Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-08-18

/
war and in the center is an equestrian
figure of the Emperor, while colos-
sal figures of "Peace' and "War"
complete the magnificent design.
Wespent Friday night at Mayence,
saw a drill of part of the standing
army and left early Saturday morn
ing for Heidelberg, the seat of the
renowned university, which was once
the pride of Germany, though in re-
cent years some of its glory has de-
parted. We saw a number of its
students wandering around the
streets and the Scared faces of two
or three seemed to indicate that they
were championsin its peculiar style OF
athletics. Until recently the German
student has prided himself upon his
ability to consume beer and fight
duels, just as the American students
pride themselves on their champion
ship in base ball and rowing. The
old castle is the most picturesque
and interesting place in Heidelberg.
Its history dates back to the time Of
Rudolph l., in the beginning of the
fourteenth century. Its location on
spur of the Konigsstuhl gives it a
strong position, and one that COM
mands a fine view of the town and
the valley OF the Neckar. The right
wing of the entrance, known as Otto
Heinrich's Bow, is richly adorned
with sculpture, and Friedrich's Bow
is almost equal in beauty and pro-
portion. In its best days the whole
was magnificent triumph of archi,
lecture and its ruin is considered
one of the finest in Europe.
We arrived at Baden-Baden, the
famous watering place of Germany
(Which is visited by fifty thousand
people every summer) Saturday af'
ternoon, and in the evening we had
the pleasure of listening to the band
which plays there during the sum
mer and which the local authorities
pronounce the "fnest in Europe
This l can neither deny or declare
to be true, as / am not authority or
musical questions, but | certainly
enjoyed the concert very much
Baden-Baden is situated in the val
ley of the Oos and is bordered OF
three sides with the wooded hills o
the Black Forest mountains. Ths
first object of interest to all visitors
is the Conversation House, which il
approached by winding walks
through lovely grounds. Its splendid
central hall is devoted to concerts
balls and other entertainments. The
trinkhalle (pump-room) near /
has Corinthian portico of sixteel
columns and is decorated with numer
Gus finely colored frescoes, illus
trative of the fourteen legends OF tn
Black Forest. In front of the trink
halle is a statue of Emperor William
Our st. Louis professor who had ex
pressed himself as being thorough,
tired Of castles the day before ros
early Sunday morning to 60 to th'
old castle, and its ruins are certain
| ly quite pretty. From its tower on
can have fine view of the city will
| its beautiful environs, the valley o
the Rhine and part of the Blacl
/ Forest. For once one is not boret
with guides, who give you a list Q
names ten yards long and date
numerous enough to make one dizz,
and pitifully ask for ''mark" a
the conclusion of the harangue
Nothing is known of its history, bu
it is thought to belong to the thirt
century. The large trees growing
in its walls attest its great age ant
each can supply for himself in imag
ination what oblivion has hiddel
from history. The air of Baden
Baden is invigorating and the waite
is supposed to work marvels. Tim
| forbade our testing its merits.
| Leaving Baden-Baden early thi
morning we passed through th
Black Forest where deep gorges ant
| high mountains combine to Civ
grandeur to the scenery. The darl
green pines appear almost black il
| the distance and we naturally re
4 called the novels and fairy storie
i whose scenes are placed there. Tn
Rhine river is beautiful shade 0
\ green at Neuhausen and to one wh
has never seen Niagara, the fall
must seem very grand; but, in th
j words Of Max O Rel, america doe
] everything ON a gigantic scaleeve
Il its waterfalls. The river is abou
d three hundred feet wide and the fall
are eighty feet high. They wer
a beautifully illuminated a few mint
4 tes ago and the whole effect Of th
! varying white, blue, red and gree
! lights ON the water was grand. Th
lcastle beyond the fails was so j
q Illuminated that it seezned q mass