I
will buy a German conversation book, and a check-suit, and a blue
veil, and a white umbrella, and suchlike necessities of the English
tourist in Germany, this very afternoon. When do you start?"
"Well," he said, "it is a good two days' journey. I propose to
start on Friday."
"Is not Friday rather an unlucky day to start on?" I suggested.
"Oh, good gracious!" he retorted quite sharply, "what rubbish next?
As if the affairs of Europe were going to be arranged by Providence
according to whether you and I start for an excursion on a Thursday
or a Friday!"
He said he was surprised that a man who could be so sensible,
occasionally, as myself, could have patience to even think of such
old-womanish nonsense. He said that years ago, when he was a silly
boy, he used to pay attention to this foolish superstition himself,
and would never upon any consideration start for a trip upon a
Friday.
But, one year, he was compelled to do so. It was a case of either
starting on a Friday or not going at all, and he determined to
chance it.
He went, prepared for and expecting a series of accidents and
misfortunes. To return home alive was the only bit of pleasure he
hoped for from that trip.
As it turned out, however, he had never had a more enjoyable holiday
in his life before. The whole event was a tremendous success.
And after that, he had made up his mind to ALWAYS start on a Friday;
and he always did, and always had a good time.
He said that he would never, upon any consideration, start for a
trip upon any other day but a Friday now. It was so absurd, this
superstition about Friday.
So we agreed to start on the Friday, and I am to meet him at
Victoria Station at a quarter to eight in the evening.
THURSDAY, 22ND
The Question of Luggage. - First Friend's Suggestion. - Second
Friend's Suggestion. - Third Friend's Suggestion. - Mrs. Briggs'
Advice. - Our Vicar's Advice. - His Wife's Advice. - Medical Advice. -
Literary Advice. - George's Recommendation. - My Sister-in-Law's
Help. - Young Smith's Counsel. - My Own Ideas. - B.'s Idea.
I have been a good deal worried to-day about the question of what
luggage to take with me. I met a man this morning, and he said:
"Oh, if you are going to Ober-Ammergau, mind you take plenty of warm
clothing with you. You'll need all your winter things up there."
He said that a friend of his had gone up there some years ago, and
had not taken enough warm things with him, and had caught a chill
there, and had come home and died. He said:
"You be guided by me, and take plenty of warm things with you."
I met another man later on, and he said:
