The Hills and Vales of Styria [pp. 225-229]

THE HILLS AND VALES OF STYRIA.
to the promptings of a purely natural and uncon taminated character. His house of rest is, in the
true sense of the words, simple and without pomp,
and, nevertheless, a model of taste and true poetic
feeling; in the very smallest particular may be ob served the attachment to a clearly comprehended
plan and preconceived idea.
Back of the buildings, on a little eminence, is a
garden of rare Alpine plants, collected from all
parts of these mountainous regions, far and near,
and cultivated by the hand of the peasant prince.
The mere mention, at the door, that we were in vited, or, at least, permitted guests, insured a wel come from those in whose charge the estate was
left during the absence of the owner; and we were
kindly conducted through every part of the house
that we expressed a desire to see. There is a large
saloon for entertainments, the chapel, the dwelling
apartments, and the "Hunters' Room." Every where is perceived a refined taste of art, respect for
antiquity, reverence for religion, love of father-land,
and sympathy for all that is good, and true, and
beautiful. The saloon is decorated in old German
style, and lighted with Gothic windows of stained
glass, with here and there a Bible proverb. Around
the walls are little niches, containing miniature
statues of the Duke's most celebrated ancestors, each
with some motto appropriate to his character. The
chapel is also in old German style, with ornaments
made of genuine Lebanon cedar, and stained-glass
windows, covered with Bible proverbs tastefully ar ranged. The apartments of the Archduke are en tirely covered on the inside with the native pine of
the mountains, worked in a tasteful style, find the
furniture is of the same material. In one end of
the building is a "workshop," containing all kinds
of mechanical tools; and here the Archduke passes
many hours in manufacturing articles that may suit
his fancy.
But the great curiosity of Brandhof is the "Hunters' Room." This is a large apartment furnished
with every thing that belongs to the chase. The
walls are ornamented with a collection of rare and
curious arms, mostly of the Styrian mountains.
These are supported by stags' antlers, that are fastened to the wall. Between them, as ornaments, is
an extensive collection of feathers of all the birds
of the mountains, arranged in the form of shields,
etc. In the center of the room, hanging from the
ceiling, is a chandelier made of antlers, with polished chamois horns on the points, to contain the
candles. Several of these are also arranged around
the walls. The backs and legs of all the chairs
are also made of antlers, the only wood-work being
the seat; even the large table in the center of the
room is supported by antlers. Here the Archduke
occasionally gives entertainments to his brother
chamois hunters; and then tho table service, as far
as possible, is manufactured'rom the products of
the chase: knives, forks, and spoons, all have curiously wrought handles of chamois or stags' horns;
the carving-knives and soup-ladles are perfect
curiosities; in short, there is here every thing that
can warm the heart of an Alpine friend and hunter;
and we believe that the "Hunters' Room" is unique
in its conception, and alone in its execution; at
least, we have never seen a rival.
In the midst of such creations the Archduke
spends his time, by the side of his peasant wife,
equally devoted to her, his offspring, and his coun try; for even among the pleasures of rural quietness
and domestic tranquillity, he gives no small portion
of his time and attention to the affairs of the province
which he governs, and the material welfare of his
subjects. He is the President of the Agricultural
Society of Styria, and has done more than any
other man in the country to increase the quantity
and improve the quality of the products of the soil.
The Styrians are notoriously inclined to travel in
the beaten track of their ancestors, and opposed to
all innovations, come whence they may. Although
potatoes have been cultivated for so long a time on
the continent, the Styrians, till a few years ago,
knew nothing of them, or, rather, they would know
nothing of them, because their fathers had got along
without them. The Archduke saw the immense ad vantage that their cultivation would be to the rural
population, and sent for the very best kinds from
abroad, and gave them freely to the peasants.
Some planted them without care, others let them
lie untouched. The Archduke now offered a pre mium to those who would bring the best potatoes
to the agricultural exhibitions. It was of no avail;
none came. He at last actually gave parcels of
land to the peasants, on condition that they raised
good crops of potatoes on them. This had the
desired effect, as the gain was so apparent. The
result is, that, thanks to the perseverance of the
Archduke, potatoes are now quite plentiful in
Styria. The loyal attachment of the people of
Styria to their worthy Governor is certainly as well
deserved as it is well placed.
We had another visit to pay in Styria, from which
we anticipated pleasure well worth enjoying, although of a totally different character. If any
thing is especially conducive to forming acquaintances, it is a trip over the Styrian pass of the Alps,
in one of the stage-coaches of the country. The
Semmering Pass is about four thousand feet high,
and is crossed by a zigzag road, which makes it
a journey worth talking about when undertaken in
the day-time, and much the more so when performed
at night. We concluded to try the latter experiment, having performed the former several times.
All went on well till we reached the summit, and,
crossing it, commenced the descent. The latter
was scarcely begun, when something about the harness gave way, and the horses began to run, and
continued to run as if mad, till they were at the
base of the Pass. This was a rather unpleasant,
and perhaps perilous condition to be in at midnight, on the mountains, and caused the passengers
in the coach to make each other's acquaintance nolens volens.
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