The Van Buren press., 1895-07-27
WIDE CHOICE or ANSWERS.
A German Expression Which Means Many
Thinga.

In the party which went to visit .
big German concert hall in the Bowery
were two or three men who had a
knowledge of the German language,
ranging from smattering to 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 meang' l5a,
"That" was the title Of = compost
tion which was to be given on the
orchestrion and it read: "Bei den
Sehramitien."
"Bei den Schrathmen," thoughtfully
murmured the man to whom the ques.
tioh was put II ought to know what
that means Let me think. It will
come to me in a 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-taeE ~
"Bei den Schrammen. Well, we'll,
that's queer. Oh yes, it has got some.
thing to do with sponge 1t must
mean, BY the sponges.
"That's an odd name for d 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
It's evident RIGHTEOUSNESS only pro-
| voked laughter.
Then third man took sky at the
puzzle. 81 believe" he ventured some
what timorously, "that 'schrammen' ia
mechanical term-means some kind
Of a screw. Yes, that's it: BY the
screws. {" nlz ls.lsz.
There was a 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,
a bright smile on his face.
"It's the same as 'Auf Verlangen, ="
he announced, triumphantly, in Ger
man.
"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 d 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 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 III which the aliens sat was
agog with discussions of it.
Ohe man came up to give his version.
He couldn't talk English well.
'Schrammen, he said, 'it's one OF
dem tings what you tie rope on when
you 20 on boat You wind de rope
around like dis" and he went through
the motion OF winding.
"You mean the bitts;" 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. "Schramrnen" were
cleats.
'sThen it must be some kind of a
boating song" reasoned the out-of
town visitor. 80
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 whit. could certainly tell what
they wanted to know. The "Herl
Professor .eard the question with due
gravity, and, clearing his throat, an
nounced Id judicial manner: 'si'
'Schrammen' is the name OF LITTLE
town in Germany which was noted fol-
its noises. 1t was a very noisy place
and people said when they heard I
great disturbance, that it is a regular
'Schrarnmen.' iaa
The "Herr professor" was duly
thanked, and he retired with man!
bows. Then another good-naturet
volunteer came forward. Id,
IF you will pardon me-" he said
with much politeness, "a 'schram' is
wound. 'Schrammen' is the plural
and is applied to the wounds dealt il
students duels. 1t is also used to des
ignate the duels themselves. The mu
sic is descriptive of such a duel"
There were more thanks, but fur
ther discussion of the question wa
forgotten in the interest excited b.
two young women who appeared o.
the stage to sing "You Shan't Play il
Ny Yard."-N. Y. Tribune.
Them That Has, Gits.
; They were two women and they sa
opposite. Said the fat woman In tn
J green gown H trT1i
"Did you hear about the money Mrl
; Smiths uncle left ther?s
"Why, has she had more money LEI
; her?" asked the woman in the blac
bonnet in discontented way. THAT
J the third time since I've known her."
"Yes," assented the green gowr
with a sigh, sits just the Scripture
!. saying-Them that has, gifts. "-Wasf
ington Post. ,.
Ys Modern Statesman. S1-
First Citizen-I think Mr.. Richman
must have political aspirations. s1sis
Second Citizen-Eh! Is he studyin
up on the constitution. and America
history?
First Citizen-No; but he has bougt
o controlling interest in half a doze
; newspapers.-N. Y. Weekly.
. A separate Matter. =
Hicks-You denied that you ha
|