The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-29

so you want to know the funniest thing
that ever happened to me? Rather an en-
barrassing request, my dear fellow. In
the first place, has anything funny ever
really happened to mo and if so, among
them all, which is the funniest
Well, the thing that anitiscs me most,
as | look back over the years is this 1t
is very simple story, but III give il 10
you for what's it's worth.
ut was in 1879, after the war | had
taken part in the siege Of Paris as sim
pie soldier Of the mobile, the reserve force
of the French army that goes out into sery-
ice only as last extremity. ! was Just
81 years old. | stood five feet ten in my
stocking feet and ia spite Of the hardsfips
of the siege was strong and robust My
greatest pride and JOY, however, was my
beard, which | wore very long. To be
brief | was a full grown man. As good
parot-and that have been always
suffered deeply from the sorrows caused
by the war | was humliated not only on
account Of The military superiority Of our
enemies, but also--.how shall say it-of
their scholarly superiority.
MANY OF the Germans spoke French,
and very good French, too, but we AS a
first revenge, | wished to learn German.
4hl Shitbl pIthti up a o1ihpP9 Niohi-
edge of English and after several visits to
England, / spoke it fairly well but | did
not know a single word Of the traitorous
tongue spoken by Schiller and Goethe.
set couargeousy 10 work to study the Oh
lendorf method, which, let me say in pass
ing and without undue praise to my friend
Dllendorf is an excellent method. also
took lessons from no less excellent pro-
fpGsar recommended bu the f1llpp-
dorf. At the end of six months began
TO see little light on my dark path of
knowledge, but | knew that a visit to the
country was indispensable. Still, 90 to
Germany so soon after the war--ihe idea
made my heart ache. 1t was necessary,
however. | selected a part of the country
that was not too German and had been re-
gently nncxed-Hanover Besides the
very purest German was spoken there. The
friend OF a friend OF my fathers wrote
to a friend Of his who lived there, asking
the address OF a boarding school. or house
where | might stay. Accordingly, he very
kindly wrote back, giving the name OF n
DR.. Daeisson in the city of Hanover itself.
Excellent food. he wrote, careful teaching
and not more than 20 boarders. So of
started for DR.. Davisson
"One pleasant morning in July | rang
the bell at the doctors door. ! was CON
siderably astonished when it was opened
and ! found myself in large hall where
several small boys, whose age varied be-
tween and IL at the most, playing with
marbles and tops and other childish games.
Presently DIR. Davisson appeared. He
was a little, thin, clean shaven old man,
with huge spectacles. gray whiskers and a
velvet cap He looked as il he had
stepped out OF one of lioffman's fairy
stories. | told him my name. He gave a
start of surprise and looked me over from
top to toe, noting my height and general
| appearance OF a robust young fellow who
| had been through the war.
"Ah ah =! so you-you are the pupil
whom Herr Recommended to me- p
Meanwhile the small boys much inter
csied III what was going forward, ceased
their games and clustered around me Gu
riously. ! felt considerably like Gulliver
i'll lillipu,
YES, Herr Doctor; my luggage is in the
carriage nd
But this is school for little boys"
said the doctor, bravely Herr * en-
| iirely forgot to tell me your age when he
wrote He simply said "a young French
man | supposed you were about {. years
old"
! was extremely embarrassed. The idea
| OF staying with all these little boys was not
| exactly pleasant, but on the other hand
| was very much pleased with the honest
doctor. And then, what was | to do in
this big city where | knew no one in the
enemies country and what was worse, a
| victorious enemy :.
| viii you take me in, just the same 7?
| | said TO the doctor. And | added laugh
| ing: Il will promise to be very good"
| He laughed with me and said, holding
out his hand
| We'll try it, any way"
| spent two months with Dr. Davisson
was his big class and was admired
and cnyied by my young English. Ameri,
| can and German comrades. During study
hours, ] sat alone on the first bench di.
reetly in front OF the professor Ii was
much too low for my long legs and sawed
into the middle OF my thighs. | was
farced TO sit sideways, like crab. The
bed which slept in was rather short, bu,
! wished to set good example, SO sub
mtted as far as possible TO the rules OF the
house. Only dispensed with playing
marbles during my play time.
| | made good progress there. My courage
was amply rewarded. At the end of two
months | spoke very fair German. But i
is 20 years and more ago, now, and have
forgotten most of it. But if ever wan
to pick it up again | shall go back to Han
over TO that boys school, There's nothing
| like il =