The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-08
DOWN THE RHINE.

AT 10 o'clock Friday, July Both, we
mount our wheels at Strasbourg and
begin our journey down the Rhine.
We are instructed to wheel to Kahl, a
small village across the river from
.Strasbourg, and then to take a road
running north along the Rhine toward
Heidelberg. We soon reach the oppo-
site side of the river, and along the
suggested road we spin at lively rate,
but in a few minutes our way begins
to get rough, and there seems to be but
little travel over it for public road
down the Rhine. But our faces are in
the direction we wish to travel, so we
press on. and shortly our road divides
out to a narrow foot-path. We con-
suit one another upon the propriety of
continuing this route, but some one re-
minds us that it is a mark of cowardice
to- turn back, so we move on until our
foot. path is no more, and the beautiful
valley of the Rhine becomes fancy.
We are somewhere in swamp, with
our faces toward the north. TO the
right of us we discover an embank-
sment, and upon it we push our way
until we arrive at point where
small stream intersects the Rhine. We
can wheel no further, for it is water in
front and upon either side of us. In
the distance we discover a fisherman
mending his nets. We call for assist
ance, and soon his long, narrow skifl
shoots across the water, and we with
our wheels are soon landed upon the
cI1 rrIo u
literally, and shortly find the right
road to Heidelberg, and press on.
Nothing occurs worthy of mention dur
ing the remainder of this days journey.
We stoplfor the night in the little city
of Ettengen. As miles from Strasbourg.
We reach Heidelberg the following
day earlyin the afternoon. We fnd
the city beautifully decorated for
FestZug which is to occur the follow.
ing week. It is the five hundredth an
niversary of the University, and all
Germany is expected to participate.
Visitors from all parts of the world
are flocking here to witness the great
jubilee, and it is expected to be one of
the greatest events in the history of
Heidelberg. We employ a guide and
visit the castle and other places of in
terest. We were not permitted the
pleasure of seeing the Great Tun. as
they were filling it for the Festzug. the
first time since 1868, no visitor being
admitted for three days. Think Of it.
my readers, a huge cask with capa-
city of 2s3 200 bottles filled with wine
to celebrate the anniversary of Uni
.versity. How would that do for an
American school? Uncle Sam hasn't
the only red nose in the world.
The colleges of every country have
tastes and customs that seem strange
to foreigner, suppose, and if Ger
man student would visit Harvard or
Yale they would imagine our boys
tafae'lot of creatures, for in the Ger
man University fellow is considered
a bastard if he hasn't the pluck and
the nerve to stand up before fellow
combatant and have his face cut into
Emince meat. 1t is expected that each
student will fight at least three duels
with sharp swords before completing a
college course, and most of them have
occasion to fight many more, for if a
student fails to tip his hat properly, or
by accident or otherwise pushes or
comes in contact with a fellow student,
cards are exchanged and duel ar
ranged for. The whole body is protect
ed but the face, and the one who can
do the most carving in fifteen minutes
is considered the best man. The most
skillful surgeon in the city and a pro-
fess0r in the University is employed
by the year to sew up the wounds, and
he must have plenty of business, for
the display of frightful gashes Upon
these heroic sons of Germany is simply
terrible. Yes, there are many things
here that Americans might criticise
but for all that there is something
.abont Heidelberg that lovers of the
beautiful admire 1.-The narrow valley,
the. broad plain, the yine-crowned hills,
the woody heights, the green waters of
the .Neckar. the silver-foWing Rhine,
the venerable castle ruins, the abund-
ance of contrast in color and form
unite to compose one harmonious PIC
ture, that artists from all nations have
loved to paint, and as we turn away
HUN IHO CiidI LIS vi LHIS City VIC CdIIy
with us a sweet remembranc not easily
forgotten.
We continue our journey down this
river. stopping now and then
at places of interest. A short distance
from Worms we dismount to examine
peculiarly constructed tricycle. propell-
ed By electricity German invention
not to be sneered at but we hardly had
time to appease our curiosity before