The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-21


Won ever i'm "A moment of weakness, or
i'm Ignorance of what would happen in
the more or less imminent future, eN-
changed cards with a native of some
foreign port in which luck or fate had
found you?
Perhaps you have.
Perhaps months or even years there
after you have been pounced upon by
your forgotten Foreign Friend, and
have had to bear the yoke manfully,
as | had to do. If so, then you VIII
mentally shake hands with me and say
"Bravely borne sir" or Bear up, man;
it might be worse"
And so IT might. My vlsitations from
abroad might have come from Asia
i'm the form of cholera, instead Of from
the Black Forest in the present shape
of Karl Bronner.
Karl was esteemed a great man, a
man to be conciliated, tlattered, list
ened to and provided with free drinks
by the humber folk Of his native IN
terberg. in the Black Forest aforesaid.
Touring Englishman and stray
Americans who had got into the wrong
train and been compelled to spend a
night there considered Unterberg a
mere Black Forest village and Karl a
mere local inn-keeper. But they did
not deny that the village was charm
ingly situated, and they were bound
to admit that Karl knew all the best
points of view, and could tie trout
ny with any one in the Forest.
And he gave us excellent vegetable
soup, FISH, outlets, omelettes and other
forest fare, cooked and served ire
proachably in the Forest style. Every
one was we'll pleased with the cater
ing at the adler" with the exception
of Karl, who had ambitions, as the de-
velopment of this tale will show. He
would say to me, on the average twice
a day:
"Ach! but ] have here the greatest
hotel in Unterberg, and I shall be bur
gomaster certainly when Stanislaus
Bauer shall die, and he is already very
old Yes, he Is old, too, very old, and
does not that for Unterberg which
should be done by the burgomaster
When 1 shall be burgomaster and
Stanislaus is an old man already again
that I will do that which shall make
you English come to Unterberg and
stop in our hotels-my hotel, above
all. Ach! yes, for the English are very
rich. Every one knows that the En-
glsh are so rich; and they will spend
much money with us; and we shall
become rich also-myself the richest
because / shall be burgOmaster, and
my hotel is the greatest"
He always insisted upon speaking
English, so that he might practice the
language in readiness for the day when
England should rise to man and de-
scend upon Unterberg to the profit of
it's inhabitants. And he spoke the
tongue well, TOO, and loved to quote
from the Merry Wives of Windsor"
whether the quotations were apropos
or not Sometimes, indeed, he became
a little confused over the word "wives, -
and would speak of the Marry Women
of Windsor" but he meant well, which
was the main thing.
For three days | walked and fished in
the neighborhood, and then went on
elsewhere. But please note here that
I duly paid my rechnung, and was
therefore under no obligation to Karl
In view of what followed it is we'll tc
understand this.
as an occasional "Reminiscences when
anything recalled the Black Forest and
Unterberg to my mind. But Karl had
not forgotten me, nor had he lost the
visitors book in which | had foolish.
ly entered my name and address. And
suddenly he reminded me of his ex.
istence, and Of "the deep friendship
and respect which he held for me since
two years"
The reminder came in the guise of q
letter, bearing the Hamburg postmarll
The letter ran:
Dear Mr.. -: l have the honor tc
inform you that / come from my towr
of unterberg (SchWartZland) to Londor
to learn correctly the habits and taste.
of the English peoples. will that
know what shall be the food they will
prefer and the manner of it's cookinl
and service, also in which fashion tht
walters SHOULD be dressed. 1t is nv in.
tention to make all things at my 'Hote
Adler (Which is the best in Tnterberc
I send in this some cards of il whicf
YOU will please give your friends) a.
the English will like, by which doine
/ have the expectation to be visited by
many Englishmen. viii you there
fore, good Mr.. -, have the courtesy
TO help me in entering a good hotel il
London to learn what 1 would desire
l will expect to come at London the 1.
October. HochachtungsVoll
Karl Bonner"
Why did I read that letter? VIII,
did l not mark it gone away-no ad
dress" and give it back TO the post
master with winlI-and half a crown
think there ought to be a law to com
pei every one to put their name an,
address on the outside Of their letters
Then l should have known, or gueese,
pretty nearly, what was inside tina
Hamburg posted envelope.
Experience teaches that every for
eigner who passes the time of day witt
you, or gives you a light for your ci
gar, in his own country, considers tina
II he ever finds himself in England, h
is entitled to monopolize your Who'll
time during his stay. He invites him