Year: 1877

Any school-boy in America can tell
you that Frankfort is on the Main, but
l doubt if the knowledge of most people
on the subject has a wider range. To
say that Frankfort possesses charms and
attractions enough to induce one to
remain here a fortnight, while it may
excite some incredulity on the part of
those who. on their journey to Berlin or
Vienna, have passed it by on the other
side, is to state no more than the truth.
The traveller who has wearied of Paris,
with its incessant wear and tear upon
the mind and morals, who wants for a
little while to enjoy the sweet do-noth-
ing, and to gain at the same time some
notion of German life and character,
can not, I imagine. do better than to
settle down in this sleepy, substantial
old place. In intimatiDg its somnolent
character, however, 1 do not want to
disparage the activity of its people.
There is population here Of more than
one hundred thousand, and an enormous
amount of wealth, much of which is
constantly being applied to magnificent
local enterprises. This hotel, for in
stance, has recently been erected by a
joint stock company at a total expense
of one million dollars, all of which, as
l understand, is subscribed by residents
here. As an architectural effort the
building is very fine, while as hotel it
surpasses everything L have yet seen in
Europe, and compares more than favor
ably with our own Fifth Avenue or
Windsor.


1t was estimated by the owners that
they could afford to let it stand empty
for two years, but now, after trial of
only three months, it is more than half
full, and has constantly increasing tide
of custom. Nor is this remarkable; for
the accommodations are most inviting,
the charges reasonable, the service per-
feet, and domestic atmosphere about
the house which makes it quite like
ones own home. This same stock COM
pany are proprietors of another famous
local institution, known as the "Pal-
mengarten." Here, in tract of thirty
acres, are some exquisite effects of land
scape gardening, symmetrical flower
beds and closely-shaven lawns, kept
constantly fresh and brilliant in this
humid atmosphere, the objective point
of the whole being an immense conserv-
atory, containing the luxuriant display
of tropical plants formerly owned by
the Duke of Nassau, and purchased by
the city in 1859. Adjoining the con-
servatory is large restaurant with ac-
commodations for an orchestra, not un-
like the Central Park garden, and on
the lawn just outside this building a
musical pavilion where open-air concerts
are given every afternoon. The music
is very good, and 1 know of no more
pleasant experience, of its kind, than to
sit there in the sunlight, on one of these
warm German October afternoons, lis
tening to the subtle strains of Strauss,
Suppe. Verdi or Lanner, and taking in
meanwhile the characteristics of the
people, whose fondness for music seems
equaled only by their devotion to beer.
/ doubt, indeed, whether, if the beer
ceased to be a feature of the place, the
music would have any charms; and am
credibly told that the bibulous habits of
the German workman, not unfrequently
OBTAINING him from work over Saturday,
Sunday and Monday, are having a very
depressing effect upon the industries of
the country