The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01

rent number Of the Illustrated LoHdou
NetcS for me TO read when he discovcl-d
l was English. II that was the stand
ard of expense I might still get through.
Anyhow, l would not turn back.
was too poor TO sleep under q hay
stack. a plan that would have Seemed
feasible in England because / knew
from various experiences that camping
out in a country where you cannot
speak the language land here it was
Bohemian. of which / knew only two
words) might cost pounds and II would
be unpleasant to be Swallowed By the
police for the remainder Of the tour.
Beyond Krummau the line passes
through Horitz, 1.-The Oberammergau
Of Bohemia" where passion plays have
been performed since 1916. but / was
not able to see much of the village in
the twilight.
1t was quite dark when the train
arrived at Schwarzes kreuz. No sign
OF a village was visible. The dimly
lighted little station seemed to lie in a
forest clearing, impenetrably black on
all sides. OF the people who got out
half dozen remained, as / did. loafing
about until the train for PrachatitZ
started at 1911.
We waited and waited. and when at
last it came we all climbed inland still
waited. Now it happens that / live in
Kent. so this proceeding did not seem
in itself very remarkable. The sur
prise came later when the whole STAFF
Of the station, four or five strong,
ranged themselves along the line armed
with lamps and whistles. The lamps
were waved and the whistles were
blown, and we proceeded on our way.
Then we stopped and went back on
another line. Much fourishing of lights.
more alarums and excursions, and We
reversed again. this time pulling up
abruptly to restart with renewed vigor
and explore a fresh section of the
station. Then We commenced coupling
on coaches and uncoupling them again
to send them flying unto dark regions
where no eye could follow.
At wallern everybody alighted and
discovered, to the Illustration of my
plans, that it was impossible to get any
further that night Alas l had failed
to notice an unobtrusive hieroglyphic in
the timetable which announced that ex-
cept on feast days and Sundays the train
would refuse to proceed from here until
$40 A. NJ.
showed my ticket, and in spirit Of
mild adventure stepped out of the sta
ton TO face a dark road and two hotel
porters. There was no sign of any vii
lage. Being ravenously hungry l sue
"umbed to the Establishments of the one
whose house was nearest, giving up all
idea Of doing it on two and fvepence
After a good meal and nights rest
would face the situation.
My room was a delightful one. fur
nished we'll and with certain degree OF
luxury, for there was second electric
lamp on a table by the bed-a feature
which would be rare, think, in an
English village.
An excellent supper OF chicken and a
tankard of still more excellent beer
formed my repast.
Then horrible thing occurred
Thinking that l might be wishing to
leave by the Gle A. NJ. the porter. who
had now become walter, brought IN
my bill
Meaning to die game, although ]
might he ANONYMOUSLY turned out in a
few minutes. I opened my pocketbook
with the air of a man about to pro
duce a roll of notes. But l thought |
OF form before / confessed my inability
to meet 1t. I found that owed the
establishment only two kronen twenty
heller for everything. My head was
still above water.
The greater part OF my remaining
wealth was squandered next morning on
breakfast (roll and coffee. fourteen
heller) and tip of thirty to the porter
which seemed to give him complete sat
isfacton.
But the most enlightening incident
was yet to come. In the restaurant be
fore left for the early train man wa
trying to get some change for coin and
as no one could obllge him he turned to
me. Being now worth twenty-onc
heller i had not much hope of DOING
anything for him until discovered that
he wanted change for a penny!
i gave him five two heller pieces and
he presented one to the girl who had
brought his breakfast-an economical
example which | followed, to the COM
plete satisfaction of the handmaiden.
When the train arrived at Prachatitz
the morning was still young. Full Of
hope and still with twopence unspent I
marched into the grim old town. who's
war battered walls still speak of the
fierce days OF Iizka and of Plus,
But before ! had been there long I
purchased a small loaf and quantity Of
apples, and bang! went my twenty-on"
heller.
So that Is the end Of nv tale, which
II strictly financial, for that was the end
of my two and tenpence,