The New York herald., 1922-12-31
Little Heard From the Aunt.

TlH name Of the aunt, who was also
Margarets godmother, was Bertha
Schliemann. Beyond the fact that she
had married and that her husband was
doing well' little was known OF her in
the Fischer home, her letters being In
frequeM. brief asd noncommittaI. No
body but Margaret had much faith in
her promise to help her niece and god
child. for the elder Eischer's, stolid un-
imaginative folk. never dreamed that
their relative could have risen to real
affluence.
The unexpected appearance of a rich
uncle from America bringing bound
less prosperity in his wake Is a tradition
In Germany. The "Onkei aus Amerika"
materializes so seldom nowadays how
ever, that belief In his coming is evap-
Grating even among those who actually
have uncles across the Atlantic. But
Margaret's conviction IN the ultimate
benevolence Of her American aunt began
almost as soon as she could walk and
has never faltered since.
:. Margaret was born In n dingy, tum-
BILE down hut on tho big farm where
both her father and mother were en-
rloyed rs agricultural laborers. She
spent her childhood there. never having
more than one garment at time,
mighty little food and still less educa-
ton. Nevertheless she thrived. and
comforted herself spiritually with
dreams about die Tante In America"
She was forever telling her parents
what she would do for herself and them
when her dreams came true.
"I shall marry a prince or at least
a count" she would say. "and well all
live in big house In Berlin. far away
from this stupid. dirty farm, and have
beautiful clothes and good things to
eet."
Her fondest desire always was TO
live in city where there were theaters
and dancing, and well dressed. impor-
tant people and lots OF excitement. She
felt that she was unprepared for city
life. however. and somehow must man.
age to fit herself to the demands OF
her destiny. So after the war when
she was fourteen, she coaxed her father
TO let her go TO Goldap. the nearest
, town. and finally won his consent. He
apprenticed her as shopgiri TO a butcher.
more with the idea OF having her earn
her living than OF helping her prepare
for her improbable Inheritance.
Goldnp q Finishing school.
Margaret soon exhausted Goidap's
possibilities as a finishing school for n
potential heiress. The town taught her
something of social etiquette. OF how TO
dress. OF polite conversation and OF
dancing. But the Goldapers were as
ignorant as she herself Of the proper
equipment for a prospective mistress OF
millions. future princess or countess.
Then Margaret discovered the movies
and Immediately realized the tremend-
GUS educational value they offered her
Only certain films interested her, how
ever. The comics amused. but failed
to impress her. Wild West meIodrama
merely inspired her TO anxiety lest her
beloved aunt be exposed to the hair
raising perlls constantly besetting BIZ
Hart and bis associates. What en-
crossed her we're scenes depicting life
among tho upper wealthy or leisure
Glasses. And best OF all were those de-
liclous stories which bring the sweet
young heroine up Gut OF poverty into
opulence, love and marriage.
Margaret studied productions OF this
type with the concentration an earnest
mathematician would devote to an at
tempt at understanding the Einstein |
theory. She engraved upon her memory |
eveyt expression. gesture and move
yarci =