The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-11-10
AN ASTORIAN ABROAD.
II. Studzinski Now SoiOurninS in Berlin
BERLIN, Oct. Doth, 80.

BERLIN, Oct. Doth, 80.
J. F. HALLoRAN:-My first letter
from Paris is in your hands. Here is
a little more. | left Paris after a
| thorough inspection of the exposition
and the city as far as time is allowed.
The exposition is the grandest [ ever
saw; the buildings and domes rich
and brilliantly decorated; the sur
rounding parks covered with choice
plants. trees and flowers. 1t is hard
| to believe that this costly arrangement
is only temporary. The exhibition
comprises all branches of industry as
well as agriculture, horticulture, art
and an endless variety of novel inven-
tions of nearly all nations of Europe
and the United States, which latter
makes a fine showing and is not so
small as is represented in our papers,
and | am glad of it.
Life at Paris is expensive, and q
stranger gets a good taste of it, for he
has to pay for everything a higher
price on account of the boom which
the exposition caused, and, as the Par
isians term it, this affair happens but
once in ten years. ] have been up
the Eiffel Tower and got enough of it
when [ was elevated $50 feet by the
elevators. From this point L had a
fine view of the entire city and sur
roundings, which latter gave me full
compensation for all the trouble of
getting there, for the rushing and
scrambling was at the time very I'M
pleasant.
From Paris L went over Belgium
to Cologne, where [ saw the Cathe-
dral-the finest monumental building,
with the exception of st. Peters at
Rome, in the world. / was struck by
its beauty and grandeur which
has not its equal. The Cathedral cov-
ers $500 square feet of ground. and
is $50 feet high; 12S great windows;
$40 statues; 104 pillars; several thou
sand spires which cover almost the
entire building.
From Cologne [ went over the Rhine
to Berlin and arrived there at night.
Next day [ saw the ear of Russia
with the Emperor William driving by
together, lots of brass helmets all
around and much ado. The people of
Berlin are much in love with their
emperor, the pOmp, the military show,
etc. In every house l find images of
the past and the present emperOrs. L
must confess. this worshipping of
these potentates looks to me ridiculous
and unworthy nation as intelligent
as this one. The second day had to
report myself to the police Office, for
every stranger who has private room
has to identify himself; thus the con-
troll over the city is so complete that |
could be found in this immense city
in a short space of time by any friend
who desired to see me. But the re-
port alone was not sufficient: the Of
ticer wanted a passport, which demand
L could not satisfy. / showed him my
U. s. citizens certificate and told him
that this is my letter of credit from
Uncle Sam, and il he had not calmed
down with its sight L would try
more effective way. So he finally ac-
ceded to have my way free This city
is brilliantly laid out and built. The
streets are scrupulously clean, surpas-
sing all other cities, Paris included, in
this regard; in many of them there
are shade trees, which give them a
pleasant appearance. The city has
grown so much within twelve years
that 1 do not know many parts of it,
with its solid blocks of six-story houses
for miles. Real estate is here way up
to the pinnacle, and commands prices
like those of New York, way mp into
the millions.
Living expenses here are decidedly
cheaper than in Paris, and L found
here quite a number of Americans who
were better posted in a good many
ways than I was, because they had al
ready lived here a couple of months to
find it out We all agree in one opin-
ion, which latter I'll tell you when |
arrive at Astoria again.
Give my kindest regards to all my
friends, and tell them that by all that
| saw and heard, the place where |
have all my friends is the dearest to
me after all.
With greetings TO You, [ am,
Yours.