The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-02-14

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only has 1t been filled, and then it nearly
bankrupted the unlucky monarch who
gave the banquet. The Elector Charles
Theodore contended for this honor in
I764, and it is said that his whole court
danced on the
HEAD OF THE CASk
| during the progrtsS IS ol the royal jam
boree. After examining the feudal relic
with great interest, | suggested to the
| keeper that if he would obtain permis-
sion from the proper authorities, would
| Immediately, and at my own expense,
have it filled with the great American
| drink, gln-sllng that we would then ln
vite every Dutchman within a radius of
four miles and have grand powwow-
in fact we would Just make Rome howl.
| The man evidently mistook me for an es
capped lunatic for muttering something
between his clenched teeth about lager
being good enough for him, he mmedi-
| atey ordered me to leave the room
| Thus it is that innocence and generosity
must be ever snubbed Within the walls
of the castle can still be seen the crumb-
ling remains Of an English palace that
was built to please the fancy Of the Prn-
cess Elizabeth Stuart. Readers who are
familiar with the life of Charles V, will
remember that it was this high-spirited
and ambitious lady who, when her hus-
band hestated to become king of Bohe-
mia, told him she would rather eat
DRY BREAD AT THE TABLE
of king than to feast at the board of an
elector. The lady's wish was fully graft
| far n of a a
was obliged to pass through all the vicis-
situdes of fortune which usually fell to
the lot of the petty monarchs OF the
| fifteenth century. Near one of the main
entrances of the castle are four granite
columns, grey with age, which were
given by the pope to the great emperor
Of AiX-la Chapelle. They were quarried
near the city Of Ravenna in the early
part of the eighth century, and were
transported by Charlemagne to the
banks Of the Rhine. After witnessing
the fall of the palace OF that monarch,
they were again carried to the borders of
the Neckar, where they now watch the
decay of the palace of the Palestines at
Heidelberg In their habits and customs,
the people of Heidelberg do not vary
much from other parts of Germany. The
influence of the great university undoubt-
edly has a tendency to give more dignity
to their bearing, and refinement to their
manners, than in places where such
scholastic surroundings do not prevail.
English is spoken by nearly all the high
er classes, thus making it more pleasant
for an American than most any other city
Of equal interest in Europe. The extent
to which
BEER DRINEING Is CARRIED.
however, is something prodigious. Gar
dens where this beverage is dispensed
abound on every hand, and are always
thronged with students, college profess
sors, merchants, and people in every
walk of life Every one seems to be
good natured and peaceable, for it is
quite impossible to get enough lager beer
into a Dutchman to make him vicious.
Neither do you ever see one OF them
drunk, as we understand the term, for
the Germans seem to be constructed on
the principle of a churn-the fuller they
get the tirmer they stand. On the whole,
however, they have 50 many genial
traits Of character, and are SO frank in
their dealings with strangers that we are
propensities and wish that the people Of
all countries were as pleasant to mingIe
among as the stolid Germans on the
banks Of the Rhine and Neckar. In the
valley of Heidelberg and the adjacent
districts are many delightful walks and
excursions. Not least among them is the
pleasant town of Wotsbrunn, situated
about three miles from the castle hill in
A LOVELY LITTLE VALLEY.
The road lies along the banks Of the
river where unduating and richly wood
ed hills rise on every side to give an adj
ditional charm and beauty to the scene.
This town received its ominous name
from tradition which tells us that it
was the spot where the prophecies, Jetta,
was slain by wolf Poor wolf. | shall
never cease to lament its unhappy fate.
If the conscience of that prophecies was
as tough as those Of a similar profession
OF the present day, it is evident tn the
VOLTS digestion must have been seriously
impaired. What a great pity that some
OF its descendants could not have surViv
ed to dispose of our modern weather
prophets. This is only another link in
the chain of evidence that the inhabit
ants Of the middle ages enjoyed many
advantages and blessings that are denied
us Of the present time. The village Of
Woltsbrunn, and immediate vicinity, is
a charming place to spend an idle hour
The architecture is quaint and medieval,
while the style of its people is simplicity
itself. There is special gaStronomlc
interest attached to the place, as being
the oldest fish breeding establishment In
Europe Whoever desires it can enjoy
trout which five minutes before being
served up were swimming in their native
ponds. The knowledge that your
FOOD Is PERFECTLY FRESH
thus renders it doubIy grateful to the
palate. Directly in front of the house
where the trout are cooked lie the ponds
where they are raised. These little
lakes are over-shadowed on every side
by the branches Of huge trees, around
which seats are placed where visitors
can sit a2d enjoy the delicious view.
Affixed to tree in front of the principal
hotel | noticed this peculiar announce
ment. cat the innkeeping is to have
the traditions by the Wotsbrunn." There
is an ambiguity about this advertise
ment that is worthy OF a Roman oracle,
or an American statesman when discuss
ing the tariff question. | shall always
admire the genius of the man from whose
alleged brain it was evolved; for to have
originated that sentence must have re-
quired an intellectual struggle equally as
great as that of Moses writing his own
obituary Another very interesting eX-
cursion is to Neckarsten, about eight
miles from Heidelberg, and reached by
steamer which runs daily during the
greater portion of the year. There are
FOUR OLD RUINED CASTLES
on the immediate hills which surround
the town, looking like greedy vultures
which for nine centuries have gazed on
the swift rolling Neckar as it encircles
their mountain home with its turbd
waves. One Of these castles was the
former stronghold of the old feudal
family of Steinach, who at one time were
all powerful and the scourge of this whole
region. 1t is grand and gloomy pile,
overgrown with moss and ivy, and stand
: ing upon projecting cliff seems to be
fairly clinging to the mountain side.
For six centuries have the people of the
village beneath looked unon its crumb