A Partial Letter written on Mar 20, 1910

[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]

Eisinach, March 20, 1910.

My dearest Honey,

What do you suppose people do who haven't the diversion of letter writing? I must confess I don't enjoy doing things ganz allein, but I have done them, properly, all day. This is confirmation Sunday and the sixteen year old daughter of the house was confirmed. I went to the eleven o'clock service in the Marktkirche and was much interested - There were at this service - there had been two earlier - about sixty boys and perhaps as many girls, the all in black, black gloves, black bows in the hair (for the girls)[.] They went by sixes up to the altar and the old Prediger shook hands with them, then put his hands on their heads with some blessing, and the deed was done. They must have had religion eight years, in the schools, I believe, then they are also instructed by the church. These young people were examined last week and next Thursday they have communion, then they will have been properly entered as members of the church - It seems so strange to me to see no children in the German Churches - They aren't expected to come until after confirmation. The young lady of the family was presented with several beautiful azalias [sic], and two very fine cakes in honor of the day. There was wine for dinner and much drinking of healths. Isn't that a funny way to celebrate a confirmation?

After dinner I went to walk up back of this home, over the Breiten geschud and I tell you I wished you had been wit. [sic]It was wonderful - This is the finest place I have seen yet, in Germany, far more beautiful than Heidelberg, although it really does need a river to make it ganz ["all"] perfect. The hills rolled away, lots of them, before me, &, across the valley, the Mariental, the Wartburg. on one of another set of hills. The path led through beautiful woods and the open places were full of heather plants - The place must be purple in the season - Can you see how it goes? Toward the west, rows upon rows of hills with this valley dividing them, tho Wartburg on one of those at the right. Away at the left is the Tannhäuser berg and they show a cave where Venus dwelt - Toward the east beyond the town, there were queer hills, but there was the loveliest blue light over the fields and here and there a little red roofed village. There are places and places where one night go, farther off, beyond where I went today - but I don't like to wander off too far from the haunts of men alone.

This is a paragraph, but I must say that this house is the coldest place I have seen for many a day - There's a perfectly good fire in a stove that might have come from America, one of those self-feeding things, and I have had the sun a lot, but the floors and the walls and the halls are like ice. The dining room is so cold I can scarcely sit through a meal[.] How do they stand it themselves? It is a big house, and I suppose would be hard to heat - I seem to be the only boarder at present, except a young Föster who acts like a member of the family. You must certainly come to Eisenach, honey, but come in summer. Did I tell you that I bought one of those camels hair blankets in Leipzig? And it has been such a comfort - Last night I slept in it and I'll use it since early tonight. For the first time this winter I did not open my window. On Wednesday I got to Göttingen and we'll see what things befall me there.

Tuesday night - I got so tired of Frau Schulze that I left this morning. I hate to have people so obviously glad to receive my shekels - I don't like that woman one little bit and yet I can't tell why - just unsympatisch, I guess - Well, I had two beautiful days in Eisenach - on Sunday it was very clear and my walk up the hill gave me wid views. On Monday it was less clear, but nice and sunny. I did the Wartburg which I thought more interesting than Heidelberg Castle - The old rooms make you think of Meistersingerfests and such things - And of course Luther's room was interesting - just about as he left it - His bed and table and footstool &c are show - The damaged place on the wall was caused by his struggles with the Devil but I should think the view out of the window would have helped him to conquer anything. It is wonderful, really. I was amazing amazed to see how many pepole were there, proba

[letter ends here - at least one page is missing - written by Sarah E. Smith]