The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-23
A Letter From Germany.
Marburg, Oct. 10, 1910.

Marburg, Oct 10, 1910.
Editor Press and Banner:
The Christianizing Of Germany, as we
are told, was due in large measure to the
the seventh century and during the first
half of the eighth century, was busy turn
ing these worshippers Of Wooden and Thor
from their heathenish ways. with his
own hands he cut down the sacred oak Of
Donar In the Hessian land" says Muller's
history. After establishing various chap
els here and setting the church on firm
footing, he went, about $50, to Holland,
where, after preaching short while, he
was killed by the Trisians, in his seventy
fifth year. . -.
Just where that sacred oak stood is, so
far as I know, not settled. But at all events
it must have been not 80 far from Mar
burg, which Is near the center OF Hesse.
It Is also near here that Boniface had q
chapel and was accustomed to preach.
Some say indeed that his headquarters
were at Amoenaburg, q village about ten
miles from Marburg.
Boniface could have found no prettier
place for his headquarters than here. The
students often walk out to this little town
from Marburg, though on account Of its
as the ruins at Frauenberg Of which we
have had something to say In an earlier
letter. ~ ~.
There is a great wood-clad ridge between
Marburg and AmOenaburg over which we
have to clambed. The broad macadam
road winds it way up the steep hill, then
straight across the plateau between the
dense fir wood forests, then down again,
through, beech wood and out again into
the open. While we are in the. wood
there is only a little band OF sky
for US to see, let in between the high walls
Of trees on either hand. When we came
out from between these two forests the
contrast is almost like that Of coming from
cave out on mountain top. Here our
view passes over o mighty expanse OF
smooth meadow land, streaked here and
there with rows Of trees, which border the
highways.
This meadow land Is not perfectly level,
but Is rolling enoagh to hide little vii
lage here and there smuggling down be-
tween the hills, were it not forthe village
church spire, a never falling part OF all
these little settlements, which always tow
the highest red tile roof the most preteq-
tious house is quite hidden, with it's storkls
nest on top. It Is noteworthy that all the
villages in this land are built in the low
ground between two hills. There are per-
haps as many as ten Of them In sight from
where the Amoenaburg road comes out
into the open but there is no doubt as to
which one we are seeking. In the center,
namely, Of this wide sweep Of land is a
round, quite symmetrical hills, on the top
OF which, contrary to the usual rule that
the villages are built in the low ground, is
Amoenaburg. The church spire and in
for the church is on the very town OF the
hill. It looks quite rear when the air is
clear, but one must walk two hours to get
there. We never realize how high and
steep this hill is until we begun to climb
up 1t. 1t Is basalt formation and doesn't
wash away easily. The road winds around
In a spiral up to the top. Not until We are
on the plateau and are entering the town
do we see why Amoenaburg .is built on a
hill. Here we see the ruins OF former
wall that surrounded the town, with tow
ers, now mostly tumbled down, but one or
two OF which still stand and give an Idea
that was. By climbing up on one OF these
towers we get view OF the surroundings
that Is worth all our climbing. The smooth
rolling land goes back on all sides for
seven miles perhaps, dotted over with
patches Of red roofs. The soft green Is In
terrupted by squares Of dark brown, which
have Just the soft tone of brown velvet.
There is light haze in the atmosphere
here that casts q softening veil over the
landscape, giving it blue sfumato cast.
II it is evening there will be a wagon load
of hay coming up from the meadow, the
last load of the day. Then there will
follow long file of COWS with their herde-
man and perhaps two or three women with
big bundle Of hay each which they usual.
ly carry on their heads. Then comes a
drove OF hogs, and last Of all, great flock
of geese, prattling quietly among them
selves, or fussing and Tapping their wings
when their keeper tries to hasten them.
Then as it grows darker there Is bugle
call two or three miles away.
It was at Amoenaburg that / received q
comforting lesson in German grammar
Upon my asking the Fraw who brought
my coffee concerning the gender OF some
German noun that happened to come into
my head, she said, "You are foreigner
then? The foreigners all have trouble
with the gender, and don't know whether
to say des die or das. Well, 1t is quite sim
pie. Everything that you can see Is mas.
culine like tree, table, chair, etc. Then
everything that can't be seen Is feminine.
Thereupon this good Fraw smiled compla'
Gently over having extended helping
hand to fellow mortal in distress.
It Is said that exceptions prove rule
II so I am convinced that Jacob Gr1mm's
own self could not make up a better
proved rule then this same one OF the good
Fraw Wirtin at AmOenaburg,