New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

A BIT OF GERMANY IN AMERICA.


We haG = hard time OF it. Teddy and I. during
, our frs, term at the law school \ student re-
qulr-s much more of his boarding house than
clerk. for instance: he is in his room during the
daytime. he is present az luncheon. We ran the
eamut OF the neagre. the dirty and the striden,.
and were about settled down 10 the consolation OF
tho adage. high thinking and low living. when
one evening Blnss. hearing OF our stress. called
and put 4 stop TO II once.
You're rather stringy. Tom he said to ne: Il
might say thready. As for you. Teddy. you're 80
poo- that YOU could 60 through the eye OF needle
with your arms akimoo. There's but one thing 10
be done he continued. writing at the sound OF
The hooking Bird from what euphemisti-
caly called the paror: Il have go the briny
for a few months"-what an or-hand way Bings
had OF referring to vast entcrpriseg-"and YOU might
well have my room at the Frau's. So prepare
TO cut sticks even ms you used 10 cut chapel
Blngs's word was more than law. X gospel
to us. He had been our mentor. full TWO years In
advance. at school and college: hc was now In a.
tive practice had office of his ard was
supposed to have told the courts what was what
several occasions. A gigantic personality. Bings
at his nod more than ready TO take up
beds and walk
The house as We approached the next morning
loomed high broad and substantial from IL point
OF vantage the corner on" might think that
Mr. Dombey had jus: driven away. and that per
haps little Paul looking far OF for the mystic
rivers flow from the side window Of the landing.
But IL IS doubtful whether Towlinson and all his
minions ever kept the lights go shiny and the area
and the stoop spotess There was the Hutter
OF white apron ~ the base mcnt gate. there was
the holding OF a white cap AT the rear entrance"
each TO the vigorous accompaniment OF a broom.
Germany answered the bell in tho shape of a
plump and smiling little maid. looking as II she
had Just been from hand laundry Cor
many presently came into the parlor I'm he shape
Of mothcrly dame. rather too expansive or
stomlcher 20 be stately. who assured us that any
frents Of Herr Bings would DO her frens. and that
she hoped We would feel AT home ALREADY.
Binss's room. a combination OF the modern and
the mediaeval-thst IS OF his taste ana the Fraus-
was altogether comfortable. It privilege to
work there without the interruption OF snuHy
children nghting on the stairs Of their disncvel-
led mothers wrangng over priority or clalnS 10
the hapess chambermaid 1t was u pleasure to
be able critically consider the statut" or trusts
without the intrusion OF a shrill clater as TO what
he said and she did. We were as quiet ana Sc
cluded ne II IN the top OF lighthouse with mo
door the base locked
There came the prolonged cang OF a gong which
seemed 70 Indicate that luncheon would be n por-
tentous affair. Teddy looked at mo and looked
a, him. and then We descended tn" broad stair
way side by side.
The great table In the front basement was spread
Ike an exhibition OF deicatessen store. There
were more pickles than had ever dreamed or In
my phIlosophy-salt and sweet. and mustard In
quality as We afterward learned to discriminate
There were slabs OF cold meat-ham. tongu" ana
chicken. There all kinds and coors OF crinkly
and crispy breads and biscuits There was Il COM
prehensi:c collection OF chceses running from the
fresh 10 the rancid-the latter. by the way. ala
most Of the running And there were dried and black
Ash which looked as II they might have been put
down by Noah against another spell OF Wet weather
And two chairs made II manifest that All TINS
picnic WAS Cor Teddy and me.
The Frau. with her knitting by the window Dyed
us critically as II bound that We should do our
whole duty Now she urged this Wand and now
that all with the recommendation: "Eet T. goot
FOR YOU" Her school OF medicine could no; surely
be called eclectic. In COSBY. drowsy way she
Informed va that her house always full-we
had no doubt Of that-that som" OF her 'p"obl""
had BEEN with her for years. while 'oders came
from her being so well known in Berlin. Ham
burg and Stuttgari-lt was wonderful with what
rumhl. she pronounced these names. Observing
perhaps an approving glance on Teddy's part-he
insists on toward the plump little attendant
she remarked that her girls We're all Plat
Douischc" and that In the old country these made
the best servants. but that here "moin Colt"
their heads would bee full of "all fooiishness." II
she didn't watch them continually. II must be said
that the Frau never neglected this duty. From
early morn until lato at night her maids were in
ccssanily busy. often urged on too. by vigorous
each remained ia smiling and cleanly content.
until fate in the shape OF the grocery hoy called
her 10 a sp),less establishment o, her own.
At O'Clock there noise ard 20 spare In the
house. heavy footsteps. grun voices. medley OF
whistles and yodcls. The air was thick with
tobacco smoke. and. the sounds descended one
might think from the orotund rumble that Il rail
way train was passing through the parlor Teddy
and again exchanged chances OF mutual doubt
fulncSs Of courage. but just then Blngs in.
like "a god In Greek play
Il 20 aboard tonight" he said. But came
around 20 give You the proper tip. When you
enter IN. room just say 'Guten abcnd and you'll
b. all right Its the open. Sesame" the cave
Of German hospitality" And. truly. Teddy and
I faced the grea, tablcful OF faces foreign but
no, unklndlv and bashfuy breathed some caco-
phonlc approximation 10 this shibboleth there
came an answering roar OF Cut abend'' under
cover OF which shrunk into our seats under
the Frau's protecting wings
|, may be- said that saluta,ions never
omitted on going leaving this table 1t was
Gluten morgcn'' AT breakfast. sometimes abbrevi-
a,ed to a grun "Morgcn." II was Gluten tag
during the day. The Herr Professor the Oldest
boarder would often say some phrase. far beyond
jumping at which ended in "mahlzeit" and meant.
| believe May this meal be- blessed" 10 which
the response always was "Mahzct
And under cover OF cultural roar rs constant
and rs fun Of RS" as the oceans did eat
orr dinner The confusion was confounded-a loud.
incossant tumble OF questions. answers. other ques
lions other answers continued remarks. frcsh
marks new stories and old stories. all going at