Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-08-28
1flisfellallcous Reaoins.
Importance of Languages.
EXTRACT FROM ALEXANDER DUMAS

ing with the greatest possible eApeuition NJ
the Lake of Constance, necessity compelled
me to stop at Vadutry. Ever since we set
out it had been raining in torrents, and the
horse and driver obstinately refused to stir
one step further-the beast because the mud
reached his flank, and the man because he
was wet to the skin. Under these circum-
stances it would have been cruel to insist
on compliance with my wishes.
Indeed it required this philanthropic con-
sideration to induce me TO enter the wretch
ed inn before which my vehicle had drawn
up. Hardly had I stepped into the narrow
passage that conducted to the kitchen, which
served also as the common reception room
for travellers, than was nearly choked by
the odor of sour crout, announcing before
hand, like cards at the doors of certain res
taurants, the bill of fare for my dinner. Now
/ must say of sour crout what certain
Atbe said of founders, that if there were
on the earth nothing but sour crout and
myself the world would come to an end.
began to recall my German vocabulary
and to apply it to the bill of fare of viii
lage house of entertainment. The precau-
ton was by no means unnecessary, for was
hardly seated at table, where two wagoners,
the first comers, kindly made room for me
at one end, than they brought me a soup
plate filled with this delectable food. For
tunately was prepared for this abominabe
joke. and pushed away the plate, which
smoked like Vesuvus, saying, Nicht gut 2
(Not good) SO vehemently that they could
not mistake my being a full-blooded Saxon.
A German always fancies that he has
,oJ tn
croLt, especially when the dislike is ex-
pressed in his own language; yoI may inn
agine then their astonishment to use ia
miliar German phrase, rose mountain high.
a moment of silence, of absolute amaze
ment ensued, such as follows the ulerance
of some. blasphemous imprecation, and dur
ing which my hostess seemed TO be indus
triously occupied in collecting her senses.
The result of her reflections was q phrase
uttered in voice so low that it was per-
fetly unintelligible TO me, but which in
terpreted, by the expression of countenance
which accompanied it, 10 mean, g Well, my
lord, if you do not like sour crout, what is
there, then, that you do like p
AHes, dieSeS, ausgcn0mmen, which l
translate for the benefit of those who may
not be so learned as myself: Anything ex-
cept that"
Probably disgust produced in me the
same effect as upon Juvenal--with this diff
ference, his disgust burst out in satire, mine
was exhibited in the tone of my voice. l
was made aware of this by the submissive
air with which the landlady removed the
offensive sour crout. l anxiously awaited
the second course, amusing myself to kill
time, by making boluses out of my bread,
and tasting, with sundry wry faces, kind
| of paltry wine, which, because it vas in a
J bottle with long neck, and had an abomi-
nable taste of flint, they had the assurance
to label Rhenish Wine.
/" Well," said to my hostess.
We'll. !. WAS all the reply.
My supper"
] 90, certainly" and she rc-appeared with
the detestable sour crout.
l concluded il did not do justice to it in
some way, she would pursue me till the day
OF Judgment. To escape this threatened
fate, called dog Of the ST. Bernard spe-
cies, who was seated on his hind legs be.
fore fire sufficient to roast AN OK, and per-
severingly roasing his muzzle and his paws
The instant he perceived my good inten.
tions, he quilted the chimney, approached
me, and with three laps of his huge tongue
the subject of controversy disappeared.
8 Well DONE said l., patting my deliver
er when he had finished, and handed the
empty plate TO the landlady.
And you?' said she.
Il? l will dine on something ese.''s
:. But have nothing else."
Whatp exclaimed /, with the eager.
ness of hungry man, "have you no eggs?'
NO"
) " Outlets, then?"
mo-"
"Potatoes p
mo"
''Some -" A bright idea flash, {
across my brain-l remembered that hat
been told by no means TO pass through tina
region without eating mushrooms, renowne,
for their peculiar excellence twenty mile
around. But alas when l wished to prof
by this fortunate reniniscence. i could no
remember the German word. Here wa
an insuperable difficulty TO overcome, o
| else must go fasting to bed. pause,
with open mouth at the indefinite pronour
Some. rs..a.
Some-some," mechanically reiterated
the dame.
I " What do you call it in German! Som,
-?'
:" Yes, POUNDS some -" At this mo
ment my eyes fell accidentally on my port
folio.
Stop, stopy" said l. l seized my pen
Gil and CAREFUL drew as good a representa-
J. ton of a mushroom as man can expec
t who undertakes to reproduce the work o
81 God. MY hostess gazed at me with intelli