The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-15

ness of the central arch is not violated
but their surveillance is of little neces-
sity and no nation in Europe is more
law abiding than that of Germany. In
truth, they set Americans a salient ex-
ample in this respect. Among us 1t is
not the observance of pubic ordinances
which concerns u.s. but the avoidance or
escape of detection in their violation. We
are prone to imagine that we nave done
a smart thing when we have violated
the law without being caught but in Ger
many the mere posting of notice usually
suffices. Its effect is tantamount to the
presence of an officer of the law.
The most splendid feature of the Tier
Garten is the celebrated Sieges Alice, a
superb driveway and promenade of con-
siderable length. 1t is hanked its entire
stretch by marble statues of heroic size
of Prussian rulers behind each of which
is semi-circular marble bearing hermae
busts of two eminent contemporaries,
generally the prime ministers or the mon
arch whom they accompany. For several
centuries back the statues are marble
portraits of those whom they represent,
but beyond that they are ideal concep-
tions. At the end of the alice is the
monument of victory, from which the
esplanade derives its name. 1t is 200 feet
in height and commentaries the re-estab-
lishment of the German empire. Half-
way UP the column are three rows OF
captured Danish, Austrian and French
cannon, 60 in number and Borussia, AZ
feet high, surmounts the apex.
The statutes were erected at the per-
sonal expense of the present Emperor
and for awhile he at stated intervals
made il a practice of passing down the
alice in hopes of rendering 1t popular
assemblage place. but for some lnexplica-
BILE reason he failed in his purpose ana
abandoned his occasional visits. Ihe
thoroughfare is only frequented by those
who pass over the course in vehicles ana
has never obtained the characteristics of
the Pincio in Rome, where the Italians
gather to greet their monarch, or Hyde
Park in London, where the world and
his wife resort to catch glimpse OF
royalty.
There Is probably no Emperor In Europe
who is the possessor of so many palaces
and castles as William III of Germany
They are strung along the Rhine and
scattered all throughout the empire. In
Potsdam alone there are five of these
royal residences most of which are open
to the public. And every visitor to Ber-
lin spends a. day at Potsdam. Of course
Sans Souci, the little jewel box OF Fred
erick the Great. is the most interesting
feature of the town. 1t has not been
changed an iota since the monarch dweit
there and its charming environment is,
as it names indicates. free from care.
over its parterres of multi-colored flow
ers, its terraces of carpetng grass and
its tesselated paves of marble the soft
winds blow as dreamiy and the warm
sunlight falls as dallyingly as in those
days when weary monarch here essayed
to live the world forgetting. by the world
forgot; the old mill which so vexed royal
patience and defied royal authority still
,1e lila
icler of the flight of time and most
pathetic of all is the little graveyard of
the royal greyhounds at the end of the
palace with it's roses salaming to the
gentle breeze and its spotless tablets
portrayfng to posterity the names of those
faithful CANNES who shortened shadows
which even royalty could not escape and
whose bones rest not far from those OF
their loved and loving master Fred.
erick's remains repcse in a lead casket
in the towns church though his request
was to be buried in the dog cemetery at
the foot of statue of Flora, saying
"Quand Je serai la. Je serai sans souci"
Oh the irony OF fate: this great hero could
only find surcease from care among his
dogs and even this was denied him.
Next to Sans Souci is the Orangerie a
palace devoted to the entertaining of am
bassadors, ENJOYS and diplomats, and a
little farther on is the New Palace the
most interesting feature Of which is the
celebrated Shell room. In wandering
around this curious chamber one feels as
though he were treadng the bottom OF
the sea; shells glitter and glisten on every
side and overhead; precious stones scintiI-
late and sparkle with almost binding ef-
fulgency while irridescent rays and lam
bent CLEANS fashion penclling>of chro-
matte outline upon a diaphanous sheen.
In this room are erected the Christmas
trees for the Emperor's grandchildren
during the holiday seal son. The Marble
palace is generally occupied by some
member of the imperial household and Is
rarely open to visitors. Il faces an arti-
ficial lake which when frozen over in
winter is traversed by the ice yachts,
greater pleasure than the sailing IN which
few sports have to offer.
In the Garrison church are the remains
of Frederick the. Great encased in n
leadea coffin This coffin Napoleon
opened to shot his contempt for the Prus-
sian hero.
PotsdaH is military town and here
most of the reviewing of the troops IS
done. The parade ground is mammoth
campus and part of the season 1t is
plowed up for the testing Of the cavalry