The Placer herald., 1868-05-02
HOW I LEARNED GERMAN.

The way Il came about that DID not Iearl
German was 40 follows: After passed ex
animation and before commencing the prac
tice Of my profession, concluded, a. nigh
be called upon at some future time to eute
the political arena, il was best for me 4
travel little to see the sights sud to stud!
human nature. In due course Of time ar
rived At Milwaukee. While in that city
visited oil places Of interest; all places o
business Of note; the Cemetary; the Polic'
Station end the Chamber Of Commerce, &
am not sure II place the last three in tb,
proper orderG the English and German The
aters; was initiated into the mys,eries o
KfHes ness e7 qpS pW,fnes,;: mo '.,.. sh u
Main street; threw dice for ten dollars .
Aliens, and tried Ill kinda Of decoc,ions =
Scheiders, and thought | was seasoned fo
anything AT las. by the advice Of. and viii
friend visited . German garden on,
Sunday afternoon.
We started out into the suburbs Of The city
and after long walk. arrived at the gate o
the garden. We paid our admission fee, and
sauntering along up the nicely gravsled
waIks, beneath overbHnging shade trees and
through elegantly arranged beds Of flowers
We seated ourselves in but with low over.
hanging roof, 10 which were tables, and wip
ing the persriration from our brows, scanned
the crowd Of busy people. who. in holiday
day attire (men women and children,) we're
drinking lager, singing songs, or in animated
tones, we're discussing the political issues Of
the day. l we'll recoIlsot how my heart
warmed towards my Ieutonic brothers. and
how wished knew their language that
might converse with them, and enter thor
oughly into their e'joyments and amuse'
ments.
My friend raped upon the floor with lis
cane and soon. before knew it, were placed
before US two foaming, fro,hing glasses Of
lager beer. Being thirsty we drank the beer
hastily. and having tasted lager for the first
time, found myself very much prejudired
in its favor. Ny friend then With his elass,
(heavy at the bottom-it seemed made for
the purpose,) raped upon the table, to which
call responded large fine looking man to
whom thy friend said something in German.
When be had gone turned to my friend.
"Do you speak Gsrman?" asked.
"Yes, little.'
"Did you ever study IT,"
mo, s;l know Of il learned here"
"You don't say! What did you say to
him I"
"Swy glahes lager unt kaise, unit brote."
/ repeated this over to myself several times,
and from being very much interested final
" burned the words into my brain. The
healthy and fius looking man aforesaid. soon
came, bringing two glasses Of lager and bread
and cheese.
I looked at these things and repeated to
myself-"swy glahes lager unit koise ~nt
brote." and thought will not forget that
Phew bow the cheese smelled, but my
friend said it was good, and upon tasting l
found it so. l drank the beer. uibbIsd the
rye bread and ate very heartily Of the cheese.
l an fond Of cheese. I was very hungry. l
ate good deal Of cheese and admired tbs
German character amazingly. They have =
charming simplicity 10 food, and how they
do enjoy the lew plain things with which
they indulge themselves.
think vas warmed up BY the en.husi-
asm had for the German people. and il may
BE- " wss excited BY lha. had evidently
been taking" for, a. two respectable looking
I
them to seat, and initiating my friend, rap
ped upon the table with my glass, when the
healthy individual mentioned before, respond.
ed to my call did not notice him and he
said "vass woolen sies" / knew what he
meant. I was learning that rapidly. knew
the moment he spoke what be said and
meant; but not yet knowing what four meant
10 German. lsconically responded, "6eer,"
and called him back 10 say "kaise."
Wa drank our beer in silence, but soon
paired of 10 amiabls conversation. Ny com
paniou devoted himself to me and made
rapid progress in German.
II com to dis country swy yahr. unt like
him very moocb, but dis language is very
difficult. Ich nix furstay how 70 speak him. !"
"So!" lyon see had already adopted
that expreesioo) you speak English remark
ably we'll, wish could speak German or
lear it As rapidly as you do English"
80 oh dc German language ish very
easy. You learn bim very quick. You zee
gooten morgan is Germans, unit means gooter
morgan un English uut gooten tag is gooter
tay un English unt-unt der isht goot
many tings vat means shoost like 10 de two
language.
became an enthusiastic admirer Of my
companion, raped for more beer and ka;se
but when the healthy gentleman came be
was not very amiable, because, II suppoee,) l
bad Knocked the handles off two glasses 10
rapping, but my companion aud drank our
beer, and continued our conversation.
"Wbat do you say 10 German for how
are you. bow goes it,"
"Oh wee say, wes beef fienden see shich, dat
mean how you dot unit wes gates cen, dat
mean how goes be oh, das isbt very casey"
"Das isht-does that mean, that isl"
"Yab, yah, day isht Co."
"And What do you cay when you reply to
a saIutation like pretty we'll. or first rate, or
buIlyi"
"Oh. wee say, goot, simlick goot, unt a
goot many oder tinge."
became more enthusiastic. What pro-