Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-13
FAMOUS CYCLING.
Closing Scenes Of the TOul
Through Europe.
The Journal Corr.paldslt
Writes Of Germans and
Universities
Along The Rhine and Past the Black
Forest.
French and German Hatred Dutch
Words. Incidents.
Especial Corr espondence Of the Journal.

/
ROTTERDAM, HoLLASp, JulNB0, 1859.
The memorable European Cycle Tour end
ed at Cologne day before yesterday, and the
party 10 now scattered to all parts Of the con.
tinent. On separation smaller groups were
arranged, and they are visiting places through
which the party did not pass. In Norway,
Northern Germany, Russia or Italy members
Of our happy crowd might now be found,
while few Of us are in Holland, en- route
for England. whence We sail on Saturday for
home. Those who have not been in foreign
lsnds can hardly appreciate the pie ,ure Of
such contemplation-the joyous th, ughts of
going home arouse after having been in lands
where everything is strange.
But let US follow the party through Ger
many, from the Falls Of the Rhine, xhere,
when the last letter was written we were
stopping. detained by rain. The follow Ing
day was fine, ard shortly We were on the
Swiss border, collecting from the official the
tax which had been levied on several wheels
on entering the country. One minute fu,her
a German soldier barred the way. We dis.
mounted. but after a moments waiting he al
loved us to proceed. Having uuders one at.
solutely no official examination, We were In
the land Of Bismarck and young Emperor
William. This was pleasant Introduction.
but We afterwards learned it was Brought
about by cufioas combination OF
circumstances In our favor. Tourist
generally do not have so easy a
time. Our guide had gone ahead TO facili.
tate matters, so we would not be long de.
tained lie was in the office talking with mn
official when We rode up and dismoup ted.
When the soldier outside allowed us TO go
on, as he shortly did, We supposed it was all
right. In point of fact it wasn't, but when
the man who examines baggage looked out
OF the window and saw the whole crowd
wheeling off. something induced him TO be
lenient, and he simply said to the guide,
"Ah! there goes your party. They have
tkipped me this time" He talked in Ger
man, and so did the guide afterwards in tell.
ing about 1t. so the language may not be Just
verbatim. IL he did not speak jus. as
have made him, his verdict was to that
effect, so its all the same.
With the guide in the rear, we were
quick to select the wrong road; in fact, half
Of the party, could they muster enough of
the language to inquire the direction, could
MT tell from the answer which way was right
at cross road, in the absence Of a guide
board. Then when an interpreter was al
hand II was almost as hard to determine the
proper road, and this is why. Ask a Ger
man peasant question, and he will attempt
to reason out On answer, whether he Is sure
of it or not. lie will tell you IL you turn
this way and that and then in still another
direction when half way round a house.
you will probably reach your destination I;
but If you follow the o. her road and make
just few more turns, ment ,ning several
distinguishing marks on the route, you
ought to come out At the same place, IL you
shouldn't happen to get lost, just rs we did
in melee of directions something like the
above. OF all the roads We bad Travelled
the rocky, rutty path along ever which we
foiled that forenoon beats everything. The
guide, when he found us. said We we're on
an unfrequented road in the Black Forest,
and we found our dream Of II gloomy, lone
some region, fulfilled. The masked bri-
gands were not seen, though fcve al psrticu
larly gruesome localities were oaly lacking
band of gruf robbers to cOmniete the
picture Of Old-time depreciation As imagina-
tion depicted it,
AT three o'clock the dining Ilacc was
reached, summer hotel beside small blue
mountain lake, and up to four the bnys came
struggling in, the guide in the last group.
The boys have grown to BE- such giants In
u
them restrain themselves to the eomFortable
pace usually selected by the gnde. The
gentlemen who have lately had the plotting
Of our party have acknowledged US To be
strong riders. We did tot get that repu'a
ton in Ireland but, of course, it is better
late, than never" This reminds mt
that distance in Germany il count
ed by the ''stuni,' or hour, so that al
though you may learn n place is only one
''stund" ahead, it will still be three English
miles away, not so near a. figure one would
indicate.
The afternoon course was down the Valley
Of He'll, narrow aud dark pass to the plain.
Of the Rhine. This gloomy valley. with It's
high and PERCEPTIONS sides, was, in the times
when robbers did abound botbed OF danger
Gus outlaws, 80 that our journey through
there came to be frightfuliy risky, whence
the application of the suggestive name.
Legend aflirms that as the way in which the
cognomen came to be applied, but we who
coasted down the long hill. with dsrkly
wooded slopes on either eide believe there IL
some thing suggestive in the region itself, aside
from any pluDderiBg associations there ma,
be. A stream was dashins down the valley,
and the roar r.slf & to cur ears was like Tho
mufiied growl Of a beast in the forest around.
II may well be imagined this was a most
delightful ride and it was the only day w
went through the Black Forest, though the
following 80 miles our route was on the edge
of that region
Our first night In Germany was passed IN
Freiburg, a pleasant city few miles from
the Rhine, with fine Cathedral University,
and as in all European cities, lots Of cities.
lots of soldiers. An American young man
there at school, kindly showed US the sights,
in so far As time admitted.
StrasbouYg was the next Destination, and
the run Of 50 miles thence along the level
country of the valley Of the Rhine was bit
monotonous. When ID miles away the s.eeple
of the great cathedral could be discerne1, 80
fat was the region. Distances there are ex-
ceeding:y deceptive; villages a long way
ahead are apparently close at hand. and il
was very surprising to see how long it took To
reach them, even on the rapidly moving