The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-21
EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS
OF A YOUNG AMERICAN GIRL.
No. W..


Oh, these Germans I never shall get
used to their queer ways. They are the
most sensitive people about receiving
money ever saw. Herr Wigand, instead
of handing me his bill for my board sent it
to me by the 'buss conductor who brings me
my letters, etc. | suppose he will expect
me to send him the money through the
post office, but it is too ridiculous where |
see him several times each day, and l won't
do it. At the last lesson in each month
Miss Ida, my German teacher, slyly slips
bill into my grammar without word
and the next day, during my lesson,
watch nay chance and slip the money into
her hand without a word. l don't dare
pay her even in this quiet way, if her sister
happens to be in the room. They tell me
German doctors feel insulted if you ask
them for their bill, and that they always
leave you to pay them whatever you like.
When you wish to pay the doctor you must
write him letter thanking him for his
valuable (?) services; and assuring him
that you are convinced you would have
died without his aid and begging him to
accept the enclosed money as small mark
of your gratitude. They make more this
way, for their fee as fixed by the Govern
ment is very small.
l take dancing lessons with six other
girls and we meet twice week at the
different houses. One of the girls is
Fraulein Won Oelnitz, the daughter of a
nobleman who is said to be very rich
We have supper after dancing little
WHILE and at this nobleman's saw napkins
used at tea for the first time in Germany.
l was the only one of the party, however.
who used their napkin and it was evident
they were put on only to be looked at, as
the other guests laid them carefully to one
side SO they should not get soiled. 1t was
plain to see they had never been washed,
and they had, no doubt, served the same
purpose they served that night, many time
before and would many times again before
they made the acquaintance of the wash
tub. 1t reminded me of the careful old
woman who triumphantly showed her UNI
brella to her friends, assuring them that
she had "owned it fifteen years and it had
never been wet once.''
This noblemans furniture is thought
here to be very luxurious, but l saw little
to admire except the candles which were
fluted. 1 really think it is very elegant
and quite the thing for a nobleman to have
fluted candles.
Two of these girls told me that they had
studied English seven years, but still they
cannot speak it at all. One of them tried
to say the days of the week, and said Mon
day, Thursday cher way of pronouncing
Thursday here she got bewildered and
could go no farther. Marie Sphor, a
cousin of Rosa's, was here one evening
soon after | came and | found her in the
hall crying. When l asked her what the
matter was she said in English: CREASED
myself" 1t was so funny could scarcely
keep from laughing. At last she saw that
she had made mistake and amended by
saying: 81 greived myself" She has
been studying English nine years.
Last evening Rosa and visited cousin
of hers and l wore my furs. heard one
of the girls ask Rosa what kind Of fur
they were, and Rosa said she believed they