Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-07-29
[. C. BAND NORWAY
TOUR SUCCESSFUL

/ ANY OliC Will hIOh lllOiC opON'
the history of Denmark, the condi-
tons and life of the countrys rulers
when he has paid a visit to ''Rosen-
borg Slot, the Rosenberg Palace
where the belongings of so many ear
lier kings of that country are pre-
served.
To travel through Germany and
observe the many castles or ruins OF
castles from the middle ages
perched as they are upon so many
of the high points of the country
may not directly increase a person.
knowledge of history, but it does
help him to understand the power
and the wars of the feudal lords OF
that age.
1t may seem like a waste of time
to stroll about a city, whether it be
| Berlin, Paris or London matters not
with a guidebook in hand and study
the monuments, memorials and
buildings, and still this enjoyable
pastime can hardly fail to give one
both general and particular knowl-
edge of the historical personages of
the nation.
When you have admired the grand
triumphal arch in Paris and studied
all the names inscribed upon it, you
have reviewed the wars of Napoleon,
and been impressed anew by his
many brilliant victories.
When you stand before the
Equestrian statue of the Duke of
Wellington or the triumphal arch
erected in memory of his victories,
everything that you ever read of this
noble warrior and especially his de-
cisive victory at Waterloo seem to
return to you in a flash.
The same may be said Of the ma
jestic monument of Admiral Nelson
in Trafalgar Square. The single col
umn surmounted by the heroic fig
ure of Nelson rises to height of
III feet. At it's base are bas-reliefs
in bronze, cast with the metal of
canon captured in the war, repre-
senting scenes from the battles of
the Nile, ST. Vincent, Trafalgar and
others.
On the other hand, who can fail
to gain new admiration for that low
able woman, Queen Victoria, when
he studies the national Memorial
to Queen Victoria" How expressive
of the peoples just regard for her.
when one observes that the central
figure, a statue of the late queen, is
supported by categorical figures of
Truth, Justice and Motherhood, three
qualities so dominant in the person
atty of the adored queen.
There are, however, other things
or places in London where the visi-
tor learns far more history, For in
stance the Westminster Abbey. The
hours spent in reading the inscrip-
lions on the tombs and memorials
of the many noted men and women
honored with a place in the Abbey
seem like SO many hours spent
among kings aud princes, statesmen
and bishops, scientists and literary
men, warriors and artists. The same
is true only in a less degree of St.
Pauls Cathedral
The Tower OF London seems to be
tory throughout the latter centuries
of the middle ages If a person can
not retain their names in amy other
way, he ought to stand before the
Traitors Gate" leading from the
Thames to the castle and listen to
the reading OF the names Of Edward
Duke of Buckingham, Sir Thomas
More, Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen
Katharine Howard, Seymour Duke
of Somerset, Lady Jane Grey, the
Princess (later queen) Elizabeth
and others. Perhaps they would not
be so easily forgotten.
If in the Bloody Tower" he is
told that there Edward V and his
brother the Duke of York, as well
as Henry vi were murdered, or on
Tower Green he is reminded that
there occurred the execution of Lord
Hastings, Anna Boleyn and Kathar-
inc Howard, both wives of King Hen
~ VIII ETC., then chances are that
these names and the tragic stories of
these lives will not be erased from
lis memory for a goodly while.
In the British Museum it is self
evident thai history in almost every
form is to be learnt on every hand.
Many articles exhibited take us back
over 1000 years b. G. A great many
cuneiform and other inscriptions, as
we'll as numerous articles of the
most diverse nature give us a clear
insight into the culture Of the peo-
pie of those ages. The many original
from various ages take