The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-21
EUROPEAN LETTERS.
CHIEF UNIVERSITY TOWN OF
GERMANY.
ITS Superior Hotel AccOmInO6ia-
tIOns and Splendid Scenery-Its
Concert Gardens and the Great
National beverage.

IT'S Superior Hotel ACCOTnunOuA-
tIOnS and Splendid Scenery-Hts
Concert Gardens and the Great
National beverage.
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Aug. 7, 1889.
Editor Citizen:- enjoyment in
crcases, as it were, by geometric PROPOSE
ton Each place we visit seems to eclipse
all back it, and this delightful spot is
no exception to the rule. Moreover, it is
somewhat of a surprise to us, unpreparcd
as we were for its beauties, expecting
only an inspection of its renowned uni
yersitv, even somewhat of a dry task to
us.
But we had no sooner reached its bor-
ders than we saw our mistake and fairly
trembad to think how nearly we had
passed it by without stop.
First { all, we are received politely at
II most excellent hotel, at which our
Cooks coupons entitlc us to rooms and
meals. The Grand is as comfortable as
any VIC remember. Cool, light, cheerful
and in all respects well dppointcd-by
long odds the best we have known since
leaving Edinburgh.
Refreshed by good table d'hotc din
ncr, unwcaried by the nuisance of order
ing food In carte, VIC start out for an
afternoons drive in brettc which re-
minded us of friend Reynolds, good
,Strong pair of horses, and driver who
could understand our German, because,
as we found out afterwards, he could
sneak English himself, and consequently
had an ear tor our pure idiom.
First, we asccnded high cminence on
the side of which is perched the ruins oi
the old Heidelberg castle, which is indeed
a most interesting object In respect to
size it corresponds with Windsor castle,
but its old walls are far more massive.
At one point, where huge tower had
been blown down by the French some
hundreds of years ago, we were enabled
to estimate the thickness of the walls,
and found them to be fully twenty-one
feet of solid rock masonry. The outside
walls enclose an area Of over forty acres,
while the castle proper, we think, must
cover some five or six acres. Again VIC
wonder how this immense mass OF mate
rial could have been transported from
the lowland quarries up this precipitous
mountain side, and then raised to the
dizzy height of these grand old battle
ments.
The moat which extends around the
Castle we luNlSG W DS wv ~ NiNN "ii'
near fifty feet i'll depth, and with its banks
thoroughly protected by the heaviest OF
masonry. Nor was there wanting sam
pie of the fine arts OF those days, tor on
all sides we see marvellous examples OF
.statuary of kings and men of renown, OF
whom we are ashamed to say we know
Tbut little.
A gateway still stands fanked by col
4 L Ai
the love of King Frederick for his wife
Elizabeth Stuart, daughter OF James OF
England, and still recognized as Princess
lElzabeth's Gate.
From various points around and above
the old castle can be had a magnlticently
extended view of the valley OF the Ncckar,
on which Heidelberg is located, and OF
its junction with the river Rhine, good
many miles away, and at the same time
a birdSeye view OF this old city, with It's
curiously tiled houses nestled SO closely
together that two vehicles can scarcely
pass in some of the streets. Here we
also see the university buildings, which
are by no means imposing, and several
club houses of the students, each dcslE-
mated by it's own peculiar flag.
Our pleasant drive was extended, after
our inspection of the castle had ended,
across the Neckar by an old stone bridge
built some $50 years ago, and standing
as firm (aye, probably much hrmer) as II
the contractors were of the present year;
and ascending the mountain on he oppo-
site side obtained a splendid sight OF dis
tant mountains and plains, while at our
very hands the vineyards were loaded
down with grapes, getting ready tor the
vintage Altogether we do not remember
a more thoroughly enjoyable afternoon
more thoroughly enjoyed.
After light tea we go out again and
arc attracted by strains of sweetest mu-
sic to a beautiful garden, which was
brilliantly lighted and filled with happy,
merry people.
Ofcourse we sought admttancc, which
cost us thirty piennings which means
seven and half cents OF our money! and
for this small consideration we were en-
abled to listen to a concert such as any
one in Asheville would gladly give sew
,entv-fve cents to hear, while the sweet
flowers, the green grass, the bright, hitzy
fountains, the bright lights and the happy
bows and girls, made it thousand fold
more agreeable. We could not but wish
that our good people at Ashcville could
enjoy, during these summer nights, eX-
.aclly such recreation as this, and drink
lust as much of this pure lager or wine as
they were able to get outside OF. We
must believe that thcctfcct would be most
HAPPY, taking their minds off of their
business cmbaTrasSmentS and from the
everlasting quarrels over politics and
elections, and promoting kindly feeling
and good fellowship among them all
Suppose, dear friends, we try to do
something of this kind. 1t will surely be
n step forward in the cause OF true phi
Ianthropy and progress.
Speaking of beer, we could not but be
amused to see party who sat near us
at the table this evening, composed of
large family, evidently wealthy, and of
high social position. The junior members
consisted of half dozen boys, varyingin
age from six to fifteen years, and the
mother without the slightest hesitation,
supplied them each with a toaming glass
of beer Just as naturally as we would
give our little ones milk or water, They
seem to think it the only thing to do.
Beer is absolutely the national and natu.
raj drink for young and old, rich and
poor, man and woman. High born or
low born, all seem to meet on this COM
mon ground of devotion of the divinity,
lager.
While surprised at the universality of
t! 8 custom, we do not believe it to be
oth.rwise than beneficial. Whether or
not it NAV be attributable to this habit,
the fact is manifest that the Germans are
the strongest and we believe the happiest
DeopIe in Europe, il not in the world, and
Il is certainly a relief to be free from the
terrible scenes which we described in our
letter from London as being openly, SLAM
derously enacted upon the streets of that
CITY. Good-bye, T. w. p.
4 DIabOlIcaI Act,
ROME, August 2O.-Last evening Il