The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-08-23

Louis XIV, small i'll size (prObably 3OX5(
feet), hung with the very heaviest q
pompadour silk and gold, while the mag
nifcent furniture is upholstered to cor
respond in some costly material. w
were told that each OF the many chairs
h ad cost twenty-five hundred francs, bu
this we must think is cxaggeration.
On the opposite side of the boudoir w
enter the room of Louis XIV, measuring
6Ox8O feet, corresponding in finish will
the others, except that its curtains anC
upholstering are of the very richest red
lighting up brilliantly at night, aud yet
strange to say, free from all approach t.
gaudiness in day, the sunlight only seem
ing to render it more softly rich and mag
nifcent.
The largest and largest ball room il
that named in honor of Louis XVI, anc
finished as winter garden; its walls q
gold and silver, covered with the mos
rare exotics in full growth and bloom
while in the center a mound of the SAM
is kept fresh and healthy by Il spra,
which shoots up on high, which is re
pcated on each of the four corners.
With this weak effort at describing thu
charms of this marvellous building, W.
must pass on to far different scene, il
Illustrative of the grandeur of the Older
times as this is of the present.
A good brett, at most accommodate
! ing terms. receives us as the Afternoon
concert is finished, and gives us drive
over an excellent but steep road, ascend
| ing an overhanging mountain, whOs'
sides are in part covered by the richest o
grass, and Immediately adjoining it by
the most dense of halsam and fir forest
After crossing which for distance o
three miles, we emerge near the top upon
what must have once been kingly pal
ace, now in ruins, but retaining enough
kOfit ancient form to show how grand il
had been i'll design and execution. Us
massive walls of solid stone Surmount
the mountains crest to a perfectly dizzy
height, and enclosing what must once
nave been princely banquet balls, now
occupied by immense growing forest
trees, which seem striving to overlook
their lofty enclosures.
| At other points, too, we see evidence %
horrible dungeons of those dark and
cruel days and I; well, curbcd AROUND
| with hcwn stones, ten feet i'll interior
diameter, and we wonder to what dcptl
it must have gone, but cannot tell, as il
is nearly filled with the debris of many
ages.
A climb up the steep stone stairs, ovcr
which so many happy and sad people
must have passed, takes us to the very
topmost pinnacle of the walls and tower
which here are about eight feet thick
and thus afford safe and comfortable
walk, from which view is obtained Ot
|
first over the mountain sides, of balSam
as thick as any on our RoanC or Mitch
ell, and then over the sweet valley i'll
which nestlcS Badcn-Badcn, and yet be-
yond, on the level country, threaded as
far as the eye can reach by the silvery
waters of the Rhine. This sight alone,
we all agree, pays us for all of the dis
comforts of an ocean voyage, even in a
State Line steamer.
The wcirdncss of this "AltSchloss, "
"oldcastle," is much increased as VIC
climb it's crooked stairs, by the dolciul
sound of an Eolian harp, which by some
one has been placed in the depth of one
of its ancient cmbrasurcs, and by its sad
notes, seems to sound the dirgc of the old
people. who perhaps are buried beneath.
Returning by another route, atlording
more and varied beauties at every curve,
we reach the town just i'll time to hasten
back to the conversation" and take q
seat in its garden, now brilliant withgaS,
in all kinds of fantastic and patriotic de-
signs, to have our tea served while our
ears are again rcgaled by such music as
one seldom enjoys i'll America, and to
watch the crowds of young and Old chill
drcn of six and men and women of sixty,
who drink it in with the same avidity
and the same Stold sense of pleasure with
which they imbibc their foaming lager,
and thus ends our happy day in Baden
Baden, August 8.
Not content with what we had done on
Yesterday, o'clock finds us winding our
way to the bath house, where the dust OF
ages is quickly removed by plunge into
this glowing water in basins of purest
marble, of all sizes and shapes, and of va
riOuS degrees of temperature. Our only
trouble is the want of an interpreter. All
of the gentlemen seemed anxious to eX-
plain the ins and outs. but unfortunately
we found not one to speak English OF
French; SO that we were somewhat myS-
tilted, but, plumging from one to another,
we tested the degrees of heat or cold i'll a
manner thoroughly practical, it not scicn
tific, and emerged with the impression
that this bath was the most charming OF
our lives.
After n good breakfast we 90 to the
TrinkhaIIe and imbibe il glass of warm
mineral water for our stomach'S sake,
and this duty being performed, a walk up
a steady hillside takes us to see a Greek
church, the first we have entered, quite
small, but richy v ornate, and containing
two fine specimens of marble work com
memorating the virtues of Young prince
and princess of whom the church seems
to be a memorial erected by their parents
The tablet to the young man impressed
us with its quaint pathos. saying III
French that on such day "Our dearson
gave back his sweet soul to God"
This ends our visit to Baden-Badcn
and one of the most charming days oi
our life. We are now flying southwark to
Lucerne, which we hope to reach this
afternoon, at o'clock
|, We regret having to pass StraSburg
and it's wonderful clock, but the houl
would not suit for us to be there at noon
which is the time that the twelve apos
} ties appear and many other wonderful
/ things are done. Not having time enough
to devote day to this. we must post
pone its examination until our next visit
when we hope many Asheville friends
f may be with us, and enjoy, in person, the
things which so delight us. Goodbye.
T.W.P.
! Convict Receipts Cut Down.
, The board of directors of the State pen
itentiary met at Raleigh Wednesday, al
its members being present. 1t has much i'm
, portant business to transact. The chair
man of the board said that it was greatly
i hampered in it's efforts to make the peni
tentiary sustaining by legislative acts
which permit the Roanoke and Southerl
Railroad Company to have 115conyicts
for which it pays $125 per annum, They