Evening star., 1948-03-12
Visits Of Mark Twain
AndWindsor Recalled
By Heidelberg Guide
BY David M. NichoI

BY Dovid M. NiehoI
Fssslsn Correspondent Of The Stos end
The Chicago Dolly News.
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Mar. IL.
Phillip Mechling is one Of the
few Germans on whom the troubles
Of the last few years have left almost
no mark.
Mr.. Mechling's charge is no such
mundane thing as a grocery store
or a student boarding house. His
worries are centered less on tomor-
rows breakfast than on some an
cient masonry and how to get
book.
For So years, this blue-eyed, round
little man, with snowy handlebar
moustaches, has been guide in
the Heidelberg Castle until he Is as
much part Of the frowning ruins
as the thick walls and the ornate
carvings themselves.
Outwardly, Mr.. Mechling is q
vigorous, active figure of IA years
Daily he may be found with touring
groups, in the courtyard with its
columns from Charlemagne's palace,
on the terraces with their sweeping
view Of the Neckar River Valley, or
deep underground with the worlds
largest wine barrel and the impish
statue of the court Jester, Perkeo,
whom Mr.. Mechling in some ways
resembles.
But these are passing things. Mr..
Meetings. real life, as he sits in
tiny, mountain railroad cafe, or
goes home at sundown to his modest
dwelling, is made Of memories in
which the last 80 years play almost
no part.
Prefers Prewar Days.
ut was much better" he says
wistfully, before the war" and then
adds hastily, lest the visitor mis-
understand, II mean before the first
war"
Bismarck, not Hitler, Is MIR.
Meetings. ideal politician. Mark
Twain, who spent four months here
when Mr.. Mechling was Just junior
guide, Is his favorite literary man.
But the warmest spot of all in this
warm old mans heart Is reserved
for Teddy" Prince Of Wales and
now Duke OF Windsor.
Mr.. Mechling chuckles about Mark
Twain, whose book, "A Tramp
Abroad" was written during his
stay here.
He spoke excellent German
Twain has recorded the incident
himself-"but he insisted always that
one needed only three words to get
along here.
Only Three Words Needed.
They were 'ein glas bier I guess
he used them often enough!"
Twain's book Is the one which
concerns him most. His own copy
is lost, and he has been unable to
replace 1t.
Heidelberg has had frequent
British royal visitors for more than
300 years since the daughter of
James vi of England came here to
marry Frederick v, King of Bohemia
Almost as on pilgrimage, the young
Prince of Wales arrived here in 1918.
Mr.. Meetings. first indication was
a call from the Victoria Hotel. The
Prince had asked to see the castle
by moonlight. Mr.. Mechling sug-
gested the party should come at
1880. The rest Of that night was
high adventure Of which the elderly
guide remembers the minutest
details.
I'VE went through the castle" he
recalls, "and then the Prince asked
to see some of the student life of
Heidelberg. He made only one re-
quirement. We shouldn't tell any
one who he was"
Prince Visits Night Spots.
The Prince, Mr.. Mechling says,
was accompanied by an Oxford
tutor and a plainclothes policeman.
Together the party set off for
famous student gathering spots like
lum Seppel and Rote Ochsen.
The prince put away 1S beers,
Mr. Mechling insists. The weary
tutor had IL. The policeman man
aged nine.
Il don't know how many had,
Mr.. Mechling says blandly.
They started home through the
darkened streets. Mr.. Mechling
says they were singing English
songs, when Heidelberg policeman
wanted to throw the whole lot in
Jail for creating a disturbance.
There was a whispered conference.
The policeman bowed . respectful
retreat.
Back in the hotel, Teddy" dis
missed the tutor and the policeman,
and Mr.. Mechling and the Prince
sat over a bottle of cognac until
long after the sun had risen high
enough to flood the valley with its
light,