Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-08-18
Mr.. AND MRS. BILHARZ
HAVE REACHED HOME
From A Long Ocean Voyage And A
Visit To ireland, Scotland,
Germany And Switzerland

On Friday morning Emil BilharZ and
wife arrived home from trip across
the sea and visit to many of the coun
tries of Europe. Leaving home the last
week in May they were absent about
eleven weeks. Though they did not use
the flying machine they were constantly
"On the wing" except for a few days in
Chicago, Fortunately they were well
all the time except the usual sea sick
ness" from which Mrs. Bilharz did not
escape. And let us remark here Incl
dentally that aside from the ocean voy-
age where nothing can be done but eat,
sleep and rest, to take such a trip re-
quires health, strength and determine
ton, because travelling and sightseeing
is very laborious work. We enjoy the
results more than the work and the
having travelled more than the journey
itself. Mr.. and Mrs Bilharz will live
their trip over and over again as long
as they live and not only they but many
of their friends will enjoy the pleasure
of what they saw and heard. We have
not had opportunity to visit with them
since their return and therefore cannot
give more than synopsis of the journey.
Landing at Queenstown they went
through Ireland and Scotland; thence to
Germany by way of London; thence
through Holland and Switzerland. At
Oberanmergau, village of 1900 which
lies in a valley of the Bavarian Alps,
they saw the great Passion Play which
Oft or 4 M
world The amphitheater which has a
seating capacity of $500 is so arrang-
ed that everyone can have a full view
Of the stage as there is not pillar or
post anywhere. The stage is mostly
open and the sun shining on the bright
costume of the players produces beau
tiful effect against the background of
trees and mountains. The main char
acters in the play, those of Christ
and Judas, taken by Anton Lang and j.
Twink who played them ten years ago
Those taking part must all be natives
of the town and must not only be good
singers and actors but above reproach
in moral character.
|. While they enjoyed the entire trip
and were greatly impressed with the
great play which stands without rival
the one particular thing that aroused
the greatest curiosity and furnished the
most pleasure was the visit made to the
old home of Mr.. Bilharz in Germany
which he left when a boy nine years of
age and which he had not seen since
that time. He found the village hotel
and flowing well of which he has
carried distinct remembrance for
fifty six years. He also was able to
locate the site of the old home but such
changes had been wrought that he
could not tell in which one of three
houses he had been born. The shop
owned by his father is still owned and
occupied by the man to whom it was
sold when they left the German village.
A few relatives and some others were
found who remembered the BilharZ
family who had left there so long ago
On the, Sunday they were there they
had the opportunity to attend a great
''Saengerfest" or musical festival given
in the village church Mr.. and Mrs.
Bilharz are glad to be at home again
and their many friends are pleased to
give them cordial welcome