The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-19
They Understood German Well.
ErOn1 the DefrOit F,ee proos


While resting from ing railroad Journey in
| the city of Heidelbe &, Germany during a
| recent pleasure tour through the Vaterla 3D.
Moses Rohnert Of the probate court walked into
a cafe on q prominent StraSSe in that CITY in
company with August Marxhausen, and the
| two seated themselves at on of tIe numerous
elegant tables with which the interior
abounded.
water" called out Mr.. Rohnert in English,
please uring us two cups of black coffee and
cigars"
The cafe was a resort for students of the
| Heidelberg university, and, as it happened.
| there were several parties of gay young men
who We're conducting themselves much as
students are apt to do over their mugs of beer
Mr.. Rohnert'S order, given in English wa,
something unusual there and the strangers at
once became the jectS of the students ewes
and remarks. The waiter res pended, but it was
with considerable difficulty that be could be
| made to understand what was wanted Al
though both Mr.. ROhnert and MIR narxhausen
spoke German fiuently they did not make this
fact known from curiosity to learn how an
American with no knowledge of German would
have Jared After questions and cross-ques-
tons, gestures, and motions. the waiter com
pretended and the coffee and cigars were pro-
duced
The students had become convinced that
they had brace OF Americans with them who
had neither comprehension nor underS anding
of the German language This led one to call
ont in a loud tone of voice to another speaking
in German
1ueTe are Two 1901 .AIllcTlCtDS over there ~
Yes piled e STUDENT addressed, Il
should think such specimens of a country
would be forbid len to travel in strange Ian $
''Well, ey PROBABLY have got more money
than they know what to do with and came
over mere TO be beaten out of it," put in a
third.
II will wager that the waiter will CHARGE
them four prices for their coffee, said anot her
Yes, and to think they would drink
coffee! But then an American would drink any
thing"
This sort Of badinage was passed around at
I le Americans expense until { @ students were
in high state of merriment. Finally one with
more assul ance thau his fellows a nounced
that he was going TO have come fun with the
srra gers. Walking up to Mr.. ROhnert he said
IF you do not give me match to light my
cigar with will pitch you into the middle of
tn street
This he supposed would be Greek to
Mr.. Rohnert, and the latter pretended tnat it
II do not understand that kind of talk, re-
piled he.
oh. no, of course you do not understand, -
replied the stude t. while his party was choking
vita Ian Ehter AT the joke. Il do not believe
you u derStand when you are hungry. Who
e you, anyway, and where do you come
FROM"
Mr. Rohnert concluded that it was Lime IN
retaliate, so turning 10 his impolite interro-
gator he replied in the very best OF German:
Sir, l am an American thong my father was
a German, and born not far from this CITY
| came TO Germany on a pl assure trip, and until
this evening have thoroughly enjoyed myself
l have just learned from you that there are
native born Germans who are not gentlemen.
| will add also, that if it were not for the fact
that on would be too greatly Inundated before
your friends would chaStise you for your i'm.
pudence."
As Mr. ROhnert spoke he unfolded his long
sinewy form aud confronted his would-be tor.
mentor. The smiles on the faces OF the students
faded as they heard Mr.. RoLnert speaking their
language with the fuency Of native There
was an embarrassing pause, and then apologize ;
began TO be made to the Americans. Each
student who had taken hand in the matter
ca ne forward, and MessrS Rohnert and Marx.
hansen left twenty-five friends in Heidelberg
the next day.