The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-09

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Rome in its power; here, among these
old houses, was born the idea of free
thought, which, growing wider and
wider, was destined three centuries
later to blossom forth on the farther
side of the Atlantic. Here Luther and
his friend Melancthon lived, and are
now buried in the very church on whose
doors the former posted his ninety-fve
theses against the Papal practices. In
the town are many objects mindful of
Luther. Over the door of his apart
ments in the University buildings may
be seen the autograph in chalk of Pc
ter, the Great. This signature is now
covered by glass for its protection.
In the market place under an iron can
opy is bronze statue of Luther.
An oak tree marks the site where
Luther burnt the Papal bull of 1920.
Formerly large university was stu
ated here, but in 1917 it was merged
into that of Halle.
The Leipzig Fair.
Continuing our journey we reached
Leipzig in time to secure accommo-
dations before the opening of the East
er Fair, so called because it is inaugu-
rated on the Sunday following Easter.
The old portion of the city is oval in
shape and is entirely surrounded by
park, about square in width, which
occupies the site of the old town wall.
In several places this promenade ex-
pands into public squares. Without
this circle is the newer portion of the
city. In these squares and places the
city erects the requisite number of
booths, and rents them at reasonable
rate to the people who bring their mer-
chandise hither. Besides these public
stands, every available room is taken
by the tradesmen. In this manner
these people, and their forefathers be
fore them, have been accustomed to
meet for four hundred years, thrice ar
nually. Here are candies from Bruins
wick, jewelry from Naples, furs from
st. Petersburg and lace from Paris.
Everything mentionable is offered for
sale, at much less than ordinary prices.
All quarters of the earth are represent
ed, Chicago not accepted. The city
presents truly metropolitan appear
ance; its 80, 900 inhabitants are nearly
doubled. During the first week, de-
voted to tbs, wholesale business, the
trade in cloth, furs, leather and books
is especially great. During the four
weeks in which this fair continues,
the permanent merchants lose large
amount of their ordinary trade. Nat
urally, Leipzig is the book mart of Ger
many.
Probably the most widely known OBJ
ject Of interest is Auerbach' cellar,
renowned by Goethe as the spot where
he laid scene of his Faust - when
he causes Mephistopheles to supply
drunken students with wine out of
holes bored into the table. Undoubt-
edly the author earoused there many
times during his student life, as many
other students still do.
In the market place the allied sover-
eigns met after the celebrated battle of
Leipzig. There is now building or
this site what will be a grand monu-
ment, commemorative of the victory of
Sedan. The University, founded in
1909, is the second oldest institution of
its kind in Germany, Its buildings are
numerous, and in size ranks next to the
Berlin, having three thousand students
The principal building, the finest in
Leipzig, contains a library of 100000
volumes. The museum is excel
lent.
AS a musical center, this city is
noted far and wide. The Supreme
Court of the German Empire hold its
sessions here; for its better accommo-
dation, an immense modern building is
just now in course Of erection.
Here again we find record of the
ferocious Tilly. During the Thirty
Years War he captured the city, but the
old castle of Pleissenburg, still stand
ing, withstood his attacks for several
weeks. This antique triangular struc-
ture has degenerated to the use of a
barracks. About a mile from the city
stands a rough granite block, a typical
monument to the character Of Gustav
Adolphus, whose death spot i. marks,
where he fell on November IS, 1852, in
the midst Of the battle Of Lu'zan.
Again on this same ground, almost two
centuries later, Napoleon fought his
first battle near Leipzig, May ., ISIS. In
which he Won poor victory. Five
months afterward, October rs to 10, on
his retreat from Russia, he suffered
most decisive defeat in one of the
greatest battles of the age. For four
days, nearly 1--WE hundred thousand
men were in mortal strife. Napoleon
carried OFF the battlefield only oAe-half
his original army, The most decisive
loss was the death of the noble Pole.
POniatowski.