The Portland daily press., 1892-11-23
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
Saxon Observation-Disclosures Bastei
Brucke and Prebischthor.

The first day at Schandau is usually
devoted to walk through the Potential,
the most delightful valley in Saxon Swift
zerland. In the hot days of July and
August one finds here grateful shade
which comes, not only from the deep
woods, but from the gigantic rocks so
close on either side, and so high that
they seem almost to reach the sky and to
shut out all else except a bit of azure
blue above. One comes at intervals into
little clearings in which are cafes and
booths with all sorts of souvenirs to sell,
which say in pretty German writing II
thought of you in the Polezthal.''
From this deep valley one ascends by
means of stone steps to the Hockstein,
and by an improyised, almost perpen-
dicular staircase foot in width,
through cleft in huge boulder, reaches
the top. This cleft is called the VOLTS
Schlucht, it being one of several similar
passes by the same name in Saxon Swift
zerland.
1t certainly seems weird enough to be
shut up in such a crevice for twenty
minutes, ascending almost perpend1cu-
larly all the time, to merit this, or the
name of any other savage beast, hordes
of which no doubt used to haunt these
mountains and hide in these TRUSTING
places. But it is so curious and unique
a thing to do, that one forgets to be
alarmed by the isolation and perilous
situation.
There are glimpses of beautiful views
on the summit Of the Hockstein with in
terminablei gorges beneath, while the
valleys at your feet form themselves into
endless labyrinths winding out of sight,
and the Hohnstein, a still higher for
hessed village in the distance, is a thing
most ravishing to behold.
One forgets as he leaves the Hockste!n
that the lovely valley he treads is the
summit of mountain, for although
continued tableland for miles, one goes
over delightful meadows, with the most
charming snatches of scenery on all sides.
The fortresses of Konigstein and Lilien-
stein appear at once in the distance, the
road leading through clean, neat villages,
whose inhabitants seem to feel the same
elasticity which the traveller receives.
On these Saxon mountains the air is full
of oxygen, and an entire day on foot
brings one back to Schandau as fresh as
when he set out. WEAKNESS of body or
mind has no place in this region of for
tresses and felsens.
The Bastei Brucke.
The wonder one has toiled to see at
last comes in sight; it is the Bastei and
its bridged chasms. Nearer and clearer
it comes to view. After passing scores
of precipices, where you look down into
ravines, whose gigantic boulders cast
their shade, into grottos, which the sun,
through the long summers heat, never
penetrates. One of these ravines is called
the Anselgrund, another Zscherregrund.
The Felsenthor and Teufelskuche come
in their turn, the latter being a grotto
resembling an open fireplace.
Thr Bastei is composed of a considera-
BILE number of rocky bastions and slender
columns, formed by the disintegrating of
the chalky rock in the ages gone by.
These rocks rise preeipitous, like giant
sentinels, from the bosom of the Elbe,
and ON the summit of some of them one
may stand and gain an extended view all
over the little kingdom of Saxony itself.
Thirty years ago they bridged num-
Der of these pinnacled rocks with solid
masonry, supported by seven additional
arches, and altogether it forms the won
der called the Bastei Briicke, which
travellers from every land sail down the
Elbe to see. Thousands of tourists in
the summer months fit in and out be-
hind, over and beneath these fantastic
peaks and into the grottos, which are
cool, even when all else is parching with
heat.
But this region does not contain all the
wonders of Saxon Switzerland, a second
days tramp bringing more wonder still.
The Lichtenahin Waterfall.
There is little brook called the Kir-
nitzschbach, between the source of which
and the river Elbe Schandau is built.
Through this Kirnitzsh valley one goes.
walking for several hours to the Lich-
tenhai n waterfall. One saunters on con-
occurring all the while what this wonder
full fall of water may be like. Is it a
Niagara in volume and size, or does it
foam and cuddle like that wonder at
Schaffhausen which all Europe so adores?
One listens midway for the Niagara roar,
and as one approaches, looks in vain for
the filmy spray which should be seen
miles away. Everything at hand denotes
cur near approach-but where lis the
Eall?
A queer little Bornischer man stands
alone half hidden in crouching posture,
under projecting rock in a garden of
tables used for cafe. The world of
sight seers have all gone on before. "But
where is the Lichtenburg fall?" we ask.
The man chances up into space at moth
ingness, pulls string and says ''This is
the Fall, and the Great Waterfall is just
beyond" We look, and down comes
something like the contents of wash
erwoman's tub; and few rods beyond,
near another crescent shaped ledge, an
other row of tables is seen, and above is
sign. We read son payment of thirty
pfennigs the fall will commence But
since we had seen the famous Lichten-
hahn at it's best, we thought our imagin-
alton could supplement this great food,
which as reality might upset the equi-
poise of mind and body as well.
The KuhstalI.
So we passed on to some steps beyond
leading up to kind of cave formed in
an embankmentA of rock half mile
away called the E'Kuhstall." This is
natural cave except that on one side it is
omen to the world, precipice cutting it