The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-15
THE RHINE.

THE RHINE.
At Bingen we meet three wheelmen.
two English and one American, bound
for Heidelberg, and on the following
morning, Aug. Sd, we tarry few
hours to visit it and look the town
over together. At 10 o'clock we bid
adieu and journey on toward Coblenz.
Our road along the river is very smooth
and picturesque. The hills upon either
side are high and very steep, leading
to the waters edge, and are covered
with luxuriant grape vines. At al.
most every curve in the river conspic-
uously above us loom up the crumb-
ling walls of some old castle long since
deserted. but remembered in many a
legend and romantic story. Yes, and
if there is any truth in tradition, there
is hardly a spot on the banks of this
river but what has been the scene of
some strange and fanciful tale. Adj
venturous knights have wooed and
won the daughters of kings. Others,
disappointed, have challenged rival
to mortal combat and "bit the dust"
or perhaps chose the seclud ed life of a
monk and dragged out miserable exist
ence in monastery. Maidens bereayed
of their affianced took the veil and be.
came the brides of heaven, while others
drowned their sorrow in the peaceful
river. Whether there is any truth in
these legends Of the Rhine or not, a
traveller is strangely moved by them as
he journeys down this romantic stream
and views for himself these grand old
ruins that for centuries have been the
wonderland of tradition. We cannot
write concerning all the places of inter-
est, for the river from Bingen to Cob
LEM, with it's many castles and vii
lagos, would require volumes to de-
scribe. We arrive at our hotel in
Coblenz at an early hour in the even
ing. We meander up the promenade
which lies along the river. 1t is one
of the attractive places of the city, and
many resort here for an afternoons
recreation. After making sketch we
return to the city and plan visit to
Ehrenbreitstein. a strongly fortified
place originally built by the Romans.
1t is opposite the city of Coblenz, at the
confluence of the Mosel and Rhine
rivers. 1t presents a commanding ap-
pearance, and is said to be the strong
est fortress in Germany. Another
morning daWns, and we discover that
we have strong head wind to pull
against, on account of which we aban-
don our contemplated trip to Ehren-
breitstein and mount our wheels for
Cologne. We travel about Is miles,
and the elements being so strongly
against us we decide to take the next
steamer for the north, so we wheel to
a boat landing and wait for a dampf-
shift (steamboat). We are there but
few minutes before steamboat pulls
in and takes us on board. We spend
the remainder of the day in looking
about the city. The greatest attrac-
ton of Cologne is the cathedral, con-
sidered the finest piece of gothic archi-
lecture in the world. 1t is not quite
completed. although it has been in
course of erection for more than 600
years. The church of st. Ursula is an
other place of peculiar interest. 1t
was built in the 18th century, and is
dedicated to the saint who was MUIR
dered by the Huns, together with
eleven thousand virgins who accom-
panied her on her pilgrimage to Rome.
All the interior of the church is deco
rated with the bones of these virgins.
They are in glass cases, the skulls be-
ing adorned with tapestry. In the
sacristy the walls are covered with
curious devices and notices composed
entirely Of bones, and cupboards full of
skulls are exhibited, some richly adorn
ed with Jewels. We are skeptical as
regards the truth of the legend con-
nected with this affair, so we will in-
sert the substance of it, that you may
judge for yourself: In the third CEN
fury there grew up beautiful and
pious maiden, the daughter of Britain
king. Her name was Ursula, perfect
image of virtue, and because of per-
sonal charms she looked not for wooers,
but declined all offers, believing that
she belonged alone to heaven. A Ger
man prince solicited her hand in mar
riage for his son. She was about to
reject this wooer also, when an angel
appeared to her in dream and said
that heaven required this sacrifice. for
she was destined to save the immortal
soul of this heather king by converting
him to Christianity. Thereupon she
Immediately consented. Accompanied
by II 900 virgins, all chosen from the
most blooming of the daughters of her
country, she made pilgrimage to
Rome, as the angel had ordered her.
Receiving the blessing of the Pope. she
returned with him to Cologne. The
arrival of the 1000 christian virgins
with their angelic Ursula and the
venerable Pope at their head made
such an impression upon the Prince
and his enamored son that both imme-
diately embraced Christianity. The
ceremony of baptism was solemnly
performed, and few days afterward
the wedding was to take place, but in
the meantime the country of the happy
affianced bridegroom was involved in
war with a neighboring heather tribe.
Thousands of wild barbarians invaded
the unhappy country, numbering, burn
ing and devastating all that came in
their way. They attacked the capitol,
took the royal family, the Pope and St.
Ursula and her II, 900 virgins prisoners,
and executed them with excruciating
torments. Heaven had taken the vir-
gin it had bestowed back to itself
again, but pious posterity has preserved
her bones and those of her companions,
where they are still revered, in st.
Ursula's church, in which her monu-
ment stands.
We have learned that the roads
through Belgium are very bad for BIZ
cycling, being paved with stones, so
we make arrangements to go by rail to
Antwerp, then to take the boat for
O 90 -, q.