La Junta tribune., 1908-09-12
PARIS. FRANCE. Aug. IA. 1908.

| left Heidelberg on the morning
of the l4th of August, by train. for
Mayence, where began the trip OF
the Rhine. Heidelberg is quaint
old city and is famed for its univer-
sity and especially for its old castle.
The castle is in ruins. a great forti-
fication built on the mountain side
over 400 years ago. and occupied by
the Electors or Kings of this part OF
Germany. The French blew up
part of the castle. but parts have
been restored and are being rebuilt
as relic of the history and customs
of those times. One huge block of
one of the towers. which was blown
up BY the French, is tumbled down
and lies unbroken as it was torn
from the wall A great ditch. or
moat surrounded the castle which
could be filled with water to the
depth of twenty or twenty-five feet.
The castle has many rooms. halls.
dark passages. wine cellars. cooking
apartments, mighty bake oven.
and a large open court within'
There is still to be seen huge tun
or great barrel that held several
hundred thousand gallons of wine.
1t was filled three times. In tins
castle is the history of the bloody
times of the middle ages when the
business of men was war. The Ger
mans descended from the savages
who inhabited the great forests OF
central Europe, full of savage beasts
and savage tribes of men. and hence
tho courave. yalor and war-like
spirit which they still inherit.
We rode about 60 miles by tram
to Mayence. through fertile valley.
every foot of which is cultivated.
There were wheat, oats. rye, barley,
meadows, and many patches OF
potatoes. beans and all kinds OF
vegetables, and. now and then. a
tobacco field. orchards laden with
apples. plums and cherries some of
the finest cherries ever ate. We
took boat at Mayence. city OF
about 100. 900 people. We had been
travelling for some time in the valley
of the Rhine. have to write OF my
disappointment on this trip. for the
day was bad. A strong wind arose
soon after we started and blew a
hurricane in our faces. 1t rained
and drizzled during the whole trip,
with but a couple of short intermis-
sions. This is the great trip in Ger
many. was anxious to see it at its
best, that might enjoy the beauty
and grandeur of its scenery. but
more especially that might compare
it with some of our own scenery.
made the best of it. for | stood on
the top deck during&he whole trip.
save about twenty or thirty minutes.
when went below and drank cup
of coffee and ate piece of cake. 1t
was cold and raw The wind blew
so fiercely that the rain drops stung
my face. stood near the smoke
stack and thus protected myself the
best | could. l held a guide book and
map in my hands. opening them and
closing them them as quickly as !
could, to protect them from the
rain. and succeeded in locating
every old castle and rock. village
and town, and all the objects of
interest. 1t was sightseeing under
difficulties, but it was my only
chance, and nothing could daunt me
for l am travelling to sec and learn.
AS we were crossing one of The
Italian lakes. they had arranged for
our dinner on the boat. | went
down and sat down to the table. but
at once discovered l could see
nothing. took q mouthful or two
and went up on deck. | could not
ride down in the dark dining room
for the best meal that was ever
served on boat. when l was passing
by beauty of scenery which |
had travelled hundreds Of miles to
see.
From Mayence to Bingen. the
Rhine passing through level valley.
rich and fertile. with several small
villages, the country sweeping of
for many miles. gradually rising in
the distance. Bingen is town Of
aome imnortance. From BinRen we