Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-15

high banks which bOrdered the Leine
in the neighbOrhoOd Of the present
CleVertor Bridge. Few subjects of re-
search offer material of more thrilling
dramatic interest than does the story
Of progress by which this ancient town
has become one Of the foremost cities
in the present age of civilization. To
he sure, the Hanover Of today has its
customs bearing the local or racial
stamp; but in the main it is character
lied by that atmosphere of intelligence
which bespeaks a world wide vision.
or course strangers first strong inn
pressions are produced by the details
of everyday life. For instance. the
writer found himself occupying. not the
traditional German bed $50 common
here even now with a mighty bag Of
down atop in lieu of the Yankee "com-
fOrter," but a modern single bed. made
up on a black-enameled iron bedstead
of beautiful design. The room was
large. and eleven feet in height. In the
center of the south wall was the door
by which the apartment was entered.
This door, which was of excellent con-
struction. measured seven feet three
inches in height and a little more than
two feet ten inches in width. The main
portion of the door was over an inch
in thickness. and was hung flush with
the surface of the casing. Upon this
main portion. however. there was an
additional thickness Of wood which
prof ected at the top and sides, fitting
closely over any cracks. This feature
of the construction. combined with the
close fitting of the bottom of the door
against the fiat edge of the threshold.
precluded the possibility Of draft about
the door in cold weather. This extra
thickness did not extend over the en-
tire surface of the door. but left the
main portion exposed in four places.
giving the appearance of the panels in
our ordinary doors at home. These
panels. however. were considerably
thicker. A necessary incident Of this
method of construction was that one
member of each hinge had to be NOR
tised into the back of the surface thick
ness of wood. while the other member
of the hinge penetrated the decreasing
half an inch from it's inner edge and
was neatly fastened there. The most
striking point of difference between
this and American doors. however. was
the "Druecker' by which the latch was
operated. The end of the horizontal
latch measured one inch and half per-
pendicularly and was three-fourths Of
an inch thick. 1t was drawn back from
it's engagement by pressing downward
on the horizontal "Druecker." This
"Druecker" was handle made of brass
and polished wood and was about six
inches in length. It's form was tapering,
hot, ba,,
fourths Of an inch. 1t was placed |
thirty-six and one-half inches from the |
floor. A German "Druecker' is SO con-
venient to the hand. So powerful in its
leverage, and so perfect in its opera
ton, that one is almost compelled to |
with the TeutOnic prefer i
ence of this excellent device to the very |
neat but less convenient dOor-knob. |
The lock of this door measured one inch |
and a half perpenGicularly and was |
ve-sixteenths of an inch in thickness. |
The key was three and three-eighths
inches long and five-SiXteenthS of an
inch in diameter. The oval portion. or
ring, was nearly an inch and quarter
in length.
The wall opposite the door was main
ly occupied by triple window which
offered a fine view of the garden at the
north side of the house. Each of the
walls was pierced through
its northern end by narrow window
the triple window in the
north wall. All of these windows were
six feet ten inches in height; and each
consisted Of two principal divisions: an
upper third, which was stationary; and
a large lower portion which swung
inward. like a door, on three siX-and-
three-uuarter-inch hinges. On each win
dow, the operation of the latch was ef-
fected by double lever or "Druecker.
Of beautiful design and finish. 1t oper-
ated two neat perpendicular bolts.
twenty-five inches and thirty inches in
length. respectively. BY. one turn OF
the "Druecker," the longer bolt was
thrust upward and the shorter one
to engagement with sta
tionary slot on the frame. The win
lows were made with 4 projecting lip
I'll around. to fit closely over any
racks. On the outer side. each window
,losed against similar lip on the
making all perfectly tight
when closed.
The ceiling Of the room was beauti
|
wrought into an ornamental cOncaNe
border which Joined the walls few
inches below the ceiling proper. The
walls were covered with a dark paper.
bearing a design which tended to in
,rease the impression of height. The
upper edge of this wallpaper was fin
shed by still darker border three
md three fourths inches in width.
rhe floor of the room was of soft wood.
and polished until it shone
ike mirror. Upon this, rugs were
aid. The baseboards. which were
i've inches high, we're protected by IN
nch- and half molding at the floor.
In a corner of the room stood a Ger
nan heating-stO of one of the COM
non types. 1t was some eight feet.
line inches in height. and was cor
chiefly of olive-green tiles.
n form it resembled a pillar. with an
,ctagonal base thirty-one and One-ha.f
inches high; circular shaft five feet
hIee inches long; and circular cap.
rhe octagonal base consisted of a cast
ron firebOx. and a tile ash-box with
cast-irOn door. The firebox meas
lred about Sayeptaen inches across On |