The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-08-27

was running high and predictions were
There were many demonstrations and
the Servian legation was mobbed. In
fact, it seemed to me that the entire
continent of Europe was a seething
cauldron upon which the nations were
having a hard time to keep the lid. Sol
diers were everywhere and all Europe
seemed to be an armed camp. They
were not militia that were to be seen,
but seasoned soldiers, trained to the
fighting game.
The German soldiers looked more
competent to me than those of any
troops were, Judging from appearances,
vastly superior to the English, French
and Belgians. They were big, strong,
hardy-looking fellows, seasoned to
hardship, and it is my guess that they
will be in Paris before many weeks.
The French soldiers seemed under
sized, and the British troops were
youthful looking. 1t saddened lhe
when in London, to see those English
boys marching away to war.
1--WE hear a good deal in this coun-
try about the discomfort in Europe and
that many of the nations are ready to
rise against their rulers, but believe
that this is mostly talk. 1t seemed to
me hat the people over there have
the utmost reverence for loyalty,
and | was impressed with this fact
while in Vienna. On a day when the
aged Emperor Francis Joseph was to
the streets were packed with people
and it required many policemen and
soldiers to keep them back. They did
not even have an opportunity to view
their emperor, as he was in a closed
carriage drawn by galloping horses.
81 took a number of interesting side
trips, a detailed description of which
would be entirely too extended for your
space. While in Paris | went out to
Versailles, the magnificent palace of
Louis XIV and now used as a govern
ment gallery and museum. At Berlin |
went out to the kaiser's summer home
at Potsdam, a distance of twelve or
fourteen miles, and this is beautiful be-
yond description. From Brussels /
visited the battlefield of Waterloo and
drove over a considerable part Of the
country where the Germans and allies
are now fighting. That country is
splendid opportunities for military
movements. | visited the house where
Napoleon spent the last night before
the battle, as well as other interesting
points. From Munich ! went to the
little town of Oberammergau, where
the passion play is presented every
ten years, and it is a forlorn looking
place in the foothills of the Alps. |
met Andrew Lang, who takes the part
of Christ in the play. He is a potter
and | bought some pieces of him. From
Berne | went to Lucerne and to the
top of Mt. Rigi, a very interesting trip.
While in England | spent a day in the
Shakespeare country at Stratford, visit
ing the many interesting places. | also
visited Kenilworth and Warwick cas-
ties.
while in Shakespeare's country |
had the unpleasant experience of run
ming out of money and was unable to
get a check cashed on account Of the
outbreak of the war. My boat was due
to sail from Liverpool the following
day and here | was with but seventy
five cents and no ticket for my sailing
point. Finally, however, l managed to
get a small check cashed to take me to
Liverpool and arriving there | found
that the boat would not sail on account
of rumors that the Germans had mined
the harbor and had cruisers outside
waiting for US. These rumors were
IOuDO 10 De untrue anu we SdlleU LDe
following day, getting away without
lights and going considerably north of
the regular steamer route. We had to
go to bed in the dark each night as the
ships officers were constantly on the
lookout for German warships. When
four days at sea we ran into a terrific
storm, which tossed our big boat about
as though it were a peanut shell. When
off the Newfoundland coast we were
laid up twenty hours on account of
fog, and when it lifted a number Of
icebergs were visible a few miles away.
THE railroad service in Europe Is
very good and nearly all of the roads
are owned by the government. They
do not travel quite as fast as we do in
this country, but they get there just
/ tho cama hacanca tbov kaon ayar1acf.