46 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



was formerly known as the ' * Def enseditch. " As this 

 ditch had to be well planned in order to fit the difference 

 of height between the Alster and Elbe waters, the level 

 of the latter being much lower than that of the former, it 

 is trnly astonishing that both depth and width of this 

 ' ' defense ditch ' ' vary according to the height of the part 

 of town it cuts into; and measures, in places, from forty 

 to one hundred and twenty, at others from sixty to two 

 hundred feet, thus resembling a river of some importance. 

 Where the waters of this belt wash the city proper, a 

 more or less high wall has been erected, which keeps in 

 exact parallel with the zigzag of the ditch itself. In 

 later years this wall has been utilized in beautifying the 

 city. In many cases, parks of considerable beauty have 

 thus been created. As such a picturesque chain of im- 

 provements from Berlin Station, to the Upper Harbor, 

 thence to the Harbor Gate, measures nearly three English 

 miles, and appears with a width of two to seven hundred 

 feet, you will easily imagine the impression such a sight 

 affords to visitors. Hamburg is indeed to be envied, for, 

 as a. matter of fact, not a city in Northern Germany can 

 boast of such a promenade, such artistic improvements, 

 botanical and otherwise. True, Berlin has its "Thier- 

 garten," larger, perhaps, but it is, after all, but a tame 

 comparison with these promenades, which end at the 

 ' ' Stintfang, " with which I have already attempted to 

 acquaint you. The fact*that I loiter every day in the 

 "Esplanade" does not require special mention," as every- 

 thing is so fresh, so green, and the happy birds sing 

 merry spring songs; why should not man, both young and 

 old, inhale the balmy air in long draughts? Does it sur- 

 prise you that I roam about for hours during my en- 

 forced stay? This is the very time of the year which our 

 only Heine describes in his beautiful lines: 



"Im wunderschonen Monat Mai 

 Als alle Knospen sprangen 

 Da ist in meinem Herzen 

 Die Liebe aufgegangen." 



