Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-31

years ago! That was 700 years before
Columbus discovered America. This
settlement was called Halle, and it grew
but slowly until 1928. Then salt springs
were discovered in the town and II
became of some commercial importance.
Halle, population now of about 100000,
is only about half an hours ride from
LeipSig, and when we got out of the
train we expected, of course, TO sec
slow and quaint old town, sedate ap-
pearing, as became its years.
A new and very large modern depot
was our first introduction, and
when we were outside of that, looking
for conveyance to take us to the
"Goldener Ring" what should we see
dashing round the curve of the street
corner but an electric car, whisking
along with the same uncanny black
pole over its head, aud emitting the
same blue sparks from rail and wires as
VIC have at home. The colonel looked
and laughed. tWell, I'm blessed!" he
eiaculated; "havc we come to the wrong
placer" Just then among line of
hotel stages we saw the "Goldener
Ring" so we crossed over and got inside,
slightly bewildercd at our first greeting.
The snow had fallen during the night.
and the trees were covered white and
dropping with icy pendants glistening
in the morning sun.
As we ratified along in the stage, we
passed new streets and well-stockod
shops, filled with all sorts of modern
articles, and Mom's face grew longer
and longer, until suddenly the colonel
said: "Look out there, quick !" and
there was great old stone tower, like
big ninc.pin, left standing all alone.
Still Nom wouldn't be comfortod, but,
shaking her head, said: "Ihat isn't
much-look at the rest of the street.
And l know that electric car will run us
down." 1t didn't, however, and VIC went
rafting on, until after little we were
away from the new streets and bright
shops, and began to worm our way
in and out of old lanes and narrow by
ways, with scarce room for one wagon
to pass another, and queer old stone
houses with pointed roofs took the place
of the new brick ones, and at last we
came to the markt-platz, and then we
were satisfied.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOWERS.
Right in front Of our hotel lowered
the rothe-thurm fred tower) like an i'm
posing guard on duty, keeping watch
over the town. 1t is 2T6 feet high, and
stands all alone, dating back to the
fourteenth century, thought to have
been part of an old church. Just back
of the rothe-thurm, equally as high, and
even yet more suggestive, doomed up
the great Market church, wit its four
fAu tha turA
being connected high up by bridge,
making them look like two giant cronies
linked arm in arm. This was our first
glimpse of the old square, and with the
snow and the icicles covering these
enormous towers with their dazzling
crystal beauty, they were indeed grand
monuments of the past, standing sub
lime and silent. After dinner we were
made happy by letter from the
burgermeister Of Halle, Herr Staude,
introducing to us charming pretty
English girl who spoke German per-
fectly, as our guide and interpreter.
Across the market-platz we trooped to-
gether through the snow, passing as we
did so the bronze statue of Handel, the
great composer, who was born here IN
1856. There are three churches in
Halle that are celebrated the Markt-
kirche, the Dome cathedral, and the
Moritz-kirche, or Hallorcn's church.
We went into the Markt-kirche first.
This was built in 1880 and is the one
that has its two towers connected by
bridge. Bnb had read out to us from
Baedeker, before leaving hcme, that
this church contained "some very fine
winged pictures by Cranach," and had
asked, "What is winged picture, any
how?" We regretted it deeply, but we
had to say that we didn't know. swell,
as I'm made to stay at home; but sup
pose it's some cherub business or other"
he added. So when We stood in front
of the altar and had looked at the paint
ing over it by Hubner, We then asked
our pretty guide, "where were the
winged pictures by Cranach ?" She
pointed to paintings on either side OF
the altar, and said, "rhese were painted
in 1920 by Cranach for Cardinal Al
brecht, who built this church. Here
are the Saints Magdalcne, Ursula, Eras.
mus and Catherine, here is the virgin
with the Cardinal represented at her
feet, here is st. Moritz and st. Alex
ander, and on the outside is the annuu-
citation, St. John and St. Augustine"
THE GREAT HIGH ALTAR.
While she had been explaining, the
sacrstan of the church, with long pole
with hook on the end of it, had been
opening and shutting screen-like doors,
over the main pictures, on which were
painted the different subjects. Like II
double-doored closet it opened, with
paintings on the inside and out, and the
doors were wings-these we've the
winged pictures And then, like some
far away echo of the past, a dim remcm-
brance OF having heard this before in
our school days came back to us, and
we raved at our miserable memory that
was going to give Bub such q good
chance to laugh at us. These pictures
were about all of note inside the church,
its main beauty being the height and
size of the towers, rs seen from outside.
A short distance from the Alarkt-
kiTche was the Dome cathedral. The
entrance is through ali old archway into
courtyard anything but attractive,
and you pass in by a side door, low and
commonplace looking. But inside it is
grand The altar piece rises up from
the chancel for distance Of 70 feet,
divided into sections of beautiful paint
ings crowned with figures Of angels and
palm leaves of gold. Underneath the
galleries are curious panels containing
quotations from the Psalms, framed IN
woodwork carving of feather-ike
palms, gilded. The effect is very odd
and beautiful. That portion of the gal
lery reserved for royalty was orna-
mented with statues and this same odd,
gilded, feathery-palm carving that is
one Of the features of the Dome. But
the church we was most anxious to