The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-24
GOSSIP FROM GENEVA
THE MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY
OF A FAMOUS GERMAN POET.
Advice for Veterans Who Intend Wis.,
iting Germany-Beauty of the Rhine
Iand-Chapter on Astronomy.

Occasional Correspondence of the Journal
GENEVA, May 2--On the I'D of April
the unwilling of a monument erected TO
the memory of one OF the sweet singers
of Germany, Frederick Won Bodenstedt
Mira Schaffy) took place in the city of
Wiesbaden, our former place Of residence.
1t was on a Sunday morning The sun
shone brilliantly. the birds sang and caroled
from the branches of the magnificent old
trees of the kur Park, where the bosquets
and thickets had just put on afresh their
robes of soft. bright green; the slender
boughs of the bridalwreslth. loaded down
with the snow-white blossoms, swayed
gracefully in the breeze. and great masses
of feathery lilacs filled the air with sweet
perfume. The ceremony was graced by the
dignitaries of the district and city, and
great concourse Of people attended; royalty
was represented. and wreaths of laurels
were deposited gifts from literary and
learned bodies and eminent persons from
far and near. The sculptor, Mr.. Berwalt-
Schwerin, of Berlin, had achieved so great
a success in the execution of the work that
he was honored with wreath and re-
ceived an address of thanks. The account
of the affair given me by Mr. Alderman,
a lifelong friend of the dead bard and
leading member of the Monument Commits
sion, caused lively regrets at not having
been present in person. as I was two years
ago, when. with loving hands and sorrow
ing hearts. we buried this gifted man and
dear friend by the side of Franz Abt. the
composer Of when the Swallows Home
ward Fly in the Weisbaden Goods Acre"
on one of the green slopes; of the beautiful
Taurus range which overlooks the vine
clad valley of the Rhine. and. in thinking
of him, 1 cannot help but quote Rileys
lines when he says:
81 cannot say and I will not say
That he is dead He is just away!
With, CHEEKY smile. and a wave of the
hand.
He has wandered into an unknown land.
And left US dreaming how very fair
Think of him still as the same. 1 say;
He is not dead-he is just away"
L learn from what I have seen in the
papers that some of the old soldiers of the
United States, especially those of German
birth, contemplate, during the coming sum-
mer visiting the Fatherland in corporae.
I desire to take the occasion, right here.
to say to the veterans who intend taking
part in this "ausfug,' do not neglect to
include in your itinerary the trip of the
wiesbaden, Ruedesheim. Bingen and the
national monument on the Niederwald. all
in close proximinity to each other. and en-
circling. as IL were, the Rheingau. where
grow the finest brands Of the far-famed
Rhenish wines and where the people know
how to enjoy this boon in moderation, and
rarely ever to excess. The city of Leipzig
has already extended appropriate invi-
tation, and Weisbaden is preparing TO do
the same thing. My friend William Aufer-
influential merchant OF New York, now liv-
ing retired in Wiesbaden. authorizes me to
formation desired, and extend all possible
aid and advice to visiting comrades. He
was during and after the war closely allied
to General Fremont, and his life in the
United States has been a varied and inter
esting one. 1t is told Of him that on
certain occasion. 70 relieve General Grant.
quite a time, when the General got tired,
did the Misunderstanding with the surging
crowds, and the ruse succeeded admirably.
as at that time he looked very much like
Grant.
LEFT BY THE ROMANS
When the legions of ancient Rome held
possession Of Gaul and portions of what
is now western Germany, Mayence was
what it has been ever since, a strategic
center. for here was long bridge built
by the Romans to unite the two banks of
the river. A line of Notifications main
tanned a defense against the barbarian
Germanic tribes. consisting of earth wall
and fosse mounted at intervals by watch
towers, extended from the Rhine to the
headwaters of the Danube. This "Roem-
ischer grenzwall," as il is called, is in
many of the forest lands readily traced
even at this late day. There is found
this line, it runs through the Taurus
range, near the fashionable watering place
summer resorD. the well preserved ruins
of fort or fortified camp of large extent,
known the Saalburg. The fort itself in
its day was surrounded by a settlement of
houses. stone fOtlO1a tiOnS
many showing the system of heating then
in vogue and other peculiarities quite in
we'll near by, the stone curbing of which
is but little disturbed. The water from the
wells was drawn by double buckets de-
scending and ascending over an iron pullv
shaped very much like the pattern now in
use. Among the rubbish found in these
wells are the remains of numerous articles
of household utensils. coins and things both
for ornament and use which are carefully
preserved in the museum at Homburg. On
an excursion made to these erstwhile head
quarters of the Roman legons on beauti-
full day last summer, in company with
number of members Of the Mayence and
Wiesbaden archaeological societies. forming
a merry party, I gathered much informa-
ton on the ways and habits of the Romans
in the days of their occupation of this part
of the country that was both curious and
instructive. AT the end OF our tour of in
spection the company adjourned to a neigh
ourselves, and where friend Alderman. his
Excellency Major General Won Gehbaur. an
old veteran, and myself finished the after
noon by listening to bright and witty
speeches, recitations and jolly songs. Victor
Won Scheffel. author of the charmingly ro-
mantle poem, Der Trompeter Won Sack
ingen, on visit here, several years be-
fore his death, dedicated some exceedingly
humorous verses to a camisole GackeO of
leather. found in one of the wells described
and which. in spite of it's hoary age and
patched condition. yet retains its original
shape. This leather wammes. with all it's
numerous patches, now forms a unique
link with those ancient days of Roman
civilization. and is held in high esteem as
a relic Scheffefs verses difficult of
translation were sung by the company to
rollicking air in a manner which must
have been highly exhilarating to the spirit
of the legionary who nearly two thousand
years ago called this garment his own.
IN THE RHINEGAU.
A short distance below the city of May
ence. and beginning at the village of
Niederwalluf, near Eltville, where COM
mences the far-famed Rhinegau, is long
reach where the river Rhine is excep-
tionally wide and studded with numerous
small islands. all of which planted with
TALL slim, needle-pointed poplars. The sun
here lies lovingly on the gentle sloping vine
clad shores, covered with many coy viii