Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-08

left, while on our right rose still high
er mountains, and nesting here and
there We're many little villages. show
ing church spire and crucitiX without
number. Up the last steep climb by
the picturesque waterfall on which the
ancient castle on the hill looks down.
through narrow cobbled streets we jolt
ed. finally stopping before the Gas
thauszum Mohren" in the very heart
and center OF old Fussen. Perhaps we
are not hard to please. but surely per
feet cleanliness and We'll cooked food.
though simple. must satisfy all but the
most eXacting. We strolled about the
village. following Il crowd Of women
ana children to the cathedral for the
sunset serN ice. Then up the hill to see
the old fortress with its frowning bat
Elements, counting cross after cross on
mountain top ana watching gorgeous
clouds fade into purple tints as twi-
light closed about us ITS nothing
onk half hours walk. with shade
trees all the way; ii can easily De
done, asserted our buXom landlady
the following morning, as we started
for the castles. within stones throw,
almost Of each other. We looked as
kance at he wide amplitude of form
wondering If her walking days We're
not too far past to make her words
have practical significance, but giving
her the benefit OF the doubt, we started.
The view Of village near and far, the
lettering by river hank To watch the
swans, the resting under oak or lin
.1..r,
some wayside shIine-we realize now
with keener memory the charm ana
beauty Of il al. Shut in from all the
outside world by woods Of thick.
branching trees. so that at first it is
almost lost to view. we found the cas-
tie Of Hohenschwangau It's endless
wonders would fill columns to describe.
But beyond-looking from beneath as
though hung in mid air. high on that
steep, rocky precipiCe, is the greatest
and most marvellous Of all mad Lud-
wigs many wild achevements-the
castle of Neuschwanstein. From tower
to turret wall. with what Understandable
scenes We We're surrounded. Deep ra-
vines covered with every shade of
green. in the distance still other rocky
sleeps, joined in some inconceiyablv
way by bridges over which Ludwig
walked often in his lonely Wanderings.
The one chief interest in the castle
centers in the decorations Of walls and
ceilings. representing by life size paint
ings leading scenes from Wagncr's
masterpieces. The entrance shows the
"Nibelungen Ring" while Tristan ana
Isolde" guarded the nightly slumbers
Of the king. Parsifal in every stage
from boyhood until knight Of the Holy
Grail is shown in the magnificent room. /
'Lohengrin' and 'Tannhauser' looked
down from library and living room
constant reminders to Ludwig Of his
devotion to the cause Of modern music
and without whose unselhsh ala Wag-
ner might perchance still be an ua-
known name.
"Guten abend" and looking up from
our last evening meal in Fussen there
stood the ever smiling Joseph twirling
his hat and now evidently ready for
the fares We had vainly tried To give
him earlier. ia ia, it is just sixteen
marks" he repeated eagerly. and as
We handed him the gold he carefully !
counted and laid down a two mark 1
piece and two marks in change. W. /
We're deep in some discussion and gath !
cred up the silver without stopping |
leaving one mark upon the table 80 /
wildered Joseph stood looking from us /
to the silver, then back to Us again |
Suddenly it dawned upon him that in /
spite of overcharging us forty pfen- |
nigs, out Of our Astounding generosity |
(?) We had given him one hundred /
pfennigs more. Is that for me?' he |
almost whispered. If it were possible |
for US to picture with pen and ink the |
irradiating look If blended amazement. |
contritiOn and delight that sh0ne from |
every feature Of his face. we know our /
fortune would be- made. Never again. |
we are convinced, can one small quar-
ter yield US such abundant harvest as |
Josephs breathless, astounded. "Gehort /
das MIR"
MRS HERMANN KOTZSCHMAR.