The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
A GERMAN TEMPLE OF FAME.
King Ludwig's Noble SHALL Of the
Chosen" Overlooking the Danube.

Augustus" in New York Observer.
The Walhalla, German temple OF fame,
was begun by King Ludwig In 1880, upon a
hill near the village of Donaustauf. on the
Danube. The hill is wooded upon its north
ern side, but clean and steep upon the
south, and is somewhat over three hundred
feet in height. Through the broad expanse
to the south and west lies the valley of the
Danube. The Hall of the Chosen is al
most a duplicate of the Parthenon in Ath-
ems. 1t is 237 feet long, los feet broad and
gray limestone. which was quarried in the
Untersberg range OF mountains, not far
from Salzburg, and some of the blocks are
said TO weigh fifteen TONS The building Is
surrounded by ffty-two massive fiuted
columns and above these columns, in front
and rear, are pediments containing groups
in marble of German classical subjects
Germania regaining her liberty after the
battle OF Leipsic and the battle OF Arminius.
The exterior Is a superb object TO look upon
from the valley. Marble terraces containing
hundreds Of steps lead up to ii from the
south, while a carriage drive makes an
easy ascent around the northern end. From
far up and down the Danube the noble
building, with its graceful roof and fine
columns, attracts the eye, and calls atten-
ton to the heroes and sages, the rulers of
mind and Of men in Bavaria since 1t had
being.
But If the exterior is noble. the interior is
chaste and beautiful almost beyond words.
1t consists OF one superb Ionic hall, 173 feet
long, 40 feet broad and IS feet high, whose
walls are Of choice yellow and pink marble,
Its floor or marble mosaic, and its ceiling or
panels Of blue and gold in high yelief. The
beams of the ceiling supported by four
teen painted marble warrior virgins of the
ancient German paradise, known in the
German classics as Walkyries. Around the
entire hall there runs a marble frieze repre-
senting in eight sections the history and life
of the German people down to the introduc-
ton Of Christianity. The busts of the great
ranged in groups which are divided by noble
winged Victories of white marble. At the
south end of the hall are two Ionic columns,
which In Greek temples separate the sane
tuary from the main temple. Just in front
CT these is one of the finest sitting statues
that l have ever seen. 1t is the work of a
Munich sculptor. and was finished only in
BILE Is absolutely f1awless, and the artist has
carved from 1t a statue of the King which
is marvellous for it's accuracy of delineation.
and exquisite beauty OF detail. AS to the
other occupants of the Walhalla, there are
busts of many distinguished Germans
among them, and the names III large brass
letters of earlier heroes and great men OF
whose faces there was existing model
or description. OF course the judgment Of
the founder influenced the choice OF these
few men were more competent than King
Ludwig to make such selection. We found
busts of Kant. and Klopstock, and leasing
Humboldt, and Durer, and Gutenberg. and
Wallenstein; and three women, Maria
Theresa, Catherine of Russia and Eliza
was not admitted till King Ludwig had re-
tired from his throne; and Emperors and
Kings great and small, and warriors like
Rincher and RadetZky.
To be placed for the ages in such q
building and among such company is not
ignoble ambition, and the years
pass there will be many great names and
busts added to this hall OF heroes. There
are not many more than one hundred now,
but there is room for a thousand, and
some of the coming men will doubtless be
as grand in their national and intellectual
proportions as any who are now repre-
scented here The great and good Emperor
William, and the hero of German unity.
Prince Bismarck, will have their places
here in due time, and perhaps some whose
names are not yet on this century's roll
of fame may grow great enough to be
blazoned here, rapidly does genius de-
velop in these latter days.
There Is another Walhalla, a paradise of
other heroes. in another country, where we
may all be found. into which IT is written
that not many wise, not many noble ac-
cording to eathly estimates, have been
chosen, and yet where earthly nobility and
wisdom are no bar to admission, provided
they are Joined with the spirit and temper
of little child / was thinking much of
who should be greatest in the kingdom of
heaven" as with a yellow sunset lighting
up the valley and making the Danube a
chain of gold, we drove back to the SOM
Der town and the gloomy castle which
was our temporary home.