The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-14
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
Correspondence ofthe nteNigcnccr.

speak of the "Old Castle of Heidelberg
as the "old stone house on huckleberr.
hill," many of the poetic and romanti
associations would be lost, although th'
literal meaning would remain the same
and while this may be true to a certain
extent, {lho word Heidelberg meaning
nothing more than "huckleberry noun
tain,") yet it is also true that for one WHIT
has ever had the pleasure of seeing thi
grand old castle-the finest ruin in Ger
many-no change of name can evel
change or obliterate the memory.
The city of Heidelberg is most delight.
fully situated in the narrow valley of the
Neckar, just at its junction with the val
ley of the Rhine; and the castle, which
for several centuries was the seat of the
Palatine, and was regarded as one of the
most impregnable fortresses of Europe.
overhangs the valley on the South side
of the river, and about 800 feet above
the city. 1t consists of numerous towers
and other defensive works, together with
the remains of the palaces which were
built and occupied at different periods in
its history, the whole protected by q
moat not less than fifty feet in width and
from thirty to forty feet in depth, the
main entrance being formerly over a
drawbridge aud through narrow pas
sage in q watch tower, closed by mas
sive portcullis, whose threatening iron
points can still be seen above our heads
as we enter. One of the most important
towers was blown up by the French in
1859 and so great was the strength of the
masonry that large portion of the wall,
nearly twenty feet in thickness, fell out.
ward without crumbling and still lies in
the moat, monument to the skill of the
masons who erected this mighty fortress.
Nearly hundred years later the castle
was struck by lightning and since that
time no attempt at restoration has been
made. In one of the cellars is the cele-
brated "tun" or wine cask, the largest
ever constructed. It is as large as a
small house, having length of thirty.
two feet, vertical diameter of twenty
six feet and a horizontal diameter of
twenty-five feet and holding about 50,-
900 gallons or nearly 1000 barrels. 1t
was built more than one hundred years
ago and has been filled several times,
but is at present unused.
About 700 feet above the castle, on
the top of the mountain, is the Konigs-
stuhl, or Kings Seat, with tower which
commands the finest view we have as
vet seen in Europe. 1t includes large
portion of the fertile plain of the Rhine
and the valley of the Neckar, with the
rivers winding away to the Northward
until they unite at Mannheim, and on
the East and South the dark unbroken
green of the Black Forest, with the
Odenwald, the Suabian and the Taunus
mountains in the distance. Looking
Westward towards the Rhine, the scene
is not unlike that from the Catskill
Mountain House, looking towards the
Hudson; but with the added advantage
that here the mountains, although much
lower, rise abruptly from the plain, while
the point of observation is the highest
for many miles, thus giving an extensive
view of the forests, mountains and valleys
on the North, the East and the South.
The University of Heidelberg is one of
the most famous in Europe, but its build
ings are in no way commensurate with
its great reputation. The plain, dingy
structures which are pointed out as the
University buildings are in striking con-
trast to the massive and elegant halls
erected by many of the colleges and
universities of America. A majority of
the students are faithful, hard.workipg
seekers after knowledge, but duelliDg
and dissipation constitute the amusement
of too large portion. The duelliDg is a
mere farce, slender swords being used,
sharpened only at the point, while the
upper portion of the face and the chest
are protected with a wire screen. A fenc.
ing master stands by the side Of each of
the contestants to ward off any blow that
may seem dangerous, and the sham fight
goes on until one or the other has received
a wound, usually in the lower part of the
face, the scar from which will form an
honorable (2) record of university life.
We saw some dozens of these dis6gured
faces about the city, while others whose
wounds had not yet healed were going
about with their countenances plastered
up as though they had been enjoying an
interview with belligerent cat.
Baden Baden, about two hours ride
Southwark from Heidelberg, is, we were
informed by the clerk of our hotel there,
"the prettiest place in Germany" and
after few hours spent in looking over
its attractions we we're not inclined to
dispute his statement. 1t is situated in
a lovely valley, surrounded by wooded
hills Just at the edge of the Black Forest
and shares with Wiesbaden the honor o1
being one of the two most popular
watering places of Europe. Its Cursaal
is much finer than that Of its rival and
was built years ago by the lessee of the
gambling privilege; but for twelve year;
public gambling has been prohibited
throughout Germany and with it has
gone much of the glory of Baden. The
good old times, when "things were
lively" are remembered with longing by
many of the old habitues of the place, as
we'll as by the shop-keepers whose Golfer:
were enriched by the food of gold 81
recklessly poured into the city. 1t still
has many attractions, however, in it:
parks, its concerts, etc., and is visited
annually by thousands. The waters
like those Of Wiesbaden, have beer
famous ever since the old Roman day!
and the chemical ingredients are abou
the same as those of the latter place
They are used for almost every ailment
real or imaginary. Fat people drinl
that they may become lean and lean peo
pie drink that they may become fat. Sicl
people drink that they may become we'll
and if we'll people are fools enough tt
drink, we see no good and sufficien
reason why they should not become sick
It is an amusing sight at about five o
six o'clock in the morning, to see hun
dreds, both sick and we'll of both sexe
making their way to the "Trickhalle'