Saxony

a kingdom of central Germany. It lies between Bavaria and Bohemia on the south and Prussia on the north. The area is 5,787 square miles--about equal to that of combined Connecticut and Rhode Island. The surface, on the whole, is rough and rolling, with level tracts in the west. The Elbe is the principal river. "Saxon Switzerland," in the southeastern part of the kingdom, is a region of scenic beauty. The entire area of Saxony is either in timber, field, pasture, or meadow, or it is occupied by mines and towns. The farming people live in villages. Scattered farmhouses are unknown. The grains and vegetables are those raised in the northern half of the United States, save that the summers are too cool for Indian corn. In proportion to its area, Saxony is the leading manufacturing state in Germany. Weaving, mining, and metal work are the leading industries. In all, 150 mines are in operation. The principal ores of Saxony are silver, lead, tin, cobalt, and iron. Coal is found near Dresden. Peat is abundant. Meissen-on-the-Elbe, is noted for the manufacture of Dresden china; Chemnitz, for the manufacture of machinery; Freiberg, for smelting and foundry work; Leipsic, for its university and trade in furs and books. Dresden, the capital, is noted as an art center.

The name Saxony is derived from the Saxons, a Teutonic race of central Europe. At one time Saxony was the most powerful dukedom in northern Germany. Frederick the Wise, who ruled 1486-1525, was, it may be remembered, the protector of Luther, the political promoter of the Reformation. During the Napoleonic wars, Saxony made the mistake of siding with France against its neighbors. After the battle of Waterloo large slices of territory were cut off in favor of Prussia. In 1866 Saxony made another mistake in siding with Austria against Prussia. A large indemnity was exacted by Prussia as a condition of independence. When the new German emperor was elected, the seat of the imperial court of justice was fixed at Leipsic.

See Dresden; Elbe; Meissen; Leipsic; Fur; Porcelain; Forestry, etc.