The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-09
A NARROW ESCAPE.

just before the war broke out between
France and Germany arrived in the
latter country with the view of studying
at one of the southern universities. In
the meantime, however, I was spending
few weeks at Frankfort on the Main,
where found much to interest me, and
especially in regard to the early life Of
Goethe, who was born there. But the
pleasure Of the sojourn was greatly
damped by the trouble the police gave
me-
At this time, although well aoquaint-
ed with German dramatically, could
speak but few words of the language.
Knowing French, however, I managed
to get ON pretty well, all the walters IL
the hotels and cafes knowing something
of that tongue, and most of the trades
people talking it little. Having be-
sides spent q little time previously in
Paris, had perhaps become somewhat
Frenchified. I 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 SUBJ
jected.
When I first took up my temporary
abode in the imperial city, made the
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
hired. repeated it when removed
to more commodious and salubrious
quarters in the suburbs of the city.
But all this was not enough. I had no
sooner settled down 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 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 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 a perfect enfilade 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. I asked several
of my friends, but they could not en-
tighten me. proposed to shut the door
in the face of the next picl1elhaube 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 a course horri-
fled my friends, for Frankfort was then
o conquered city and was treated as
SUCH They informed me that to act in
such way would be regarded as tanta-
mount TO high treason, and that as the
result 1 might find myself in prison or
else conducted with scant ceremony over
the frontier.
| Finally | had summons from the
chief of police himself He was major
of the Prussian army and was tall,
broad shouldered and very austere look
ing parsonage. My first interview with
this gentleman lasted over half an hour.
He asked me if had ever been in the
army, used rifle, played with the
sword; if knew Paris, Bordeaux, Stras
burg; where was born, where my
mother was when was born Ia literal
fact, if had any brothers and sisters;
their names, and SO forth.
A second, third, and even q fourth
time I was 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 I was
asked to produce photograph of my
SELF if had one. AS I happened to
have one which had been taken little
while previously in Paris, 1 forwarded
this with my compliments to the major,
with the hope that when he wished to
look upon my face again he would sat-
isfy himself by gazing upon my "coun-
terfeit presentment' instead.
Finally I became 80 tired of these in
QUESTIONS, and, as I>had reason to be-
lieve, private examination of my papers
when 1 was out, that l was sincerely
thinking of relinqnishing my real pur-
| pose Of becoming acquainted with Ger
man philosophy and making little
money by newspaper correspondence. /
had gone SO far as to give my landlady
notice to quit, when suddenly change
came over the scene.
Responding one day to a summons
from the major, was agreeably sur
prised to find the worthy fellow in re-
markably good humor. He shook me by
the hand, as though had long been his
dearest friend, smiled all over his face,
assured me that / was all "goot" and
''recht, - and SO dismissed me more per-
| picked than ever.
Very soon afterward war was de-
clared, and in the turmoil, danger and
excitement that ensued l we'll nigh
forgot the annoyance and frequent in
convenience / had been put to by the
suspicious of the police. Possibly
eI,o1.ld boxya thor, cht ,, n n, oro ahon1t them