Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-02
Ugly Towers Are Imposing.

There is another and larger church IN
Wittenberg called the Stadtkirche. 1t is
older than the Schloss-kirche, dating from
1872. Luther frequently preached there,
and there, in 15o2 he administered the
molly communion for the first time to all
believers. 1t is an imposing edifice. with
two great ugly towers which are connect
cd hall way up TO the top. 1t stands back
from the public square. and the towers
are so tall and large that they may be
seen for miles around the city. The high
altar piece, designed by Lucas Cranach,
is a sort Of a monument to the reforma-
ton, as it represents the holy eucharist
with symbols of baptism and confession
at the sides. and Luther in the act OF
preaching IN the center. Surrounding it
are portraits of heroes of the refOrma-
ton. The walls of the Stadt-kirche are
hung with several pictures by the
CranachS. father and son.
Lucas Cranach the elder. who lived
from 14I2 to lob, was hurgomaster of
Wittenberg for many Years. and his
dwelling house bears a tablet recitinS that
fact.
Altogether the most imposing and at
tractive building in Wittenberg is the
rathaus. which was built i'll I-uther's time
and completely restored in lies 1t is of
the old German school of architecture with
lofty sIoping roof. large dormer win
doWs and a cupola with a lantern atDN t,
built OF red bricks and they are rich and
Ape with age. and trimmed with yell
loWiSh, white stone.
over the entrance to the rathaus i d
covered balcony from which the burgo-
master and other disntaries review pro-
CcSSionS.
In front OF the building. in the public
square. are twin statues of Luther and
Melanchthan under Gothic canopies and
protected 10y high iron fences. Luther
holds an open Bible in his hand and Mel
anchthan is represented in the act of
preaching. They are considered very
hgh-cass works of art.
Agriculture Is Primitive.
There are two or three excellent ho-
tells 'Wittenbere, with good rooms.
good table and moderate prices, and
while there is not much of interest in
the town except the relics of Luther.
one can spend couple of days there
with comfort and pleasure. There are
several Interesting suburbs with his
torical aSSOcia tiOns and small manu-
featuring industries, and the methods
used by the farmers in cultiVating and
harvesting their crops would amuse an
American
Although Wittenberg is only Il hun
dred miles from Berlin. and in the cen
ter of one OF the most fertile districts
in all Germany. very little labor-Sav-
ing machinery is USED, ana the nipple
ments of agriculture are surprisingly
primitive. The farmhouseS are large
and substantial, being almost always
built of stone. with thick walls and
high pitched roofs. They are pra Ell
cally fireproof. The stable and out
houses are of similar materials and
built in q similar manner. The stock
is of the highest claSS-Well bred cat
tie. sheep. swine, chickens poultry
and they are cared for as thoroughly
as the fields The milk is nearly ali
sent to Berlin by railway trains. and
most of the vegetables go to the mar
kets of that city in the same way. The
grain and other heavy freight is floated
boats. Large quantities of sugar beets
are raised in the vicinity and converted
into sugar at factories in the immc-
date neighborhood. The factories pay
AN average of $50 ton for beetS.
which is a little more than onehalf as
much a. they bring in Utah. Colorado.
Michigan and other parts of the United
states where beet sugar is made.
The highways through the agrlcul
tural districts are absolutely perfect.
The roads are macadamiZed in the most
thorough manner. the foundations be
ing usually twenty to tWenty-four
inches of crushed stone. and they are
kept in perfect repair. The road mend
ers do not wait until there is hole or
rut but go on the principle that
stitch in time saves nine, which is the
truest of all proverbs.