Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-07-11
WIDE CHOICE OF ANSWERS.

WIDE CHOICE OF ANSWERS.
A German Expression which Means Many
Things.
In the party which went to visit a
big German concert hall in the Bowery
were two or three men who had a
knowledge of the German language,
ranging from smattering to a fair ac-
quaintance. These men were extreme
ly ready with their information, so it
was quite natural that one of the
young women should ask:
''What does that meanY'
THAT" was the title of a compost
ton which was to be given on the
orchestrion and it read: "Bei den
Schrammen." ave #7tt
''Bei den Schrammen," thoughtfully
murmured the man to whom the ques-
ton was put. II ought to know what
that means. Let me think. 1t will
come to me in minute"
But it didn't come to him, in spite of
his corrugated brow and his evident
effort at doing some tall thinking.
Then the inquiry was repeated to an
other of the party, who had been a
student in Germany. He rolled the
phrase off his tongue once or twice
and showed that he, too, was
"stumped." s....u. .s...
''Bei den Schrammen. Well, well,
that's queer. Oh, yes, it has got some
thing to do with sponge. 1t must
mean, BY the sponges.'
"Thats an odd name for a piece of
music" suggested the visitor from up
the state, in whose honor the expedi-
ton had been formed. The author of
the translation tried to defend it, but
its evident RIGHTEOUSNESS only pro
voked laughter. ..#tH. ..'.h
Then third man took a sky at the
| puzzle. II believe" he ventured some
what timorously, that 'schrammen' is
a mechanical term-means some kind
! of screw. Yes, that's it: by the
screws" -.....E
There was storm of laughter at
this. Then one of the young men mus
| tered up enough German to ask the
waiter (who doubtless spoke excellent
| English) what the title meant. The
waiter looked blankly for moment,
and then had to admit that he didn't
know But he would find out. He
hurried off, and before long returned,
bright smile on his face. ........
Its the same as 'Auf Verlangen,'
he announced, triumphantly, in Ger
| man. .. E.. a.
"Why, that means by request" was
| the relieved comment of the man who
had started the waiter on the trail,
How stupid to make such a fuss about
so simple a thing!" .... .....
But the ghost would not down. 9th.
er men of the party had asked Germans
at adjoining tables for a translation
| of the term, and while no two agreed
on the answer, the decision was unan-
imous that ''by request was utterly
wrong. In the meantime the question
was passed from one to another, until
the gallery in which the aliens sat was
| agog with discussions of it. e."".
One man came up to give his version.
He couldn't talk English we'll.
'Schrammen,' he said, ''it's one of
dem tings what you tie rope on when
you go on boat. You wind de rope
around like dis" and he went through
the motion of winding.
You mean the bits" suggested the
amateur yachtsman. But he didn't
mean that. After much cudgling of
brains, the word ''cleat" was hit upon.
Yes, that was it. "Schrammen" were
| cleats.
''Then it must be some kind of
boating song" reasoned the out-of-
town visitor.
This wasn't entirely satisfactory, but
just here one of the walters brought
| up tall man with spectacles and the
air of a schoolmaster, and introduced
him as Herr Prof. Schultz" a learned
man who could certainly tell what
they wanted to know. The Herr
Professor" heard the question with due
gravity, and, clearing his throat, an
nounced in a judicial manner:
'Schrammen' is the name of little
town in Germany which was noted for
its noises. 1t was a very noisy place,
and people said when they heard a
great distur bance, that it is a regular
'Schrammen.'
The Herr professor" was duly
thanked, and he retired with many
bows. Then another good-natured
volunteer came forward. ..f au.# I
eff you will pardon me-" he said,
with much politeness, "a schram' is a
wound. 'Schrammen is the plural,
and is applied to the wounds dealt in
students duels. 1t is also used to des-
ignate the duels themselves. The mu-
sic is descriptive of such duel
! There were more thanks, but fur
Their discussion of the question was
! forgotten in the interest excited by
two young women who appeared on
the stage to sing You Shan't Play in
/ Ny Yard. IN. Y. Tribune.
Them That Has, GIFTS.
They were two women and they sat
| opposite. Said the fat woman in the
green gown
Ibid you hear about the money Mrs.