 CHAPTER 3 OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ACTRESS by Anna Cora-Mollett This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Kelly Taylor The bearing of a new name and the wearing of a ring made very little alteration in my mode of life or in the manner in which I occupied my time. I resumed my studies almost immediately. Mr. Mollett himself instructed me in French and in the higher branches of English. I took music and singing lessons three times a week, and only abandoned drawing because a stooping position was found injurious to my health. In this latter accomplishment several of my father's children had shown a marked proficiency which none had exhibited in music, and I laid aside my pencils with regret. I was excessively fond of the country, and early in the spring Mr. Mollett took me to reside in Flatbush, Long Island. The house in which we boarded was a large old-fashioned mansion built before the Revolution and had belonged to General Giles. There were dark and spacious vaults beneath the kitchens, where it was said that English prisoners had been confined, and there was a secret chamber above the great ballroom, to which no access could be found saved by a small window. The neighbors affirmed that a young girl had been purposely starved to death in that chamber, and that her ghost wandered at night about in the house. Indeed this report had gained such credence that nothing could have induced many of the older inhabitants of the village to pass a night beneath the haunted roof. The house stood back from the main road, embowered by magnificent old trees, the property consisted of twenty acres of land, and a high state of cultivation. I became so much attached to this place that Mr. Mollett purchased it from my gratification, stipulating, however, that I should content myself in passing the greater portion of the year in the country. I gladly consented. The house was repaired and refurnished. The gardens and orchard enlarged and planted with an innumerable variety of fruit trees and flowers, a greenhouse built, a long arbor erected, where I could walk at midday, quite shaded from the sun, and a summer house reared in its center, in which I could sit and write or study. I had numberless pets, birds, dogs, pigeons, rabbits, a goat and kid, and a beautiful Arabian mare for my own special use. We named her Queen Mab. At sixteen years old I found myself the mistress of this mansion, without a wish ungratified. After a time my father kindly allowed a dear and gentle sister, some four years younger, to reside with me, that I might not be lonely. My time was occupied in studying, taking care of my pets, writing about the country and instructing my sister May in whatever I learned myself, French, Spanish, music, etc. Brilliantly happy were the days we passed together. We neither ceased to be children nor gave up our childish sports. Our morning amusements were trundling a couple of huge hoops through our favorite arbor, dancing with the skipping rope, or floating round the flying course which had been erected to promote our healthful exercise. Sometimes we ordered ladders to be placed by the cherry trees loaded down with fruit, and spent our mornings in the branches gathering cherries and reading when we retired. An easy saddle horse was placed at my sister's disposal, and we took long rides together accompanied by the gardener or the coachman, Mr. Mollett, not being fond of the exercise. We also had a commodious carriage and a fine pair of coach horses, but May and I preferred horseback exercise, driving seemed too quiet an amusement for our exuberant spirits. From every book which I read I made extracts, and wrote down my impressions of the work. These extracts and critiques I kept in the form of a journal. During several years this journal testified that I had read and commented upon between ninety and one hundred volumes yearly. Every possible means was taken to strengthen my constitution through abundance of exercise, and thus to ward off the illness to which I was subject. For this purpose Mr. Mollett taught me the use of the gun. He was himself an admirable sportsman. I had many fears and some scruples to conquer, but after a time I took aim so accurately that I could shoot swallows on the wing. Many and many a morning, with a light single-barrel gun on my shoulder, dressed in half-Turkish costume, and followed by our dogs, I rambled with him for miles through the woods, filling the game-bag which hung at my waist with birds of both our shooting. It now appears to me a cruel pastime, and birds no longer stand within my danger. But in those days I seldom saw with my own eyes, or judged with my own judgment. The first real sorrow I ever knew fell upon my heart as I stood beside the deathbed of our mother. She was summoned away within a year after my marriage. For a time it seemed as though all I prized on earth had gone with her. Her last hours were ever-present to me. The couch where she lay, surrounded by her weeping children and their father. Her exquisitely chiseled feature, perfect in their beauty, becoming more and more marble-like as her breath grew fainter. Her transparent hands that lay passively in ours. Her glazing eyes, which, just as she breathed her last, beamed with a sudden look of intelligence that fell upon her youngest child, Uya. And the seraphic smile that settled upon her countenance, when the last pang was over, and the angel bore her spirit away. Sleeping or waking, these were ever before my eyes. My pen lingers while I write of her. But what she was, no pen can truly describe. A being indeed, all dipped in angel instincts, breathing paradise. Happy he was such a mother, faith in womankind, beats with his blood. And trust in all things high comes easy to him. We gave to our place the name of Melrose, not from any likeness that it bore to Melrose Abbey, but on account of the abundance of roses, of every description that filled our greenhouses and were scattered over the ground. There was an Episcopal church in the village which we attended and May and I contributed our services as Sunday school teachers. In our little classes we took the deepest interest. When there were two fares for the benefit of the church, held upon the magnificent grounds of Mr. C. My sisters presided at a table filled with our own work. Little Julia sold flowers and recited poems. I was constituted a fortune teller. They erected for me a bower formed of branches of evergreens. Over the entrance, in letters made of flowers, were the words, temple of fate. Within was a large wheel of blue and gold, covered with numbers. Beside the wheel, somewhat fantastically dressed, I stood, with a golden wand in one hand and the book of fate in the other. I had written fortunes in verse, and adapted them to the histories of certain persons who, I was sure, would be present. By pressing the wand skillfully upon the wheel, as it turned, I could stop it at what number I pleased, and thus I created great amusement by the happy hits directed at those who sought to learn their destiny. The temple of fate proved highly productive to the interests of the church. My fondness for rhyming continued undiminished. I was tired of fugitive pieces, and determined to write a poem of some length. What subject would I choose? I was reading, with great avidity, Schlegel's lectures on literature. Schlegel remarks that poetry's original end and highest grade he believes to be epic. I would write an epic poem. I chose a subject from Spanish history, and was soon thoroughly engrossed with my new and, to me, delightful occupation. In the evenings I amused myself by reading aloud to Mr. Mallet what I had composed in the morning. I wrote with juvenile rapidity, and had not yet learned the great art of blotting. In a few months the poem was completed. It was entitled Palaio, or the Caverns of Covedanga, a poetical romance in five cantos, founded on the history of the first king of Osterias. Mr. Mallet, of course, listened with partial ears, and I believe I had a way of making versification sound more musical than it was of creating a synths through certain modulations of voice which did not exist in the words themselves. He proposed that Palaio should be published. The idea startled me. I was not then ambitious. I had thought more of feeding birds and taming pigeons than of winning fame. I loved to think that I possessed a household harp that would make pleasant music for the ears of kindred and friends, but I shrank from playing my part of imperfect musician before the world. Yet I was easily persuaded. The authorship of Palaio was to be kept a profound secret. I assumed the name of Isabel, and the book was published by the harpers. Its existence was as ephemeral as it deserved to be. As readily exterminated by the critics as a butterfly could be crushed, it died an easy death. I alone suffered in its expiring agonies. The rosy veil of maternal love which shrouds the eyes of most young writers when they look at their own productions had not yet fallen from mine. I considered myself a very injured individual, a sort of literary martyr, and I assumed a Spartan courage in bearing my wrongs, which must have been particularly ridiculous. Years afterward I found an old copy of Palaio and read a few lines. Very few they were, for I closed the book in mortified astonishment that I could ever have written such unmitigated stuff. Or could I comprehend how the blindest affection could have allowed me to render it public? The preface to Palaio contained a bombastic threat that I would reply to any attacks made upon the book. I hurled a little appution defiance at the giant critics. They were forewarned that I was prepared to defend my poetical offspring to the death. Palaio's English bards and scotch reviewers was probably running in my head, for from the ashes of Palaio sprang up a satire and I used the word because it is on the title page, entitled Reviewers Reviewed. The title is sufficiently explanatory in setting forth the object of the book. The following extract from the preface betrays the impetuous spirit in which it was written. Palaio, the first rude effusion of a warm, though untutored heart, was presented to the public with all the rainbow hope, that unmingled buoyancy, whichever attends the joyous visions of expectant youth. I studied not the science of poetry, I heeded not its rules. In the enthusiasm of the moment I felt only that nature formed her poets before nature's scorners shackled them with their modern trammels. Little did I dream while tracing the carelessly light-toned preface of Palaio of that literary ordeal to which it was offered, and in some unfortunate illusion to critics, my imagination scarcely painting them as other than ideal beings, I naturally gave vent to the playfully exuberance of spirit which might have amused a circle of my own friends. But if I hope to find amongst the wrath-despensing race of friend, if I thought to ward off, or beguile, the tempestuous hurricane of critic's censure, I but experience the same disappointment thousands have before encountered, thousands must meet again. The most inoffensive bandage was interpreted into scorn and excuses for my conscientious deficiency translated into self-esteem. Had a just, even though severe, criticism been awarded me, had they quoted one line of mine and displayed its excessive faultiness, had they used my own language and proved its absurdity, had they shown how egregiously false was my versification, how imperfect my rhymes, or from whence my ideas were stolen, for of all these negligences and ignorances they bestowed on me a bountiful share, I would have submitted a thankfully to the scourge which brought improvement with its sting, but on the contrary, they gathered from the preface that Palayo was written at the early age of sixteen, that proper attention had not been devoted to its revision and that I, myself, was conscious of its innumerable defects, and without further examination they made the above sweeping allegations, I do not cannot deny their truth, I am at variance only with the spirit that dictated them and their want of demonstrative proof. Another objection was urged against Palayo, which not from me alone, but from the lips and soul of every patriotic American, demands reply, namely the extreme folly of publishing poetry when its age was on the wane. In the old world where the muses glory has reached its meridian height, her power may well decline, but are not we of the new world, and shine she here, or has she ever shown in full maturity and splendor a raid in laurels from which time has plucked no leaf? How revolting to our national pride, how humiliating to believe that America should only produce a sickly poetry fire expiring at its birth? Can poetry be on the wane while such men as Hollick and Bryant are in their prime, though its infant pinions yet are weak, may they not one day soar beyond even proud Albion's constellated host of bars? One word in extinuation of the above extract. I was hardly 18 when it was published. Reviewers reviewed attracted some attention. The book had a larger sale than Palayo, and was now and then favorably noticed, probably through the sympathy of some critic who had himself been lashed by his contemporaries. I wrote no more under the signature of Isabel. My greatest desire now was to reserve my incognita. I did not suppose it possible for the day ever to come when I should confess with perfect song foie the youthful indiscretion of perpetrating such books as Palayo and reviewers reviewed as a child weeps over the fall of its card houses. So I mourned over the demolition of my first poetic castles, but cherishing the conciliatory hope that mentions of after years would have sureer foundation. We still resided at Melrose. Occasionally I visited my family and friends in New York. Now and then we attended the theater and other places of amusement, but my principal delight was in receiving guests at home. We gave numerous vets, but never mere dancing parties. They were either of a poetic, musical or dramatic character. One of these, and the most worthy of mention, was in celebration of my 17th birthday. Four of my friends had offered to write me birthday poems and recite them in the evening after our guests were assembled. Without hinting my intention, I determined to surprise them with versified replies, though, of course, I could only guess at the subject matter of their effusions. I passed a happy day in decking the house with garlands and robbing our own and our neighbor's greenhouses of all the flowers that they could yield. In a little rustic basket, covered with geranium leaves, lay four exquisite bouquets. To each bouquet was attached a tiny scroll. These were designed for the four poets. The scroll contained the verses addressed to the different parties. Evening brought a merry throng of guests, after refreshments and some exquisite music from a friend who never failed me. An armchair was drawn into the center of the room by Mr. L, the chief of my birthday poets. He advanced to lead me to my temporary throne, but, declining his hand, I stole out of the room and, before he had recovered from his surprise at the apparent rudeness, returned with my basket of bouquets. I took the vacant seat, the four minstrels gathered around me, and Mr. L commenced reciting a very beautiful original poem, which was listened to with breathless attention. At the line, and thus we crowned thee Cora Queen. He drew forth a concealed wreath of natural flowers, made in the form of a regal crown, and placed it on my head. For this coronation I was quite unprepared. When he ceased to speak, the applause and the congratulation of the company expressed their delight. I'm gracious, as it seemed, I set perfectly still until the silence was restored. Then, selecting the bouquet, or breastknot, rather, which I had prepared for him, uttered my thanks in verse and presented the flowers. The general surprise may well be imagined. The three poetesses then addressed me in turn, and, as each one finished, I replied, presenting the bouquets and scrolls. The rustic basket was not yet quite emptied. There remained another paper of plain white folded like a letter. Is that for me? Is that for me? Asked many an eager voice, as I broke the seal and prepared to read. When the curiosity of the company reached its highest pitch, I read aloud the name of one person present, who, I was sure, least expected that he had been made the subject of a poem. A plain, kind-hearted, merry old gentleman of the ancient school, the oldest, truest, most attached friend of Mr. Mallet. How he started from his seat when he heard the words two, j, h. One might have thought a laden and not a paper bullet had entered his ears. The poem was read and presented and praised, and long life was wished to the queen and many another such birthday. The music recommenced, and we chased the rosy hours with flying feet. So passed my seventeenth birthday. Almost every week, my sister May and I, with the assistance of little Julia, who made us frequent visits, got up some rural entertainment, principally for our own amusement and that of Mr. Mallet, who invited his friends or not, just as he felt disposed. Very often he formed our sole audience. We dignified these entertainments by the name of concerts and always had written programs of the performance. The songs were intermingled with recitations and scenes from tragedies. Music was one of our chief studies, but with the fullest appreciation of its beauties we were devoid of any decided musical talent. I accept little Julia, who had a naturally good ear and sweet voice. I also possessed a voice which my teachers pronounced more than ordinarily fine, but I had a faulty ear, and the slightest trepidation made me sing false. For years I labored to conquer this defect, but I never could learn to sing before strangers to my own satisfaction. Perhaps I should add to theirs. Besides our weekly burlesque concerts, we frequently prepared exhibitions of tableaux vivants for our friends, which were eminently successful. Then we several times enacted for different assemblages of guests an original play. This was my first positive attempt at a Zodromatist. It was called The Gypsy Wanderer or The Stolen Child, an operetta dedicated to my sister Julia. The play or dramatic sketch was written in blank verse and interspersed with numerous songs. Little Julia was, of course, the heroine. As our core dramatique consisted of but three, it required some ingenuity to invent a play the interest of which should be sustained by three characters. The plot was very simple and yet proved effective in acting. I personated Lady Ivonne, a brokenhearted young widow whose infant child had been stolen some years previously by gypsies. My sister May enacted Lucille, the niece and confidant of Lady Ivonne. Little Julia was Florette, the stolen child. The scene opens with Lady Ivonne and Lucille. Lucille induces Lady Ivonne to relate the history of her sorrows, through which means the audience is, of course, surprised of them. Suddenly their conversation is interrupted by the voice of a gypsy child singing without who begs for charity in her song. Lucille desires to turn her from the doors on account of her obnoxious race. Lady Ivonne objects. The little Florette enters, dressed as a gypsy, with a bundle of small brooms slung over her shoulders, a bunch of lavender in one hand, and a basket of flowers in the other. The ladies question her and she answers with snatches of old ballads, now with over the mountain and over the moor, hungry and weary, I wander forlorn, my father is dead, my mother is poor, and I mourn for days that will never return. And then with by a broom, presenting her tiny brooms, or with come by my lavender, distributing her lavender. Lady Ivonne, of course, traces a likeness between this child and the one she lost, and is greatly agitated. The little Florette makes known all she can remember of herself, and Lucille discovers a mystical circlet, bound over her arm. Florette entreats that this may not be removed. It is a charm placed there by a gypsy prophetess of her tribe, and she has been warned that evil will befall her should it ever be loosened. Of course her prayers are unheeded, the band is hastily torn away, it concealed a natural mark by means of which Lady Ivonne recognizes her child, and the dramatic sketch ends in a tableau. Its representation occupied an hour and a half. About this period I began to write fugitive pieces, which were published in various magazines under the signature of Cora. The first to which I allowed this my own name to be attached was a bridal address to my sister Emma. When the bride and bridegroom, after the ceremony, returned from the church to our father's house, little Julia came forward and greeted them with this address. Her delivery, and not the poem itself, produced a deep impression. Dr. H, who had officiated, much moved, and his were not the only eyes unused to weep that found themselves involuntarily moistened by the pathetic tones and earnest delivery of a child of eight years old. While my little pupil was speaking, I scanned the countenances of those around, and what I read there gave me more intense delight than ever did, even in after years the most enthusiastic applause that peeled in my ears. My health had been for some time failing. I was no longer allowed to study, I was forbidden to write, physicians pronounced me consumptive, and recommended a sea voyage. My newly married sister and her husband were about to visit Europe. It was a range that I and an aunt to whom I was warmly attached should accompany them. Mr. Mawet's professional engagements prevented his leaving New York. The first parting from home and the loved ones left behind was naturally a severe trial. Had I been less seriously indisposed I should have rebelled at the banishment, but excessive weakness enabled me to bid farewell with a tearless eye and a sensation of icy calmness which even the passionate grief of my beloved companion, my sweet sister May, could not disturb. In a poem written in third person, composed on board of the ship, descriptive of the parting, the following lines occur in allusion to this sister. They portray the closeness of our union. She, for many moons, had been the loved companion of her lonely hours. They dwelt together from the self-same page, had read, laughed gaily or the same light tales, sang the same songs or strove for chance to sing. For each had more of music in her soul and harmony in her love than melody upon her lips. Arms softly linked in arm, each sunny morn had they stroll lovingly forth. To take unmarked their pleasant rambles through the little village where the elder dwelt and where the younger felt her home to be. We sailed in the ship Roscos under the command of Captain Collins. I remained very ill for the first two weeks, but before the village was completed began to make rapid strides towards help. My cough had nearly disappeared and I was more free from suffering than I had been for months previous. We reached Liverpool in three weeks and hastened to London. End of Chapter 3. Chapter 4 of Autobiography of an Actress by Anna Coral-Mollett. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Kelly Taylor. We spent but a week, one delightful week in London. How little I then thought that it would be my lot to return there to pass years, to return no longer the thoughtless happy girl passing unnoticed in the crowd and enjoying every moment of her existence, but the grief-tried woman standing where all eyes were fixed upon her with duties, cares, professional responsibilities, and the lives of others bound up in hers. My glowing impressions of the first week in London are conveyed in the following hasty journal addressed Mr. Mullett. One week in London. We arrived late on Thursday evening. We read out with our eleven hours journey from Liverpool. But dashing along the smooth roads after we had left the train, sleep was soon banished from our drooping eyelids. The gaslight shed around us a flood of radiance which gave the city the appearance of an illumination and every object was as distantly visible as at midday. That freshness of feeling which belongs to the inexperienced traveller imparted a zest to our slightest enjoyments, trivial objects which would have been glanced at unheeded by the most sophisticated, call forth from us exclamations of wondering astonishment, that we might present a somewhat more civilized appearance in this land of splendor and gaiety we devoted Friday to shopping. A private carriage was ordered and with what our friend J. H. would call a very wide awake expressions of countenance we set out on our first drive. There were so many attractions on every side that I at least soon became too bewildered to know which way to turn and would cry look look look here putting your head out of one window of the carriage while Emma ejaculated quick quick or you will miss seeing this and forced her slight figure half out of the other. While I was trying to accomplish the impossibility of looking both ways at once I part of the time saw nothing. Every moment of our attention was riveted by something new the wide and cleanly streets through which six carriages not unfrequently flew by abreast the velocity with which the gaily colored flies and cabs so unlike any of our vehicles at home dashed along the mechanized rows the liveryed coachmen and footmen who apparently form one third of the populace and when not behind their master's carriages lounge idly about the doorsteps the palace like shops magnificent without and sumptuous within rooms devoted to millinery and Mantua making furnished as gorgeously and as tastefully as drawing rooms at home everything in turn awakened our astonishment and admiration we could hardly say with what we were most charmed unless it was the splendid buildings with which london is as thickly studded as the queen's crown with jewels a particular delight to me were the little sparrows and swallows which in spite of all this pomp and splendor hopped tingly about in the streets chirping most musically as they gathered straws or threads to build their nest within the roofs of the houses I amuse myself by fleeing bits of worsted out the window and watching the fearless little creatures as they alighted almost at the feet of some passerby to pick up these treasures the attendance in london is excellent you are always at liberty to fence yourself a princess for you are treated as one but you must pay as princesses do or are supposed to do before your coachman can jump from his seat the door is opened by some little rogue the steps let down and his hat touched significantly if you take no notice of this he plainly ask you to spare something for the drinking of your health his manner very markedly implies that thus alone can its preservation be secured three or four waiters in tights and pumps attend you to your carriage but you are expected to slip some silver in their hands for handing you in or even picking up your handkerchief the very playbills at the theaters are sold by men who run beside your carriage and crowd around to force them upon you before you alight everybody is fed and for the slightest service you must cross the doers hand with silver we spent the whole of friday in making purchases and strolling through bazaars and shops i must give you some idea of the expedition of london dressmakers at five o'clock we drove to a court dressmaker that i might be measured for a dress to be worn the next evening at the opera in eight minutes three of which were passed in astonishment at my giving my name as a married woman i was fitted and in the carriage again the dress came home the next morning and became me our mother you friday evening we visited the olympic theater with madam vestress we were all of us charmed i now understood why she is not appreciated in america this is her sphere she is the planet around which her satellites move drawing light from her they shine themselves and thus add to her luster she is nothing alone she must have a certain entourage to develop and set forth her powers one could discern a woman's taste and a woman's hand in all the most minute arrangements of this theater there is just enough light to give proper effect the scenery and dresses were historically appropriate every character of the play even down to the postilians and waiters were well sustained the illusion was thus rendered perfect the entertainment consisted of a series of light pieces by turns serious or comic each like miss edgworth's tales with its moral and filled with patriotic and loyal sentiments which drew down thunders of applause from the attentive audience madam vestress herself saying a little ballad commencing here's a health tour majesty in the most bewitching manner a large portion of the audience stood while she was singing i presume in token of their loyalty and she was again and again on court the theater is very small but a perfect bijou the only light accepting those on stage proceeds from one large chandelier suspended from the ceiling here as at the entrance of every other place of public amusement her majesty's officers are stationed and prevent disturbance on saturday morning we drove around somerset square a magnificent edifice formerly a palace but now denigrated into law offices when the building was in progress a watch fell from the pocket of a maison on the roof and large between two stones near the third story window and yet remains distinctly visible but beyond reach we then winded our way to st paul's cathedral second only to st peter's at rome where shall i find the words to describe to you this stupendous pile here followed a long account which i shall admit st paul's has been so frequently and so much more ably described from the cathedral we drove to the tower with the latter i was greatly disappointed perhaps because the impressions left by the former were still so fresh upon my mind i thought the tower bore a strong resemblance to some vast museum we were conducted about by an attendant warden in the queen's livery there was a golden crown with the letters v r victoria regina embroidered on the back of his coat he made his explanatory remarks in the set phrase and monotonous tone of an automation this tower was formerly a royal residence but since the reign of elizabeth has been occupied as a state prison royal arsenal and a place of safety for the jewels of the crown from the tower we drove to the tunnel i should like an estimate to be made of the number of steps which we ascended and descended that day it could hardly fall short of a thousand a sort of exercise which gives ones a capital idea of the treadmill you're aware that the tunnel is a capricious roadway excavated under the Thames the descent is long and wearisome the tunnel is now 870 feet in length and its entire length is to be 1300 feet the river has several times broken in and much impeded the progress of the work we had no time to remain there for it was late in the afternoon we drove back to the hotel dine hastily and then made our toilets for the italian opera the opera company only play twice a week strange to say saturday is the most fashionable night the audience were all en costum d'val the opera house is about three times the size of our park theater it has five tiers of boxes the audience are mostly an assemblage of nobility i do not quite understand how it is their boxes can be hired by paying a sufficiently exorbitant price we obtain the judges of grovenor's box without difficulty the queen was present but our republican curiosity was not gratified for she set directly beneath our lodge the opera was lucia de la memore which you are very familiar but you are not familiar with the almost inspired tones of prisciani that charm and electrify her audience by turns her mad scene was painfully powerful terribly beautiful one or two of the heirs have haunted me ever since we have heard no such voices in america as those of tambornini or rubiani the next day being sunday was indeed a day of rest we attend saint martin's church early on monday morning we started anew on sightseeing expeditions our first visit was to the coliseum the panorama which represents a view of london from the top of saint paul's cathedral is very superb after spending some time in a minute examination we were taken up to the top of the coliseum in the curious ascending room which rises from story to story without any perceptible motion afterwards we visited the salon where there are many exquisite specimens of sculpture then the conservatories the swiss cottage the alpine glen the waterworks and the gardens in the swiss cottage we set upon the chair which was made for queen adelaide when she was about to visit the coliseum in the same chair victoria has reposed through the zoological gardens we rambled for nearly four hours and were forced to leave without feeling as though we had seen all that was worthy of attention from the gardens we drove to hide park to see the queen a large concourse of people were assembled at the gates for the same purpose we were disappointed in seeing her majesty but fully replayed by the scene itself i believe no resort in london affords so excellent an opportunity of reviewing the fashionable world the spacious gravel roads were covered with ladies and gentlemen mounted on magnificent horses and followed by their grooms our simplicity loving eyes were almost dazzled by the fanciful and sometimes fantastic liveries and the rich coloring of the gorgeous equiviges that rolled by an endless succession many of these carriages were of two different hues intermingled others were of the most delicate pink blue light maroon and i have even seen scarlet the arms of the nobility to whom they belong are painted on the panels and their crest embroidered in gold on the hammer cloth some of the coachmen and footmen wore white powdered wigs and cocked hats they all look to me as though they had just started up out of cinderella's pumpkin opposite the central arch of the grand entrance to hide park is a colossal statue of achilles erected by the english ladies in honor of the duke of wellington we had left the hotel immediately after breakfast but only returned home in time to dine by candlelight we then visited madame to so's exhibition of wax figures and spent the evening in promenading through her large and brilliantly illuminated salon one group of statues consisted of the royal family and other celebrated personages victoria is represented as she appeared at her coronation she is seated on a throne the crown on her brow in one hand the scepter and in the other a golden ball the lord bishop of kent berry is imploring a blessing lord melbourne holding the sword estate the duke of devinshar his highness the duke of cambridge and the duchess of kent and all other members of the nobility are grouped around in the midst of another group stands the lamented princess charlotte of wales her face wears an expression of the most angelic sweetness another group is composed of mary clean of scots refusing to sign the document by which she renounces her crown baron ruthven in a ferocious attitude is attempting to compel her the good sir robert melville endeavoring to appease his wrath and a venerable monk gazing with indignation at the brutal baron who insults his mistress among the statues were those of shakespere byron scott kimble mrs. siddhans and moller brown one of the greatest curiosities is the figure of the beautiful madame saint amaret who rejected the disgraceful solicitation of robespierre and thus became the victim of his fury she is stretched upon a couch in a dying attitude her bosom gently heaves to and fro like that of an expiring person you might almost fancy that you felt her breath several of the statues move their heads so naturally that we at first mistook them for human beings a mistake of precisely the opposite character occasioned us some confusion and no little merriment an elderly lady was seated near the figure of voltair intently gazing in his face i placed my hand upon her shoulder and said to emma oh look at this one it is capitely executed the supposed statue turned its eyes upon me and rose up to a terrible height as i thought with an annihilating expression i did not sink into the earth as a tall gentleman seemed to imagine that i was bound to do but as soon as i could recover from the sensation of how frightened surprise i hurriedly begged her pardon she swept by us without a word who could have helped laughing the adjoining room a veritable chamber of horrors represents the interior of the Bastille it is filled with heads of persons taken after their execution the first was marat who was put to death by charlotte corday then came the heads of robespierre of steward and his wife barrier etc all of them taken a few hours after execution a model of the guillotine completed this most detestable exhibition you will probably remember that the fatal instrument was invented by mr guillotine a french physician who actually died of grief caused by the horrible use made of his invention tuesday it stormed and we devoted the morning to letter writing in the afternoon we visited the national historical gallery and miss linwood's exhibition in the evening we attended st james theater the theater itself was worthy of all admiration not so the performance the actors were monkeys and dogs i confess that even the novelty of the exhibition could not lend it a charm our first visit on wednesday was to the new house of lords the old one was burned in the late fire we saw the throne which victoria occupies when she opens parliament set on the wool sack and a very comfortable good-natured sort of seat it is appropriated to the lord chancellor and examined the steps where the duke of esics stumbled on approaching the queen from the house of lords with our expectations raised to the highest pinch we crossed to weth smithster abbey i shall not even attempt a description of what appears to me indescribable i will only tell you of the monument that made the deepest impression it was that of lord and lady nightingale in the chapel of st john the expiring form of lady nightingale lies in the arms of her agonized husband while grim visage death steals from beneath a tomb and aims his unerring dart at the bosom of the dying woman her husband extends one arm imploringly to the king of terrors and with the other folds his fragile wife to the bosom which he cannot protect her from that one foe we lingered a long time in the poet's corner and talked of the illustrious dead and we sat on the chair in which her majesty and preceding sovereigns were crowned from the abbey we drove to the celebrated british museum a vast receptacle of millions of wonders both of art and nature here the rest of the day was profitably consumed we had only time to take a short drive through high park before dinner we were too much fatigue to visit any place of amusement in the evening and retired early on thursday morning we drove to kinsington gardens which adjoined high park there is a lovely quietude about these beautiful gardens which contrast strangely with their noisy and more fashionable vicinity kinsington palace to which the gardens are attached was the former residence of the duchess of kent and princess victoria it has little pretensions to grandeur it is built of old-fashioned looking brick and reared with neither elegance nor taste from the gardens we drove to richmond enchanting richmond thompson seasons were in our minds and on our lips and their delightful association enchanted the charm of every prospect i think this was the most agreeable drive i have ever yet taken we all declared that there was no place we cared to visit after richmond and there we spent the remainder of the day wandering about in a state of dreamy delight and chiding the setting sun which we viewed from richmond hill for warning us to return onwards on friday we were occupied in packing we were to leave for humbark in the evening as we stood in the midst of an army of trunks in the very heat of battle a battle waged against the impossibility of making them contain more than they could hold h entered hastily and told us that the queen was expected to visit the national gallery of paintings a crowd had already collected at a short distance if we made haste we might see her our toilets were rapidly completed and we formed a portion of the expected crowd for an hour and a half we stood patiently waiting listening to the doubts expressed by some and the confident assurances of others that her majesty would shortly pass we then walked to saint james square more than a mile off in hopes of seeing her there again disappointed we returned to our former station but after remaining there another hour we were forced to return to the hotel to finish our packing the queen passed three hours afterwards on the loveliest moonlit night i have ever beheld we bated due to london with the earnest hope that we might one day return end of chapter four chapter five of autobiography of an actress by anna kora mollett this liberal box recording is in the public domain recording by kelly taylor 24 hours after our departure from london we reached homburg by steamboat our passage across the north sea was smooth and pleasant in homburg we remained one week visiting all places of interest and public amusement within our reach we were so constantly on the wing that i had no leisure to keep any record of our swallow-like flights from homburg we proceeded to bremen traveling part of our way by schnell post one of our party who did not comprehend german remarked that probably schnell post meant snail post judging from the slow and tedious mode of progression she was partially indignant when the swiftness implied by the word schnell was translated to her but consoled herself with a reflection that the expression was probably used in irony in bremen resided the parents and relatives of our new brother-in-law an amusing incident took place when he first presented them to his young wife a servant who resided sometime in his father's family concealed herself behind the street door to catch the first glimpse of my sister during the tender embraces with which she was welcomed by her warm-hearted relatives the servant could not see her face which was shadowed by a profusion of long dark ringlets but when the greeting was over she was conducted into the drawing-room and her bonnet removed the girl had a full view of her countenance as her mistress passed out of the room she rushed to her exclaiming in german oh she's white she's not black only her hair i thought master h had married an american woman and you brought home a black daughter-in-law more intelligent individuals than this german maitian were possessed with the belief that america produced only a race of negroes in bremen our time passed most delightfully my sister was fetted and courted for her own sake as well as on account of her husband's position as a popular and influential merchant my aunt and i shared in the hospitalities offered to them at the first large dinner party given to my brother and sister when the healths were proposed a gentleman rose and recited to them a poem in german there was a great deal of applause their glasses were touched by all present and their health struck immediately afterwards the health of the dikterin poetus was offered what was my astonishment when all eyes were turned upon me i could only look with a questioning stare into the face of the gentleman who having proposed the health addressed me in a then unknown tone my surprise and confusion were not lessened when i perceived a host of outstretched hands every one holding a wine glass towards me i looked at the challenging wine glasses in amazement then at my own which i did not attempt to lift to meet theirs then at my brother-in-law petitioning in a dumb show that he would explain what was expected of me he was seated at some distance but made a sign for me to touch my glass to the offered glasses i did so and the health of the dikterin was drunk i joined in and stupidly drank my own health for i had not then discovered that i was the dikterin a gentleman at my side who could only speak a few words of english enlightened me by saying dikterin that is you you pretty poem write your sister mr b make german out the bridal address which was recited at my sister's nuptials had been translated into german without her knowledge or mine these were the verses addressed to her when her health was proposed our kind german friends were very enthusiastic in regard to the poem for which i was probably indebted to the translator as for the original it could have only been to them like inarticulate breathings from a shrine their fancy took for granted was divine soon after this to my great surprise the bridal address appeared in the london weekly gizette it was inserted at least i believe so by the editors without the influence or knowledge of any of my friends as an american production worthy of being quoted all which to a youthful authoress was sufficiently gratifying from that moment the self mistrust which had always chilled me when i was persuaded to make public what i had wrote began to melt away i continued to write on various subjects in poetry and prose and sent home occasional articles which were published in the popular magazines of the day the following which appeared in the ladies companion gives my impressions of the manners and customs by which i was surrounded usages and manners of the northern germans there is perhaps no entertainment where so much tediousness and enjoyment so much velocity and dullness are incongruously mingled as at a german dinner party of the present day enjoyment because sufficient wit and humor are congregated to speed time on the wings of pleasure tediousness because even pleasure tires at length of using her wings and leaves time to hang heavily about the shoulders of those she forsakes for even five hours past at the table is considered no unusual sitting and charm must the voice be if its tone sink not into the monotony of heaviness and write the wit if its flashes tested through this weary ordeal news none of their brilliancy the name of each invited guest written on a slip of paper is found on the plate designated for his use and in this manner the hostess reserves the privilege of joining those whose characters and fancies assimilate and separating such as are at variance or of ungenial temperaments thus the ever-needful assistance of the peacemaker tacked ensuring the harmony of her entertainment when dinner is announced each gentleman promonades a lady round the table until her name is discovered then leaves her to seek the seat assigned to himself and though nobody enjoys the privilege of changing his place a timely hint to the hostess is not without its influence in securing the most agreeable one the festive board is gorgeously spread with vases of most costly china perfuming the air with the brightly hued plunder of the greenhouse and garden garlands of flowers baskets of luscious fruits and a profusion of tempting preserves and fanciful confectionary to delight the eye while the other senses are gratifying themselves with the smoking and highly seasoned veyons carved by the servants at side tables and handed separately round the general board the company once seated a stranger is attracted by the courteous custom which makes each person turn with a smiling countenance to his neighbor and bowing wish him ein guten appetit for there is a good humored politeness in this social usage which inspires a kindly feeling towards those in whose society you are thrown you meet together to while away a few jovial hours to make acquaintances of strangers or draw closer the bonds of friendship round acquaintances already made and your intercourse commences with a friendly wish responded by every lip which seems to give you even though strangers some emotion in common some desire which being mutual assists in establishing that ease without which enjoyment may be assumed but never really felt it would be in vain to attempt describing the order of courses which vary from fifteen to twenty and are principally remarkable for the present mode of serving pudding before meat between each course an interval which would be long unshortened by the agreeable converse of those around is permitted to intervene in the avowed land of melody it would appear useless to mention that the most exquisite songs and finest instrumental music form a delightful part of this as of every festivity a number of toast are usually drunk accompanied by speeches from their proposers each glass when filled being raised and lightly touched to the one nearest on either side is made to send forth a musical ringing sound peculiarly merry and pleasant to the ear and so dexterously is this ceremony sometimes performed that the simultaneously joined glasses circling the table seem to form symbolic links of the social chain that unite those who hold them which as they generally drink clear it in lightness and rosiness may be further compared to these emblematic fetters if the health of one of the company as in a special honor is proposed every glass is touched to his and gentlemen seated at a distance from the person toasted ordinarily rise and approach him that their glass may come in collision the health of the host and hostess with an acknowledgement of their hospitality is never omitted and the beautiful or humorous sentiments expressed in these toasts are an unbounded source of entertainment after a number of courses have been served the host leaves his seat and slowly making the tour of the table pauses beside each guest to whisper kind wishes or make some civil inquiry or lively jest which soon spreads amongst the company I once saw a charming old gentleman the snows of many a winter reething his brow who was promenading round his convibial board when he reached the chair of his still blooming wife and she raised her good-tempered face which had been smilingly turned towards her guests like a sunbeam shedding light all round feigned to be too occupied to stop but suddenly and playfully stooping snatched a kiss from the lips so tempting the approach to his with all the enthusiasm a young lover might have infused in the act nor was this little incident or accident rather considered as an evidence of ill reading or made the subject of severe comment as in any more form-loving land it inevitably would have been after the 101 courses have rarely run their course if the family live in the good old-fashioned style richly ornamented pipes of ludicrous length are introduced and generally not without making the better acquaintance of every gentleman present who freely indulges in the luxury of sending forth fantastic reeds of smoke to circle the fair one by his side without the remotest fear of a distasteful frown deepening on her brow and she if fatigued or preferring a more poetic garland may soon disappear almost unperceived amid the clouds of smoke which darken the air and refresh herself with the perfume of the carefully tended garden which is oftener sought than the boudoir or parlor but in general the company rise together and bowing to each other or cordially grasping hands conclude the ceremonies of the table by wishing the hearty gizennet malzite may your meal be blessed to you which a foreigner who has witnessed the abundant and varied repast of which they were pressed to partake may secretly imagine is needed to ensure its digestion after a promenade in the garden the company reassemble in the parlor and well may the politeness of an American lady be beguiled into the vulgarity of ma-mais-ment to see her German friends quietly seat themselves and compositely draw forth their needlework as though visibly engaged beside their own little work tables at home the more elderly knit the young embroiderer and the needle is plied to the merry music of their tongues for their employment assists rather than precludes conversation a German lady cannot conceive the possibility of passing an easy and pleasurable hour with her fingers unoccupied to so great an extent does she carry this industrious mania as to play panellope even while receiving morning visitors who if they come to pass a few hours are prepared to follow her example I heard the naive excuse of a young wife who being questioned on this subject by a foreigner laughingly reply we are weaving into substance again the smoke which our spin-thrift husbands are puffing to the wind lest their extravagance should ruin us they waste we save so the balance is kept even the Germans are remarkably fond of the open air and after dinner coffee is served sometimes at small tables in the garden which often faces the street sometimes in vine-covered bowers in the graceful balcony or even unsheltered on the open wall when the house is pleasantly located on the ramparts or in an open square or in a wide street the ladies while sipping their coffee do not relinquish their needles taking a stitch ever and on to refresh themselves with the comfortable assurance that they are not idle nor have the surrounding gentlemen parted with their pipes which bear them affectionate company unobjected to by the ladies or they are all seen with Halleck to have discovered the free and happy spirit that unseen reposes and the dim shadowy clouds that hover or us when smoking quietly and to tolerate even hail that spirit's presence if the residents of the host is not distanced from the public gardens they frequently are sought by the company to listen to the delightful band of music ordinarily stationed there on returning to the house tea is served and the young people amuse themselves with games and dancing the elderly continuing their employment a light supper is handed round and the party breaks up rarely earlier seldom later than 10 o'clock on leaving the house it is customary for each person to present the servant stationed at the street door with a piece of money equal to five or six shillings and this drink geld as it is called which is obtained in various ways from the guests of the master is always carried to the mistress of the mansion and kept by her until the end of the year when it is distributed amongst all the domestics of the family and often amounts to so considerable a sum that a servant before making an engagement regularly asked whether much company is received than an estimate may be formed of the lucrativeness of the situation the funeral obsequies of the Germans vary in their different cities and are generally marked by some striking peculiarity in Hamburg all wigs of long curling plexen hair are usually worn by the pallbearers and attendants at the funeral in Bremen where I had more frequent opportunity of witnessing the last ceremonies in honor of the dead the coffin exposed on an open hearse is preceded by a long procession of higher attendance clothed in the deepest morning wearing three-cornered hats and flowing cloaks fastened from shoulder to shoulder and followed by a train of friends and relatives sometimes with bared heads in respect to the departed the instant death claims it's earthly victim an attendant in the above-mentioned costume is dispatched formally to announce the event to the connections friends and neighbors of the deceased this custom has given rise to some ludicrous mistakes when foreigners have been near residents of the house of mourning as was invents by a party of American gentlemen who were disturbed in their evening conviviality by the sudden appearance of one of these sable-clad messengers begging to inform them in the name of a wealthy and beautiful lady of the neighborhood that she had just become a widow the wondering strangers having often in their promenades paid homage to the loveliness of the unknown lady cordially thanked the messenger crossed his palm with silver for his trouble or for the good luck's sake and bade him present their compliments to the afflicted lady then congratulating themselves on the evidence of her preference in thus speedily communicating her situation commenced calculating how soon they might pay her their consolidatory divorce and decided that civility should be acknowledged without delay but happening to boast of their fortunate adventure to a friend somewhat more au fait to the customs of the country the extraordinary meaning that they had given to an ordinary form was much to their disappointment discovered the body of the deceased for many days after the spirit has been disenthralled is watched over with all the care and tenderness which were given to the couch of the living and remains unconsigned to its parent earth until disillusion has rudely banished any hope of revival which lingered round the cherished clay in Vienna and several other cities of Germany an elegant building conveniently arranged is especially devoted to the reception of the dead thither on soft litters they are gently removed placed in a comfortable bed and heated chamber in winter where the bell rope attached to their hands that should animation return assistance might be instantly summoned and thus the mourners clinging to a fragile hope by long contemplation of their affliction become familiarized with its presence before they yield to the reluctant conviction of its reality thus they rob the first bitter pangs of their poignancy and as gelatin of the east who when the favorite slave of his idolatry expired in his arms commanded her to be born to her sumptuous couch forbade her death to be mentioned inquired daily after her health and regularly ordered her meals to be prepared and served like him they sued their sorrow by blinding themselves a while to the certainty of its existence a churchyard is never in Germany as so often with us the shunned and deserted spot the mere necessary receptacle of lifeless flesh and crumbling bones where nothing but the senseless marble and his cold and meaningless inscription in the words of Kirner says in the beautiful calm of a summer's evening or in the memory-waking stillness of a moonlit night let the travelers seek the silent shades that shroud the unforgotten dead whom does he see kneeling with forehead bowed in prayer on the foul hour of strewn song the lifeless father his little ones clean to her side their young hearts swelling as they would hear of her who sleeps beneath who lives above and they learn at the grave of the mother whose hand would have guided them to immortal happiness the path by which they may rejoin her on high proceed a steps farther you will see a young widow bending over a shattered column and with gentle hands training the ivy at its base to wind round that sculptured emblem even as her thoughts and affections intertwine the memory of the departed still on a Lemner's group of rosy children checking their youthful merriment in this sacred spot are silently reading the tomb of their parents with fresh garlands or planting new flowers amid the already blooming partier that conceals yet marks their graves if one form reposes in that hallowed ground whose memory has ceased to dwell in the hearts of those who live to weep your eye selects its resting place at a glance the straggling bushes of long neglected flowers struggle with the ranks and choking weeds that overtop them no wreath hangs in graceful memorial over the costly monument or hides in the root stone the path around is grass grown and untrodden by the feet of memory and love it is a desert spot where the beauty has withered as affection decayed Shiller says truly and to mourn is indeed unavailing but should forgetfulness be sought as the comforter of affliction and consolation be found alone in lethe which banishes the loss from our thoughts death which proves what dust we dot on when tis man we love should rather be the test of how perfect and changeless is that affection which cherishing the soul not merely its mortal tenement survives with that death-defying spirit forever in alluding to the habits and peculiarities of the Germans I cannot forbear to mention those with which I was most charmed their betrothal and bridal ceremonies these form the subjects of the following article written from Germany and published in one of the periodicals of the day bridal customs of the northern Germans there still exist even at this time when imagination has been disthroned by cheerless reality and form and fashion have utterly banished romance from the circle of domestic happiness a charm interwoven with the nuptial ceremonies of the Germans which preserves the warm and social emotions of the heart in their primitive brightness and purity when a young girl is once betrothed where the Hindu tali whose bond death only can dissolve around her neck she could not feel herself more irrevocably joined to him whom her plighted fate has been blessed she is therefore moved by no calculating motives for concealment she is not coquette enough to court the attentions of other men whom her unacknowledged vows might mislead and a faithless lover a jilted lady and a broken engagement are phenomena in her land too rarely heard of to be dreaded thus she does not blush to reclaim to the world her pure open prosperous love that pledged on earth and sealed above grows in the world's approving eyes in friendship smiled and homes caress collecting all the heart sweet ties into one knot of happiness her acquaintances are soon made partakers of her happiness from this hour to that of her marriage she is called bride resigning the name the instant she becomes a wife and regarded as a being on whom every testimony of affection and every kindness of friendship are to be lavished her friends and connections select her as the queen of their fates and at the dinner parties given in her honor the seats of the bride and brine groom grace the head of the festive board their plates are wreathed with garlands of natural flowers and bouquets of the most exquisite buds and blossoms bloom in the vases beside them the first health proposed is the brides often accompanied by a feeling and beautiful address to the happy pair it is usual for the bridegroom to express his thanks in an answer a week before the nuptials the most intimate friend of the bride invites her young companions to a festival called the binding of the myrtle wreath on this occasion no married person is admitted the myrtle wreath which is to mingle with the tresses of the bride at her nuptials is woven by the hands of young maidens and the gentlemen are excluded from their presence until the ceremony is completed the evening is then divided between dancing and amusing games when the bridal morning arrives bright colored flags float galey from the windows of the bridegroom's friends and business acquaintances and a profusion of cadeau flowers and poetry is showered upon the bride at the altar her brow is encircled by the myrtle wreath whose binding she witnessed a few days previous the emblem of that everlasting faith and constancy implanted in her heart during the evening there is always a sport of attempt to pluck the leaves from her garland over which to prevent these depredations the bridegroom becomes a guardian and his hand alone when her friends withdraw removes the wreath from her brow a serenade beneath their windows closes the ceremonies and though when the young bride goes from her father's hall she goes into love yet untried and new she parts from love which hath still been true she seldom in that happy climbs parts to weep over changed affections and unrealized hopes 25 years after the day of their union should both parties be so fortunate as to reach together that advanced period another festival celebrates the virtues of the wife who again receives gifts and tokens of affection and congratulatory poems some I have seen printed on satin from her friends seated on a chair of state at the appointed hour her two youngest children if she have any approach her bearing a basket heaped with newly gathered flowers among the leaves of which glitters a silver cloth crown presenting their beautiful burden they recite some verses generally composed by the elder children their father who stands by her side receives the crown and places it on the head of his wife whose thoughts perhaps wandered back to the eve when the myrtle wreath lay freshly there and over the years that have since fled which start up one by one before her while she asked her heart if it has been as true and as fond as it bound to be or whether there is not yet some evidence of love unshown some sacrifice of affection unoffered by which she can add to the felicity of her husband and of his home when half a century has rolled away and the bride of 50 years ago has survived to be the beloved wife of half of a hundred years and have tried an unchanging affection an event so extraordinary and so unfrequently witnessed is celebrated by the golden hulksite or the golden wedding at which a crown of gold is presented the reverend matron a clergyman addressing the aged pair rehearses the blessings which have been granted to them in the long life they have spent together and revives the emotions of their youth in the remembrance of its bygone pleasures by some these customs would be esteemed useless or absurd but when we reflect that they cherish and keep fresh the kindliest feelings of the heart constrain those who are honored by them to review their past lives and ask themselves whether the silver and the golden crown the rewards of constancy and affection have been fairly one we may rather lament that these ceremonies should be confined to romantic germany alone there are still few objects of very decided interest to a traveler in bremen that i must not pass over without mention the remarkable cathedral which it contains i have forgotten the dimensions as i took no notes of them at the time the cathedral is immensely high and resembles some temple of the greek or roman gods rather than any modern edifice it is filled with gaily colored pictures of adam noa abraham jacob sarah rebecca ester etc etc habited in somewhat theatrical costumes the pulpit is in the center of the church the altar is at the west end and appears not unlike a bower it is composed of four columns wound round with gilt flowers festoons of which are gracefully suspended from the summit upon the top stands a painted figure of our savior one extended hand holds a golden crown and the other across at each end of the four corners are recording angels with open books and ready pens beneath is the communion table its rich covering of crimson velvet work with emblematic devices engulfed by the young ladies of reman a grapevine loaded with a long clustering branches of golden fruit forms the rear of the altar the pulpit is supported by little chubby laughing angels displaying their white teeth to great advantage and by a ring of merry looking apostles whose persons betoken the most indubitably robust health in the vault of the cathedral dead bodies are preserved for centuries without decay the bodies are not involved but literally dried it is a matter of question and wonder how the vault acquired the singular property of preservation there have been various speculations on the subject but no satisfactory reason has yet been given the coffins were open and the mysteriously embalmed corpses wrapped in their decaying shrouds exhibited to visitors some of the bodies were 400 years old the teeth of countess of stanhope who is supposed to have been a great beauty were still perfect and a noble baron by her side yet retained his corpulent appearance one body that of a mason who had fallen from the top of the cathedral and broken his neck the head was almost completely separated from the body though both were in a perfect state of preservation another body was that of a young student who had been shot in a duel for his lady love the hole in his breast where the ball went through was distinctly visible one of our party profanely severed a lock of hair from the head of this romeo robbing the dead of locks which time had spared immediately in front of the cathedral is a small stone upon which a cross is rudely cut to mark the spot where the notorious godfried was beheaded she is said to have committed upwards of 70 murders among her victims were her own husband and children during our stay in bremen the flay marked or annual fair the greatest jubilee in the year was held it is described in the following letter addressed at the time to one of my sisters bremen has thrown aside her somber garb and sober air of calm monotony and unexcited content the great annual fair has commenced and everything is joviality and bustle and confusion fancy yourself transported to our side dear mary and we will take you to see the fray marked after your imaginary flight through the air you find yourself in a large gallery-like room all doors and windows with a floor minus the dear luxury of a carpet but so highly polished that you can see your form reflected as in a mirror and if you step too quickly you will run the risk of measuring your length this is our drawing room the windows open on to the ever-charming ramparts stand at those windows from early mooring to dewy e and your ears will be greeted by the uninterrupted strains of music sometimes approaching sometimes dying away in the distance sometimes immediately beneath the windows but music in some shape never ceases now you hear the soft tones of a rude harp now a wild native instrument with piercing notes played on by young boys now it is only an organ to which you are listening but it is managed with skill to us unknown the organ is surrounded by a troop of songstresses the pathos of whose rich voices would impart a charm even to a less romantic accompaniment could such be found we walk out together the ramparts the gardens the public squares the streets are all densely crowded ladies in their gayest attire country women in their gala costumes happy boys feeling the air with merry sounds from the castanets on their fingers crowds of laughing children with wreaths of flowers on their heads all hastening to enjoy the universal holiday we pursue our way along the ramparts see there is a circus open for these 12 days only near it an uncouthened closure has suddenly sprung up where rope dancers are terrifying and therefore delighting the gaping crown the road is lined with wandering minstrels singing and playing for grotes at last we reach the great square and marketplace where the fair is hailed here the throng is so dense that we must find our way by means of diverse gentle elbowings quiet nudges and pertinacious push-ins if we would pass at all see the gaily colored boats and cars filled with enchanted boys and girls swiftly wafting through the air look at those little urchins bestriding flying ponies that whirl around a miniature railway to the sound of music each youthful hero has a mimic sword in his outstretched hand and strives to secure the golden ring which peeps forth from a small opening at the side of a pole but no sooner is the prize born in triumphal way than the ring is magically replaced by another the whole square is covered with boots vans fully decorated and fairy-looking houses transported there in a night these are filled with curiosities exhibited by rosy cheek girls from the interior and south of germany some of them are dressed in the picturesque Tyrell Lee's costume the beauty of others is disguised by the frightful provincial garb of black with 50 long funereal ribbons hanging from their heads some are in hollandish dress with wide brass bands encircling their brow but the larger portion wear the more simple bodice tunic striped petticoat and clean white cap of bremin all dwellings that face the square and market where the private houses or hotels are rented out for these 12 days to foreign vendors and rapid and singular is the transformation affected by the latter no one knows his own home again but let us not pass those wonder-relating peddlers without stopping you see they carry about series of pictures pasted on boards these they erect at each street corner in a few moments a crowd assembles mute and statu-like stand the people while in energetic language and pointing to the groups of uncouth figures rudely delineated this novel historian recounts how a specter was seen in a haunted castle where murder had been committed and how a huge sword that hung against the wall dropped blood and how the people fled and the skeleton of a beautiful maiden was discovered and et cetera and et cetera all to the ev- ev- edification of his attentive listeners many of them are deeply moved at his sublime descriptions of the beauty of the lady as plainly invents by the skeleton and the ferocity of her murderer as attested by the blood-dropping sword sometimes during the relation of these pathetic scenes solemn music is played sometimes the tale of horror ends with a dirge to the memory of some unfortunate pair or if the tale be a merry one with a nuptial song in honor of the happy couple but the comic relations have fewer listeners a german crowd are more enamored of the terrible twelve days and the fair is over in a single night the booths the fairy houses the circus the flying boats cars horses disappear bremen wakes up the next morning from her festive dream and is her sober stately self again after we had passed some weeks in bremen my sister and her husband prepared to continue their travels we expected mr mawet to join us in a few months and i preferred quietly awaiting him with my aunt i was particularly desirous of studying the german language and so excellent an opportunity might not be again presented we found no difficulty in hiring a pretty furnished house situated upon the delightful ramparts the hospitality of our neighbors soon made us feel domesticated my aunt could not speak a word of german i understood a few sentences and yet we commenced housekeeping with german domestics german vendors to market with german tradespeople to deal with german friends to associate with very few of whom understood english any better than we did german i used to make purchases at the door with a dictionary in my hand our fruit and vegetable sellers to whom i made signs requesting them to be patient while i hunted out the necessary words stood with distended mouths gazing at me in mute astonishment i heard that a feminine dealer in vegetables while speaking of me to a neighbor put her finger significantly on her forehead and gave a dull full shake of the head intimating that it was very doubtful whether all was right with me in that region my aunt's trials of this nature were even greater than my own many were the amusing dilemmas in which she was placed owing to her ignorance of the language one day she had gone to the cuisine to enact a series of pentamonic directions to the cook while i was busy in my own room by and by she called out to me in a great distress good gracious anna what is german for a plate tell her i replied leaning over the stair tell her what returns my aunt not supposing that she had heard me right tell her i answered back at the top of my voice how can i tell her unless you tell me what to tell her she retorted in a tone that betokan that she was gradually becoming heated and indeed the weather was sultry can't you hear me when i tell you to tell her tell her that's just what i want you to do but how can i tell her unless you i know what to tell her i was laughing so hardly that i could only shout out tell her tell her but fearing that my aunt might become exasperated i ran downstairs and for her edification uttered the magic word of course the desired plate was produced and to her great amazement but she could naturally joined in my unrepressed merriment after the long rest for i had hardly opened the books since i left america i returned to my studies with fresh eagerness the clock seldom struck six when i was not taking my morning walk on the ramparts or with a bevy of children and their nursery maids feeding the swans that floated on the stream which divides the ramparts and the counterscarp at nine came my german teacher a most accomplished lady and remained two hours she was succeeded by a music and singing master for i felt bound to return to my sisyphus labor and renew my battles with the unconquerable music lessons our german friends continued to overwhelm us with the warmest hospitalities and in a very short time i had sufficient command of the language to enjoy their society sometimes i took two german lessons in a day instead of one and exquisite was my enjoyment when the beauties of greta and schiller gradually developed themselves to me we had passed about three months in bremen when mr mawatt unexpectedly arrived we looked for him a fortnight later he took all the kindest precautions to guard me against the excitement of a surprise but an annoying counter-tom defeated his intentions i was practicing at the piano when i heard his step and the sound of his voice and a second afterwards saw him enter the room the startle sensation of joy with which i sprang from my seat produced for the first time a hemorrhage of the throat or lungs i was afterwards afflicted in the same manner for several years whenever i labored under violent excitement it was some days before i rallied my newly gained health received a severe shock mr mawatt proposed that we should visit the rime and make a tour through switzerland idly and france and then return home the preparations for our journey were nearly completed when he was suddenly attacked by a disease of the eye which almost destroyed his sight the utmost skill of the two most celebrated homeopaths in bremen did him no good he passed four months in a darkened chamber suffered the most excruciating agony and deprived of all enjoyment saved that of being read to or talked to from morning until night thus day after day each wearier and sadder than the proceeding passed on though his affliction was born with an almost feminine patience he seemed to rally periodically and then sink into his former state during one of these intervals i persuaded him to attempt a journey to paris in the hope that he might obtain more efficient medical advice our preparations were rapidly made for fear of a relapse it was december the weather was intensely cold the traveling worse than any other period of the year yet we sit out with indian courage the journey was accomplished in i think three days end of chapter five