Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-05-31

to get on pretty wen, AL tie walters in
the hotels and cafes knowing something
of that tongue, and most Of the trades
people talking it a little Having be-
sides spent O little time previously In
Paris, l had perhaps become somewhat
Frenchified / had 70 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-
bic, to which / soon began to be sub
jected
When first took up my temporary
abode in the imperial city, l made the
necessary announcement of my intention
to the police. l made it from the Hotel
Garni. in which / first installed myself
I made it again from the private lodging
| hired repeated it when removed
to more commodious and salubrious
quarters in the suburbs of the city.
But all this wasnot enough had no
sooner settled doxn in my new quarters
nay, before L had time thus to settle
down. was honored by one Of the gen.
try with the pickelhaube and sword
who pass for policemen In that land of
soldiers
he generally commenced by asking
my name and profession, where I was
born, who was my father and who my
mother, what l came to the fatherland
for and other similar questions While
thus catechising me he would take mi
mute stock of my apartment His visit
would be followed in day or two by
that of another officer, who would put
me through the same or a very similar
catechism. Then, by way Of variation,
would be summoned to one Of the dis
trict police stations-places more like
barracks than anything else-there to be
again subjected to perfect enflade 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, in fact, was at my wits end to
know what it all meant asked several
of my friends, but they could not en-
tighten me proposed to shut the door
in the face of the next pickelhaube that
called and refuse to respond to the sum.
mons of the next inspector-or what
ever he might be--of police But the
bare suggestion of such course horri-
fed my friends, for Frankfort was then
a conquered city and was treated as
such They informed me that to act in
such a way would be regarded as tanta-
mount to high treason, and that as the
result / might find myself in prison On
else conducted with scant ceremony over
the frontier
Finally I had a summons from the
chief of police himself. He was majo1
Of the Prussian army and was a tall,
broad shouldered and very austere look
ing parsonage. My first interview with
this gentleman lasted over half an hour.
He asked me If 1 had ever been in the
army, used a rife, played with the
sword; if knew Paris, Bordeaux, Stras
burg; where / was born, where my
mother was when was born IA litera,
fact, if had any brothers and sisters
their names, and SO forth.
A second, third, and even fourth
time 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 thu
occasion of one of these visits wa
asked to produce photograph of my
self, if l had one. As I happened Il
have one which had been taken littl,
while previously in Paris I forwarded
this with my compliments to the major
with the hope that when he wished b
look upon my face again he would sat
isfy himself by gazing upon my "coun
terfeit presentment" instead
Finally became so tired of these in
QUESTIONS, and, as I had reason to be
lieve, private examination Of my paper,
when I was out, that I was sincerely
thinking Of relinquishing my real pur
pose of becoming acquainted with Ger
man philosophy and making httl'
money by newspaper correspondence
had gone so far as to give my landlad,
notice to quit, when suddenly chang
came over the scene
Responding one day to summons
from the major, was agreeably sur
prised to find the worthy fellow in re
markably good humor. He shcak me b,
the hand, as though I had long been hi
dearest friend, smiled all over his face
assured me that was all 'goot" ant
'recht" and so dismissed me more per
, picked than ever.
Very soon afterward war was de
! clared, and in the turmoil, danger an
excitement that ensued I we'll mig
| forgot the annoyance and frequent In
convenience I had been put to by tn
, suspicious Of the police Possibly
should have thought no more about ther
and have quite forgotten them by thi
time but for an incident that occurre
J shortly after the close of the war.
, was again in Frankfort paying
! short visit to friends One evening
was at party given by a lady residin
in the city. While engaged in converse
ton with the editor of one Of the loca
papers the hostess approached me an
said:
| "Allow me, Mr.. -, to introduc
you to my very good friend, Colont
J Guts,nicht -