New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-02
THE GERMAN PAGEANTS.
H.
II.
KEEL IN FESTIVAL wEEK-THE FLEET IN,
THE HARBOR-INNOCENTS ABROAD.


Kiel. June 21.
Kiel Is a most picturesque town with one OF the
best harbors in the world. as has been shown by
the facility with which one OF the greatest fleets
ever seen finds safe anchorage here and ample
room for naval manoeuvres. 1t Is an old town.
with many quaint churches and buildings; bur
1t Is new in its commercial importance and facil.
tiles for commanding the trade Of the Baltic. and,
also as a naval stronghold. The wharves. store
houses. harbor Notifications and naval dock.
yards are Of recent construction, and the business
interests of the port are destined to receive q
great impulse from the opening Of the new
canal. There Is lagoon In the centre OF tho
town, known as the Keine Kiel. and opening
from 1t are quaint streets and alleys toward tho
market-place and the harbor. There is a famous
old church with a tall spre, which is the most
conspicuous object to be seen from the outer
harbor. 1t built in i24l, but bears evidence
of recent processes OF restoration large scale.
and indeed, has been virtually rebuilt the
Schloss, which was once the residence Of the
Dukes OF Holstein-Gottorp. but is now the home
OF Prince Henry Of Prussia. is not far from the
Nicolaikrche, and while the foundations are
very old, 1t was rebuilt in 1888. and has been
altered in many respects during recent years. AZ
the end OF the gardens OF the Schloss Is -four
ishlng university, with buildings new and old.
and with interesting museums and collections Of
national antiquities The most important treas
ures Of the town are in the Thaulow Museum
and consist principally OF wood carvings OF the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, In style
OF art for which the Schleswig Hostein provinces
were once famous Kiel no longer sets much
| value upon what is antique in It's architecture.
The old houses are rapidly disappearing. and the
| town is already transformed into a modern and
| progressive port
| The harbor OF Kiel is approached by narrow
entrance which Is commanded by an extensive
series OF fortresses and batteries on each side.
| Every headland is crowned with embankments.
| earthworks and masonry. and bristles with
| heavy guns On shore above the entrance
70 the new canal. are the batteries Of the Brau-
nerberg. and the fortress Of Friedrchsort; and on
the other side there is a long line OF batteries
| from Loboe 10 M0ltenort. Powerful are the
ships now lying peacefully at their anchor.
ages In the harbor, II Is not probable that they
could pass this double chain OF fortincations.
| Kel Is the Baltic headquarters OF the German
Navy and 1t is stronghold which Is virtually
| impregnable against assault from sea- Below
Friedrchsort and Moltenort, with their mighty
| fortresses the harbor wdens into a spacious bay.
| where all the navies Of the world might find an-
! chorage room. 1t Is most beautiful haven with
| high shores heavily wooded in places with pleas"
ure-gardens on many Of the headands and With
| the town a few miles away encircns the upper
| end Of the bay Holtenau, with the locks and
| outer and inner harbors OF the canal lies thrd
OF the way between Friedrchsort and the Schloss
| and Nicolaikirche. Above It is the little village
| OF wik. and farther on the Bellevue Gardens.
| opposite which the American squadron is now
! living at anchor The town opens out from the
| headland where the Naval Academy stands. and.
| curving around the end Of the bay ends with the
| imperial docks extensive shp-building yards.
summer gardens and fishing villages.
PRICES DURING THE CELEBRATION.
Kiel has been profiting this week. not so much
| from the attractions Of natural scenery and the,
movement Of its commercial and naval industries,
as from the national festival attending the open-i
| ing Of one of the greatest engineering works OF
| the German Empire. The town. with rs popu"'
lIation OF 65 0OO has welcomed the naval pageants
| and imperial festivities not only as spectacular
| performance but also as good opening for
| trade The hotel accommodation was utterly
| Inadequate to meet the requirements OF tnou-
| sands Of visitors during the festival week Every
| frugal householder with an eye for business mas
nut rooms at the disposal OF the authorities. ana
| visitors have been assigned 70 them by ticket.
| officially stamped American visitors nave hao
the privilege OF paying Waldorf prices for
small room In an attic with two feather beds
| and a cup Of coffee In the morning. Restaurant
prices have gone up with rush. and extortion-
| ate charges have been asked for hack hire, ooa'S
and shopping Of every kind. The thrifty natives
| have taken full advantage of the opportunity
| of a generation Kiel has never before known a
gala week with over a hundred war vessels In
the harbor and the normal population doubled
possiby trebled by accessions Of festival Visitors
| from Hamburg and all North Germany IL
| they have plundered the guests. they have acted
| upon the theory that there would never De an
other chance equally favorable for imposing upon
| tho good nature OF travellers. They have been
| very amiable in their rapacity, and nave done all
| they could to surround their victims with sucn
| luxuries and comforts as their limited resources
| permitted The dodgers in fourth-story pacK
| rooms had goldfish in their windows ana the
best china from the cupboard for tneir morning
coffee. They were also favored with smiles and
kind greetings and were politely urged TO remain
as long as they liked in the town. But greed ana
| avarice were not abated by these incidenta'
courtesies The hand of iron was under the
glove Of velvet
GERMAN LOVE OF HOLIDAYS.
One could easily forgive the highhanded depre-
dations Of the natives. when he watched the
preparations for the gala days and the signs OK
pleasurabe excitement everywhere visible WIKI
all their business shrewdress in driving hard
bargains with incoming travellers Germans love
their holidays and know how TO enjoy them.
Day after day the people OF Kiel have crowded
the excursion steamers plying between the town
and the landing places OF the outer harbor wnere
the warships have been lying at anchor; ana
their interest In the marine spectaces has been
chdlike and unaffected. They have decorated
their houses and shops with bright bunting ana
festoons OF evergreen. and have arrayed 'nem-
selves in holiday attire to enjoy the uh"o"'eo
excitement OF the week. Hour after hour tho
s,ree,s have been filed with bustling. good