The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
The TT ollinder

against 1t add an allure most unique iu character to its scenery and there is more than one Danubian landscape to which nothing on the Rhine is eompar- able. Next to the Volga, the Danube Is the longest and strongest stream os the European continent, and no other in the entire world forms the thread of commercial connection between 90 many differing racial stocks as are to be found among the 40, 0,000.00 of people who dwell on it's banks, and those of is tributaries. Well spoke the Italian savant when he facetiously declared: She begins an earnest Catholic and ends as a jealous Mohammedan."
 If glorious history adds anything to the prestige of 8 river, then the Danube is famous, for in it's territory have transpired many events of epoch-mak- ing importance in the career of ciYili- zation. For more than half millennium Roman power ruled and Roman inhu- cnce dominated the Danubian countries. The Attia's bloody regime enveloped all this dominion. It was from this mighty stream that the Goths, Heruli and Lombards started out to lay the civilized world in ashes, hither the great warrior hosts of Charlemange stormed under their leader against the Avars, carrying Frankish control, cul- ture and Christianity as far as the Theiss and the mouth of the Save. The defiant Eisenberg Medelill (Melk) on the Danubes banks rising against the heathen succeeded in conquering and driving back the Magyars, winning them to Christianity and European cul- tnre. To the eyes of the Crusaders, pushing forward the morning land for he rescue of the Holy Sepulchre, the Danube shone as a silver thread guid- ing them through a labyrinth of un- known lands and peoples.
 And on the Danube was fought out the last combat between Turkish bar harity and continental civilization. The French wars made this noble stream again the scene of the drama whose resultant effects were of worldwide in- fluence. universally readjusting modern hstorys political outlook establishing new foundations for governmental ad- ministration and shaping national geog- raphy in conformity with the spirit of progress and advancement.
 I spent an entire day upon the Danube: a day as replete with rest as the rivers tide was placid, a day as full of quiet joy as the sky was radiant with sun shine. The steamer called at the riparian towns, quaint, unique and picturesque and the opportunity was afforded for the studying of the national peasantry that ouitted and boarded the vessel. I was
  and economy employed in grinding the grain of the poorer class of people. The mills were constructed upon boats an- chored in the stream. Ten feet from the side of each mill was a pontoon or float ing platform between which and the mill was a large water wheel turned by the flow of the current. The wheel furnished tho power for grinding at absolutely no cost whatever save its wear and tear Of course. the grain had to be trans ported in boats a short distance from the bank of the stream to the mill.
 Throughout my entire journey watch tower, castle. cathedral and ruin passed in review, each object presenting a stone embodied history or perpetuating time honored legend that might be termed goleen. Between Linz and Vienna the world has no fairer prospect to offer for the stretch of water has been fashioned by nature and the hand of man into a pie turc combining the strength of dignified nobility with the charm of an exquisite idyl. Romance here invites lettering and