Year: 1866

more novel, but it's conventual ap-
pearance and arrangements struck
me even more forcibly than for
merly, especially when l was
shown into the Church which con-
meets with the new Academy by a
private staircase by which these
nuns or novices have
access to the galleries Of the


Church on Sundays when they are
marshalled in procession and file
into their places or seats in due
order Of succession. The organ


in the Church seems to have con-
siderablepower andcompassaswas
exhibited to me by the principal;
who, like all or most Germans,
plays as we'll as teaches and
breaches. Salem seems to have
stood still, OF to have slept like
Rip Van Wrinkle for so many years
during which it has not kept up
with the progress of the age, but


has still the same grotesque fea-
lures of years long gone. 1t is
like a German town, and very like
the towns in the valley Of Virginia:
which were settled by Germans.


There is great similarity in the


construction Of the houses even to
the very locks on the doors. We
passed by the old Hotel at the top


of the hill, which looks precisely


as it did twenty years ago, but
charges as high as our finest City


Hotels. We went to a smaller
house of accommodation, which is
really better aud more comforta-


bic, with only half the charge.


We were installed at once in a
small, neat, cheerful and comfort
able sitting room where a fire was
burning which was most accepta-
bic on account Of the chillness of
the early October morning. Mr..
Brietz and his pleasant, cheerful
companion, made us feel quite at
home, and we were told by other
guests who had tried the hotel,
that we had ''struck the nail on
the head" in going to this house.


We found the table most excellent
and the rooms neat and comfort
able. The quantity constructed


house looks only like a Salem
house can look or rather Dutch
mans house with all the neatness
for which that thrifty people are
proverbial. Duringa an early morn
ing walk I saw the housekeepers
or the servants washing the floor
and even the stone steps. The
town is built mostly on one street
and the stores are very scattering
instead of being built or located
together as with US. They alter
nate with residences or sometimes
ofresidences between the
stores. During my walk I strolled
ND the beautiful avenue Of cedars
which leads to the Cemetery. It
is wide and bordered on either side
with smooth grass and in it's morn


ing freshness was apleasant prom


enade, especially as the walk is


covered with soft tan bark as of


old. This cedar avenue runs para


lei with the Main street, andwith-


in a few yards Of it, but there is


no access to it, except at the two


ends, where, a gate at one end


and steps at another, give access


to the pedestrian, but many Of the


back enclosures and buildings of


the lots adjoining abut upon the


avenue. The cedars do not seem


to have grown any since my for


mer visits, and their boxes hang


dropping down just as they did
twenty years ago. There do not
seem to be any, or many, more


graves in the Cemetery than there
were then. Each grave, (they are
very close to each other in rectan-


gularrows) is covered with smooth


grass or grounding and the only
monument is small slab Of about
eighteen inches, square generally,
upon the head Of each grave but
all lying fat on the grave. Such
is the principle Of equality which


has always been inculcated and
practised by this sect or commu-
nifty, and which is called in dis
tinction from other sects, United


Brethren. l think the distinction


Of society and caste never have


been encouraged hero at all, and