INITIAL LETTER 167 VENICE IN PRAGUE 169 TOWER OF NEW TOWN HALL 174 RIVER SCENE 188 "BE THOU LIKE A PROMONTORY" 189 RIVER SCENE 190 INITIAL LETTER 193 ON THE WHITE MOUNTAIN 200 THE CHAPEL OF THE TOWN HALL 201 THE TOWERS OF OUR LADY OF TYN 205 A CORNER OF THE OLD TOWN 207 INITIAL LETTER 217 THE HRADŠANY FROM THE NEBOZÍZEK GARDEN 225 INITIAL LETTER 235 A CORNER OF KŘIVOKLAT CASTLE 250 TABOR, BY THE WATERS OF JORDAN 252 CHAPTER I Refers in a general way to several great and historic cities of this earth. Indicates the routes by which Prague may be reached by the traveller from the West, tells a wayside story or two and mentions several very great people, also others of a less degree. Digresses seriously from the purpose of the whole book by raking up the author's personal recollections of people that lived and events that happened right away back in the last century, and far away in the East. The author then formally introduces a friend, the ancient and venerable City of Prague. The Psalmist once declared in a burst of enthusiasm, no doubt justified, that "Jerusalem is a city that is at unity in itself." This remark applies with equal right to other great historic cities, as who can deny it that has stood in the "Place de l'Opéra" and felt that Paris is indeed at unity in itself?... Or who that has looked upon Constantinople rising out of the pearly depths of the Sea of Marmora will fail to realize that the city of Constantine, despite its many vicissitudes, was indeed a united whole fulfilling its sometime tragic destiny in the history of mankind? Lisbon, mirrored in the broad waters of the Tagus, is another such city, and so, in yet more marked degree, is Prague. The Psalmist, in poetic exuberance, may appear to have overstated the case, allowance must be made for him, but in the main he was right. The city of Zion had grown up at the feet of the temple of David, and its massive strength impressed the poet who overlooked the bickerings, the quarrels, of the "dwellers therein"; he knew his city was the centre of his race, for "thither the tribes go up," and he took in only the big enduring things; he held the key to the soul of the city.