Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-02

up our bags, thankful at last to Sc,
|"Dra-a-sden." This city's second prid,
and glory. the famous opera house, W.,
saw our first night there. when we lis.
tened to Perron's fine impersonation
Of the principal character in Ruben.
STEMS seldom given, but intensel,
striking opera, "The DEM" It is diff.
ficult to understand why this work II
so rarely heard; the music is most ex.
pressive the Demons love song haunt.
ing one for days. while the situations
are powerful. the libretto being unusu.
ally strong. We can easily understand
Americans delighting in an extended
stay in Dresden especially music Low.
ers, who can hear fine singers in the
best operas, for the trifiing sum OF
twenty-five cents; and how artists
must revel in the great picture gallery!
There was one young woman, at the
same Pension as ourselves, who must
have come abroad at too early stage
in her art studies, for she found the
Sistne Madonna disappointment, ut
is so crude in color" she said. Every
moment we could give, we sat before
those cherubs, that gaze in thoughtful
child-like. wonder up at the Madonna,
holding In her arms the Divine Child.
whose expression makes us feel that
already He sees dimly His Gethsem-
ane and Calvary. We could not
neave the gallery and not look at Hoff-
mans. Young Christ in the Temple"
and while there. an acquaintance who
was with US turned and said: Hoff-
man studio is always open Sundays,
from twelve to one, 1t is a pity it is
now too late to go. but 1t is past one"
II mean to try" I answered, and in a
moment three excited beings were rap
idly descending the marble steps into
the square, looking in vain for the usu-
ally ubiquitous draschke. Not one was
visible. we chased each other round
four corners, we waved three handker-
chiefs, then beckoned vigorously as at
length we saw one in the distance
But it is not supposable that it ap-
preached us in an instant. it takes
time. for the German droschk drivers
mind to work. and when he finally
the situation, and his reins, 1t
was with exasperating leisure that his
sleepy steed moved toward us. By
him with such small shot
as 'schnell" and 'rasch" we made him
try to quicken the animals pace. but
the lifelong habit of horse cannot be
changed in moment. and it was past
two before we reached NO. Bismarck
Strasse' and tremblingly rang the bell
To our surprise the maid admitted u.s.
and while we were absorbed before
that eloquent picture"Christ and the
rich young man." door behind us
opened. and an elderly man entered
whom we knew, from his benignant
face and snow white hair and beard
must be the great artist. In answer to
our greeting. his kindly voice said 81
am very glad to see you, though
speak but little English" We
asked. in wonder, where could be
found a subject who possessed the
features that made SO perfect a Child
Christ? II have no model" was the
answer; years ago l had many lads
come to my studio but it was useless"
md he shrugged his shoulders most ex-
oressively, they were $3.50. land as
ne hesitated for a word one Of us sug
,ested stupid" YES" he said laugh |
ng, that is it, stO-O-pid. so now ]
never try with models but find my
aces always here" and he touched his |
breast. Il study every human face
Ind find in each some new expression"
md he looked intently at each Of us in
urn. To break a pause which threat
.ned to become embarrassing. said |
Have you never thought Of coming to
America Herr Hoffman? Your work is
much appreciated there" "Nein, nein."
,ame quickly in response. Your build
ngs are too high, and it Is always |
- Sketches old and
lew were shown us, and half an hour
passed in pleasant talk, and to oui
as we said goodbye, he
banked US for our visit
No stranger goes to Dresden but is |
empted to spend hours in Der grosser
iarten,' wandering down the shady |
paths, feeling as if in far off woods,
niles from any dwelling. One SUNDAY
afternoon we went to see German
holiday a 'Blumen Fest Thousands Of
men and women were there, dressed in
heir best. taking their pleasure as
hey do their beer, deliberately and
Bicycles decorated with
lowers. their riders costumed in hues
o match, were in competition for the
ace. On the lake boats were adorned
With flowers. and bowers of roses
erected, under which sat plump Ger
nan Madschens. Lotteries faced one
1T every few steps. and although on
principle. one objects, everything was
lone quietly and in order. Even the
children played noiselessly, without the
,lamor which the average American
,hild considers necessary to a good
ime.
A trying feature of sight seeing, IS
he constant change of abode involved.
One just begins to feel at home, to be
amiliar with the streets and houses,
o make agreeable acquaintance, when
hat relentless. memorable tyrant-
Time, tells us we must move. "No
PARKS will seem so green, no people So
no place SO desirable as Ores
len," said sadly the morning we left
Berlin, and e. mournfully agreed;
While in the afternoon we both blushed
or our fickleness, in that we found
he great capital still more fascinating.
n every place we have been able to
ind our way with but little difficulty.
directions being given us most kindly
Ind explicitly invariably concluding