The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-11-17

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington. ID. c.
Always important in European life,
the Danube has become even more so
since the World wal has added to the
countries for which it's waters furnish
O highway. And once more it's impor-
lance is enhanced by the probability
that the Dardanelles and the Bospo.
rus will become permanently internal
tionalized.
From the Black forest to the Black
sea, over a course 1900 miles in
length, the Danube has long been n
chain upon which romance and history
have We'd with each other to hang
interesting traditions and occurrences
Geography, too, has done It's share,
and although the Volga exceeds It's
rival in length, and although the Rhine
has had better press agents, the Dan
ube Is large enough and beautiful
enough to rank In interest with the
great rivess of the world.
There was a time when the Danube
was symbolized by an old-fashioned
waltz. But since the World wal be-
gan nothing but a hesitation typifies
the place the river has held In the eco
nOmic life Of the countries through
which 1t runs. 1t has been less the
highway and more the barrier than
In prewar days. Not yet does 1t serve
to bind the various nations through
which 1t passes into a friendly and coz
operating group. 1t has been officially
open to ships of all nations since the
forming Of the Danube commission
In 1866 and the various states
interested long co-operated to improve
the navigation facilities, especially In
the lower reaches Of the river; but
political conditions have done much to
weaken the economic link which once
bound Linz and Vienna to the great
grain shipping center Of Braila, to
which ocean-going vessels a steam,
and to the Black sea ports themselves.
Charming villages, beautiful mead
ows, picturesque hills crowned with
ruined castles, princely palaces, eccle-
siastical piles and two of the worlds
most fascinating capitals are strung
along the lengthy and winding river.
Thriving industries raise their smoke
stacks beside the stream whose legend
airy color Is blue but whose true tint
varies from a dirty green to a muddy
yellow. More tragic than the n
croachment of factory smoke has been
In late years the sad sight Of count
less chimneys from which the life
breath of industry seemed to have ex-
pired forever.
Through Wonderful Region.
Near it's source at Donaueschingen
the river passes between the castle
which. gave it's name to the late ruling
family In Germany and a war monu-
ment to the Hohenzollern men who
fell In the Franco-Prussian war. Far
ther down 1t passes through the once
proud capital Of Austyia-H Hungary,
where the fine government buildings
stand to the despairing inhabitants as
a hooking reminder Of better days.
and beside the Prater, once a deer
park and later a pleasure garden
noted for its Viennese gayety.
Still farther along it's course, just
after entering Czechoslovakia, at It's
junction with the March, there is a
towering cliff spired with a monument
erected to celebrate one thousand
years of Hungarian nationality. This
Is Czechoslovakia territory now, and
there two years ago the Stars and
Stripes were draped on the occasion
of the visit of a large group of Czech
Americans to the newly freed land OF
their fathers.
Bradshaw, now Czechoslovakla's
river port, was once the city In whose
dignifed cathedral the Hungarian
kings were crowned. The boat station
there revealed, a short time ago. the
changes which. history has wrought.
Over the center Of the landing the
present name was given, but to the
left one could see most Of the letters
Of the German name "Press5urg" and
to the right there was the Hungarian
name "Poszony."
Vienna, brooding In Its lovely parks,
which lack the care that was once
lavished on them, and contemplating
with cynicism the motto ISL Wis Pa
Gem, Para Bellum," whose golden let
tiers decorate the walls Of the min
lstry Of war. Is a sad sight. But
Budapest seems to have been less
troubled by the passage Of war.
Food is the main reason. Hungary,