Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
THE ANCIENT CITY OF WITTENBERG
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS
Written and the Chicago Record Herald

The venerable and sleepy old city of
Wittenberg, which is more closely identi-
fled with the life and career
Brewery of Martin Luther than any
r.. other, reminds one of OK
ford, England. in its quaint
architecture and shops. but has nothing
like the grand old buildings in which the
colleges Of the latter university are
housed. Wittenberg is purely agricul-
thral town, surrounded by fat plain of
fertile soil. intensely cultivated. which
produces vast quantities of grain. sugar
beets. vegetables and hops The latter
are converted into beer at Wittenberg.
Beer has been the prize industry in
this town ever since it has existed. and
at one time there were 112 brewerieS.
When Luther came there to live in the
autumn of 110S there were only 1000 in
habitants. who lived in ,56 houses. The
university had been founded six years be-
fore. and Luther was called to the chair
OF philosophy in the faculty from the
Augustinian monastery at Erfurt b,cause
OF his brilliant talents. He remain
with the institution all the resi- of his
life. and exercised Il greater influence
over it than any other of the faculty.
The university was closed during the in
vasion of Napoleon. and in 1917 was con-
solidated with that Of the neighbOrins
cit; of Halle. The building. which was
erected by the elector Frederick in 1J02.
is now used as barracks for regiment
of infantry.
The city is about a mile from the rail-
way station, and an old-fashioned street
ear carries passengers back and forth i'm
connection with the trains Between
times it suspends operations and puts up
at livery stable. 1t is a delightful walk
to town. however ard about half way
one can see magnificent oak tree which
was planted on the spot where the bull
of the Pope communicating Luther was
burned by the students, December l.,
1I2O. The tree is protected by an iron
railing. and the gate bears a shield con-
tanning the imperial arms of Germany.
The Augusteum, which was the Au-
gustinan convent where Friar Martin
took up his residence with
Luther's the other monks of his or
nA der in 1J2S, is now a Lu-
cav theran theological semi
nary, with 129 students and a faculty of
five professors. The building fell into
dilapidation after the reformation and
was entirely rebuilt in 1910, SO that it is
very different from what it used to be.
That portion in which Luther lived, how
ever, was very little changed, and it is
now preserved a shrine for Protestant
pilgrims and historical students.
The rooms are small, dark and unat-
tractive, and look out upon courtyard
In the corner Of the first room is a
large stove of colored enameled tiles,
which. we were told, was made and dec
GRATED according to Luther's own de-
signs A plain oak dining table occupies
the middle of the room; an oaken bench
runs along under the windows. and over
it may be seen the autograph of Peter
tie Great who visited Wittenberg in the
early part Of the eighteenth century. AL
though member of the Greek orthodox
church. he was great admirer of Lu-
ther. A china cupboard where Herr
Katie kept her scanty outfit of table
ware. is still in its old place. and con-
tains some of the dishes used by the
family. including big stein from which
Luther drank his beer.
In the next room is the old table at
which he did his writing for more than
twenty years. the chair he used and other
pieces of furniture. The walls of the
Dom are hung with modern paintings. all
of them having some reference to the
great refOrmer.
The lecture room he used as professor
Of philosophy contains the tribune from
which he spoke to his students and a
pulpit from which he used to speak, which
was brought there fifty years ago or
more, when the Schloss-krche was re-
stored. When Luther came to Witten-
berg in 1908 there were 179 students At
the time of his death there were 1000
:. ::
Luther first met Katrina Won Bora in
Wittenberg in April, 1923, when she and
nine other nuns had