The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-09
LETTER FROM GERMANY.
BY HENRY c.. MORRIS.

Berlin, as a capital city, is essentially
new. Although founded in the twelfth
century, at the beginning of the nine
teenth, its population was only 200, 600,
since which time there has been a re-
maIkable increase, until now the city
claims with good right million and
half of people. AS the seat of govern
ment of great empire, Berlin has be-
come, in trade, dangerous rival to
London and Paris. All the resources
of the nation are being taxed to beau
tify the surroundings and increase the
power of the Imperial City. To the
trader this point offers vast induce
ments; to the curiosity seeker very few.
The two most recent public buildings
are the museums, two magnificent build
ings which adjoin each other. One
contains large collection of artistic
work, with the usual assortment of an
tiquarian furniture, and specially no.
ticeable department devoted to ancient
fine glass, some of which, by reason of
its unique form, is especially attractive;
the latter is filled with specimens of
the handiwork, clothing and uten-
sils of various native tribes of Africa,
Siberia, Oceanica, Australia, North
and South America, among which that
most interesting collection of anti
quities from the excavations of Troy,
found by DIR. Schliemann, the great
German antiquarian. Several large
rooms are occupied by this assortment
of pottery and stone utensils, repre-
senting the four different Trojan cities;
it offers an opportunity for most inter
esting study to the student of Homer
and his times. The old and the new
museum, the latter of which is one Of
the most splendid structures in Berlin,
contain a large collection Of sculptuary,
both modern and ancient, together with
an extensive picture gallery, which in
cludes representatives from all the
principal schools. A large number of
the painters have devoted their genius
to the one subject of Mary and the
child Jesus. The National Portrait
Gallery, situated just back of the two
museums, and built after the style of a
COrinthian temple, is certainly the
most magnificent OF all the grand build
ings in Berlin. Within it is collection
of select portraits of distinguished ma
tional characters, to the number of five
hundred. across the rive. Spree, only
short distance, is
The Hohenzollern Museum,
containing many general antiquities of
national interest. Here, under glass
cases, are life-sZe wax figures of the
electors of Prussia since 1415, dressed
in their old costumes, many of their
old weapons and various pieces of
household furniture. The larger part
of the curiosities bear date since the
time of Frederick William l. In sep
arate rooms, set apart for the pur-
pose, are arranged the personal effects
of each of the Prussian kings. The
most numerous are those which be-
longed to Frederick the Great, among
them his pocket handkerchief, a very
dilapidated old cloth, which is patched
in many places. A writer of his time
says his personal wardrobe consisted
of two blue coats, faced with red, the
lining of one little torn, two yellow
waisteoats, a good deal soiled with
Spanish snuff, three pairs of yellow
breeches and a suit of blue velvet, en-
broidered with silver for grand occas-
ions, together with two suits of uni
form Here also were exposed to
view the numerous funeral wreaths
sent from various parts of the world to
be laid on the bier of the lately deceased
emperor.
The Arsenal,
a building erected two centuries age,
contains an immense collection of
weapons and armOr. In it are cannon
of the fourteenth century, which were
loaded with stone balls from the rear;
several large guns, which are celebrated
for the part which they, while in active
service, played in history; muskets and
smaller arms of every nation in Eu-
rope, from the time of the invention of
guupowder to the present day; one hun
dred thousand stands of arms; various
kinds of arnor; wall portraits of
famous conflicts; plaster models on i'm
mense tables of the leading battles Of
modern times, and on marble pedestals
bronze bus.s Gf the Prussian field mar
shaIs for several centuries.
The University, founded in 1909, but
whose principal building was erected
in the middle Of the last century, now
has an attendance of six thousand stu
dents, the largest in Germany.
Charlottenburg,
where the residence of the emperor is
situated, is connected with the city by
a straight avenue through a long park,
called the Thiergarten. At the end of
this promenade is the MausOleum, a
small DOric temple. in which recline
the mortal remains of Frederick Will
lam III, and his beautiful Queen