The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-26

A
 eSsl ter of palaces. taxed with the Ss2EJ impressiveness of cathedrals and enuuied by the traversing of miles of pioture-covered walls in the great galleries and museums, longs for a momentary retreat and temporary rest where with soft scenic beauty to gladden. the eye and historic associations to de- light the imagination he may while away a few hours in mental quietude and phys ical ease
 It was In response to the yearning of such character that I found myself in the quaint old city of Rothenburg, the jewel of Franconia and probably the only mediaeval capital of the continent that eas not yielded to the influence of modern thought and in measure adopted mod ern habiiments.
 Franconia is a charming country It WAS one of the four great duchies of the old German kingdom and when Maximil- ian divided the empire it was made a cir 'cle. It became so important a power that, as it's name was etymologically the same word as France, il was necessary to add a descriptive title to distinguish the one from the other Thus France was called Francia Latina, or F'raneia Occidentalis, while Franconia was termed Francia Teu- tonica, or Francia Orientalis. It's scenery is sublime and it's history most romantic. From this section of Germany sprang the minnesingers that lived by their lays and charmed with their romances and it has been the arena of many of the most stir ring episodes of German warfare.
 The very atmosphere is steeped in leg ends, one of which was most pleasantly brought to my consideration during my first visit to the country. I had missed my train at Anspach and not caring to spend the night there endeavored to reach Rothenburg my destination. A peasant had brought me in his wagon as far as the village of Detwang and from there l proceeded on foot, following the wind ings of the gentle Tauber.
 II was late in the spring and late in the day, but bright moon was in the heav- ems and l enjoyed my tramp immensely. l had seated myself by the ruins of an old castle. known as the Hinterburg, saio to have been built by Pharamund Duke of Franconia in the tenth century. There was but little left of the castle and a sol itary tower alone remained to attest the former grandeur of the structure.
 l looked at my watch and found that 1t was just S:S0 o'clock. when there came to my ears the notes of a bugle, apparently being sounded by some one upon the top of the tower., The airs were sweet and tarried to listen. The performer was play ing German love melodies. The German is unquestionably phlegmatic, but this only applies to his outward nature. l have always preferred Italian opera to German, and I still think it is best fitted for the human voice, but there are no mel odies that are as divinely sweet or so heart-reaehing as those of Germany Italian poetry and Italian songs have much of the surface gloss and confection of the bonbon, while the composition of the Teuton is as the blurred nut-beneath harsh exterior lies the sweetest of ker- nels.
 The individual upon the tower kept up his playing for one hour without a mo- ment's cessation, and l listened to him until he had finished. l sought of my guide an explanation of this odd perform. ance, and from him learned this strange legend: The castle of Hinterburg had be- fore its destruction been occupied by the counts of Nordenburg, between whom and the counts of Rothenburg- Comburs a deep enmity had long existed. The latter had invoked a terrible curse upon the house of their foe and it was prophe- sled that the last occupant of the castle would be driven to death. by throwing himself from the tower at the sound of