Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-09-11
NUMBER 81

built of stone and stands on the OPP
posite side of the river from Bingen.
1t consists of square base, PEDESTAL
and long column, crowned bya mag
niticent, monstrous bronze statue of
Germania. She holds in one out
stretched arm a crown and in the
other drawn sword. Interpret as
you may, it means that necessary
accompaniment of a crown is a
sword; like liberty, its price is eter-
nal vigilance, Again, dozens of old,
ruined castles, and some yet we'll
preserved castles, lie all along its
banks. These curious remains of
thick walls aud circular towers
would add to the fame of any river.
The age of the castles vary from
500 years old down to the present
time. They are generally built on
the highest point of hills on steep,
rocky declivities, difficult of access.
Some cover several acres. The
walls of some are twenty feet thick.
Some of them many hundred years
old are in good condition, and fam
lilies live in them, and church and
other meetings are held in their
large halls.
visited one built in 1888, aud
found the old inscriptions saying
that "a certain man, Ludwig, of Ilirsch-
horn, started TO build this castle in
1888, but died soon after, and that
his widow finished it. 1t is we'll
preserved, and church is held in it.
The Bible is covered with white,
tanned fig skin. The covers are
about an inch thick This bible was
translated by Martin Luther, and
weighs probably go pounds. The
castle has n picture gallery where
the pictures are painted on the plas-
ter of the wall, and yet in good con
dition. The pictures are of the
Savior and his disciples, The one,
showing the young Scribes asking
whether Caesar should be paid trib-
ute or not, is very good.
One castle is situated in the cen.
ter of the river, on an island. IL is
well preserved, and | believe now
used for an ice house. Their archi-
lecture is Grecian, heavy and quaint,
and their size is prodigious.
The banks Of the Rhine are also
enhanced in beauty by the most fa-
mons vineyards in the world Scarce
ly anything is grown but grapes.
Thousands and thousands Of acres
lie along its banks. The vineyards
are cultivated along hillsides so
steep that horse could not walk.
A man who is acquainted with the
German people, and sees the square
miles of grape fields, needs not be a
prophet to say Germany will not
soon adopt prohibition.
Still another reason is due to the
existing tendency of European ma
tions-thc Germans as well-to ex-
aggeration; to the magnifying be-
yond reality their possessions and
attributes, and each generation can
add to the previous. 1t is hero wor-
ship. the Germans are not partic-
ulary sentimental, but they are
emotional, and that is a certain ele-
ment Of exaggeration. Historical
association has added to this the
idea of magnitude and attraction.
The stories and legends of the
Rhine would fill volumes. A man
would say the Rhine is beautiful
without knowing its history; but the
American quickly detects the over
due praise given it, who has seen
the Hudson with its natural beauty.
This summer was very hot and
dry and made the Neckar and Rhine
very low.
History tells us that in 1892 the
Rhine dried up from heat and
drought. In 1903 from long heat and
drought the Rhine and Danube were
so low as to be crossed on foot. In
l7I5 not single rainstorm occurred
from March TO October, and the
Rhine again dried up The Rhine
at Cologne is about the size Of the
Wisconsin river. Floods have often
devastated its valley. That Of 1888
almost destroyed Heidelburg and
other towns. Also war has often
devastated and laid waste its valley,
the Norwegians and French being
the nations concerned; but the
French were unwontonly destructive.
In 1889, under the French General
Meloc, all the Rhine valley was
laid waste. The castles were torn
down, plundered Of art and blown
up with powder This was when
Meloc blew up Heidelberg Castle.