104 ANDREAS KURTZ 



Herr Ulrich sinkt vom Sattel halbtodt, voll Blut 



und Qualm; 

 Hatt' nicht das Schloss den Namen, man hiess es 



jetz Achalm. 



The country abounds in beautiful woods; 

 rocky glens and gorges open out into lovely 

 valleys. On the Hill of Achalm once stood 

 the castle of the Count of Achalm ; its ruins 

 still remain, and near them has been built the 

 observatory. A little stream, the Echatz, 

 flows through Reutlingen, and for about six 

 miles meanders through the valley until it 

 joins the Neckar. The population has of 

 yore been given to manufactures, the combing 

 and weaving of wool, the spinning of cotton, 

 dyeing and tanning, and various engineering 

 and other industries, which always collect 

 around a manufacturing centre. There are 

 corn mills in the town to which the farmers 

 of the district round bring their corn to be 

 ground ; and at the present day the book-trade 

 of Reutlingen is extensive and prosperous. 

 It was in this hive of industry that the Kurtz 

 family resided; they carried on the business 

 of traders. 



Andreas was born in stirring times. The 

 whole of Western and Southern Europe was 

 in a state of religious, social, and political 



