The throng of 100,000 people
watched quietly while the whole history of the Palatinate passed in
review before them. The procession illustrated this history much
better than it could have been told by any professor or any book.
There was not a vacant space to be found, extra trains having brought
more spectators, and yet everything passed off quietly and without
accident. In the evening there was a heavy shower, which freshened
everything, leaving no ill effects to be seen the next morning, which
was more than could be said of many of those who attended the imposing
_Commerse_ of the Heidelberg students. As a former student, the Grand
Duke appeared among the 6,000 visitors at the _Commerse_, where he
presided and spoke enthusiastically of the Emperor. Other speeches
followed, until the conversation became so animated that even Von
Treitschke, who was received with an ovation, could not be heard. At
midnight the court retired and the _Fidelitas_ succeeded to their
rights.
On the 7th the time was spent in excursions and carousing until the
illumination of the castle began. I never saw an illumination of the
ruins which could compare in beauty with that of the 7th. The night
was favorable for fireworks, until finally they were rivaled by the
moon, numerous boats trimmed with colored lanterns passed along the
river, there were fire-wheels on the bridge, water fireworks on the
river, and the quiet was disturbed alternately by the rockets and
music, and when the names of the Grand Duke and Duchess, crowned with
brilliant fire, appeared over the water, there was an involuntary
outburst of enthusiasm.
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