Foreign Correspondence

PABTEXKIÜCirKX, XliAlt IpNSBBUOX, ) IX TJH3 Tyrol, Augubt 10, 1S72. j Frankfort is one of tlio most impoitant business centers of Northom Genuany, founded by Charlcraagno in tho 8th century and with a population of nbout 80,000, one-tenth Roman Catholic, and, what is rumarkable, about one-tenth boing Jcws. Iu no otljor city of Christendom do tho Jewish poople bear go large a proportion or occupy so important a placo in tho financia], commercial and general business intorests of the community. Yot they havo not grown strong by encouragement surely, but rather by a persistent aubmission to oppresiion and a dogged püiftoverancd in their singular habits of industry and association. Thin singular poíple bogan ío settle in considerable numbers in Frankfort in the 12th century, and in 1Í62 they formod a certain nurrow slreet called tho Judengasse, not exceeding twelvo feet in width, with tho buildings froiu four to six stories in huight, presenting on eithor sido the strmigest architectural agglomeration of voodon tintels and donner projeotions, facings oi' stone, brick and tile, low doorways and arches, gloomy passages and dark shops, wheie, uou theground fioor, in all jxjssibla confusión, wero orowdod all oonceivablo trumpery, sido by sido with tho riohest uierchundise, old clothes and filth, brokurs' shops and shining gold. And litro in this singlo uarrow streot, uot iongor than tho two blocks froiu Ellis's to Mack's, thoy were required to live uutil so lato ie' 1SÜ6. At eveuing and on Suudays aud holidays this street was closud with gatos, and Jowa found elsowhore, at suoh times, wore visitod with heavy penalties. In tho principal markot place, fronting tho old building culleü tho Ilomer, no Juw was permitted to enter, uutil tho beginning of the present contury. In spite of all this hostilo spirit they increasod in numbers and in wualth, and it was in the envirens of this unwholosomc quarter that the foundation was laid of that ouormous wealth which has mado the namo of Itothsehild knowu throughout the world. Advanoing civihzation has at last abrogated tho unjust distinctions mado Bguinst ono class of law abiding citizens, and instead of confining this peopla to such restricted limits, all legal rostraint is withdrawn, and ovon tho old streot is soon to disappear as an unsightly and uuhealthy procinct not to be tolerated in such close proxitnity to the Zeil, tho most spacious and beautiful business fttroet cf tho city. Already tho west sido has been entiroly removed and wholesomo daylight and air are at last accessiblo to the other side. Over one of the public pumps, still remaining and much used, wo read the uotice, "Tho water from this pump is unliealthy unloss boilod." What meets the eye in such places is not always rtgree'lile, but we woro glad to have had an opportunity to see the Judcngasso aa it was. Our curiosity was gratifica by an opportuuity to witness tho strange worship at tho Jewish synagoguo, a beautiful now briok edifioe with swolling, mosque-like steeple. While we were present the exercises consisted mainly of readings from the Hobrew, by a somewhat youug-looking man having a cap upen his hoad and a white silk sash of half a yard in width thrown over his shoulders. Another person similarly arrayed seomed to oome to tiis right sido, and taking the hem of his ecarf in his hand, pclntod out as rf by chanco somo passago, which being read this person Btopped round to the left side and the reader then seemed to cali the namo of 6ome ono elso in the audience, who would ariso, adjust the scarf with which he was provided, and going forward to tho sido of the reader ho would point out a passage as the prooeding one had done ; thia being read ho passed round and took his place at tho roader's left while tho former returned to the audience ; theu others were oalled and the same routino obeerved, with occasional bursts of music from the organ and voices. All the womonwosaw, exceptstrangers, were in tho second tier of gallones by themsolves. Thero aro many intoresting objeots in Frankfort, but it is not, like Berlin, Dresdea and Munich, rich in its treasuros of Art. Tho Stadel Art gallery is the only oollection of any size or merit in tho city, and thoagh it has sume tolerable pictures by the old masters, its principal uttraotion ia in its modt-rn pictures. Two or threo by Lessing wero very notiooable for their expressiveuess as woll as skillful execution. The subject of ono was " Ezzelino in prison exhortad to repentance" by two monks. One of the monks, with hard features and a bilious hue, seems to pull at his brothor's sleove and say : " Como away, you waste time on this herotio," while the other, with a countenanco of angelic sweetness and u look of ploading earnestness so f uil of pity for the man whose repentanco ho deeires, appearg as if ho could not givo hiiu up to perdition. Kzzolino in the mcantimo sits calm and detenuined, with the martyr spirit beaming in all his look and posture. It is a noblo picture, and so also is " Ilussbefore tho Council at Oonstance," by tho sanio artist Wo were suiprised and gratified tö find in ono of the rooms, conspicuously placed, a very fino full sizo portrait of Linooln. It was meritorious as to the likeneás and in colormg, aud by a local artist ; but it was evidently a copy, enlarged after tho full longth prints often scen. The Ariadñehm, a small ciroular building so called aftor tho somewhat celobratud principal pieco of sculpturo which il noutains, has a siuall nuuibor of oasts from tke antiquo and a few Egyptian ouriositie, all of which can bo soen in teil minuten. But tho Ariadne, by ljauneoker, his masterpioue, is really n boautiful work of art. Tho group representa Ariadne gracofully sitting upon tho panthev's back and looking intensoly forward, tis if to penetrato her future. The monument noar the Ariadneum, ereotcd in nuemory of the Hewiang who feil on the spot, fighting viotoriously for Iheir fatherlaud, December, 1702, is a worthy mouuinont to worthy men. Instond of the woru-out design of aplain shaft, more or less high, it consists of largo, irregular masses of rock, piled with artistic carelessness to a height of somo 13 feet, upon which is erected a dark granito block somo six feet square, its hoighi oqual to about throe times its width, sumiounted by a lion's skin, a holmot, a sword, and a ram's head. Of courso wa wout to see tho house where üoethèi was born, 1749, and lor a long time lived, and which is connected so intimately with hisbiography. We sought out, also, the plain marblo slab which marks the grave of bis uiother, in tho old churchyard on the Shaffergasso. AVo gazud with wonder upon tho name which surmounts the high tower over tho Esohouheimer Thor (the only one of tho gates of tho old wall whioh remains), for tho legend says that tho liie of tho poacher Hans Winklesee was saved by his skill in making ñij:'e shots so as tb form tho figuro 9 in the vane. Tho cathodral was I closod for repairs, on account of a fire in 1867, but the stone head and bust of Luther is visible on the opposito corner grooery, the spet from whioÜ ho addressed the pooplo when on his way to meot his fues at Wormg. Frankfort was once, liko all the old Germán citius, a wallod town, but an incumbranco so useless itt tho present day has very wisely been wholly removed with the exoeption, bofore noted, of the Esohenheimer gate, and tho spaoo it ocoupied forras now that beautiful Anlagen or public park, of which the city is so 'ustlyproud. The Palmgarten with its exotics and choice solootions of plants; the. Zoologicul Garden with its valuablo collections of animáis, so different from tho jaunt and sleepy specimens seon cagod in our traveling menageries, aro both atractivo resorts. The few monuments erectod in the city are of tho finest character. The statuo of Goetho, by Schwanthaler, with tho bas-relief reproseutations of somo of tho irincipal charact ors in his works, is a noble testimony of tho regard everywhere feit for the great Germun. That of Guttenburg, by Launitz, embracing ulso in the principal group l''u.st, md Shöffur, and in the frieze bolow the bíis-relíef likeneeaesof thirteen celobrated early printers, with symbolical figures o rheology, Poetry, History and Industry upou the four corner pedostals, is a remarkably striking production of Art; and i very appropriately oonepicuous ornament to one of the principal market places of tho city. Schiller's monument is the single figuro of the poet, upon a squaru pedestal, but tho attitude and exjression mako it worthy tho subject commemorated. Thero aro few cities in üermany giving more evidence cf ft warm sympathy with modern progresa, but owng to increased expensivaness of living, the number of its foreign populatiou teuisorarily residing in Frankfort is much oss than formerly. Our Consul-Gonoral Webster is a gentleman well fittod for he position he filis, and no American will ask his ofiioial assistance or personal gynipathy in vain. Youxe over,