The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-18
unnamed him. He wants to sell his farm
OF fifly-seven acres and quit.
AMERICAN STUDENTS IN GERMANY,


The Peril. CT Taking Free Language
Lessons in the Professors Family.
Oaly one American | can remember who
received an invitation 10 meet the family of
the professor to whom his letter of introduce
ton was addressed And be happened TO be
both rich and well connected. His expert
ence was disastrous in spite OF its comic
aspect. The professor had three daughters
all excellent girls, but, as is often the case
with excellent girls not eminent for personal
attractivent<s. They We're extremely cordial
10 the Young American, as was also their
papa and mamma Ny guileless friend sus-
pected no Interior design, but was delighted
at the rapid progress he made in German
under the care Of the three maidens. Know
ing nobody else in the city, and being little
shy of the rough ways and drinking habits
Of the students, he found himself almost
daily drifting into the society of the pro
fessor's daughters. He made occasionally
with charming Importantly tentative re
mark to them Of a tender or complimentary
character He seemed to be under the I'M
preston that remarks uttered in German
We're mere linguistic exercise, like the red
cow Of the grandmother in the green garden
Of the rich count" II woHld have surprised
him to be told that they might have per
sonal application and might lead TO comph-
cations.
He was, however, soon to have his eyes
opened, After having called with great
regularity upon the professors daughters
for couple of months, he began to b.
looked upon as member of the family; and
once the mother of the young ladies asked
hna in strict confidence, Of course, upon
which of the three in particular he had fixed
his heart Some little unpleasantness had
arisen, she added smilingly. from the impair
TALLY of his attentions, My friend felt for
"A moment, as if the ceiling had tumblel
down ON his head but, quickly collecting
himself, he replied, likewise in confidence,
that he Was IN serious dilemma. The
three Young ladies were all 50 charming that
he felt himself equally attracted to all
Would the frau professorin have the kind
EeSs to grant him a week for meditation. at
the end Of which he would return and N. ks
known 10 her his choicai The frau profess
sorin found this proper and natural, aad
granted the respite 1t Is needless to add
that the American has not 10 this day made
up his mind, He found it convenient to be
take himself to another university shortly
after his interview with the frau professorin.
Another friend Of mine, though he was
not 50 well equipped with temporal adyanta-
ges as the hero Of the triple courtship, found
an object of interest to his landlady's daugh-
ter He was invited 10 confidential coffees
and literary teas, and concluded that as free
lessons in the language these were not I'm
| profitable investments. Once. however. he
| grew a little alarmed at the progress he was
making in the favor Of the fair dam-al, and
| hit upon an easy way out of the difficulty.
! He found among the remnants of his past
| folies the picture OF beautiful American
| actress. This he framed handsomely ana
| hung it up on the wall over his bed Stimuli
| taneously he invested in a gold ring, which
he shipped upon the third finger Of his right
| hand. He received the congratulations Of
the family upon his engagement, and was
| heneeforth no longer troubled with dehca>a
! attentions; for the Germans have an enor-
NOUS respect for an engagement, and look
! upon a man who has thus advertised his Sc
lection as impervious to the charms of all
other women.-Hjalmar q Boyesen's Let
/ tlr