Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
There are several reasons, indeed, for the tardiprogression of a German
vehicle, independently of the breed and the build of those animals that
draw it along. _First._ The German never does anything in a hurry. He has
more time on his hands than any other man. His days are longer—his nights
are longer (though his beds are shorter) than those of an Englishman. Why
then should he hurry over the pleasant journey, or curtail the salutary
range of travelling exercise?—_Secondly._ A German’s luggage is twice
the size and weight of an Englishman’s, besides the huge crate in which
it is stowed above or behind the carriage. _Thirdly._ There is an outlay
of time, labour, and expense in frequently cleaning the harness of the
horses—the body, the wheels, or the leather of a carriage. This outlay is
prudently avoided by the German, who trusts to the winds and rains for
disencumbering his harness and eilwagen of some layers of those weighty
and numerous incrustations that have slowly formed on their surface.
_Fourthly._ There are no Collinge’s patent axletrees in Germany, which
will hold oil for a month; and although the post-master charges some
kreutzers for “grease” at every station, small is the portion of that
lubricating article which reaches the hot and creaking gudgeons of the
ponderous locomotive!
But the primary and fundamental cause of tardiprogression in Germany may
be traced to the roads themselves, which, though much improved in many
places, are still villainously bad, and require the hardest and heaviest
wood and iron to withstand the tremendous succussions which the vehicle
is destined to experience at every step. Besides, as the German chaussée
marches straight forward over hill and dale, without deigning to wind
round the one, in order to evade the other, so the SCHNELL-POST must
necessarily go at a snail’s pace to the end of the chapter—or, at all
events, to the end of the journey.
21. _The Burschen._—Perhaps no country, except Germany, _could_ generate,
or _would_ tolerate a large class of the rising generation—students by
profession, but demi-ruffians by habit—who are organized in clubs, and
banded in clans, for no other purpose but the violation of all law,
order, decency, and morality! The supreme felicity of the Burschen
is to swill beer, smoke tobacco, and fight duels. If they submit one
hour in the twenty-four to the rule of the professor, they rule him,
and tyrannize over others during the remainder of the day. Most of
the hours that can be spared from duelling, fencing, and dancing, are
dedicated to what they term “_renowning_”—that is, of working all kinds
of mischief—enacting all sorts of absurdities—attracting everybody’s
attention—and earning every one’s contempt and detestation. The evening
and much of the night are spent in the ale-house, where the summit of the
Burschen’s ambition is, who can drink most beer, smoke most tobacco—and
vociferate with the loudest voice—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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