Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-09-25
MY TRIP TO EUROPE
AND ITS IMPRESSIONS
Continued from First Page

" 80
absent. The farm improvements l
found far behind those in Wisconsin
modern houses are scarcely seen.
Passing through Ohio during the
night we found ourselves the next
morning in the state of New York,
where the sun was playing beautiful
upon it's hills and green valleys. We
were going at a terrible speed. The
train had put on a spirit of pride and
forgot to recognize the smaller places.
I was altogether in confusion with the
directions. It seemed we were going
west. Had it not been for the New
York cities we passed through, |
would have thought myself back in
Wisconsin, for the hills covered with
shrubbery and stately trees created
this impression.
In the vicinity of Lyons and
| Syracuse, | saw the old style salt
manufacturing by evaporation. The
same morning [ had a spiritual talk
with Mr.. Byrd, a colored man who
was a porter in the Pullman car and
at the same time a preacher; when
he stops at large places he opens meet
ings on the streets for the preaching
the gospel of Christ.
His bible was lying on his table,
and as | drew near ! asked him, DO
you love that book ." be replied.
Yes indeed I do; without that book I
cannot live" After closing our long
conversation 1 felt like having met
a useful man. We parted warm
friends.
Another thing that drew my in
terest was the charging and repair
ing of the canal from Syracuse to the
Hudson River, to transport heavy
freight about which there is no hurry.
At about one O'Clock we reached
the small city Of Catskill. The Cat
skill mountains are visible from the
train now we had the Hudson river
to the left and the mountains to the
right. We saw the prettiest land
scapes and to my judgment the scenery
along the Hudson can we'll be com
pared with the beauty of Rhine.
Arrived at Ho3oken. N. Y. at 3 80
p. N. The railroad ferry took us
across the river to New York City. l
chose a hotel on State street from
where l had a beautiful view of the
New York harbor, Brooklyn. some
islands and a few along shore cities
of New Jersey. In the evening
ev erything was beautifully eluminat-
ed with the electric light making a
glor ious panorama.
At s a. II. of the goth, I took the
Barckley street Ferry for Hoboken
and hurried to the Hamburg America
piers. Went on board the s. s.
Moltke, a little after 8. got my room
and reserved my dining and deck chair.
At 10 80 the boat was loosened. the
band played, the machinery began to
operate, the boat trembled and vibrat-
ed a little, the water about bugled up
and we all began to move.
Large multitudes of people had
gathered about the docks to bid fare
we'll to their friends and dear ones.
Both parties began to wave there last
good bye" with handkerchiefs and
stars and stripes" It produced a
flow of tears and a discord of sighs
and lamentations. A farewell to
America was in every heart on board
aud a prayer for the dear ones and
God be with us till we meet again"
vas silently uttered. The first pas
seuger | met on the ship was an in
stIuctor in Latin in the college in
Maryville, Tenn. As the ship crew
was German, he appreciated my as
sisting him in all of his arrange
ments. One thing we regretted, the
impossibility of rooming together.
At half past twelve we had our first
luncheon on the ship. The German
stewards are Of the most accommodate
ing and serviceable men this world
contains they created new pride and
love in my heart for my dear German
people.
At luncheon a certain man made
spiteful and unbecoming remarks to
the walters about the potatoes which
were fried a little hard but were
delicious still. 1 felt like taking
that fellow and putting him on a life
boat and sending him back home.
Later On We met another fellow of
similar type on deck he claimed he
had reserved that part Of the deck
where we had our chairs, which could
not be true for no part of the deck
could be reserved ahead of the date
of sailing. His scheme was to bluff