Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-17

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being from so to 125 feet long.
Returning south, we came to Bergen or
the west coast. This is very picturesque
old town, with large commerce in fish and
furs. The town is beautifully located, sur.
rounded by mountains, ON the sides of which
are beautiful villas with trees and flower
gardens which is rendered possible in this
northern latitude by the influence of the
Gulf stream"
"From Bergen We went through the
Hardanger ford, which is celebrated for
the grandeur Of its scenery and the beauti-
full cultivated slopes of its mountains, to
Odde, where we visited some celebrated
waterfalls. From Odde to Ulvick and
Eide. From Eide we drove overland 10
Vossevangen. Vossevangen is situated on
beautiful lake and is a highly cultivate
region, from which Bergen derives its SUI
ply of fruit and garden products.
From Vossevangen we went by land in
the usual Norwegian conveyance to Sthal-
helm, where there is very fine hotel
located on mountain at the head of the
Naerodal, that is, the valley of the Naero.
The view from this point with the
river Naero running at the bot
tom of the valley with perpendicular
mountains on either tide, and numerous
waterfalls, is considered one of the finest
views in Norway. From this point we
descended through the Naerodal to GUIDE.
vangen, which stands at the head of one of
the branches of the Naerofjord, and thence
through the Sognefjord, with its continuing
panorama of mountains and cascades,
around to Bergen again.
"On this trip to the North Cape there
were 81 passengers, composed of II
nationalities; 81 were Americans, Is were
English, and the balance were made up of
other nationalities.
Among the foreigners conspicuous for
their enthusiasm, unvarying courtesy and
contagious good spirits, were the young
Baron vladimir de Gunzburg of St. Peters
berg, and Sigfrid Achkenasy of Odessa.
From Bergen we went by steamer to
Hamburg, in three days. No one seeing
this beautiful city would believe that two
years ago it was scourged by cholera. 1t
is one of the finest cities in all Europe; the
river Alster runs through it, forming numer-
Gus canals, and in the heart of the city the
Alster basin, where the rowboat and the
sailboat furnish the sport for youth in the
evening, as the bicycle does on land. Along
the borders of the Alster are some of the
finest residences and most finely
cultivated grounds to be found
in any part of Europe. The Alster
| joins the Elbe just below the town. From
Hamburg, we journeyed by rail. leisurely,
to Amsterdam and The Hague, visiting
briefly Scheveningen, the great Holland
watering place, with its wide bathing beach,
not far from The Hague. After The
Hague, we visited Antwerp, with its cathe-
dral and Rubens pictures, and its fair,
which is curious and interesting, if not as
big as the Chicago Exposition.
From Antwerp we went to Brussels, the
capital of Belgium, and to Liege and
Namur, taking trip by boat to Oman, on
the river Mouse, through the charming
scenery of the chateau land of Belgium.
Then to Aix-la- Chapelle, where we saw the
throne and the sceptre and the crown of
Charlemagne, and all the celebrated sacred
relics which he had gathered together, such
as thorns from the crown, pieces of the true
cross, a link from the chain with which st.
Peter was bound, a lock Of the hair of St.
John, linen girdle of Christ and some of
His grave clothes and other crowns and
Jewels and bones of saints and wonderful
things which are nowhere else in the world.
From Aix-la- Chapelle my daughters and
their chaperone went to Beyreuth to hear
Parsifal and re Joined me few days after at
Paris. l sailed from Havre, Sept. l, on
the steamer La Bourgogne of the French
line. Half way over we were detained six
hours in the night by the breaking down of
the machinery. Many of the passengers
were greatly alarmed but there was no dan
ger. 1t was trifiing accident, and
the sea was smooth at the time.
have crossed now by nearly all the
great lines, and believe the French to be
the poorest and the German the best.
When I reached Augusta and saw its
river, and its wooded slopes, its pleasant
aspects, and its thrift and prosperity,
thought how beautiful it was, and how
much more beautiful it would be if it was
cleaned up, and we had the same pride in
its beauty, and took the same trouble to
develop it which Europeans take IN their
beautiful towns.