Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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THE SPECTATOR 3 ests we Hnd many beautiful shady and moss-covered walks. Throughout these forests, the dead twigs and branches are gathered by the peasants, and thus a walk through them is a real pleasure, for we hnd no underbrush in which to entangle ourselves. Pine cones, which vary in length from four to six inches, are used to make Hre, and thus every part of the tree is used. The object of our visit to this village was chiefly to see friends and rest ourselves for what was to come. This place, however, is of interest to some of us, as it is the birthplace of many of the early citizens of Johns- town. After remaining here a week we started for Cologne. On our trip to that city we passed through fourteen tunnels and also saw how the German forests were planted. On one hill we saw young trees, or rather bushes, about two feet high 5 on the next hill, the trees were about five or six feet in height. As I passed the various hills I noted the growth until I came to the tree in its natural state. Finally, after a ride of about six hours, we arrived at Cologne and, after leaving our luggage at a hotel, went out to see part of the town. Of all the cities on the Rhine, Cologne is the wealthiest and most renowned. lt has played quite a role even in Ro- man history. Here Trajan received the summons to assume the imperial purple. Here Vitellus and Silvanus were proclaimed emperors, and here the latter was murdered by one of his cohorts. Here also, in the camp of Germanicus, was born Agripplna, the mother of Nero, and she, retaining an affection for her birthplace, sent here in after years a colony of Roman veterans, and gave it her name, Colonia Agrippina, whence comes the modern name, Cologne. Having but a short time to see the place, we at once engaged a cab and viewed the principal buildings and thor- oughfares. The city contains many old and unique build- ings, two of which I noticed dated from 1557 and 1601. Another house, however, was of greater interest to me, for two stone horse heads appeared at the upper windows. Long ago, as the legend goes, the wife of a young nobleman became ill and fell into a trance which resembled death. She was buried, and on the night of her interment a monk went to her tomb to secure a precious ring which she wore,

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2 THE SPECTATOR One of the interesting places was, as you might expect, the Rathskeller. This famous cellar contains wine from the year 1620, and much more wine of later times. As customary, the visitor takes a glass, be he thirsty or not, simply to say he has drunk there. After wandering about the place for a short time we started to see more of the town. On our walk we saw the Rolands Monu- ment, erected in remembrance of the faithful friend of Charlemagne, and which dates back 300 years. The thing, however, which appealed most to me was the Dom or cathedral. This building was began in 1105 but was not completed until several centuries after. ln it is one of the most remarkable rooms in existence, the Bleikeller or lead cellar, which I visited. Four hundred and eighty years ago, while working on the roof, a carpenter fell to the ground and was killed, and soon after buried in a cellar near by. Ten years later, workmen, while digging over his grave, brought his body to light and it was noticed that he had simply dried out, his skin being like leather. The cathe- dral was at that time being extended over this spot, and it was decided that a room should be built here. Other bodies were placed here, and the same results were noticed, and at present we Hnd about eight bodies in this room. A cat and several birds in like condition are also here, but notwithstanding this we rind no obnoxious odors. After we had examined the cellar we walked about the church and then returned to the hotel. That afternoon we started for Hanover, and arrived there about six o'clock. I was at the time laid up with a cold, and did not go out that evening. The next morn- ing we rode about the city for an hour, and then returned to the hotel. The city has few beautiful features except its location, but near it we find Hameln on the Weser, famed for the story so marvelously told by Browning, and, to make it appear truer than fiction, we here find the Rat- catcher's l-louse. At 2 o'clock we started for Biedenkopf and, after chang- ing cars twice and a four-hours' ride, arrived at our destin- ation. Biedenkopf is but a village, and one would not ex- pect t0 See many Hne buildings 3 but in the surrounding for-

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l 4 THE SPECTATOR -? 77.7 fr .YY 41--,f As he bent over the corpse to draw the ring from her finger, he saw her slowly rise. Terror-stricken he fled, and she slowly made her way to her home and knocked loudly at the door. The mourning knight was aroused from his sleep by the appearance of his frightened servants, who said his wiie wished admittance. He gazed at them in wonder and said that he would rather believe that his horses were graz- ing out of the attic windows than believe their idle tale. No sooner had he uttered these words than he heard a heavy tramping of hoofs along the stairs overhead, and, thus convinced, rushed to the door and at once bid his wife enter. To commemorate this event he had stone heads carved and placed them at the windows, through which his steeds looked when his newly risen wife was waiting at the door for readmittance to his house and heart. They remain there to-day. The main feature of our drive was, as you might sup- pose, the cathedral, the second highest in the world and the most beautiful and imposing piece of gothic architec- ture ever built. We were inside only afew minutes and saw little of the interior. Over the three front entrances we Gnd representations of various saints and bishops, and above these rise the two great spires. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1248 and the work contin- ued till 1437. From that time the progress of the construc- tion stopped until 1827, when the restoration began. On Sept. 4, 1842, the foundation stone for its continuation was laid, and twenty-one years later the interior was finished. In 1880 the building was entirely completed, and the inaug- uration took place on the 15th and 16th of October, when the last stone was placed in its position amid impressive ceremonies, in the presence of old Emperor William and nearly all the princes of Germany. Its towers reach an altitude of 511 feet. The nave is 145 feet from Hoof to roof. lt is impossible to gaze on certain parts of either the interior or exterior of this stupendous structure without feeling well-nigh crushed by the overpowering realization of the sublime. After seeing the cathedral we went to the ho- tel and secured a good ship, turning out early the next morning, as we wished to take a trip up the Rhine with a steamer which was to leave at 8:15. G. S., 'o5'.