Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-17

Perhaps no OJlCr journey Call w huuO
so thoroughly enjoyable as one on that
river. Having been one OF the chiet at-
fractions to tourists ever since the modern
great travelling mania begun, the Rhine
and the adjacent country have brought all
appliances for the accommodation OF
tourists to that perfection which Is porn
of experience. 1t must be confessed
that the same experience has developed
I'm the inhabitants of those regions an
extraordinary talent for Turing tAe
iinging CON out of the traveller pocket
into their own. But that Is small
grievance, after all. Other rivers may
have grander or fairer banks, be richer
even in historical "reminiscences and
poetic associations, and sec O. sWccter
grape ripen on their sunlit slopes, but
mono can boast OF such combination OF
all that makes a Journey interesting,
profitable and entertaining as the favor
tic stream of the Germans. To sit on
the deck of one of those magnificent
steamers, with the heat OF summer
day tempered by the refreshing exhala-
tiOns of the water, surrounded by people
of every civilized nation Oh earth, to sip
the golden wine of the country and to
watch the ever varying shapes OF the
hills on both sides, now bold and craggy,
now softly sloping, the ruined
castles of feudal lords overlooking
every bend of the stream, tho vino
wards covering the lower portions
of the hills, and towns and villages hid
den picturesque in the smaller valleys
and glens. IS to experience one OF the
greatest pleasures which convince us
that life is indeed worth living. A
thousand facts and legends are recalled
TO your mind as yon pass by the places
that are souvenirs of the Nibalungen,
and Atti,a. and Charlemagne, the Hohen.
stauren. and Luther, and Napoleon, and
who knows how many more of the great
name, of the past, You arc under the
influence of by-gone time, yet the pres.
ent life around you is so vigorous and
beautiful that, instead of being plunged
into melancholy musings, your ENJOY
ment of the realities surrounding you IS
merely given faint but sweet flavor OF
clcgy By those shadowy associations.
The very inhabitants of these countries
are different from other Germans, from
all other mortals. They seem to carry
lifc's burden with lighter heart, the blood
seems to course quicker and healthier
In their veins than in those OF other
people. In all Central and Southern
Germany people are fond of music, but
nowhere on earth do you hear more
singing or other musical utterance than
along the Rhine. This music is pure y
spontaneous, not meant for the cars OF
others or to gain applause, but simply
the manfcs alton of pleasure felt by the
musician, like the songs Of the birds
Lighthcartcdness AMI joyfulness is cpl
dcmic on the Rhine, and no tourist can
escape the infection. Nowhere on earth
docs one hear more merry laughter or
see moro happy faces than aboard
Rhine steamer.
DR.. Warringham and his wife felt the
influence of this atmosphere of joy as
they stood at the stern Of the beat and
let their eyes gree1ily drink In tho
beauty. of the surroundings. Lucy, in
deed, knew nothing about historical as
sociat'ons and cared less. But she had
her full share of capacity for enjoying
The present. Ra ph had ceased to bore
her with explanations, since he had dis
covered her lack OF comprehension and
interest
He had no reason now to complain OF
neglect on the Part OF his wife, as he had
during their passage over the AtIantlc.
She could not speak German, and Tor
once. as an exception to the rule, there
were. but few English-spcakiny people
OH board. As a rule. the English arc
very conspicuous on these beats, and
every one of them who utters word OF
his native language IS at once set down
! bv the good Rhinelanders as "Brltlsh
| mi.ord." with the accent invariably on
| the first syllable. No distinction is made
between the subjects of the Queen and
the Americans, so Ralph found himself
promoted to the position of British EO-
| bleman by walters and cal. drivers. But
he had to pay dearly for the honor, for a
nmilord" must of course be immensely
rich and able to stand generous drain
upon his pocket.
Since their arrival Oh the continent
Ralph no longer felt the pangs of cal
pusv. and there was bat one thing icl1
to disturb his perfect contentment~-his
relations to his mother. From day to
day he expected to receive an answer to
the letter he had sent her Immediately
On his arrival in Europe His surpri Q
was very painful when, instead of the
| uODtO-lOi COlOJlldtOlJ Uh'NCis no Wv"
letter was r, turned unopened! All hope
OF conciIiation, for the present at least,
was acco. dinghy vain, and letter from
Hattie cOrroborated this sad conclusion.
| TO Walter he had not written at all, ior
he could not forget the incidents or that
Cminous supper party.
But Notwithstanding he was now GER
tain that for some time at least he could
not expect to see his purse repcnishcd
! out of his mothers income, Ralph still
| neglected to open Lucy's eyes in regard
to their financial affairs, although, from
the generous expenses in which his wiie
INDUCED and which he tacitly cOun-
tenanced, it was evident that she be-
lieved him to be very wealthy.
His cousins letter was great ctnso-
lation to him. 1t proved that at least
one member of his family still regarded
him with the same sentiments as before
his marriag, Not for a moment did he
dream of what character and how deep
and true the sentiments were that Hattie
Bcckford entertained for him.
When they reached the city and for
tress of CctIcntz, where they remained
day, DR.. Warrngham and his wife had
an unexpected surprise. They were just
returning TO the steamer on which they
were to proceed on their journey, when
they were salutcd by Il gentleman whom
they recognized as their friend, Count
Won Hohenfels, the German Secretary
of Legation at Washington, who proved
to be on furlough in his native country.
allow glad and surprised | am TO
meet you here, Mrs. Warringham," the
Count declared "I hope you arc going