Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-20

The great iron railroad bridge that
spans the Rhine and separates France
from Germany at Strasbourg still
fluants its German eagles at both ends
above the passing trains. In fact
Strasbourg itself Is full OF them. SO in
terwoyen with the ornamentation OF
the buildings built during the past
fifty years that it is impossible to re-
move them all though n brave effort
has been made.
Perhaps the emblem is not distaste-
full to every one: indeed I was amazed
this summer of 1921 to find Stras-
bourg SO German. Somewhat unrea-
sonably | expected to find 1t all
changed back into a French city. Tho
papers had contained such convincing
reports of the veritable cIamor Of re-
joicing In Aisace that the German
language spoken everywhere fell
strangely upon my cars. OF course.
IL ono stops to think. 1t Is impossible
to change the habits OF fifty years
Immediately.
In all the large shops the universal
language is German, though the sales
people iaboriousiy attempt French. |
asked cobblcr and 'his wife who did
some repairing for me while I waited.
how the people felt and she very
sensibly remarked. what I myself
knew to be the truth, that the French
Hdd 50 WIKI kh0 JrEHhduo
that there was scarcely "a family
which was not pulled botn ways. She
also sa!d anyone could see for himself
how vast was the Improvement and
growth OF tho city during the past
fifty years. and could compare it with
that OF other cities OF the Same size
IN France.
At all events there is peace again
which seems to he the main thing.
Most people care little about govern
ments if they are left alone TO live
their lives
All the modern part of the city is
German. Tho very picturesque part
IS wholly Frcnch. In the newer por-
tion arc magnificent buildings, nearly
all with great gardens around them;
theaiers. universities. schools of every
possible description. blocks OF modern
apartments every window radiant
with the customary German flower
boxes. mass of bloom. The enor-
nous and ugly but vastly convenient
and practical railroad station IL of
course German. The splendid mu-
scuuis of every known art and science
arc likewis-e German. The university
q as university. not with the prcsen,
bunding- was celebrated long before
tho French-Prussian War, and &c
were the lower schools but they have
Increased and not lost their fame
under German rule.
Fortunately the gem OF S;rasbourg
the magnificent cathedral. Is of no ma
lion aud no age, but of all. Their
was church here before the time oi
Clovis. In fact he rebuilt 1t from the
ruins of an old temple. II was again
destroyed and CharlemaEne built au-
other. In 1907 the edifice was dcs-
lroycd by lightning and Archbishop
Werner rebuilt IT. In the next century
Conrod. OF Lichtenstein, planned q
stone cathedral, This was OF Roman
architecture and parts yet remain. no
ticcably in the transepts and choir. 1r
the thirteenth century the presen
superb nave was built. Utilizing wha
WAS already there Edwin OF Stcinbacl
planned the present glorious whole
lie and later. his son, gave their en-
tire lives to carrying out the stipend
ouse work. More than hundred thou
sand workmen toiled to make th'
beauty VIC see today. In 1859 1t wa!
completed and the vast bulk of th'
conceaIing scaffoiding torn away. His
tory was an immense crowd from al
tho country, round gathered and vert
amazed at the majestic beauty OF thu
finished work.
Around tho lower story arc gigantic
statues of the old kings Of France ant
many other heroic figures OF history
oNtT wv i'Out fV''o' - 49, e'''NS'''.'1
large and very lovely Rose window
Within the church is a marvellous as
Economical clock. that seems the pro
duct OF magic SO many things doe
1t reveal as to the movements o
planets. sun and moon. 1t give
cclipses and both mean and siderca
time as well as other facts of science
At the stroke of noon the twelv,
apostles come out and salute figur'
OF the Christ. At the, first quarter o
tho hour a child bounds forward ant
at the half youth comes out. ut TIN
third quarter a man In the prime o
life and at the stroke OF the hour al
old man tottcrs forward and is me
by figure of death. It Is then tina
an angel turns over an hour-glass ant
cock flags Its wings and crow
thrice.
StrasbovEh abounds in canals, Thes
unite the rivers Msrne. Rhone an,
Rhine, and make of the city yer.
important commercial centre. Th
little river Ill nearly surrounds tn
ancient city and itself emptles into th
Rhine. There are many small canals
so many that one is reminded of Ven
ice.
Stra sbourE has bean prominen
since early Roman times. The yer,
name comes from two words StrHss
and Bourg. signifyiug roads and town
1t was tho meeting place of many Ro
man roads. The town wa, used II