, 1886-01-19
ANEalcAN sTupgNTs N ogRnAnY.
Tho Perils Of Taking Free Language
Lessons In the Professor's Family.

Tho Peri1s of Taking Free Language
Lessons In the Professors Family.
Only ono American l can remember who
received an invitation TO meet the family OF
the professor to whom his letter of introduc-
ton was addrcssed. And he happened to be
both rich and well connected. His expert
ence was disastrous in spite OF its comic
aspect. Tbs professor had three daughters,
all excellent girls, but, as is often the case
with excellent girls, not eminent for personal
attractiveness Thoy were extremely cordial
to the young American, as was also their
papa and mamma. My 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 a little
shy OF the rough ways and drinking habitI
OF the students, he found himself almost
daily drifting into the society Of the pro
fessor's daughters. He made occasionally
with charming impartiality1 tentative re
marks to them of a tender or complimentary
character. He seemed 10 be under the i'm
preston that remarks uttered in German
were a mere linguistic exercise, like "the red
COW Of the grandmother in the green garden
OF the rich count II would havo surprised
him 10 be told that they might have a per-
sonnl application and might lead 10 comph-
cations.
He WINS, however, soon to have his eyes
opened. After having called with great
regularity upon the professors daughters
for n couple OF months, he began to be
looked upon as a member of the family; and
once the mother OF the young ladies asked
him in strict confidence, of course, upon
which of the three in particular he had fixed
his heart. Some little unpleasantness had
-~.... Il. IL -...-l. F.. A. s-.--
tiality Of his attentions. My friend felt for
n moment, as II the ceiling had tumbled
down ON his head; but, quickly collecting
himself, he replied, likewise in confidence,
that he was in n serious dilemma Tho
three young ladies were all 80 charming that
he felt himself equally attracted TO all.
Would the frau professorin have the kind
ness 10 grant him a week for meditation, at
the end Of which he would return and make
known TO her his choicei The frau profess
sorin found this proper and natural, and
granted the respite. It Is needless 10 add
that the American has not to this day made
up his mind. He found it convenient to he
take himself TO another university shortly
after his interview with the frau professorin.
Another friend OF mine, though he was
not so well equipped with temporal advanta-
ges as the hero of the triple courtship, found
an object OF interest TO his landlady's daugh-
ter. He was invited 10 confidential coffoes
and literary teas, and concluded that as FREQ
lessons in the language these were not un-
profitable investments. Once, however, he
grew a little alarmed at the progress he was
making in the favor Of the fair damsel, and
hit upon an easy way out OF the difficulty.
He found among the remnants Of his past
follies the picture Of a beautiful American
nctress. This he framed handsomely and
hung it up on the wall over his bed. Stimuli
taneously he invested in n gold ring, which
he slipped upon the third finger of his right
hand. He received the congratulations Of
the family upon his engagement, and was
henceforth no longer troubled with delicate
attentions; for the Germans have an enor-
nous respect for nm engagement, and looh
upon n man who has thus advertised his So
lection us impervious to the charms Of all
other women.-Hjalmar II. Boyesen's Let
ter,