We  feel  that  the  conception  is  too  labored ;  the  niches  filled  with
unnecessary  statues;  the  combinations  of  balustrades  and  of
cornices  intended  to  conceal  the  roof  show  a  striving  after  effect,
a  certain  embarrassment,  and  an  exaggerated  attempt  to  succeed,
while  it  would  have  been  easy  to  obtain  a  better  result  by  the
employment  of  more  simple  means,  and  the  study  of  more  pleas-
ing proportions.
The  Gross-Alster  is  separated  from  the  Binnen-Alster  by  a
narrow  neck  of  land,  on  which  they  have  contrived  to  construct
a  road  and  a  railway.  This  connects  the  Berlin  line  with  that
of  Sleswig,  and  serves  as  a  medium  of  communication  between
different  parts  of  Hamburg.  It  crosses,  on  a  level,  one  of  the
frequented  streets  of  the  city,  and  yet  there  is  no  guard,  no  bar-
rier placed  there  to  prevent  access.  When  one  wishes  to  pass,
he  looks  if  the  way  is  clear,  raises  a  chain,  replaces  it,  and  goes
on  his  way.  A  clock,  placed  by  the  side  of  a  notice-board  fixed
to  a  post,  gives  all  requisite  information,  and  the  precise  time  of
the  arrival  of  the  trains,  so  that  large  and  heavily  laden  vehicles,
which  move  but  slowly,  may  not  pass  the  crossing  without  a
certainty  of  having  sufficient  time.  Each  person  is  able  thus  to
secure  himself  from  danger.  We  do  not  manage  matters  so
simply  in  France.
