Letters From Vienna Page 2

A young German going back to get a wife – getting wealthy here.      A little southern girl who talks the southern dialect and many others of real interest.      Some dress for dinner and some don’t – Ha! Ha! Well, we are all very independent and do what we please.      We get up about 6 or 6:30 a.m., dress and go out on deck until the bugle call which is 8:00 a.m. Every meal is a regular banquet and the funny part is to see us eat as this is a strictly German boat – German officers, stewards & cooks – hence, you see the cooking is quite different from any thing we have ever had.      Well, then at 10:30 a.m. we have soup and crackers served out on deck. Then luncheon at 12:00. Then we usually take a nap either on deck or in our stateroom. Coffee and cake at 3:30, concert following that by the musicians on boat.      inner at 6:30 p.m. then every one promenades – concert by the ship’s band from 9:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m. We have had beautiful weather so far and are now in mid-stream – one or two day beautiful (? Weather …) dotted the water every where – one day the whole ocean looked like a mirror, so smooth & glassy. We were over two days in the Gulf Stream and the air was as balmy as a spring morning.      All one morning, heavy fog – the whistles blew every two minutes.      Saturday night they gave a dance on board. Sunday a young minister conducted divine services.      The musicians are planning a minstrel show for tomorrow. Another dance tonight. Every body is too lazy to do fancy work – we visit and all try to talk German. There are many more Germans on board than Americans – and they give us lessons.      I have worn the little red serge dress every day, it is so comfortable. We passed by the scene of the Titanic disaster (4/15/12 – this had to be the emotional equivalent of visiting New York City one year after 9/11). but the sea gave no evidence of it – smooth and calm and beautiful, never betraying its secret.      We have a state room with four berths in it. We spend very little time in it, just sleep there – all day is spent on deck. I wish I could picture Gene to you. After donning his (night) gown of knee-length, he then places around his waist tight – out side of his gown – his money belt with the umbrella hanging form one side for a sword and the hair brush from the other side for a revolver. We feel perfectly safe and lie down to pleasant dreams.

 

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