The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-08-09
IN FOREIGN LANDS.


The European E1epllant-From frankfort
to the German Capital-Potsdam, Dres-
den, Vienna and Munich Reviewed
Magnificent Collections of Paintings and
Statuary.
From our own Correspondent.
The American, to whom the sight Of a
soldier in uniform is a novelty, will fnd the
pean nation especially notable. In partic-
ular is this the case in Germany, where,
with standing army of nearly half mill
ion men, soldiers are everywhere present,
and almost every town has its barracks
and garrison. THIS nation, with popula-
ton equal to that of the United States,
support an army which on a peace basis
is more than twenty times as large as our
million and quarter of men. In fact, the
continual presence of the military becomes
NEST decided nuisance, and one cannot
help comparing the condition of this army
burdened land with America, where, thank
God, our surroundings do not require such
vast and expensive ornaments.
From Frankfort to Berlin is q tiresome
ride of nearly 400 miles, with but little of
interest along the route. The country is
densely populated and as is the case
throughout nearly all Germany, the land is
under good cultivation. No cattle are seen
grazing in the fields here or elsewhere in
Europe, excepting in the mountainous re-
gions, the soiling system being used on ac-
count of the greater economy of land. In
consequence of this, but few fences are
seen and the waste and expense of that
class of boundary lines isrendered unneces-
sary. Berlin, the capital of the German
Empire, is situated on the river Spree and
has population of about 100000. It is
we'll built city, but as is the case in many
European capitals, the newer portions be-
yond the gates are much more elegant than
the central and older sections. The prin-
cipal street of Berlin is "Unter den Lin
den," which extends westward from the
schloss, or old royal palace, about one
mile to the Brandenburg gate. Let no one
say there is nothing in name. How all
that is romantic responds to one mere
suggestion. of moonlight walks under the
lindens, with fair haired and blue eyed
German youths and maidens whispering
sweet words Of love; but moonlight under
the basswoods is a very different thing;
our romantic associations are all gone, and
nothing remains but angular and awkward
specimens of humanity, discussing the
merits of Limburger cheese or the pros
poets of the sourkrout crop. But the street
itself, although famous, is a disappointing
one. It is broad and well kept, but the
aforesaid lindens are many of them not yet
of sufficient size to render very imposing
appearance, while they serve to obstruct
the Wow. The Drandenburg gate was
modelled after the Propylaca of Athens
next to the Arc de Triomphe, at Paris. It is
surmounted by colossal four-horse car of
Victory, which was taken to Paris by the
French in 1906 but was returned in 1914.
ho A1uoOuilSs "u1CLl ttl0 lOStGCu iCdI tIlD
centre of the city, constitute one of the
largest and most valuable collections in
Europe. They are especially rich in ancient
Grecian statuary, the collection far exceed
ing that of the British Museum. The pic
ture galleries are extensive and contain
many works of the best artists, both an
cient and modern. The government build
ings are worthy of no especial mention and
new ones are soon to be erected, the corner
stone of the new Parliament house having
been laid about the time of our visit.
A few miles west of Berlin is Potsdam,
the famous residence of Frederick the Great.
His palace, with the rooms occupied by
him remaining in their original condition,
is near the station and but a short distance
to the west is the Garrison Church, where,
in plain black coffin, without tablet or
ornamentation, rest the remains of the
great king, with his father, Frederick
William I, by his side, in the same chapel.
Sans Souci, built by Frederick as retreat
from care, and where he passed the last
years of his life, is but a mile and half
distant and in the vicinity are many other
points of interest which time will not per-
NIT US to visit. -
Dresden, the "German Florence" as it
is frequently called, is about one hundred
miles south of Berlin, on the Elbe, which
divides the city into two parts. 1t is famous
for its art collections and museums, and
also for its China, the principal maniac
tories of which are few miles out of the
city. The Zwinger, in which are located
the principal attractions, is an immense
pile OF buildings only short distance from
the river and near the old palace of the
kings of Saxony. It contains the Histori-
cal Museum, the Museum of Casts, the
Museum of Mineralogy, the Museum of
Natural History, the Museum of Engrav-
ings and the world famous picture gallery.
This collection consists of about 2500
paintings and is one of the finest in Europe.
1t includes the Sistine Madonna, regarded
by many critics as the first painting in the
world. The Madonna, of heroic size, is rep
resented as standing upon the clouds and
holding the child in her arms, while she
looks into the distance with far-away ex-
preston as though she would fathom the
future. On the left is Pope Sixtus and on
the right st. Barbora, while below are the
two cherubs whose happy faces are familiar
the world over. There is an indescribable
charm about the picture which draws one
again and again from other parts of the
gallery, to gaze on the wondrous beauty of
the mother and the divine and solemn