KONIGSBERG TO BERLIN 19 



was very dark when we anchored alongside of the steam- 

 er "Carninius"; of course we remained on board till 

 morning. It was Sunday, the 12th of April. The weather 

 was clear and pleasant, which permitted us to land early, 

 and enabled us to gain a good view of the few streets; we 

 also examined a small war vessel, which was under con- 

 struction in the large ship-yard. It happened that the 

 great man-of-war "Salamander" was at anchor, where- 

 fore we proceeded to take a good look at her, though no 

 ptermission could be obtained by any stranger to visit the 

 ship. 



One observation interested me greatly, namely: the 

 difference in vegetation about the place, which struck me 

 at once. The walls of the fortress were already covered 

 with green and most of the trees in this vicinity had 

 donned their fresh spring garb, the new leaves of the 

 chestnut trees, for instance, being fully an inch long. 

 How beautiful is our northern springtime! 



But just now Greenhagen and his brother have come 

 for the purpose of taking me out for a walk, consequently 

 I shall have to postpone the continuation of this letter 

 till my return. 



At eight p, m. 



As you will readily understand, it has been impossible 

 for me to make any purchases in Stettin on account of 

 my very limited stay in the fortress. My impression of 

 the latter has not been a very flattering one. Though the 

 streets cannot really be called narrow, the tall buildings, 

 most of which are five or six stories high, darken these 

 thoroughfares considerably. 



About eleven o'clock we took our baggage to the sta- 

 tion. My ticket to Berlin cost me two thalers (one thaler- 

 seventy-five cents), and besides I had to pay nearly two 

 more for overweight of baggage. The rapidity of dis- 

 patching travelers at the station is truly remarkable. Si- 

 lence and a marvelous order reign everywhere, due prob- 

 ably to the fact that none but ex-army men can enter our 

 railroad service or that of our custom houses. About a 



