New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-25
TENNYSON'S GERMAN Pun.
A FOREIGNERS "REMINISCENCES OF VISIT TO
AN ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE.

A FOREIGNERS KErlNiSSf'N>i, ~ = ''"'' -
AN ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Tennvson anecdotes being quite the fashion,
allow me TO add my little quota OF recollecHOh OF
forty years ago. ! had just arrived at MIS-. RS
,iua,, wos obout the end OF November the first
DAYS OF December-coming from snOwboInd Germany,
and was surprised beyond measure to breathe a
bamy air and find the roses blooming IN the gaTdeh'
the grass strong and green with that beautiful
English trim, the sea guls Swimming me curing
| water and alishHg On the sandy shore OF the
Thames, which had rather overlooked It's borders
and gurglad over the lower part Of the domain open
70 the river. But nv lead wns dizzy from the first
experiences of sea sic kness the sights OF London, the
different aspect OF the rural place from German
bones: and | confess. not Speaking worn oi
English / was rather homeslcS ard longed for rest
The villa was full Of guests. fer II was the ceie-
braton Of christening The youngest scion OF The
house. and | was glad 10 escape the stare OF tic
Younger people AT the tall slim German girl VINO
couId moi understand them. they talked neither
German nor French, and the situation was becoming
rather awkward. Mrs Il. alone spoke French. but.
being the hostess. 1t was Impossible Toy me 10
monopolizc her. I went 10 my cOsey little chamber
and In spite OF the strangenesS Of surroundings zen
asleep waking only from the softlT murmured words
Of the maid: "1hcv all nt breakfast, MISS
which understood soon enough. for was ue'
perltely hungry and one, two. three. hau Joineu
the company who aughingly offered me everything
which made open lnrG, tue German eyes az
customod TO meet ony coffee ana roll no"
very gracouslr to the sa7ory vlands ard at the END
was bid by my hostess TO Join the others III
stroll through the gardens AMI adjoining park, where
we wore ia see some newly acquired turtle doves.
The introductions passed over me like whizzing
Kissing wind. Not name remained In my NINA
from the strangely sped names and only look
notice that Il tall dark complexionc1 man, old III 'he
eyes OF seventeen with massive HEAD q CURING
hair clttcrlrg eyes, remarkable nose all covered by
an immense Calabrian hat wrapped In q long spanish
cloak gathered AT the thron stepped up TO me to Walk
beside me- addressing me In broken Gc.man an
svered In French hoping 10 make IL easier Tor NM
But he insisted on being answered In German saying
that he hated French and rather funniy treated
me to 4 dissertation on Faust which he saiu he WAS
reading The eyes Of the whole crowd d guests
were on u.s. and felt rather uncomfortable being
under the apprehension OF committing some Dreach
OF etiquette as / did not understand some rather
snapplshly expressed sentences, and not having
dear Mrs. r. TO fly to for explanation. feared hat IN!
walk would prove rather path OF thorhS. 30 /
Interrupted the flow OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. German
Of my cavalier by expressing my delgh, al the
beautiful roses IN the open air 50 late III the season
but no sooner had said It than my companion
walked over TO the bushes. broke the fines. OF tile
roses and handed II 20 me with a gallant remark on
the maiden checks which blushed deeper than the
flowers at the unexpected kindness ana Ioud com
reut Of the assembled ladies'. What had l don,
wrong, Must / not notice the fowersl WHAT
savage people in the beautiful landscape
At last We arrived at the turtledovc lnclosurc
and there the others went into rapturcs about the
birds which seemed TO rather ordinary ones. bu;
all these remahs were lost on my cavalier WHOM
they seemed TO envy me though they had their own
but ne never responded to their ordinations bul
went on talking in German, Hnd at last said III MS
deep chest tones laying his finger on his breast
Ich bin cline klclnc TaubeT whercupon broke out
In uncomfortable huGh'et Whoevc. Knew tnS ,tdi
broad s.OulGcred. kngly-loOhlng man, ana hnrd MN
speak In his hard deep iu1 tones, "Ouu nave
Joined In my laugh, upon understanding the s't.h.e:
- a little dove Anu wren ne nrhtV'Gd my
mcrrincnt had subsidized he took the long boay finger
from his breast ana laid II on ms ear snllhs
ia IN. ich bin enc Mcne taube.7 understood Of
a sudden the sweetest little pun Of the foreigner,
who. as YOU probably know, was Mite dcaii wv
'uE COM 1 i ,nor Hack Looks Lut had 10 bear
IL until We returned home. -, -,
But there new surprise In store; ne gay
,mdden / Was clad in Hight six man'l!.a--
foreigners generally dcsplse precautions In new
complete ruin. but my health the attack g! .cveir
cold. My gallant Old cayalicr was not alaShcd r.
spite Of my pro;estalonS. wrapped me mp IN II. Nov
iiadcs was LOOSE IN 70: GOOD and a!I-"c
rambled home and on opening l.c hah-uoor' W Mah
RS ears with my niquty from frst to ms. on,
how she laughed! And coming over to me she
MIS- X. | presume you did NOT hear me say
who the gentleman was who walked WIN yol
poc laureate These young ladies lay forever In his
way TO obtain favor another ana 10 tease tbcn
md 10 revenge himself he showcred the hvors ali
Alas for being a German girl Of sweet seventeen.
with blue eyes and golden auburn halrl The great
man, am sure would not ,rdD G, hin WGw Ty
''' New .' York, Nov. IL. 1892.