Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-28

whose arms were 50 stiff that he eoufd
not ncip US with our luggage, 50 Frau
Sciferth and Frau kirschner came to
OUT aid tugged our suit cases down
those l1rg flights of stairs and waited
to see US off. The children were in
school. ana Fluck the fox terrier had
said goodbye 10 us that morning when
he came bounding in my room with a
potato in his mouth. So our FrauS
represented the two households and
with violent hand wavings they
wished us a pleasant journey. and as
our carriage turned the corner we felt
indeed as if we were again cast adrift.
We took 4 third class carriage for
Flanl,fort-on-tle-M Main and settled our
selves comfortably for the long drive.
Our companions on this trip were
mother and her son who verified the
tatemcnt that Germans are indeed So
cable. They were interested in us
and wonderful though it may seem,
We're able to understand our German
and they explained to us the different
objects of interest.
Our route lay through a ThUringian
valley where we passed Moravian
village. As we approached Eisenacn
the HOrSelherg came towering into
view. Here is was that Venus was sup
posed to have had her cave in this
same Horselberg where she lured
Tannhauser away from his people
That morning ii seemed as if mystical
spell sill lowered over all. and that
Nenu was quietly slumbering under tho
sunny, snowy peak, but would soon
awa axe to allure some other mortal into
her cave.
We were sorry when night came anil
we steamed into Frankfort-on-the-
Main where we STAYED that night.
Early the next morning however we
started for southern Germany. The
country became broader and more
level until we came to the border line Of
Switzerland and Germany, when wa
were again among the mountains. ana
inst 1t sunset We reached Basic.
Travelling the next day we did not
know whether we were in Germany or
France. In the trains every notice was
printed in both German and French,
but as we advanced into Switzerland
the German gradually disappeared and
when we reached Geneva French was
the only language spoken.
We never regretted our winter rue
through switzerland. The scenery Was
certainly as grand 40 it could be in
summer. for tie waterfalls frozen in
their attempt to run down the noun
tain sides reflected all the colors of the
rainbow under the suns rays. Then
too tho ice-covcred lakes and snow
laden trees were as grand a sight as q
summer scene.
Gradually we noticed that everything
was tending toward French. both CHS
toms and language and soon on the
very top of the mountains we were
dumped into the several feet of snow
that surrounded the custom house.
Here il was that we became completely
confused and when the official asked
me a question replied "Je ne peux
pas parler en- francais ich bin Elm
Amerikaner" and he was so overcome
by this mixture of French and German
that he did not bother to look at our
baggage. So here on the top of the
mountain where we could look into both
France and Switzerland, where far be-
low us flowed the Rhone we said fare
well to Germany and things German
and tried to adapt ourselves to France
and the French ideas.
MABEL FRANCES KNIGHT.
1.-THE Eleventh Letter will be to
Ayignon.l ... :,