The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-08-16
IN FOREIGN LANDS.

From our own Correspondent.
Some writer has said that if we should
speak of the "Old Castle Of Heidelberg"
as " the old stone house ON huckleberry hill, !"
many of the poetic and romantic associa-
tions would be lost, although the literal
meaning would remain the same; and
while this may be true to certain extent,
the word Heidelberg meaning nothing
more than I" huckleberry mountain" yet it
is also true that for one who has ever had
the pleasure of seeing this grand old
castle-ths finest ruin in Germany-no
change of name can ever change or obliter-
ate the memory.
The city of Heidelberg is most delight
| fully situated in the narrow valley of the
Neekar, just at its junction with the valley
several centuries was the seat of the
Palatinate, and was regarded as one of the
most impregnable fortresses of Europe,
overhangs the valley on the south side of
the river, and about 300 feet above the city.
1t consists of numerous towers and other
defensive works, together with the remains
of the palaces which were built and oceu-
pied at different periods in its history, the
whole protected by moat not less than
fifty feet in width and from thirty to forty
feet in depth the main entrance being
formerly over drawbridge and through a
narrow passage in watch tower, closed by
a massive porteuIlis, 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 1889
and SO great was the strength of the
masonry that a large portion of the wall,
nearly twenty feet in thickness, fell out
ward without crumblng and still lies in
the moat {. monument to the skill Of the
masous VINO 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 celebrated "tun y
or wine cask, the largest ever constructed.
1t is as large as small house, having Il
length of thirty two feet vertical diane
ter twenty-six feet and a horizontal dame
ter of twenty-five feet and holding about
$4,000 gallons or nearly 1900 barrels. It
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 Konigsstuhl, or
Kings Seat, with tower which COM
mands the finest view we have as yet 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, Suabian and the Taurus
mountains in the distance. Looking west
ward 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
lngs are in no way commensurate with it's
great reputation. The plain, dingy struc-
lures which are pointed out as the Uniyer-
slty buildings are in striking contrast to
the massive and elegant halls erected by
many of the colleges and universities of
America. majority of the students are
faithful, and hard working seekers after
knowledge, but dueling and dissipation
constitute the amusement Of too large a
portion. The dueIing 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 fencing master stands by
the side of each of the consestants to ward
the sham fight goes on until one OF the
other has received a wound, usually in the
lower part of the face, the scar from which
will form an honorable(?) record of uni
versity life. We saw some dozens of these
disfgured 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 en-
joying an interview with beligerentcat.
Baden Baden, about two hours ride
southwark from Heidelberg, is, we were ill.,
formed by the clerk of our hotel there, the
prettiest place in Germany" and after
few hours spent in looking over its attrac-
tons we were not inclined to dispute his
statement. It is situated in lovely valley,
surrounded by wooded hills just at the edge
of the Black Forest; and shares with Wies-
baden the honor of being one of the 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 years
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 re-
membered with longing by many of the old
hdbituss of the place, as well as by the shop
keepers whose Golfers were enriched by the
flood of gold 80 recklessly poured into the
city. It still has many attractions, how
ever, in its parks, its concerts. ETC., and is
visited annually by thousands. The waters,
like those Of Wiesbaden, have been famous
ever since the old Roman days and the
chemical Ingredients are about the same as
those of the latter place. They are used for
almost every ailment, real or imaginary.