Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-11-03

southwest is the landing of the Cologne
and Dusseldorf steamers ply between
here and Rotterdam, and from here also
to Mannheim. Pleasure parties may
often be seen on yachts, and the wonder
full blue OF the sky makes the river more
beautiful.
Now We will turn TO an old part Of
Cologne where one OF the ancient strong
holds was built by Bishop Englebert III
Of talkenburg In the year 1851 In order 10
wage war against the people OF Cologne.
This did not long fulfil his purpose for
the strong foundation more than once
saved the town from heavy ice in the
river, and it also keeps the river from en-
croaching upon that side OF the town.
Later on this stronghold was used as a
city prison. Here the tisgs of Holland and
Germany find rivalry, but the people of
Holland as yet hold the greater part of the
trade in their hands.
Cologne is one OF the very oldest
shipping ports ana In olden time all the
trade OF the German 3. ates and OF Hol-
land passed through the hands OF its mer.
chants. They had wealth and power at
their command. They were proud and
naughty race.
In the Rheingasse may be seen an old
dark house where one OF the wealthiest Of
these merchants lived. The family have
all died out, but their glory still lives In
the annals OF the city, and their courage
and example are still handed down for the
young to follow.
The Dome does not seem so high now
that the low, old houses are being remov-
ed from around 1t. Open squares, and
high modern buildings seem to take away
the exceeding great height OF its towers
and minarets.
Cologne however has not lost all OF its
low built houses; some yet linger about
the smaller churches and the spires Of
these seem almost to touch the sky when
compared with the humble neigh
around them. These low houses with
little shops with narrow doors, all have
their wares displayed and make quite a
pict cturesque sight in the quaint streets
leading TO the harbor. While above this
simple old time life with its shadow dark
ened streets, rises in all its beauty land
grandeur the old church tower OF st.
Martins reaching in its height the clear
bright morning sun shine. From no
other point can it be seen so majestically.
These churches were built in far of ages
and will ever remain to remind us OF the
hearts and brains OF those whose concep-
tion and art they are. "St. Maria" with
it's capitol; st. Geseon's, the apostles,
and st. Cumbert's are all pearls Of roman
tic architecture, and besides all these
there are many more, but above and be-
yond all is the Dome, the pride and glory
of ali Germany.
No one who sees for the first time this
Cathedral whose npire so nearly reaches
the clouds, can but be filled with wonder
al its magniticence, while over the visitor
who wanders through its corridors comes
a feeling OF awe more so perhaps when
the setting sun streams through those
stained glass windows and their glory
reflects itself upon the grey stone Of the
interior. When the tones of the organ,
now soft ana low and then pouring forth
in volumes which fills the whole edifice,
while the twilight darkens, and those
arches succeed one another into endless
space-t hen the dome looks like picture
OF eternity and it becomes a real
temple to God. 1t was a wonderful work
of art, this Cathedral, that the unknown
architect conceived in his brain and
which the wealth that lay within the
power OF Archbishop Conrad OF Hoch-
stedten made possible To be at least partly
to the tomb OF the "Three Holy Kings"
(whose ashes Frederic Barbarossa brough mt
from Milan) swelled the already large
sum. Later came time when the work
was interrupted, and 1t seemed as II II
would only remain Il glorious ruin. But
in the reign of Frederick William the
Fourth OF Prussia the work was once
more undertaken and with the help of
Protestant and Catholics alike the work
was at iast completed. We can forget the
present finished church; forget the old
houses that are no more, and once more
imagine the workmen and their huts and
see them carving upon that hard stone
those strange arabesques which century
after century were added to until in our
day the flower crowned cross points ever
to the sky.
We can only ascend as far as the base Of
the tower, but even here the town looks
small aud the Rhine winds like a silver
thread into the distance while far TO the
south, east and west, rise the hills and
mountain lines.
Two bits Of the city wall still remain,
one near the churci Of st. Gereon, where
"A little house with slated root and deep
seated windows is surrounded by a
lovely garden aud looked down upon by
this old weather stained wall Bright
flowers fresh each coming year seem
strange company for this crumbling wall,
yet tne hope Is that they may liDger
together for many years more. The other
bit Of wall remaining deals with the
betrayal Of Cologne, for here the enemy
entered the city and Cologne's hardest
fight took place, the flower OF her
citizens fell and few OF fthe enemy escaped.
This army was led by the Count OF
Fslkenburg, brother OF the then reign
ing Prince. Today children play
here in the sunlight unmindful
OF the bloody battle fought upon this