The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-01
KALsOW's DREAM
OF FATHERLAND
SHATTERED
II Went Home to Germany to Die,
But, By Heavens, I'm Back
in America to Live" Says
Detroit Musician.
Finds Conditions in Old World In
tolerable, After the Freedom of
His Adopted Country.

IL went home to the Fatherland 20
die, but, by heavens. | came back TO
America to live," Is the fervent state
ment of Fritz Kalsow, the veteran big
bass viol player and wellknown figure
among Detroit's orchastra alsl band
musicians, who has just returned from
nine months stay In Germany.
II never knew how much of an Am
erican | had become until went back
to the land of my BIRTH" Mr.. Kalsow
told The Times, Thursday. "All the
AZ years lived In this country had
been dreaming of the time when |
could afford to go back to Germany
10 end my days. / was always talking
about the Fatherland and how every
thing there was 80 much better than
anywhere else on earth. Since l
came back, every time ! meet an old
friend | say to him, L want to apollo
gize for every word ever said
against America I'm so glad to be
back that hundred times day
say to my wife, Minnie, thank God
I'm here
Mr.. Kalsow has returned from Eu-
rope looking in splendid health, al
though he declares IL was the sea
voyage to America that get him up
again after quite severe illness the
past winter, the first sickness he has
known in his 81 years.
The very first thing when got
of the gang plank OF the steamer in
Bremen a man covered with brass
buttons grabs small pouch of tobac-
CO had and made me throw IL away"
said Mr.. Kalsow. They are very
officious over there, but you daren't
protest or they hand you over to a
gendarme and clap you into prison.
They are so many soldiers around
that every time you want to spit,
you're likely to hit a soldier. I was
In the military myself when lad and
served in the -Prussian war, but
I've got no use Tor soldiers like they
have In Europe.
My wife. she went to Germany a
year ago in AWil and. when I arrived
in our old town rof Stolp In Prussia,
she had house rented and furnished
and everything ready for us to spend
the rest of our days, there. told 2ef
right away wasn't going to stay, and
that I came pretty near taking the
next SlcdmeT UhCk 10 AIueTiCd TlBuI
after I landed Stolp is one OF the an
cient cities of Europe and celebrated
its six hundredth anniversary last
September. The country all around
there is beautiful and 1t was fine to
visit the scenes of my boyhood and to
renew old acquaintances there and IN
my birthplace near Treptow, but II
they gave me fortune wouldn't live
there again.
There is nothing but oppression OF
taxes and the arrogance of the aristoc-
racy on every hand No wonder Ger
man cities are SO clean and beautiful.
Labor used in keeping them spick and
span can be secured for almost moth
ing. had nephew, a fine, well-edu-
Gated fellow, speaking several lam
guages, a musician and a scholar, and
for the isss ten yeara he hae heAn.str.
the postal service and today is get
ting only 81 a day wages. Food is
pure, wholesome and cheap In Ger.
many, but clothing Is as dear as 1t is
here.
Everywhere Americans are stung.
The native charges the highest price
(Continued on Page Fourteen.)