Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-17
A SUMMER in EUROPE.
VI Cologne: the chiIdren's Paradise.

Long time ago a noted architect was
lasked to build a cathedral in the city OF
Cologne. Now the bishop was proud
of his diocese and wished to have
Ichurch which would designate Cologne
as the Queen of the Rhine. So the
archbishop whose name was Conrad,
urged the young artist to travel in or
der to visit all the cathedral cities, so
that his own would surpass them all.
The architect did as he was told, but
vixen he returned, his head was so full
of the plans of other artists cathedrals
that he could not outline single one
without borrowing uncOnsciously from
some other design. At last in despair
he was seated one evening watching an
old man outlining a marvellous cathe-
dral in flaming strokes on wall OPP
posite.
When the miniature cathedral stood
complete in all its beauty, our archi-
tect envied it., and tried to persuade
the old man to give him the plan, first
by offering him some money. then by
force.
But as this old man was Satan, moth
ing could prevail against him but
| trickery. So following the advice OF
father Clement, our architect offered
to give Satan his soul in exchange for
his wonderful plan, and then when he
was intent on looking at it before sign
ing the contract he touched Satan'S
hand. which held the top of the paper,
with sacred relic, so that Satan in
agony RELAXED his hold, and after try
ing in vain to frighten him in the dis
guise of a lion. then an eagle and lastly
a serpent he went away saying:
II am conquered and you are tri-
umphant, but that church which you
have stolen from me will never be fin
ished. and your name which you wish
to render immortal will be forgotten
and unknown. Take care lest ] sur
prise you in mortal sim
Eut alas for our poor architect, it was
before pride that he fell. In spite of
father Clements warning he wished to
render himself mortal by carving the
letters of his name on the platform of
the tower AT that very moment Satan
lendeavored to seize the poor architect,
but making sign of the cross the lat
ted saved himself by jumping from
that high pinnacle into Paradise.
So the story goes even today at CO.
llogne, and the strange part Of it u.s. that
no one knows the name Of the archi-
tect Also it remained unfinished for a
couple of centuries, the first plan hav-
ing somehow got lost. And SO it came
to pass as Satan had said. that the
poor talanted young architect remain
ed unknown, and that the church in its
original design was never completed.
i AS it stands there today. dominating
the Rhine in all it's majesty, nothing
could be more perfect. AS we entered
it q peace came over us, such a peace
that passeth all understanding" such a
peace that held us awed and tranquil in
the presence of that unknown power,
: that was through all and in all.
Go out anywhere in Germany and
} bright eyed laughing children will greet
you on every side. O they are SO hap
Ipy all the day long. whether skipping,
! knitting. playing their childish games
or doing errands. Well has the poet
: said:
Come to me, oh We children
| For T hear you at your play.
And the questions that perpleX me
Il Are driven quite away.
One afternoon of our stay in Cologne,
they devoted to the children. 1t must
have been a gala day specially planned
for the little tots, for in the Flora
pleasure gardens. all kinds of amuse-
ments had been thought of, which
would please both girls and boys. First
large procession formed. In twos and
threes they marched around the garden,
festooned with wreathes and waving
on high flags, which bore the pictures
of the Kaiser and kaiserin.
After they had displayed their dainty
frocks and smiling faces to the as
sembled crowd of fond parents and
. friends, the children separated into
groups in order to enjoy different
sports We followed one group that
seemed to be in charge of a kindly
. gentleman who had pleasant name,
with the children.
His group got quite excited over the
game known as "sackspringen." Three
or four boys were each fastened into
a sack and then they started off for a
certain goal. Generally they We're too
ambitious. They would try to go too
fast, with the result that they would
tumble down and get wofully tangled
, up in those sacks, But each one kept
, on to the end, no matter how far behind
the others he was. Those plucky
little Germans did not know the mean
ing of the word cant"
From the 'sackspringen" they went
to some athletic sports and here the
little girls were able to share tn,
, games. But l am sorry to say that
those little girls We're not as patient as
their brothers. but crowded in order 70
, be the first ones to try any new feat
Each one who was victorious in what
he or she undertook was given a blue
card There We're the ordinary SWING,
| then the swinging May-pole swings
} see-saw and the other out of door
: sports which the American child en-
, joys.
! For one cent we went into Punch
| and Judy kind of a show. arranged jus: