The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-03-17
TWO MEALS

The one building In Franzenshoe is
very strongly built, because 1t has to
stand the fierce storms Of winter in
that region. 1t 7,16O feet above the
ievel Of the sea on the Stelvio pass,
the highest road pass In Europe, and
which runs from Italy into the Tyrol.
From the tavern in F~ranzcnshohe
can be seen the snowy peak Of the
Ortler, the highest mountain in the
Tyrol. The hostelry Is constructed of
stone, and there is a large dining room
1t the eastern end of it. In this din
ing room Is a huge stove, built ap-
parently of bricks and plastered over.
1t is like q steamboats, tubular boiler
set on end, and the fire kept going In
side sends q genial heat out into the
room that is much needed. 1 imagine
that even il the fire went out the pecu-
liar construction of the stove would
enable it to give out heat for some
time.
The one building at Franzenhohe is
gerry grandly situated; but this story
loes not deal with mountain scenery
nor adventure. in fact. I nm somewhat
doubtful whether there is a story at
all to tell. / am merely going to relate
two incidents that happened while I
was staying at this hostelry. I have
4 dim idea that somewhere hereabouts
there is q moral. or lesson to be learn
ed, or perhaps a concealed sermon If
INV one takes the trouble to hunt it
out. / wish I had time to think about
it myself and find out whether there is
anything to be learned from the two
incidents I am going to relate. If the
reader, however. searches in vain, then
all I have to do Is to apologize for tell
ing SO trivial and thin Il yarn; l only
do 80 because of my belief in a con-
.ealed moral.
A very fine carriage and pair drove
ap to the door of the tavern at Fran
zenshohe. 1t was not the ordinary
hired carriage that could be had at
Bormio, or down in the Tyrol valley.
The two men who were inside evident
ly owned it, and they were travelling
In style. Each of them had fur over
coats on Of the most expensive kind,
and they were both attended obsequi-
ously by two servants who came with
them in the carriage. They came into
the big dining room where l sat, ana
spread out their hands before the huge
Ttove, complaining Of the cold. l
took it from their conversation that
they came from Vienna. When the
rather buxom Tyrolese girl came IN
to take their order. the elder Of the
two men asked:
"What can we have for dinner?
She replied that they could have
,oup and O steak. with bread and vege-
:ables.
..Have you any winey" he asked.
EYES," she answered.
"Then bring me q wine cord"
I'VE have no wine card" she said,
but we have red and white Wine.
Which will you have!"
"O',. bring the white wine, that Is
1s,,. /, the least VILE"
H.. ing warmed themselves, the two
linen threw off their o%vercoats, and
presently the girl came in with soup
Ind two TASKS Of white wine, placing
one at the side of each plate. The
men sat down and tasted the soup.
One of them made q wrv face, and
looked at the other. The elder nan
said:
"This Is pretty bad, is it not?"
eyes," assented the other, II don't
think 1 Gun take it." with which he
pushed away his plate. To console
himself, he poured out some Of the
white wine in his glass and slipped it.
Judging from his expression the wine
seemed to be even worse than the
soup. The other now tasted his wine,
and said: "This is awful"
I'VE can get nothing BETTER" put in
Ills companion, until we reach Bor.
milo. and that will he hours and hours
yet; in fact. we have 1000 feet or
more to go before we get to the top
Of the pass"
The other growled and tasted his
soup once more. but he could not stand
1t, and finally n.shcd the plate away
from him and rang the bell on the
i.NNMMMVt So,