The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-04-25
"UNTER DEN LINDEN"
Scenes Along the Most Famous Street
in Berlin.


The most famous street in Berlin, Ger
mrnv, i the Inter den Linden. While
it is distinctly inferior to the Partisan
boulevards, the Inter den Linden is still
a handsome and notable thoroughfare.
The Berliners, whose municipal patriot
ism is always at the highest pitch, fondly
claim that the big, shaded promenade
that stretches from the imposing Brand
enburg Gate to the Opera Platz is the
finest street in Europe. This, perhaps,
is only enthusiasm, but If you are ever in
Berlin it will be just as well for you not
to say so. Most of the lime, maple and
chestnut trees that shade the Inter den
Linden have a stunted look, as though
the soil and the climate disagreed with
their constitutions. The street itself is
1856 feet wide. 1t is mile long and as
straight as a Prussian guardsman. There
is broad central walk, with plenty Of
seats.
On either side are the carriage drives,
generally thronged with all sorts of We
hicles, from fine carriages to the country
farmers wagon. Above the sidewalks
that border the street there tower two
more or less imposing rows of mansions,
palaces, big hotels and stores that cannot
begin to compare with those of Broad
way. The architecture of the buildings
that line the ''linden street" is pretty
we'll mixed. The inferior buildings are
getting weeded out, though; and, in
course of time, the pet street of the en-
ergetic young capital of Germany will
pre- ent a much more satisfactory archi-
tectural aspect.
The imperial palace, which stands at
one corner of the Opera Platz, is big,
but not particularly imposing. In pleas
ant weather the scenes ON the Inter den
Linden are always lively. Berlin is an
intensely military city. and the prone
made is gay with uniforms of all the
branches OF the marvelously perfect Ger
man army. Grim old officers whose
chests are brilliant with decorations,
proud young lieuteGantS whose sabcrs
are always Gathering, bulky, numbering
"whitc cuirassiers" and trim, erect in
fantry and artillery men quite discount
civilians on the street.
OF course, the German nurscmaid is
out in full force. Equally. OF course,
where she IS the German guardSman is
also. Many and tender are the tlirtations
OF these two under the lindens" The
Inter den Linden is sort of German
ria triHmphdjiS. Through it the armies
of the lathcrlaad enter Berlin on their
victorious return from war. A scene
that will live long in the memory of
those who witnessed it was the triumphant
re-cntry into Berlin of the victorious Ger
mans after the close OF the Franco Prus.
sian war of lS,0-11. Up the throngcd,
applauding street came the blue masses
of helmeted infantry with steady, dis
ciplined tread. There rode the dash
ing uhlans, with their pcnnoned lances,
and there the statuesque cuiraSsiers in
their cleaning steel coats. There was
the stout old Kaiser, crowned at Yer
sailles, gray and stern, yet wonderfully
happy, as well he might be. With
him were Bismarck and Won Moltke, hit
two mighty men, whose tonic of blood
and iron had strengthened Germany till
her trained soldiers felt themselves cap
able of whipping all Europe. 1t was a
great spectacle-that triumphal entry of
the Kaiser, who has since gone to his
rest, and it made the Inter den Linden
seem more than ever, to the Berliners,
the great national street of the father
land New York Mail and Express.