Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-07-11
LETTER FROM EX-TREAS-
URER GROLL
Who is Travelling in the Old
Country.
STUTTGART. June 24th, 1895.

will drop few
lines to let you know that | am alive
vet. | would have done so sooner |
but have been on the go most OF the |
time. Our journey across the ocean
and by rail was a pleasant one with the |
exception of one day when the ship |
rolled considerably and some of us
got sea sick, which was very unpleas- |
ant at the time but a person feels
that much better afterwards. Our
friend George was all right-the more
the ship rolled the better he felt.
After arriving at Hamburg we seper-
ated, each making for his native vii
lage or home. 1t took me about two
days to reach Stuttgart where make
my headquarters. From here l can
60 to all points of Germany. | have
Travelled a good deal by rail and foot
among the different villages OF which
there are a good many The country
here in southern Germany has good
soil and is very productive for all
crops and fruits and grapes grow
abundantly.
AS to ancient towers, palaces, stat
ues, pictures and scenery, this coun-
try has no equal. In some parts it
is very hilly and tinbered but the
valleys are all under the best of cul-
tivation, not a foot of land being
wasted. The cities are similar to ours
but the country life is so much dill
erent. could not stay any length
of time at any one place. l have Wis
tied my native town several times
and my friends are very kind and
treat me to the best they have but
their mode of living and ways are so
different from ours that l don't feel
at home among them. Everything
looks familiar still not so large as l
thought. | know my fathers, grand
fathers and uncle's houses yet. The
wine they have here is excellent and
beer also, but l drink wine for my
share. 1t is cheap, one quart costing
from 90 to 25 cents. Everything else
is cheap in proportion except meat.
Living is cheap at hotels, first class
room for two persons being 81 per day.
Meals you can get from 25c to 81,
just what you want. Travelling by
rail is cheaper, there being three
classes. No. 3 is very common but
the second and first are fine. Depots
are all good solid stone or brick build
ings and all classes have their differ
ent waiting rooms. The people here
class themselves in the same way.
At the present time the farmers are
making hay which is all cut with
scythes and raked up by hand. There
are five women to one man doing this
work. Children at IA years, bare
headed girls, boys, old women as well
as young, all are working in the fields
day after day--I call it slavery. The
young men are all soldiers, 1.-THE
pride of their country" which is a
sight to see. g, Every other man you
meet in the cities is either soldier
or some kind of an officer who has
been u soldier. All railroad hands
from section hand co conductor oi
higher have been soldiers; the same
in the post-office department. A mar
who has a position in any depart
ment wears uniform and all are
dignified and very important looking
| attended a session of the congress
here one day. The session are silni
lar to ours in America. They make
their speeches and sarcastic remarks
and appear to be hot at one another
the same as in our country. In vot
ing on anything they stand up il
place of calling the roll, but thu
names are taken as to how they vote
} got acquainted with the represen
tative from my native county and h,
t appears to be very able man. III,
owns a large grist mill and'buys mos
of his wheat from us. He had beel
| in America for three years durin.
his younger days but does not tall
very much English. Mr.. Hahn wa
here to see me but as / had to g
| away ON three days trip he wa
gone when | came back. He enjoye,
Z the two days | was with him Will
here very much. He wants to star
from Hamburg for home July 18th
and as | don't want to let him e
home alone must cut my visit shor
e and try and come with him.
In conclusion | will say that | eI
joy the trip better than / expected
, [ have taken in all the sights of an
I Importance. There are theatres her
every evening with seats from 25c
s ST. If am here during the day 1 G
in the different parks where there
D a good deal to see; they take lots {
pains to keep up such places. Thi
city isvery attractive for Americans
- The hotel is full of foreigners frol
; all places and there are good man
: Americans living here in nice villa
or cottages on the hills surroundin
L the city. These hills are around tn
entire city and are planted wit
: grapes There is a railroad runnin
:. to the top where you can see owe
5 the city and away off. have climbe
h some of the mountains which the
: call Alps and at one place | coul
h count Is different villages and town
People here live in towns not O
Z. their land. The land is cut up int
little parcels which makes it very il
= convenient to them Farmers kee
! their cattle and horses all the yes
Y round in the stable which makes
r great deal of work, but as to bree
of cattle and horses they are ahea
e of us. They have their stock fat d
the time and get big prices for it.
IL friend of mine sold a yoke of oxe
for $3.50. Horses are very high, son
,, dealer had car load of America
: horses which he sold for from 5000 |
2 $3.50 per head, all draft horses. Arm
3, horses are mostly thoroughbreds bl
: larger than our Hambiltonian or Ge
5, Bowerman's Atlantic. A regimen
!, of cavalry with these blooded horse
u bright uniforms and headgear, shi
ing buttons and sabers is quite
sight for an American but expensi'
for the Germans. The people col
" plain considerable about the opprt
/, sive and high taxes and it often ha
= pens that some one is prosecuted f
l. expressing his opinion in regard
the management of public affair
Y All the public improvements a
. made expensive because everythil
7, is made to last forever. There a
castles one Thousand years old hn