Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-11-08


that he had never seen anything love-
ler thansthe Thuringian valley. His
mode of travelling was on foot when
ever expedient, hence he mad an op-
portunity to study infinitely the scenic
beauties of Thuringia. All tourists
that have seen them as he die are en-
chanted with this pretty country 10
which has fallen such a big share OF
natures charms enhanced by historic
memories and lore.
In order to become thoroughly &C
Quainted with land and its people,
one has to choose Mr.. Taylor's method.
namely, footing it. That Is what we
did-a Chicagoan, German friend.
and myself. 1t was in early summer
the weather delightful. We entered
Thuringia from the west. Enter it
from whatever side you may, the pleas
ing sights of fertile fields, verdant
meadows, wooded slopes, and noun.
tains with many rugged crag jutting
out from their emerald foliage meet
your eyes everywhere. Silvery springs,
babbling brooks. ruined castles. tell
ing of times gone by, complete the
series of handsome pictures. Thurin-
gia lies in the very heart of Germany,
and the Thuringian forest, that lovely
mountain range. extends from near the
city of Eisenach in southeastern d.
rection.
EiSenach is situated on the north
western slope of the Thuringian for
est, and on one of the wooded cones.
surrounding the city, rises the Wart-
burg, the queen of German castles.
Few cities can boast of such a number
and variety of charming points in
the near vicinity. Here, in fact, the
sublime scenery of Tnuringia reaches
the climax, rejecting, like a magic
mirror all the scenic beauties char
acteristic of the Thuringian forest
the epitome of its grandeur and love-
illness.
Owing to such advantages, and,
besides, being a quiet town with
population of only about $4,000, it is
natural that Eisenach should attract
those who love picturesque environ
ment coupled with tranquility. In
the past as well as the present many
persons of prominence have made It
their home. Among the number of
modern houses and country seats we
find the villa of the renowned Low
German poet and humorist, Fritz
Reuter-, which since Reuters death
has been made museum for relics
literary and other, of Reuter- and the
immortal composer Richard Wagner
In the old portion of the city the high
gabled corner house, where Martin
Luther, the leader of the German ref
ormation, had lived during his school
days, is worth inspecting; likewise the
birthhouse of the celebrated composer
and organist, Sebastian Bach. Many a
boy and girl that nowadays sullenly
battles with "Bach's inventions for the
piano may wonder why that city
should erect monument to such 4
torment, yet it has. The powerful fig.
ure of Eisenach's great son, cast in
bronze, is placed on a pedestal of
Swedish syenite.
A winding road leads from Eisenach
to Wartburg castle, situated 700 feet
above the site of the city. The ascent
affords an abundance of beautiful and
surprising scenery, and keeps the eye
and mind SO busy that the exertion Of
the climb is hardly felt.
The castle, though not having CON-
pletely retained the architectural
splendor it originally possessed, is
nevertheless, in it's principal parts.
the best preserved specimen of roy
al castles of the twelfth century in all
Europe, one of the most beautiful
mountain strongholds | have ever be.
held in all my travels. 1t is the center
of Thuringian history and legend,
and tradition tells us OF its min
strel glory and of knightly tourna-
ments calamity fought within the
castles walls. There was the home of
St Elizabeth, Thuringia's deyout land
gravine and revered benefactress.
There Martin Luther, the great Ger
man religious reformer, found refuge
and protection, making Wartburg
castle the fount of religious liberty.
tolerance and reforms.
Built on narrow, rugged ledge
433 feet in length and 1873 feet in
breadth, on the summit of mountain
1,400 feet above the level of the sea,
the structure is visible at great dis
lance. The way into the interior leads
over a drawbridge and through a
gloomy archway and steep, rocky
passage. The castle consists of two
separate portions, an inner and outer.
The latter in close proximity to the
battlemented walls. contains the apart
ments for the knights and men who
had charge of the defense In the
western wing of this part is the plaia
little room which for one year served
Martin Luther as hiding place from
his enemies. Here he began the trans
lation of the bible; and other immor-
tai writings of the reformer are the
product of his voluntary captivity.
Everything in the chamber is I'M