The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-11-30
Ruin Of Agostein, on the Danube.

prepared by the National Geographic %
ciety. Washington. D. c.
Always important in European life
the Danube has become even more s.
since the World war has added to tn
countries for which its waters furnisl
a highway. And once more its impor
lance is enhanced by the probabilit,
that the Dardanelles and the Bospo
rus will become permanently interna
tfonalized.
From the Black forest to the Blacl
sea, over a course 1900 miles II
length, the Danube has long been 9
chain upon which romance and history
have We'd with each other to hang
interesting traditions and occurrences
Geography, too, has done its share
and although the VOlga exceeds Its
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 rivers Of the world.
There was time when the Danube
was symbolized by an old-fashioned
waltz. But since the World war be-
gan nothing but 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 Co
operating group. 1t has been officially
open to ships Of all nations since the
forming Of the Danube commission
In 1856 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 can steam,
and to the Black sea ports themselves.
Charming villages, beautiful mead
ews, 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
ary color is blue but whose true tint
varies from dirty green to a muddy
yellow. More tragic than the en-
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 its source at Donaueschingen
the river passes between the castle
which gave its 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.
fher down 1t passes through the once
proud capital Of Austria Hungary.
where the fine government buildings 4
stand to the despairing Inhabitants as |
q hooking reminder Of better aays.
and beside the Prater. once q deer
park and later a pleasure garden
noted for Its viennese gayety.
Still farther along its course. inst
after entering Czechoslovakia. at its
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 large group of Czech.
americans to the newly freed land of
their fathers.
Bratislava, now Czechoslovakia,s
river port, was once the city in whose
1ignified cathedral the Hungarian
Eings were crowned. The boat station
mere revealed, a short time ago the
rnanges which history has wrought
over the center Of the landing the
present name was given. but m the
en- one could see most Of the letters
" the German name "Press5ure. and
o the right there was the Hungarian
lame "Poszony."
Vienna, brooding In its lovely narb.
Which lack the care that was once
hvished on them. and contemplating :
nth cynicism the motto "Si Wis pa.
en- Para Bellum," whose golden let !
ers decorate the walls of the min. {
try or war, is sad sight But =
udapest seems to have been less q
Dubbed by the passage Of war.