Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-08-19
An American In Germany.

herdstown, have been receiving some
very interesting letters from their son,
Prof. John N. Ware, who is at present
in Germany, having gone there month
or two ago TO be married TO a LADY OF
Grimma, Saxony. Prof. Wares letters
are OF interest not only because they give
us inside glimpses of German life during
the Great War, but also because they are
so charmingly descriptive OF the sections
of the country in which he has been stay
ing and touch on historic events and de-
scribe current affairs. We are sure that
the readers OF the Register will appreci-
ate the extracts from these letters thatwe
are permitted to publish through the
kindness of our good friend and most
generous censor, Mrs. J. w. Ware.
July 7, 1915.
My first meal in Germany was at the
depot restaurant in Leipzig, and my order
was steak, potatoes and beer-no bread,
as hadn't gotten my bread ticket yet.
Then we went to the American Consul,
where announced myself and my inten-
tions, and then on to Grimma, an hours
trip on slow train. Our
house is very prettily situated just across
the street from one OF these exquisite
city parks which every German town has.
We have only to cross the road, and there
we are in a beautiful little tree-Shaded,
flower -bordered, gravel-walked garden,
with ponds and ducks and all the accom-
paniments. Also there are beautiful walks
in the woods-only twenty minutes walk
10 reach them, and here there are innu-
merable gravel walks, with benches now
and then. No wonder the Germans love
so much TO walk the roads and the paths
are so surprisingly beautiful. II is Still
light enough TO read at 10, or tleaSt 9 30.
SO we have plenty of time after supper,
which is at seven, might mention here
that we have a light breakfast at eight,
light lunch at ten, regular dinner at
twelve-thirty. coffee, tea, bread and honey
at four, and supper at seven. We have
just what we need, and not bit more.
Twice week the family eats no meat,
and while have begged them TO let me
join them, Trey will not do it. Each per-
son is allowed four pounds OF bread a
week, and find the war bread amply
satisfying. can't see any difference be-
tween it and peace bread, but OF course
there must be. With these two excep-
tions, don't believe the family lives
much differently in peace times.
don't know whether the Allies expect
TO wait itforvictory until Germany is starved,
but if they are counting on that, they may
just get ready to fight on as long as the
world lasts. From the German border TO
Grimma, and everywhere else | doubt
not, the country is one huge granary.
The grain is about ready to cut now, and
am wondering where the harvesters are
coming from. They will come, OF course!
II is beautiful sight and must be pleas
ing one TO German eyes. There is scarce
ly an inch OF available ground in all the
land that is not being cultivated. For
instance, the railroad right-of-way is
planted-even lawns, ours included, are
being utilized for vegetables. If Ger
many's financial affairs are as wisely ad-
ministered as her agricultural interests,
she will never be beaten. She may not
win, but most surely she will not be beat
en-. II is interesting TO see field OF rye
right in the middle Of Leipzig, and the
big Leipzig battle monument is practically
surrounded byit. went out yesterday to
see the colossal thing. II is wonderfully
imposing, though not pretty, unless you
choose to consider strength and power as
beauty, which some do. But il is magnifi-
cent in its symbolism, and even the harsh
outlines of the huge stone figures have
these beauties. We went through the
interior, and ! felt as though ! was in
some old Egyptian temple, everything
was so reminiscent OF Egyptian architec-
ture. 1t is on an artificial mound, and is
about 200 feet above the ground. On
clear day there is view OF $50 miles ra-
dius, but it was slightly hazy that day,
and we couldn't see that far.
In the crowd were several wounded
soldiers, all OF them wounded in the leg,
and all nearly ready TO 60 to the front
again. have seen a number ofwounded
men, and with possibly two exceptions
all have leg wounds. II il were not for
the soldiers, it would be hard TO realize
that Germany is at war. That is, TO the
| casual observer Not all the factories are
running, but not enough have stopped TO
make il noticeable, and those that hSve
stopped are tor luxuries, and therefore
unnecessary. OF course II would be
rank foolishness for me TO travel rapidly
through Germany and sit down in quiet
little Grimma and attempt to say what the
country is like, so | only speak OF what !
see, and that must not 60 the for whole.
As for soldiers, there are plenty OF men
still available for the army, unless am
very much mistaken. You see soldiers
everywhere, and there is contingent
drilling near Grimnla. They march right
by our windows invariably singing, and
| drop everything and run TO hear. They
sing splendidly, and somehow you feel a
thrill. can't imagine body OF German
soldiers going anywhere without singing.
It's like breathing with them. The songs
they sing are just popular airs. No
Wacht am Rhein, or Deutschland uber
Allies, but simple little songs, most OF them
with silly words, and they singh cadence.
1t somehow thrills you to see them swing
ing along, their guns shouldered, and
4 f;,,,a f0 he