River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-05
LETTER FROM GERMANY.
Prof Charles Friedel Discourseth
POLITICALLY from His Retreat
in the Faderland.
Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep-He
Pays Tribute to Old Neptune.
LEIpsIo, Dec. 8. 1887.

many of the citizens of River Falls,
that | would inform them of my
whereabouts, in case l should take a
| trip to Europe, and would write them
something of my experiences and OBJ
servations, allow me to submit to you
the following letter for publication in
your paper.
My Dear Friends Of Riuer FaIls-It
is only four months, as we count time,
since left your fair city where, as
one of you, spent two of the happiest
years of my life; but, looking back
tonight over the great variety of
events that have come into my expert
ence during that period, it seems a
very long time. The consummation
of dream, whose origin dates back
to the days of my boyhood, has been
finally realized. | have looked upon
the old world. have felt something
of its charms. / have stood in the
awe-inspiring presence of some of its
most renowned historical places. l
have seen some of it's crumbllng ruins,
that mark the march of time and
arouse in the spectator such sad
and heavy sense of the vanity of all
worldly things. | have Toasted my
eyes upon the indescribable beauties
of nature, that seem fairly to expand
the human soul in the intensity of its
enjoyment. My dream has come true.
Even now it is transformed into
records OF memory. Its realization
has brought with it much pleasure and
some valuable information. But,
above all the enjoyments of novelty,
above all the pleasures of contacts
with the beauties of nature, and
monuments of human ingenuity,
above all information that may be
valuable, above all these, one fact
stands out in wonderful prominence,
namely, that | never, until now, knew
how dearly love my own country,
how fully | appreciate our own Ameri-
can institutions, and how dear TO me
are the friends that left behind me.
| The familiar scenes of River Falls,
| the homes where l used TO call, the
faces used to.greet, the school-house
with its bright faces and familiar
objects, the pleasant fresides where
spent many happy evening in social
enjoyment-rised daily in my recollec-
ton. Through the windows of my
the home circles as they are gathered
around the bright coal fires, making
merry the evening hours with story or
with song. And as l look, my ears
begin to burn and seem to hear some
familiar voice talking of the time,
when Frledel used to be among us,
and wondering where he might now
be, or what he might be doing. |
hear the kindly voices chatting about
past adventures, r.amusements pleas
ant to the memory, or laying deep
plans for the contamination of future
events
The Holidays are coming, and plans
are projected for their proper celebra-
| ton. Secret combinations are made
whose mysterious purpose is to pro-
vide grand surprises for dear friends.
Saving hands ply industriously needle
and thread to weave bright fancies
into gayly colored fabrics, which shall
be to their friends testimonials of
most tender regards. Never were
hands more busy or thoughts more
active. And the hope, that another
may be made to rejoice, is the energy
that guides so cheerily the work of
love, which even now brings it's own
reward in the contentment that is the
inheritance of noble natures. And
thus Isy fancy paints with the pencil
of memory the familiar scenes of the
old home circle, SO many, many miles
away, and long 20 be back to hear
again the merry ring of their voices
and to add my mite to swell the sum
of Christmas rejoicing.
But | must not weary you with
scenes of your own acquaintance. You
are, no doubt, anxious to know how
your friend fares in foreign land;
if, perchance, his former jolly nature
has in any wise abated. No, my
friends, though it has been raining in
Leipsic nearly every day for the last
two months, not excepting this very
morning dec. y, thanks to a stout
umbrella and good pair of shoes my
spirits have been kept reasonably dry,
and, in that realm, the barometer still
! indicates fair weather. Yes" some
one says, "but what of the seal"
Did the barometer stand very high
on the Ocean!'
My friends, did you ever make the
/ acquaintance of one of Dickens char
acters, called Mark Tapley! If you
/ did. you will recOllect that Mark and
Martin Chuzzelwit left their homes in
England and came to America, and
here Mark finally realized nis wish TO
pass through an experience, where
| it would be some credit to be jolly"
Now, | positively know that Mark
never was sea.sick. If he had been,
he would have realized his wish much
sooner. The man who can be jolly
when he is sea-sick is still to be born.
If you doubt it, my friends, just try if;
and when you get fully under its
kindly influence, remember what I
/ told you. Think of my words when
you are stretched In your bunk, just
/ long enough and wide enough for your
body to squeeze in; when you hear the
dashing of the ocean waves, and the
ceaseless churning of the screw; when
the bilge-water smell steals up your
delicate nostrils; when you are tossed
I twenty feet in the air and the bottom
keeps sinking from under you; when