The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-07-24

New world musicians to the number
of 230 have invaded the old world and
have sung IN one Of the historic cas-
Ties Of Germany and are continuing
their tour through various cities Of
the fatherland, such as Bremen, Berlin
and other cities. This unique pilgrim
age of American singers, which start
ed from New York the latter part Of
June, is under the direction Of the
Akron Singing society Of Brooklyn. and
the distinction Of singing In the Wart-
burg castle al Eisenbach, Germany, is
one which no other American musical
organization has ever enjoyed. and
one which all might well coyet, for
this ancient building is famous in his
tory for the singing contests which
we're held in the twelfth century un-
der the patronage OF the Landgrave
Hermann !.
The Wartburg is regarded BY archi-
tects who know as one of the finest
secular structures in Germany, It is
also distinguished as the refuge Of Lu-
Their In the turbulent times Of the ref
ormation, for he lived there under the
name OF eJunker Georg" from May 4,
1921, to March c, 1922, engaged in the
translation of the Bible
The courtesy and distinguishing
honor to sing in this historic old build
ing was granted TO the Arion society
by Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst Of
SAKE Weimar the preesnt owner Of
the Wartburg, who occasionally makes
his residence there ior short periods.
The group Of buildings forming the
castle is situated on the top Of hill,
600 feet above the thrifty city Of Els
enaeh. Here begins the beautiful
Thuringian forest, which stretches
away 10 the south and east for more
than 80 miles. This is one Of the
most lovely and attractive parts ol
all Europe. No wonder the picturesque
spot was chosen as the site of the
grand old castle. which was crumblinf
into ruins long before America was
discovered and has only recently beer
restored.
The surrounding hills are covered
with pine and birch trees, fertile val
Ieys stretch away as far as the eye car
reach. and frequent villages, with thell
quaint gables and tiled roofs, mari
the well built highways. In every d
rectlon are fine vistas, with variet,
Of color at various times Of the year
Steep slopes lead up to the castle On
each side. and the stronghold was vel
situated 90 resist a besieging army il
mediaeval times But the days whei
trumpets called TO arms while !
mailed foe camped at It's gates ar
long gone by, and the grim building
are given over 10 the thousands 0
tourists who come each year to Sc
how the iandgraves lived and 10 el
anime with curious interest the roor
Of the great reformer.
Emperor wilhelm is said to have
special fondness for the Warthurl
He makes occasional visits to the cas-
tie and occupies apartments which ar
plain and simple in The extreme.
The original Wsrtburs was built b
Ludwig the Springer in 1067-70 an
was the residence Of the iandgrave
Of ThurIngia until the family cease
TO exist in l247, when It passed
other hands. Ludwig discovered tn
hin while on a hunting expedition. A
tracted by the beauty Of the scener
and BY the isolated position which 0
fered natural defenses, he exclaimed
"Wart. Burg. du sollst mir cine Bur
werden" c'Wait hill. you shall be
cltadel'). From this saying the nam
Wartburg Is derived II is said thi
his proprietcrship was disputed b
Herr Won Frankensteig who elaine
title to the property. Ludwig mui
swear that he was erecting II
building On ground owned b
his father. and this he va
able TO do by having workme
EUIil ttIlH itDlAi hio oNA Fa@sNSHtoA
beyond dispute and scatter it on tt
site OF the castle. History does NJ
tell II his conscience ever trouble
him. but the still, small voice" d
rot call loudly In those stormy dag
Of feudal lords and rohber baroT
when might was right" A famir
prevailed in the land, so that man
men were available for the eonstru
ton OF the castle, and It was cor
pleted In three years. II consisted
two parts, the voburg and the Haup
or Hofburg In the former is the S
called Rltterhaus, for the use OF visi
ing knights and the main watch. tn
entrance is across a drawbridge ov'
deep moat and through massiS
gateway, which was closed by two SCI
Of heavy gates 70 the right Of n
entrance are the quarters Of n
schlosskommandant. which are iitte
up In Biteahth cehtury style.
On the second floor Of the Rite