The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-22
The Lake Region of East Prussia
Scene of Great Eastern War Drama


where the coniferous trees of amer
resin grew in ages past. and most OF
Il comes from Samland Inferior am
bers are found elewhere IN the
world some are found in the green
sands Of New Jersey; hut genuine
amber, fragrant when rubbed. comes
from Samland and other places along
the southern Baltic coast. IL occurs
Ia the sands and In shallow waters
IN the form OF Jumps. or in drops,
Very rarely humps nave been gathered
weighing as much as - pounds or
more.
insects, leaves and A0ra of a long
decaycd world are preserved in many
pieces OF amber. Pieces containing
these insects are very valuable. one
perfect leaf having sold for $3.50, a
museum IN KOniRsberg has a price
less collection Of amber lmpris1ned
memorials. containing more than 5O,-
600 specimens.
~ tangled land OF marsh and
brake. OF forests OF pine and nr and
birch. OF canals and sluggish rivers;
sprinkled over an with lakes OF every
size and figure. lakes similar 20 the
glacier-scoOped basins In northern
Ohio where summer vacationists go;
big lakes. little lakes. frog ponds; this
Is the Masureniaad lake district,
which makes up ne southern part ~
East Prussia. and which forms one 81
che most dificult OF military districts
10 be found upon the war map. Mas
~urenland Is n great natural barrier o.
marsh and water against the Russian
border. ana a natural defease OF her
eastern frontier. II is, however not
the dismal country Of damp and de-
preston which so many have pictured
Il 70 be.
"On the contrary. Masurenland is
OF such beauty az 10 deserve many
more tourist visitors than have ever
wandered there. In sumner, Il is "A
region Of continuous. Vnexpec.s sd
pleasures: an intimate land OF little
lakes and even country. bathed In an
air spicy vita evergreen ans of de-
iightfui waicrslde drives. miniature
islands Ia the midst - foresi-dafk
ened pools, OF Wild, wood-fringeds
larger waters. and. altogether, OF end
lessly interesting combinations OF
water. woodland. sequestered Villages
ana reclaimed fields.
"East Prussia's lake region Is worth
a visit. II has aothing OF the im'
preEsiye grandeur OF the Alps, where
one never does get upon familiar
terms with surrounding nature, but Il
Il a piace-aud. In this Characteristic,
II stands In sharp contradistinction ~
the rest Of East Pruasia-which re
..Has.. sHa afr.nwu.a HNFaAra tfa QmAN
terms OF old friendship on his ursi
day a
There are many bright pleasure
resorts In M~asurenland. but the Duik
OF the visitors come from neighboring
| silesla. and the cities OF East Prussia
and Posen. The Berlin vacattonisi
goes TO the North sea baths. where
he meets his fellows Of the capital
and where fresh out-Of-dOors m9y be
enjoyed with a Droper stir AID olamor
reminiscent Of she city. Masurenland,
about the slze Of the state Of Con-
~necsicut, vita some t,00o square
miles OF area and It's Thousand lakes
draws fow visitors from east Of Dan
zlg or south OF Posen.
Poles migrated IA LARGE numbers
TO this region IN the hfteenth century,
and 81 It's some 100000 population,
many ARE the descendants ~ thesf
early immiErants. heHe people
afeak a Polish lansalase which bear
aDoaa the same r~eiaiionship 10 Good
Polish a. pennsslNana Dutch bears
40 puro German The Polish peasants
live shattered throush the marsh ans
lake lands; the German seitlers are
/ found mostly In the LARGER cities
lAmone these cities are ArEertairs.
Johannesburg, LensburG LoetzeaI