Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-23

he had to keep his ears wide open when
we spoke. He was very much aston
ished to- learn that we two were going
to Germany with but q slight speaking
knowledge of the language. and be was
SO afraid that something would happen
to us. that he spent his "-'cnings writ
ing simple German sen: IS for us to
learn, sentences which = enable us
to buy tickets and ch1""' airs, and
order rolls and cabbage at the restau-
rant.
On the deck we felt like queens.
There was always a steward to wait up
on us. and the captain saw that the crew
should remain al the other part of the
boat from where we were. so that dur
ing those three days. when we. were
tossing about on that stormy place. the
only ones we saw were the captain. the
first mate and the steward. II it was
a little too windy where we sat our
chairs we're Immediately changed to the
other side. Our wish was law, and the
captain was 50 kind that we were glad
we decided to go alone and friendless
on a small foreign vessel, bound for a
place where we would be indeed stran-
gers in Il strange land.
There was nothing of interest to see
until we came to Bremerhaven. where
for the first time we saw large steam
shirs flying the red. white and black Of
Germany Then we sailed up the river
Wiser in the moonlight. and as we
glided on in the "Albatros' we felt
that same uncanny feeling, which the
Ancient Mariner must have experienced
on his phantom ship. Perfect stiffness,
perfect harmony. everything i'll tune
with nature and that tranquil evening.
AS we saw this same river Weser in
the daytime, we imagined that Brown
ing's Pied Piper was still piping as he
piped when
Great rats. small rats. lean rats, blawny
rats.
Grown rats. black rats. gray rats. taWny
rats
Grave old p.od.lers, gay youny friskers,
Fathers. mothers, uncles cousins.
Cuclting tails and prickins whiskcrs.
Families by tens and dozens,
Brnthers sisters. husbands, wives.
Followed the piper for their lives
UntiI they cam. to the river WeSer.
Wherein all plunged and persisted"
Up the river Weser we went until we
came to Bremen. We were sorry to say
goodbye to our captain VINO had been
so kind and thoughtful. but the moment
came when we were obliged to leave our
on" friend on the German soil and pro-
coed to the cuStom-house under tn"
guidance of an affable German. AS we
went along heads came out of the win
dowS and we We're stared at from ali
sides. I am afraid we did make rather
u strange appearance on that early
October morning. for the rain-coate
which we had purchased in Scotland
would alone have created a sensation.
Then, too. we found at the last moment
that we had forgotten to pack some
things, 50 we carried them in our hands
including a bottle of ink.
Arriving at the custOm-house our
guide gave us a knowing wink and
then told the official that we had moth
ing dutiable in our suit-cases. so after
one hurried glance into them. he let MS
go urmclested on our way to the rail-
way station, where we took the train
to Leipzig and rode all that day. But
it was an interesting ride as everything
was SO very foreign. and we saw now
those chicken-houses. where the chick
ems walk up and down the miniature
stairs, now the fields of purple cabbage,
while here and there we noticed those
picturesque wind-mills dotted all over
the Landscape.
We tried to test our German when we
came TO the railway stations. but we
saw so many verboten signs that we
were decidedly startled. One writer has
noted as follows. the things that you
must not do at a German station. You
must not cross the rails. you must not
go down one staircase nor up another,
you must not get out of the railway
carriage on the side farthest from the
platform, you must not get off or on a
railway carriage while it is in motion
you must not get out at all until you
have given up your Ausgang coupon,
you must not stick your head out of a
window, you must not break the win
dows. you must not sound the danger
signal unless your life is in peril. and
when YOU have complied with all the
regulations been ticketed punched and