The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-16
Notes On European Travel
BY George ID. Mann

Editors Note This is the
thirteenth Of u series Of articles
upon European impressions. The
writer and his family are on
sixty day motor trip along the
highways and by-ways Of the Old
World.
Wittenberg, Germany, Sept. L.
From Dresden via Leipsic to Berlin
a most interesting city to visit e,
route is "Luthers town." often re-
ferred to as the "cradle of the Ref
ormation.' 1t is u famous niece:
for Protestants the world over, fol
here Luther made his first breal
with the Pope and published hi.
translation Of the New Testament.
One of the first places to attrac,
attention is "Luther's tree" planted
on the site under which was burned
the Papal Bull in 1920. 1t is a mag
nificent oak tree, and about it i.
a pretty park.
Not far distant is Luther's house
or more correctly speaking, his apart
ment in what was once an Augustine
monastery, and for the last centur,
used as Il preachers seminary. Here
the reformer lived as professor. Hi.
study, SO the local guides tell you
is much as he left it. There is the
chair and the table upon which he
wrote. the tall stove characteristic
of the times. the wooden beer jus
from which he drank and many other
mementoes Of historic interest.
But often a pilgrim to these shrines
leaves behind some interesting relics
Upon one Of The wells is the auto.
graph in chalk Of Peter the Great
This signature is protected by glass
In the market place Of this quaint
German town Of some 10000 people
is bronze statue Of the reformel
underneath Gothic canopy. 1t is
Of heroic size and Qp. ono side Of the
pedestal are chiseldd the words:
lists Gottes Werk, so wird
bestehn,
lists Menschenwerk, wird's
untergchn."
And on the other:
Elm feste Burg list unser Cott."
Beside Luther's statue is one OF
Melanchthon, another figure in the
great reformation that swept this
section Of Germany early in the six
teenth century.
At the far end Of the town is the
Schloss kirche where Luther hung
up his IS Theses against papal in
dulgences. Within the church be-
meath tablets lies Luther's body along
with those Of clergy and nobility who
played great part in the great re-
ligious upheavals Of their time.
Wittenberg is pretty town on the
Hlbe only GO miles from Berlin. II
was beautiful day as we entered
it after leaving the -reat industr rial
city Of Leipsic, few hours before.
Leipsic was noisy, alive with thou
sands attending one of the great
fairs for which the city has been
famous since the twelfth century
The quiet and serenity Of Wittenberg
was q pleasant change.
Leipsic in q way resembles Vienna.
1t has handsome, wide boulevards and
q civic square quite unique upon
which face many important public
buildings, including the famous uni
versity of I.eipsic. From the height
known as "Napoleonstein," near the
rity. one can view the field of the
great battle of Leipsic. one Of the
most sanguinary conflicts OF history.
The cleanliness Of German cities
and the meticulous care taken to
provide the best sanitary regulations,
impress the tourist coming from
France and Italy where the open
sewer and other ancient methods of
drainage still prevail and pollute.
Through great fairs and exhibit
tons, Germany is seeking to regain
lost by the war; A very
rreditable industrial fair was in full