Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-07-22
Dead City of the Baltic.

Its silent, SraSs-SToWn sllee19 anu
the blackened ruins of its once stately
churches suggest a mourntul retro
spect. Yet the Visby of to-day merits
more attention than it obtains from Wis
itors to Sweden and the Baltic. Its
once fabulous wealth has departed
from it. The housewives no longer, as
in the old tradition, use golden spin
dies, nor do the hogs eat from silver
troughs, while the eighteen churches
of which the town once boasted, seven
teen now lie in irretrievable ruin,
wrecked, it would seem, rather by the
ravages Of time.
Still, Visby, even in ruins-we may
say indeed, because Of its ruins and
the associations that cling to them, is
full of interest. Its early prosperity
was largely due to the convenient posi-
ton Gotland in the Baltic, midway be-
tween the Swedish and Russian coasts.
Until the new routes by Genoa and
Venice and by the Cape of Good
Hope were established most of the com
merce with the East passed through
Russia, and Visby as place of call be-
came so prominent as to gain the name,
"Oueen of the Baltic" or the Eye OF
the Baltic" Old chronicles assert that
even Solomon in all his glory was poor
err in gold and silver and precious
stones than was this small city.
Visbv was one of the first to be en-
rolled among the Hanse towns, and
took leading part in the famous lea
que. Its maritime league has served as
a model for most of the European navi-
cation laws. From the first the Eye"
of the Baltic was mainly directed to
business. It's prosperity received royal
recognition when Henry III. allowed
the merchants OF Gotland the privilege
of free trade as regarded purchase and
traffic in England. The enterprise OF
the traders enabled them to secure a
double profit.
They betook themselves, with other
representatives of the league, to Lon
don. and established close to Thames
street a house called the Steelyard,
which flourisbed for upwards of three
centuries. Meanwhile the population
increased very rapidly in Visby, and
the variety of religions called for the
erection of numerous churches and re-
ligious buildings. Charitable guilds
and hospitals were also established.
The monks, after their wont, helped to
beautify the town by planting walnut,
chestnut, lime and mulberry trees,
some of which still thrive. But the
chief charm of Yisby lies in its gray
walls, which, as q specimen Of ancient
ratification, are almost unique.
Gotland in the old days was pros
porous and important centre; but little
remains of its early greatness. The
sole existing trace of former independ-
ence is a standing army which belongs
exclusively to the island and can only
be employed in its defense. Every
Gotlander, from the age of eighteen to
that of fifty or sixty, may be called
upon to serve. The active services OF
the army are unlikely to be called
upon. Yet of so much Importance is
the island from its geographical posi-
ton and natural defense, that from a
strategic point of view it might readily
be made paddock upon the CULTS of
Finland and Bothnia. 1t has even
been declared that by means of Got
land the Russian navy could be locked
up and the navigation of the Baltic
commanded.-Temple Bar.