The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-30
A NARROW ESCAPE.

Just before tho war broke out between
Franco and Germany 1 arrived in the
latter country with tho view of studying
at one of tho southern universities. In
tho meantime, however, was spending
q few weeks at Frankfort on tho Main,
where found much to interest me, and
especially in regard to tho early life of
Goethe, who was born there But the
pleasure of the sojourn was greatly
damped by the trouble tho police gave
me.
AT this time, although we'll acQuaint-
ed with German grammatically, could
speak but few words Of the language
Knowing French, however, managed
to get on pretty we'll, all tho walters in
the hotels and cafes knowing something
of that tongue, and most of tho tra}es-
people talking it little Having be-
sides spent littlo time previously in
Paris, I had perhaps become somewhat
Frenchified. had to this extent any
way-that wore my hair rather short
and waxed the ends of my mustache To
this circumstance and to the fact that
| spoke French in preference to either
English or German must, imagine, be
attributed the annoyance, and even trou-
BILE, to which I soon began to be sub
jected.
When first took up my temporary
abode in the imperial city, made tho
necessary announcement of my intention
to the police. made it from the Hotel
Garni, in which first installed myself
made it again from the private lodging
I hired repeated it when removed
to more commodious and salubrious
quarters in the suburbs of the city.
But oil this was not enough I had no
sooner settled down i'll my now quarters
nay, before | had time thus to settle
DOWN. was honored by one OF the gen
try with the pickolhaubc and sword
who pass for policemen in that land of
soldiers
He generally commenced BY asking
my name and profession, where was
born, who was my father and who my
mother what came to tho fatherland
for and other similar questions. While
thus catechising mo he would take mi
mute stock of my apartment His visit
would DO followed i'll day or two by
that of another officer, who would put
me through the same OF very similar
catechism Then, by way of variation,
would be summoned to one of the dis
trict police stations places moro like
barracks than anything else-thcre to be
again subjected to perfect e1lfilado OF
questionings and cross questionings-
These were all the more perplexing be-
cause of my inability to express myself in
German and my tormentors' ignorance
of either French or English
This went on, as say, for some time,
till, i'll fact, l was at my wits end to
know what it all meant 1 asked several
of my friends, but they could not en-
tighten Inc. proposed to shut the door
i'll the face OF the next pickelhaubc that
called and refuse to respond to the sum-
mons of the next inspector what
ever no might bc-of police. But the
bare suggestion of such course horri-
fed my friends, for Frankfort was then
conquered city and was treated as
such. They informed mo that to act in
such way would be regarded as tanta-
mount to high treason, and that as tho
result l might find myself in prison OF
else conducted with scant ceremony over
the frontier.
Finally l had q summons FROM the
chief of police himself Howas, major
OF the Prussian army and was u tall,
broad shouldercd and very austere look
ing parsonage. My first interview with
He asked me if had ever been in the
army, used rifle, played with the
sword; if I knew Paris, Bordeaux, Stras-
burg; where [ was born, where my
mother was when was born "a literal
fact, if h,td any brothers and sisters;
their names, and so forth.
A second, third, and even a fourth
timo Twas closeted with this same func-
tionary, each time being piled with
more and more perplexing, and, as they
seemed to me, absurd questions. On the
occasion of one Of these visits 1 was
asked to produce photograph of my
self, if / had one AS happened to
have one which had been taken little
while previously i'll Paris forwarded
this with my compliments to tho major,
with the hope that when he wished to
look upon ~ face again he would sat
isfy himself b. gazing upon my 'ooun-
terfcit prcsc"t:3cnt" instead.
Finally became SO tired of these in
QUESTIONS, AID, as had reason to be-
llevc, private examination Of my papers
when YVES ont, that l was sincerely
thinking O. rc!:.Guishing my real pur-
pose of becoming acquainted with Cor
man philosophy and making little
money by newspaper correspondence. l
had gone so far us to give my landlady
notice to quit, when suddenly o change
came over the scene.