La Junta tribune., 1908-09-12
FROM FOREIGN CLlMEs
BY R. W. PATTERSON
ovs SPECIAL EUROPEAN coaaessonsEnr

Jne scenery, WHICH WAS Coustdus'y
changing. and when viewed towards
the rear was very different from the
same viewed as we approached. All
along this part of the Rhine are old
castles. now rising above the water.
now back. high up on some noun
tain crest. and now on an island in
the river. Some Of these castles are
in ruins. but many are owned by
the princes of Germany. rich Ger
mans, and some by English and
Americans and are kept up in their
ancient grandeur. They were gen.
orally built in almost inaccessible
places, as protection and defense
against enemies. Some of those on
the river were built where they could
levy tribute on those passing up and
down the Rhine, and they furnished
rich revenues, for the commerce of
the country was largely carried on
by boats on the rivers. Even today
the Rhine is thronged with all kinds
of craft. carrying the commerce and
travel of this part of Germany. We
met and passed many hundreds of
vessels.
One of the most picturesque cas-
ties is the Pfalg. built on an island
1t is very old castle and was used
as palace in ancient times, and
later for collecting customs. 1t was
also used for war and was power
full castle. saw the celebrated
Lorelie, famous in history. legend
and song. 1t is a high headland
rock standing out into the Rhine.
some 400 feet above the waters
edge. Some of us have learned the
songs and read the legends, of which
there are several. There are
legends connected with all the old
castles and prominent mountains,
cliffs and islands in the Rhine. For
merly there were rapids at this
point and vessels were frequently
ship-wrecked. From certain point
there is an echo which repeats itself
many times some say as many as a
dozen times. These things contri-
buted to fill the people with super
stitious and imaginary things. about
the Lorelie. Here maiden whose
eyes had bewitched many men-a
flirt. l suppose was banished by the
church. and ordered shut up in a
cloister. She begged to be permit
ted to have one more look at the
castle of her beloved. She caught
sight Of his ship and recognized his
colors and saw him standing on the
deck. She. in her ecstacy at the
sight. made false step and plunged
headlong into the river below. Her
lovers ship was driven by the wind
and caught in the whirlpool and was
wrecked at the spot where the Lore
lie had fallen. and thus the two
lovers were united in death. Other
say that this beautiful maiden sat
upon the rock and lured men to
their obstruction by her beauty and
the charm of her .eyes. passed
also the ruins of two old castles,
separated by fragment of wall,
high above the Rhine, named the
'.feindliche bruder," Liebenstein
and Sterenberg. Two brothers
drove their blind sister from the
castle, to get her part of the prop
erty. They quarreled about the
division and lived in perpetual strife.
One day Sterenberg made his way
to an Annunciation Feast quietly;
but here he came face to face. all of
sudden, with his brother. Lieben-
stein. Instantly they drew their
swords and engaged in a mortal
combat, in the church. Beth were
killed, The sister thus came in
possession of the whole estate and
and lived in luxury, rich heiress
all the rest of her life. passed by
the ruins of the castle of Roland
seek. situated on top of a low
mountain, an interesting old ruin.
This. also. has a legend that is worth
repeating. Roland, nephew Of
Charlemagne, was a celebrated
knight. He came to the Dracken-
fels and fell in love with q most
beautiful maiden, Hildegarde.
daughter Of Knight Herbert, who
was living with her parents. Upon
the approach of their marriage