TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE APRIL 13, 1919 P. 15
Well, I have been changed to night duty and am able to run around and see some of the beautiful sights, of which there are so many. Yesterday, I went to see the ex-kaiser castle, which is about four miles up the River Rhine. I will try and tell you what I saw, but know that I can’t near do it justice, as one has to see it before it can be appreciated.
The castle was originally built in the year 1250 by Archbishop Arnold, II. It is called the Royal Castle of Stolzenfeld, which means Royal Castle of Proud Rock. It is 300 feet above the city of Copellen, which is just opposite on the right bank of the Rhine. Also, Castle Lahnock is just a short way up the river, which was the only castle not destroyed by the French in 1689. Castle Lanoch was where the Knights Templers made their last stand. Stolzenfels was rebuilt in 1843 by Crown Prince Frederick William IV. The ex-kaiser never lived in this castle, but visited it a great deal.
On the inside of the chapel are paintings representing for the beginning of creation to the fall of Adam and Eve. One painting shows Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the snake in the tree and Adam just ready to bite the apple. On entering the castle one has to put on soft slippers over the shoes to keep from scarring the floors. In one room is the armor, used by the fighting men of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries. Also trophies of spears, swords and bow and arrows, captured from Sweden long ago. In this room is a model of the cathedral at Cologne, made out of sugar. It is kept in a glass covering and is more than 50 years old. There is also a solid gold clock made in the Fifteenth century, which still keeps time.
In another room is old paintings of great warriors, and former kings and queens. Queen Victoria of England visited here a great deal and had a suite of rooms, a large reception hall, and bedroom, all furnished with hand carved furniture. Passing on, we see more old paintings, and then to the ex-kaiser’s room. His bed is a small bed, hand carved with posts of wood finished like a cork screw, which represents the rules of Germany (all crooked). Passed out into the front yard, and there is a tower, from which you get a good view of the surrounding country and river. On a hill across the river one can see a small church, which is 200 years old, and is called the Church on the Hill.
This was a very interesting trip and am sure glad I had the chance to make it. Will have more to tell you in my next letter, as I am going to take a trip on a boat up the Rhine today. Would have waited and told you of that trip, but was afraid I would forget what was told me by the “Y” men, who acted as our guide. There is so much to tell you, will have my letters so they will refresh my mind a little when I begin to tell you after I get home.
NOTES: Arthur Ray Short was writing from Coblenz, Germany to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Short. He was working for Wells Fargo Express Company when he entered the service and was at the Camp Pike, Arkansas base hospital before going overseas. He was born at Barney, Arkansas on December 2, 1887 and died on June 9, 1938 at Texarkana, Arkansas. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana. His military headstone identifies him as Arkansas, Pvt. 1 CL Evac Hosp # 27, Med Dept. He was described as being short and stout with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Well, I have been changed to night duty and am able to run around and see some of the beautiful sights, of which there are so many. Yesterday, I went to see the ex-kaiser castle, which is about four miles up the River Rhine. I will try and tell you what I saw, but know that I can’t near do it justice, as one has to see it before it can be appreciated.
The castle was originally built in the year 1250 by Archbishop Arnold, II. It is called the Royal Castle of Stolzenfeld, which means Royal Castle of Proud Rock. It is 300 feet above the city of Copellen, which is just opposite on the right bank of the Rhine. Also, Castle Lahnock is just a short way up the river, which was the only castle not destroyed by the French in 1689. Castle Lanoch was where the Knights Templers made their last stand. Stolzenfels was rebuilt in 1843 by Crown Prince Frederick William IV. The ex-kaiser never lived in this castle, but visited it a great deal.
On the inside of the chapel are paintings representing for the beginning of creation to the fall of Adam and Eve. One painting shows Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the snake in the tree and Adam just ready to bite the apple. On entering the castle one has to put on soft slippers over the shoes to keep from scarring the floors. In one room is the armor, used by the fighting men of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth centuries. Also trophies of spears, swords and bow and arrows, captured from Sweden long ago. In this room is a model of the cathedral at Cologne, made out of sugar. It is kept in a glass covering and is more than 50 years old. There is also a solid gold clock made in the Fifteenth century, which still keeps time.
In another room is old paintings of great warriors, and former kings and queens. Queen Victoria of England visited here a great deal and had a suite of rooms, a large reception hall, and bedroom, all furnished with hand carved furniture. Passing on, we see more old paintings, and then to the ex-kaiser’s room. His bed is a small bed, hand carved with posts of wood finished like a cork screw, which represents the rules of Germany (all crooked). Passed out into the front yard, and there is a tower, from which you get a good view of the surrounding country and river. On a hill across the river one can see a small church, which is 200 years old, and is called the Church on the Hill.
This was a very interesting trip and am sure glad I had the chance to make it. Will have more to tell you in my next letter, as I am going to take a trip on a boat up the Rhine today. Would have waited and told you of that trip, but was afraid I would forget what was told me by the “Y” men, who acted as our guide. There is so much to tell you, will have my letters so they will refresh my mind a little when I begin to tell you after I get home.
NOTES: Arthur Ray Short was writing from Coblenz, Germany to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Short. He was working for Wells Fargo Express Company when he entered the service and was at the Camp Pike, Arkansas base hospital before going overseas. He was born at Barney, Arkansas on December 2, 1887 and died on June 9, 1938 at Texarkana, Arkansas. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana. His military headstone identifies him as Arkansas, Pvt. 1 CL Evac Hosp # 27, Med Dept. He was described as being short and stout with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT