The age-herald., 1902-02-27

Mir. William J. Dangaix. Miss Isabel Danjaix and MT. and Mrs. Frank Wood ruff received informally yesterday after noon and last evening in compliment to Dr. Henrlck Waentig. of Griefswsld Unl- versity. who Is spending the week in Bir- mingham
 pr. Waentig is interested in the political economics of this country and is making a tour in the interest of the German government His visit to Birmingham Is to investigate the iron and steel indus tries and he Is being given every oppor tunity for observing the wonderful mate rial development of the district.
 Dr. Waentig is also studying Southern social life and he has not found oppor- tunities lacking for investigations along this line as in all the cities of the South where he has visited he has seen the most brilliant side of social life.
 At the informal reception of yesterday, a number of Birminghara's most promi- nent women met Dr. Waentig, while last evening many of Brmingham's most rep resentative men in the steel and iron in- dustries were invited to meet the distin- guished educator. To the guests in the evening Dr. Waentig talked of his i'm pressions of the Birmingham and Ensley activities and of the development of the county. To the guests of the afternoon he discussed the American woman.
 When asked what he thought of the American woman, Dr. Waentig was the only man in the drawing room where there were at least twenty-five women.
 He sighed deeply. as if the question was entirely too vast a problem to be con sidered at a pink tea.
 What do I think of the American woman?' he repeated and he looked very directly into the eyes of the women awaiting his answer
 If I should say something very nice l should be accused of flattering," he said. If I should not say something fiattering she would not like 1t.
 There is one thing that I have mo- ticed about America he said; " that indicates the power the women wield. foreigner may bring letters of introduc- tion to American men, but 1t does not follow that he will be in,roduced in the family On the other hand if his letter of introduction is addressed to an Ameri- can woman she will entertain him in the most hospitable manner and through her he will see the best side of social life.
 T should say that the best way for foreigner to see social life in this country would be to secure letters of in- troduction to five American women and they will be then able to check him to any part of the country"
 In speaking of the hospital of the South, Dr. Waentig declared that the cordiality of which it was famous was not exaggerated. His impressions of Southern tsocial life had been delight ful. lh regard to Birmingham as a great steel centre, and naturally attracting the greatest thinkers of the world to in- vestigate it's resources and development. Dr. Waentig seemed glad to acknowledge that this district Is the centre of the steel and iron industry of the country Among other discussions into which pr. Waentig drifted was the study of for eign languages. He speaks English per- fectly. having taught it at his university and mastering its principles during his residence in London.
 'gThe greatest difficulty" he said, fin learning any language Is in the need of tenacity. The trouble with the majority of persons who attempt to learn for eign language Is that they study it de- sultorily. they lack the determination to master it's principles.
 Then, I should say an essential thing is in constant association with persons who speak the language perfectly. This is particularly true if one who desires to learn the German language. One should hear it spoken constantly to be able to understand the intricate genders.
 Just here a clever American woman who was educated abroad declared that German was most difficult since there were no rules by which one could be governed.
 "The Americans say that the German language has no grammar" she said.
 There are German words, hewever she continued, which cannot be properly translated into English. The German may frequently express their meaning in a single word, which if fully translated into our English tongue requires several words"
 That fact" said Dr. Waentig, gives a conciseness to the German language. We are able to convey our meanings in a few words.
 Dr. Waentig talked of the various types of women in Germany.
 "If you have been in Germany" he said, you have doubtless observed that types vary, that climate has its effect as well as the inherited qualities. The popu- lar idea that seems to prevail regarding the typical German woman is that she is light haired. with blue eyes and bright coloring. This type is really more ire quent in England than in Germany. In Germany, particularly the women in Nun ich have a more vivid coloring, the Titan tint that is so rare, just as the most beau tiful blond women are to be found in Spain"
 Dr. waentig was asked if he objected to being interviewed.
 "It is better" he said. ''to grant an in terview. because one then has some idea of what the newspapers will say, other wise some very foolish things about one may appear in the papers
 Dr. Waentig has evidently studied Am erican newspapers.
 His attitude to the whole system of American progress shows him to be the thinker the student along the most ad- vanced lines.
 In Dr. waentigs opinion, wealth is only the basis of civilization. the medium of a loftier civilization. He believes that the accumulation of wealth Is futile if 1t does not rebound to the advancement of the human race.
 WEDDING OF MISS AUSTIN
 TO MIR. GEORGE KELLEY.