40 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



having perhaps the happiest and most instructive time 

 of my life behind me and entering upon an uncertain 

 future not altogether without distrust in my own inward 

 strength, though full of faith in the wisdom and goodness 

 of God. The school of life is not altogether new to me, 

 I have had some very severe experiences and am only one 

 among the many who will have to find means of existence 

 in it. However, confidence in Providence, and in our 

 own inner self, and an earnest persevering will, have done 

 great things at all times, and I propose to do my share. 



There is nothing more attractive in Hamburg than the 

 harbor-site, as seen from the Stmtfang, at the foot of 

 which the visitor beholds a panorama never to be forgot- 

 ten. One observes three rows of piles along the bank. 

 The large ocean vessels are chained to these piles and 

 between the rows which form perfect water avenues, one 

 observes small and large freight boats, lighters, which 

 carry the merchandise to and fro. This is necessary, as 

 the hundreds of steamers and large sailing vessels can- 

 not all anchor conveniently without being seriously in- 

 commodated by the tides. Vessels, which cannot find 

 proper accommodation on entering the immense harbor, 

 have to anchor in the middle of the Elbe until some out- 

 going boats make room for the newcomer, which pro- 

 cedure is well regulated by the harbor commission and 

 carefully watched by the harbor police, who patrol the 

 waterways with painful regularity.* 



Looking about, the searching eye cannot penetrate the 

 acreages of sails, masts and riggings, which are appa- 

 rently made the more solid by the constant smoke and 

 coal-dust arising either from the many ship-galleys or 



*During the last twenty years about one hundred and fifty 

 million marks, i. e. something like thirty-eight million dollars, 

 have been spent in rebuilding the docks and enlarging facilities 

 for transient-storage, which fact has made this harbor superior 

 to the old rivals, Liverpool, Amsterdam and Antwerp. And all 

 but ten million dollars were raised by subscription-bonds among 

 local merchants and bankers, which will give the reader an idea 

 of the immense wealth of that city. — Transl. 



