Wichita eagle., 1890-01-05
AN ABUSE OF CONFIDENCE.
4 Delightful Letter From Wichita Woman
in Germany.

DARMsTADT, Germany, Dec. Is, 1889.
Ny Dear Col. MurdacS:
You have doubtless learned ere this that
/ reached the Kaiser's terra hrma all right.
had very pleasant voyage, no storms,
no seasickness though many Of my fellow
passengers suffered no. little. l left
New York on the 9th and landed at Bre-
men on the 18th. Eleven hours later this
place was reached, where l found the
weather about the same as that in Wich-
tia, but the ground for two weeks now has
been covered with snow and IL Is quite
cold. looked al the thermometer this
morning but it was so Dutch that l could
not make out what it said.
On arriving in this city went direct to
a hotel and after resting and arranging
my toilet took cab and drove to the home
of Mr.. VIM. Greifenstein's people, to
whom bore letters OF introduction from
him. I found his sister 81 home and all
alone, excepting one servant. Neither
could speak a word of English, but on
reading my letter she seemed pleased with
me and delighted with the situation.
Evidently acting under the impression
that she could be understood better in
higher key she talked away as fast as she
could, raising her voice higher and higher.
but alas 1T was all the same in Dutch" TO
me. Finally, bethinking herself she ex-
claimed oh, mine Gottl and clasped my
hand in both of hers and that l under
stood. In our dilemma door opened and
a niece came into the room who could talk
English quite well, and then there was
smooth sailing. Another sister came and
urged that l should become her guest the
next day and did So And just here one
episode which will illustrate how different
are things as l found them from what
they are at home. A walk to the suburbs
was suggested which l delightedly en-
braced and we started. But thought we
should never stop. For four solid hours
by the clock we kept it up until Thought
I should sink in my tracks. Oh,
how l did want to stop, but as
one of the party was a lady who Is
seventy years old dared not complain. l
was lame and sore all next day. The
Greiffensteins belong TO the aristocracy
with grand homes wonderfully luxurious
and rich in their appointments with works
and proofs of wealth on all sides.
suppose the question will come into
1
answer vet. only know that I like tie
privilege Of what came for. the privilege
of study. All is strange and though Old.
so very new. Seemingly being in no enc 5
way the matter of liking or disliking
Germany has nothing to do with TIE case.
leaving me only hoping ever that my work
NAV be crowned with some measure OF
success.
1 called on a lady friend in New
York the day before sailing who
seemed dismayed at my undertaking
l shall never forget the feeling that
came over me as the steamer left her moor
ings. The band was playing on the deck,
some were laughing, many crying, while
friendly hankerchiefs were everywhere
waving fond adieus and partings. but me,
with no friend, without even single
acquaintance, or familiar face to be seen,
the feelings of utter loneliness which en-
| veloped me as my native land sank from
sight into the sea, oh l can not tell. No
doubt others felt the same but it seemed
| TO me that l was the most intensely alone.
| There was no other American on board.
! The first cabin was full Of swell English
people one lady of whom said to me one
! day, you are an American, but where
your gum? You are the only American
| that l have seen whose jaws were not go
ing at an accelerated gait in e4crable
gum grindingV
have not heard from Wichita yet and
am getting little anxious. lam devotlng
myself to German in addition to my voice
| and instrumental studies. As | hear
| nothing else doubtless | shall soon be CAB
| bling it with the best Of them. Ny must
| cal teachers give me great encouragement
| In Frankfort, which is but thirty minutes
away by rail, lives one Of the most sue
| csssful masters in Europe and l shall take
| instructions from him as soon as l can
! speak the language so as to be understood,
The emperor was here from the 9Th &c
| the 9Th. There were some fine operas set
! for him. l went one evening and was af-
! forded a good opportunity to see him. He
sat in a box close by, with the grand duke
and a daughter of Queen Fictoria's. The
| emperor did not look different from others
except he wears an air OF less conceit than
| the average Dutchman- The town was
nicely decorated in his honor and l en-
! joyed it all immensely.
Well, you will think this queer letter,
and it is, but being only for you and Mrs.
| NJ and family, and as it makes good my
/ promise against your laughing banter fol
| a letter from the Faderland, l close with
many kind and only sincere wishes for AL
nv friends Yours Truly,
| MARY J. SHERMAN.