Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-02

August far too fair for one to remain
indoors. The letter was done, sealed
and directed. The package was mucl
too heavy to go for ''one fare" so
went to the nearest pOStOtiiceSta tiOr
to have it weighed.
"Do you want it registered?"
Yes"
"Then you must write it so will
your address in the corner"
My address is there now, nich'
wahr?"
Yes; but you must yourself write
the word .Einschreiben' herr" So
taking the letter again from the mar
i'm uniform, | wrote the German com
mand 'Register.' across the upper left
hand corner and handed it back.
"Wie Well"
"AchtZig pfennig.'
/ paid him the eighty pfennig and
departed. Which way to go? There
was little difference. The streets Were
all good. Splendid modern buildings
mingling with quaint ancient struc-
lures, were to be seen in every direc-
ton. In and through all streets pulsed
the deep current of HannOverian life
strong quiet. Steady-the spirit of q
sane city which thinks great things
and does great things, but all with a
calm dignity free from the superlative
hustle that SO closely borders upon
frenzy.
With a deep breath Of enjoyment,
wandered on and on. now stopping to
gaze at some show window attraction
now humping into somebody who
rolled aside with broad. good
natured grin or at most with a salts
fled look, as if he came out for the
especial purpose Of getting bumped
and was content. Then / came to
what looked like the end of n street
but there proved to be an exit about
big enough to pass through if You
didn't happen to meet any one.
After long wandering in the twists
of the Altstadt. l found myself in
Leinstrasse. 1t was a district where
the buildings looked as if they felt
their age albeit they still retained the
necessary stamina for several
centuries more.
Presently l noticed a curious sign on
the door post of number eleven:
"Gewerbe- Kaufmannsgericht
Craftsmans and Merchants Court
This was interesting. So they had a
separate court, did they, for cases be-
tween merchants and their clerks, and
between other employers and
employees? l read the sign again. l
don't see how it can mean anything
alse.' l thought; and decided to enter
and see what was up. A hall passed
clear through the building. Midway
to tn" right. Ascending these, l found
an open door revealing a sort of ante
room. Another door on the further
side of this anterior bore the sign:
Removing my hat,
| went in. The room was long and
narrow, and gloomy. It's length ran at
right angles with the street. The door
by which l had entered was in one of
the side walls. near the rear Of the
room; and, as l came in, the end of
the room toward the street was at my
left. About One-fourth of the room at
that end was occupied by low plat
form which extended across the whole
width of the apartment. and was
room by a strong hardwood railing or
bar. By means of another door
through the same wall which / had
passed one could step from the plat
form into an inner anteroom which
connected with the one already men
toned. The inner anteroom which
opened onto the platform of the court
room was the private council chamber
of the court. The platform was oc-
cupied by long table. placed side
against the rail. At each end of this
table We're two chairs, and on the
further side We're two more. Behind
these. in the end wall of the room
We're three windows. that furnished
most Of the light which reached the
apartment. AS stood in the
entrance, the rear end wall of the
room was at my right. and through
the hither end of this wall 4 door COM
municated with the clerks chamber
in which necessary documents were
prepared and information furnished
Also at the right. between the entrance
door and the corner of the room, was
window which opened upon a
courtyard below and admitted light
to the rear portion of the courtroom
At this window stood the only oc-
cupant of the apartment He was a
little under medium size. and of a wiry
build. His hair was reddish brown.
his complexion slightly florid, his
features somewhat sharp and drawn
with anxiety. He held a small note
book and pencil in his hand and
seemed to be suffering from per-
plexity. merest greeting was ex-
changed, and then looked for a seat.