Kansas University Weekly.
265
look for myself. I confess it was a bit gruesome, poking around all by myself with this dim light in these damp, pitch dark dungeons, looking for instruments of torture, and imagining the stories these massive walls might tell of broken bodies and broken hearts. So I only went into three or four rooms, and discovered only a post with a rusty chain, and a hook in the ceiling, probably used for hanging purposes. But I am glad I went, for after this I shall always have a vivid idea of the torture of mediaeval dungeon life.
Leaving the castle, after a light lunch, I went to the Cathedral to see the great Rubens pictures. To my surprise I was not disappointed in them, at least not in the "Descent from the Cross." It requires no profound knowledge of art to feel that this is a wonderful picture. * * Leaving Antwerp in the afternoon for Cologne, I rode as far as Aix-la-Chapelle with two pleasant German women and was delighted to find, on getting into conversation with them, that my Kansas University Germán is all right. I understand everything and am understood. * *
A little after eleven I addressed a question to a nice looking old lady. She didn't understand German and I discovered her to be an English woman. Her husband came up soon, and they invited me with them to visit the Gurzenich, a very ancient amusement hall. The old gentleman turned out to be the most interesting of Englishmen,—Cambridge bred, travelled, fond of Germans and Americans, positively abusive toward England and Englishmen. Can you imagine a Britisher of this description? They kept me with them two or three hours and treated me beautifully. But I enjoyed the man himself more than his kindness, for after all I like people better than things. * * * You must never be worried about me for I never have the least bit of trouble in getting about where I want to go and seeing what I want to. I do not get lost or rattled or afraid.
Berlin, April 3.
From Cologne to Berlin I had my first experience of night travel in Germany. I took
second class sleeping car and found it really more comfortable and private than first class at home. Each compartment of the car contains an upper and a lower birth and all the toilet conveniences so that you have really a complete bed-room for two, and there is none of the wretched rushing early to the dressing room as in the American cars. I was fortunate enough to have a compartment to myself. * * Oh, but I am charmed with Berlin! It is modern, to be sure, but full of interest and clean and well kept and easy to get around in. I have of course had to be alone in my search all over the city for a suitable boarding house, in looking after my baggage, and in getting my mail, but with my Baedeker map and my questions it is all perfectly simple. * * I spent yesterday afternoon wandering about the Leipziger street, where some of the best shops are. They were making most elaborate preparations for Easter. Whenever I saw a group of people at a window I joined them and listened to their talk. I even attached myself to a crowd around a street pedlar and listened to his speech. And when I couldn't hear the people talk, I read the street signs, for it all counts as part of the education in the language that I came here to get. * * * The University term begins April 15, and I shall be busy enough until then, seeing the city and getting myself settled sufficiently to go to work. —Iola Register.
Study the watery process:The farmer waters his milk,the merchant waters his sugar, the banker waters his stock,the politician waters his words,the professional man waters his deeds,while the background,distorting his face with hideous grimace—stands his Sotonia Majesty deliberately watering them all.
J. W. HULLINGER.
The Midland has published during March and April a fine "write up" of Ingalls. In a good editorial on preparation for literary excellence the same paper says that the five short stories in the last Munsey's were selected from five thousand offered in competition.