The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-11


In appearance my grandfather was short and
thlcksct, with n roundish, clean-shaven coun-
tenancc, n finely cut mouth expressive of
humor- little twinklng, light blue eyes, and
high forehead surmountcd by a carelessly
powdered wig, which extended behind in a
gradually lesSening queue. He always wore
somewhat long coat, pike gray in color,
but OrIlamented by a blue cape. My grand
mother, slender in form, active in movement,
exceeded her husband in height by more than
heads length When in her gala attire
she wore a white dress made with a short
Greek waist, from which the skirt hung in
straight, smooth folds. She was accustomed
to wear her hair very low upon the forehead,
comhing forward, for the purpose, a con-
siderable number Of the abundant black
ringlets that adorned her head.
Thus arc the worthy people represented
IN two elegant crayon pictures that hang
over my sofa; and by those who knew them,
I have Leen assured that that they pre-
sented such an appearance on Sundays and
festival occasions, when they had brushed
away the dust Of their working day occupa-
ton, for both of them led busy lives. Grand
papa instructed flock of pupils in all the
branches Of knowledge that he knew, and
granlnamna, with the help of only one
maid. cooked, cleaned, stitched, patched and
Knitted for them all. During the vacations,
when even the veriest good-for-nothing had
zone home. grandpapa might be seen in the
school room, dye pot and paint brush in hand
engaged III renewing the black tablets OH the
wall. painting the doors and windows and
sometimes trying with saw and chisel to re-
pair the injured desks and benches; at the
same time Grandmamma turned the whole
house upside down, and, grandfather said
even wiped the dust off the rafters.
lie was thoroughly satisfied with his
economical spouse, his Hortense, and it was
well understood that she regarded her Emil
with the same feeling of contentment. One
thing only annoyed che very sensitive wife;
she could not bear his jokes, and he could not
help it, lie always must have his joke. She,
on the contrary, was sober in nature and
laughed hut seldom, regarding it as a waste
OF time, and feeling that she might better oc-
cupy herself during such half seconds in knit
ting. In spite of this contrast in disposition
they harmonized excellently well, and their
domestic happiness would never have been
shaken III the least, if kotzebue had not, IN
fortunately. come between them.
My grandfather was u passionate admircr
Of that coarse. though droll, dramatic poet.
Schiller he could not comprehend, and he
never Ispircd to Goethe. Grandmother on
the contrary, loved pathetic dramas, and her
particular favorite was Schiller's "Cabal and
Love But even this difference in taste had
never clOusicd the serene sky of their we'd
del felicity. DID grdutiuamna visit the
theatre there to be moved 10 tears by the
IatEos Of tho play, why, grandpaPa, lantern
III Eanl always came to escort her home.
Dbl graHdpapa go to indulge in hearty
laughter at the jests of kotzebuc, Hortense,
knitting, and darning, patiently delayed the
evening mnal till her lord and master" in
the cG'.ii'-.,I gray wig, had returned.
Ihs drama, at that time, was the chief in
tol'cr:'al diversion of great part of Ger
many. lrl perfect rage for private thcatri-
:I> :..IEl taken possession of all classes OF poo
pie. Tho works of Eotzebue were particr-
laTiy utsIble for this purpose, Astounding i'll
grD29 citizen figures, and oId-fashioncd en-
Engagements, which called forth AMI main
tanned Oh fashioned sentiments. Ny grand
parents could not hold aloof from the popu-
lar mob Of entertainment; for nearly four
weeks they invited first To this house
and then To that, where they We're amused
with rendition of Confusion in all Cor
hers, The Poacher," or The Honest Way
Is tie Best" given 10y the light of tallow
c;iw!ias and followed 10y general coffee
thinking, i'll which, frequently, the coffee
was very poor.
Neither If the worthy couple had felt any
6csitr to play themselves, till, after they hal
5'en invited often by others, they felt
that they, too, must give "A dramatic enter
t-ir,Ient Ill their own house. But in order
that ErsIudpapa need not dismiss his scoun-
drels, Is he called the boys, they waited I'M
til vacation To issue the invitations; then, in
front of the blackboard, he constructed
staging. upon which were placed several lit
tie movable scenes obtained from Il city
theatre.
Grandfather had chosen an entirely new
play hy kotzebuc. In 1t appeared licuten-
ant Of the Dragons, an arrant lnave, but
endowed with such fascinating graces, and
sucI talent for love making, that neither
maid nor wife could withstand his attractions
The Gsiruit sgapegrace led n most diSSoIute
life, upon The stage, till having made court to
n married woman, he was overtalSen by
Swirt tatc in the form of blow from a fall
IN pole, which stretched him dead at the
!syt II liz loved one The knave was pun
i,he,i. and tic moral impression upon the
S:rc tI.ur, was prodigious. Ny grandfather,
il Ii love Of mirth, which led him 70 parody
even lis iaNorite author, had added the fea-
t;!rr of the falling pole to the beautiful con-
ciI,i"u 81 the play, i'll the firm conviction
that nuHr OF his audience would recognize
tl.g alteration.
Hu; t.Ic most peculiar thing was that he
had bosom the role of the scapegrace for
hiuI~g'. Tho young wife of the forest in
s.rrytur, with her three pretty cousins, came
every -!r- L. ryhCarsc, for she was to be the
vi--:u 81 the Heutenaut's destinations.
Nh'!r ticy studied the play i'll the school
ro,.u, grandmother was preparing for the
great ming. busy III kitchen and cellar,
uinl tl.c ,tair,~t>.., here and there and every
Whor,
~ IL. tJn final rehearsal was held, every
ti,.-.. ,.rr;,I smoothly, ami the evening of
it. ~ ~,rtJtinn was ut hand. y hired ser
want. u, iay a master tailor was engaged
f1r ,.--. -l-!.tr,c upon The guests. The talluw
c;.r.l. .;-:.I brightly; III the kitchen were
glya; fa..ar,- ~ coffee, near pyramids OF
cup, and frosted ,7rkcs with piles Of plates,
AL -r,-.,l. - be carried into the small dining
room after the play. The guests sat expect
antly before the curtain, and on the first
bench directly IL front of the center OF the
stag. vi. rJuImo;hcr, wearing her white
dryS~ wit tug -ulI-wrought girilc very high
nbo-a tas' waist, according TO the prevailing