ruin
on the river, on the rocks about 400 feet
above the village. Just beyond and on
the opposite side of the stream are the
rocks of the Lorelei, where, in ancient
times according to the legend, dwelt a
lovely maiden whose wondrous beauty
lured passing sailors to destruction in
whirlpool at the base of the mountain.
The rocks in the river have been removed,
the mountain pierced by railway tun-
mel and the maiden at present makes
no more trouble than is to be expected
from the fair daughters of Mother Eve.
From this point to Bingen is by far the
finest scenery of this famous river. The
mountains on either side rise abruptly
several hundred feet above the water and
the winding course of the stream presents
new view at every turn. A half dozen
or more ruined castles are in sight all the
time, rising from crags and peaks OF the
rocks, or like Pfalz, built on an island iu
the middle of the river for the purpose
of exacting tribute from passing vessels.
Just before reaching Bingen we pass the
"Mouse Tower" also on an island, rem
dered famous by the story of Bishop
Hatto and the rats. At Bingen, "Fair
Bingen on the Rhine" the hills recede
rapidly from the banks Of the stream, the
bed of the river widens and fertile fields
on either shore take the place of the rug
ged scenery through which we have just
| passed and from that point to Mayence,
our stopping place there is but little OF
interest. The Rhine is frequently COM
pared to the Hudson, and each possesses
some points of superiority over the other.
The European river is not more than one
half or two.thirds as large as the pride OF
the Empire OLate, auu consequently lac
not that grand and powerful sweep as it
rolls oceanward; but its course is much
more erratic, thus giving greater variety
of views with an equal amount of mate
rial. The Catskills which form the back.
ground to large share of the Hudson
river scenery, are much more lofty than
any of the mountains near this portion
of the Rhine, but the terraced and vine
covered hills which rise along the banks
of the latter stream, give phase of
beauty which is unknown on the former;
while the hundreds of ruined castles,
with their wealth of historic interest and
the romance of twenty centuries, give to
trip up the Rhine peculiar charm and
place it among the most enjoyable memo
ries of travel.
From Mayence, city of 10000 inhabi'
tants aud which includes in its history
the names of Constantine, Charlemagne,
Guttenburg (who was born here, and
MANY others. it is but few moments