Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-11-28
NEW VOL. 31---NO. 6.

against the fetterS of what-so Tar as
commercial and civil liberty are con-
cened-Seems to us semi.barbarous
age.
Had history and romance failed to
embellish the Rhine with their numer-
Gus ancient objects of interest, it would
still resound with the mirth of tourist
throngS. For nature has apparently eN-
hausted her resources in creating the
beauty. grandeur and variety of its
scenery on its borders. Water, rocks,
mountains. hills and variegated foliage
are the materials she used How sub
lime the effect, On every hand, with
infinite variety of contour. with most
diverse delicate coloring. innumerable
figures. graceful, grotcSquc, ever grand
are projected against the half frowning'
half smiling sky. Here is cleft or
ravine cut deep into the mountain bank.
through which modest brook brings
its contribution TO the Rhine. High
and preciptous by its side rises a noun
tain peak which draws long dark
shadow far up the side of its twin neigh
Dor beyond the ravine, and from the
summit OF which the solitary ruin oi an
ancient castle frownS upon the river 1t
was constructed 10 guard. There lSa
small green mcadow-plot, perhaps the
seat OF an ancient town. closely hemmed
in by the LOFTY, irregular hills that
stretch away To the next mountain peak.
\ close inspection of the several details
or general survey OF the great array ot
natural beauty stretching away IN the
field of vision is equally attractive, The
greatest marvel is the almost unending
variety Of this lavish display Every
one of the numerous sharp curves ol the
stream is. as it were a curtain behind
which isa new revelation OF picturesque,
natural grandeur. While the bcholdcr
is lost in admiration of the beauty be-
fore him. ever and again breaks new.
entirely different scene Of beauty upon
his enrapturcd vision. 80 IL continues
aS far as Bingcu. Fair Bingcn on the
Rhine. when nights sable curtains be-
gin to veil the beauties OF the physical
world. Where else has nature made such
lavish display of her artistic powers aS
to startlc and take prisoner the senses
OF the bcholdcr2 Where else has she, as
a prodigal. created such an eXtravagant
succession OF diversified scenes With
all her powers, and all her treasures,
even she cannot afford many haunts OF
such picturesque beauty and varied
magniccncc.
The hand and the genius of energetic,
struggling civilized man-that mysteri-
Gus, inquisiticc creature to whom no re-
treat OF nature is sacrcd-have also
found busy employment even here
whether to dcsccratc or 10 embellish
this pathway Of the gods, IL Is diilicult
TO decide Certainly those carefully
kept VINEYARDS add an odd, interesting
element to the otherwise wild scene
whether ar not greater natural beauty
was destroyed to make way for them.
All along the widest and most pictur-
esuue part Of the rivers course, every
sunny, protected hillside aud mountain
side is covered with these vineyards.
Usually sleeper than houscroof, the
? soil is held in its place by numerous ir'
: regular. intcrsccting stone walls which
I run roughly parallel with the horizon
and which are distant from each other
ten TO one hundred feet. This gives n
, peculiar, checkcrcd appearance 10 the
surface. The intervening spaces are
, dotted at regular intervals by the thOus-
5 ands Of tcndcrly husbanded vines. The
{ dark or light spots visible here and
there among the vines are the husband.
men--who. by the way. according 10 the
. custom in this country. are usually
/ womeH Every ounce Of nourishment
q for the land, as well as the maturcd pro.
duct. must be- carried up. or down. those
T apparently almost inaccessible slopes by
human hands Even the leaves which
, are clipped from the vines are carried
away in large baskets and utilized by
the frugal women Think Of the infinite
toll and patience all this requiresl But
/ this labor has its reward The grapes
grown on those prccipitous slopes have
a peculiar quality and exquisite flavor
that gives them rare value. From them
are distilled wines Of delicious flavor and
, often fabulous prices. All over the
= world, the Rhine wines are known, but
e the comparatively few who live in afiu.
s ence can afford to quaG the rare brands.
This arises from the fact that their sup.
$ ply is closely limited by the conditions
. Of raising the fruit II is worthy Of
note that the far greater consumption
D Of wines in Europe than in America Is
in part made possible by the fact that
0 all wines-Rhine, French and Italian
1 cost not more than half as much here
Z as in America. Otherwise the modest
y incomes Of continental people would not
e command wines IN so great quantity.
( The natural scenery on the Rhine II
= in the vicinity Of the Lorlei probably
] grandest and on the most magnificent
= scale Of any single point on the stream
II IS useless for the tourist TO proceed
J. beyond BiBgen by boat, as the interest
4 ing region ends there. He would do
0 best to stop over night at Bingen, where
c we arrived at 100 p. m. He can theT
= have opportunity TO inspect. at shor
e range, any Of the half dozen castle,
K which stand within short distance oI
i the town. II is then possible also 70 ex