Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-24

Rev Phlip NJ Rose, relating the young
mans experiences when he was caught
in the war zone by the outbreak of the
European conflict. He went last fall to
| Italy to study for two years, and the
past summer he has been travelling In
SWITZERLAND and Germany. The three
friends mentioned are college men from
Pennsylvania, with whom Mr.. Rose was
travelling. The letter follows:
80 CITY Road,
London. E. c.
August 9Th.
Dear People,
1 hope you haven't been quite scared
to death about me in these times OF war.
think probably the American papers of
tomorrow will have my name as "ariv-
ed safely" in London. We have had
wild flight out of Germany, but only
annoying. not troublous. like has fallen
to the lot of many Americans abroad.
I'll begin at the beginning. Our Switzer-
land trip continued very interesting al
though we ran into bad weather A week
ago Monday at Lucerne we took the boat
on the lake, landing so as to walk past
Tells chapel. little place on the lake
edge. decorated with frescoes of Tells
exploits and supposedly on the site OF
one OF them Thence we walked over the
Axenstrasse, that famous road that pas
ses under galleries. looking out through
the rocks At Fluelen we took trolley
and at Attdorf saw the monument erected
on the spot OF the famous apple exploit.
We heard some Tyrolese singers who
could yodel well in the evening.
The next day we climbed Pilatus. 100
feet high, lesser mountain. but one which
offers a fine view. Well We got 1t OF Luz
cerne and of the lake, but of the high
snow-cappei mountains, no. Rain and
mist covered the top. There is cog
railroad up the mountain and fine hotel
at the top. Conner and went UP In great
time ahead of the others, but ran into
a sleet storm in the la climb. We order
ed tea, and were invited to 1pin the party
of DR. Day, whom here mtS. again. We'll
he slipped one over on us by paying our
bill when We didn't notice 1t. Three of
u.s. hoping 1t would clear off. stayed over
night at a cheaper hotel, In a room where
we washed n water cold as ice, and where
we could see our breath, Next morning
no sun at 4 o'clock, only clammy mist.
so we had to scramble down. Next day
bunch. There we had nice place to stay,
and saw a beautiful clean city, which
among other things contains the Zwingi
relics, and the wonderful national mu-
scum.
Next day went on. saw the falls OF the
Rhine at Neuheusen, cashed In our now
useless tickets because here we crossed
into Germany. BY evening light we went
up through the black Forest Of Baden to
Freiberg. sending our luggage on to Tri-
berg. At all these places we stayed at
Cristliches Hospizes, a sort of cheap but
good Christian ho.el. They don't tip and
do have services every day in the morn
ing At Freiberg we got in so late and
got tucked into such out Of the way rooms
that we could not get out to get any sup
per On that trip Carithers lost his ticket
and his camera. The latter and also n suit
OF clothes he had to leave to be pressed
at Lucerne haven't caught up with him
yet and probably never will -ow.
The next day we had n warm but pleas.
ant tramp through black spruce woods and
farming country through the Forest" over
to Triberg. The inns were so few and far
between that We nearly starved and final
~ at 2:3O p m. we dined sumptuously on
bread and butter milk and cheese. The
station Of Triberg unknown to us, being
so far from town, we got our baggage and
caught our train by sheer luck and went
on deviating from our route to go to
Strassburg We saw the fine Cathedral
and its wonderful clock the next day,
There We began to hear rumors OF war,
soldiers We're scattered around, earth
nd a
people We're all excited. being so near the
French frontier
We went on TO Heidelberg to spend Sun
day, not much stirred up, to arrive there
Mt the time of the Kaiser's proclamation
of the general mobilization. From there on
the papers got out extra sheets every
hour.
Well, events moved faster than we could
Keep up with them, Monday we heard that
the last train that strangers could get
out of Germany would be only until u
O'Clock that night Afterthat the only trains
would be troop trains. should have writ
ten home the day before. but IT didn
matter as It must have been in German.
and ultimately wouldn't have got out of
the country anyway. Well, two Of us de-
= layed to see the castle and caught up with
the others at Matnz.
There our adventures began. I'll bless
forever the notion l got into my head Of
taking passport with me last fall. The
others had them too. Every large station
was policed by soldiers who questioned
every stranger. French and Russians got
hauled off to jail without ceremony. When
we got In before the officer and showed
our passports we were politely bowed
out We were questioned so at Mainz,
Bingen and Cologne. and once had to
show our baggage maps and films es-
lpecially were inspected The train was
crowded but we managed TO see most OF
the castles on the Rhine, and the Lore
lei' cliff.
At Cologne train after train OF cheering
troops and recruits went through. We
rushed for tickets and We're only permit
tickets to the Hook Of Holland They
were second-class and It took nearly every
cent We had. The platform was crowded
with Americans who waited tanning
and pushing from 7:lo until II D. m. before
the train went. Meanwhile rushed out TO
the postoffice for l had had some mail
forwarded there But | was told that not
even my passport could get them unless
1t were signed by the chief Of police. Since
my train might leave at any minute there
are several letters which l am not likely
to receive ever, or course the French
people won't forward them there,
Italy is interrupted and ! won't hear
g.