The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-22
Personal Experiences of An
American Tourist,
Told in Personal Letter to Friend.
Belfast, Me-, Oct. IL, 1914.

BelIdSt, Me-, OCt. Il, l0l4s
My dear --:
At last am in beautiful Belfast, anu
now that the welcome which the most
hospitable people on earth always extend
to those returning has somewhat abated,
I'll try to write you of our personal ex-
periences during the war.
When | last wrote you / think was
at. DR.. Won Dapper's sanatorium in Bad
Kissengen, and Miss B. was in Munich
studying music. l Joined her there
few DAYS before war was declared, which
was my first good luck, for as soon as
mobilization began the trains were re-
served for the troops.
At first we did not feel anxious, just
interested in watching the troops and
the crowds which gathered around the
Logi where the band played daily. 1t
was impressive and thrilling to see those
immense tbrongs of people all singing,
with barred heads, their glorious war
songs, one of which, "Wreathed with
Victory think has the same air as
our "America. We could not believe
that the war would be general, but when
the English consul, strongly guarded,
left the city, and we knew that England
had declared war, we felt very anxious.
Very soon we were receiving no mail;
could send no cables; all English signs
on the shops We're changed; we were
warned to 60 on the streets as little as
possible, without speaking, and always
to wear a small American flag. We all
had to get passports from our consul,
and, later on, had to 60 to police head
quarters to be registered, for our own
protection, and when we signed our Ia
per with our finger tip brushed over with
ink we felt quite in the criminal class.
The atmosphere OF our pension was
distressing, for nearly every maid and
waitress had some relative going to war,
and also the woman and her three daugh-
ters who kept the pension. They were
reduced aristocrats, but, under this
crushing, common sorrow, their haughti-
ness lessened, and they showed more
kindly fellow feeling, l was reminded
of what Kipling wrote, that Judy
O'Grady and the colonel's lady are Sis
tiers under the skim
We all had one special problem. Mine
was inability to endure hardshlps In
travelling, which we expected would be
inevitable; two of our party had posi-
tions waiting for them; Canadian lady
and her daughter had very little money,
as draft from Montreal had been sent
them and, of course, not received, and,
in addition to this anxiety, the feeling
against the English was bitter.
At first, there was uncertainty about
our letters of credit and American ex-
pense checks being cashed, and it was
great relief when a big meeting of
American men was held Aug. 7th at
large hotel, the Bayerischer Hof, when
they organized the American Relief with
special committees on Information, Trans
portation, Relief, Banks and Credits,
Letters and Cables. The chairmen of
these committees could be found daily at
the Consulate and the American Library.
At these two places all Americans regis
tered. and there we found friends, among
them, six Pasadena girls who were tour
ing Europe by automobile. They had
nearly reached Oberammergau (having
Maid the bill with an American Express
check at their last stop when they were
overtaken by the inn keeper, who de-
m handed money instead of the check, as
he had received news since their depart
IRE that war was declared. Their united
funds were insufficient to pay him, and
the situation was decidedly awkward,
when German official, to whom they
applied for help, suggested that Anton
Lang would probably cash the check. So
they all proceeded to Oberammergau,
when Anton Lang not only cashed their
check, but also entertained them as his
guests that night, and next morning at
breakfast, after which. they came to
Munich as quickly as possible.
Another great comfort was small,
four-page paper, american Notes in
Munich" which was published daily,
Mr.. Baldwin of the Outlook staff being
editor. This gave US all the authentic
news, and l recall how much safer we
felt when it was announced that: the
Tennessee" was on its way with money
and that Eventually our government
would send ships for all American citi-
zens." felt very happy all day, until
/ suddenly realized that we had no ships
and that "eventually'' was word COW
ering much time. l hope one good result
of this awful war will be the realization
by cur government of the necessity for
more favorable legislation for our neg
lected merchant marine.
We did not feel in any danger, for
Americans were treated with great con-
sideration and kindness; but 1t was
rather uncomfortable. for the Germans
could not tell Americans from English,
of course, and close watch was kept
for spies. One young man at our pen