Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-07

the place, and il was not per-
mitted inside the walls. The Burgo-
master last year, because Of fire that
destroyed the principal buildings Of the
factory, did strain point and allow the
storage Of the finished work in some OF
the immense barns in the town that
were formerly used for storing pro-
visions for time Of siege.
or THE TAUBEB.
Rothenburg is situated on point OF
land Just where the plain ends in rapid
and steep descent to the little stream,
the Tauber, which gives its name to tho
narrow valley. To the east and north
the wall was surrounded by a moat,
which is now filed up for short dis
lance the other part OF the moat retains
Its original formation, but is covered
with grass and planted with fruit
trees and flowers the grim preparations
for war are thus charmingly yelled
by the evidences of the blessing OF peace.
A wooden platform covered by tile
roof projects from the wall on the inside
and near the top Of the wall, which was
used by the defenders of the town IN
time of attack, and the entire circuit OF
the walls can be made on this platform,
passing through tho numerous towers,
RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
At one point this platform gallery leads
into an old church, which enabled the
garrison to attend religious services in
the midst of their warlike duties without
descending from the walls. As We walk
round on this platform We catch
plimpses on the one hand OF the
rural scenery without the walls through
the loopholes, whose rough stones make
the framing of the pictures on the other
side, looking toward the town, the red
tiled roofs Of the houses with their point
ed gables, the towers, and the steeples OF
the churches produce a wonderfully pic
turesque effect. The walls, towers, and
gateways are all preserved just as they
were in former centuries, nothing per-
mitted to 60 TO ruin, every stone
kept in its place, and every old
plank and post renewed as occa-
sion requires While everything IS old
and genuine, there is no appearance OF
decay, nothing III ruins In this condi-
ton of affairs lies one OF the chief charms
OF this old place. In 1851, as the town
records show, il had about six thousand
inhabitants, and to-day the number Is
| Just about the same. There have been
no modern industries started within Its
gates, no tearing down Of old buildings,
no new houses built there is literally the
same quiet and homely intercourse be-
tween neighbor aud neighbor the
same maid-servants flocking to tho
fountains to gossip together while the
water fills their utensils of ancient
shape; the same slow-moying, heavy
featured burghers chatting before their
doors, or in the public-houses over their
beer, wines, and pipes-in short, the
same dull daily life that in former gene
rations made up the whole OF life. 1t
is veritable Pompeii, preserved almost
intact for several hundred years, not 10y
the ashes of q volcanic eruption, but by
the equally effective power OF German
stolidity and burgher pride, combined
with distance from the busting stream
OF modern life.
ENCHANTED DOMAIN.
If the town is approached from the
plain, which stretches far to tho north
and east, the absolute quiet which rel9ns
seemingly over everything, the absence
of all life outside the walls, the tangled
network of trees, shrubbery, and vines
that covers the moat, and holt hides,
half discloses the grim Notifications, the
towers with their red-tiled roois-all
form a picture of the enchanted domain
of the sleeping beauty. 1t would DO
a suitable place where oil might wait IN
death-like sleep until the Princes kiss
on beauty's lips should waken all to
stirring life. On the other sides OF the
town the walls are not so high, being
built on the hill sides, which terraced
and planted in fruit and grapes, descend
precipitately to the little stream. The
road which leads to the Swabian hills, seen
in the distance toward the west, and
which crosses the Tauber on double
arched old Roman bridge, Is called the
Calvary Road. 1t was fayorite route
with many OF the Western Crusaders,
and this was gathering point. The little
church which nestles under the wall in the
valley alongside this road was built Tor
the accommodation OF the Crusaders, SO
that it would not be necessary for the
cautious Rothenburgers to open their
gates TO the pious hordes, whose friend
" visits were often more disastrous than
an epemy's Lacquer. Under the walls
the road divides; one branch goes
through O gateway into the town the
other GOES round the town and joins the
main road leading to the east Many
of the Crusaders who lived to return
by this same road, and who had seen
the HOLY City. often remarked the re-
semblance that the western side OF
Rothenburg-its walls, towers, and steep
decliyihes-bore to Jerusalem, and the
name given to the road seems to have
been a suggestion from this supposed
resemblance. In the town itself there 10
nothiny 10 mar the impression made by
the walk round the walls. The market
nlaca and the main streets leading
from Il are lined with the old patrician
houses. their gable ends, five, SIX, and
seven stories high, being toward the
street. The upper stories were anu
still are used for storenouses, al
being provided with a prolecung
beam carrying a block and tackle
covered with hood. Many OF
the bonses have tablet let into the
wall nm which is recorded that in such
year some emperor or king . bad been been
q guest there. One re n.L l;red
Christian l., King OF Denman H. " .h;a
house Emperor Macmillan !. had had. his
quarters ia 1881, and Emperor Charles
v. in 1870"
IMPERIAL AND ROYAL vrslrohs'
Nearly all the old patriclan iamllles
who occupied these houses nau en.er
tanned their imperial and royai sls's s9
during the palmy days OF the iaee CA!
of Rothenburg, from l4Oo 70 ioy a.
night the watchman, with ms .hh.etn
and pikestaf, still MAKES bis founas =.
the town, and tho lamps are swuns ~
and lowered BY chains AID puneys y.
snoisnt workmanship From tne towex
| ~ IA 6athhaus ~ noon en- puna@9s