Since I Arrived, A Month Ago, In This
Old Wonderland, This Vast Garden Of Germany, My English
Tongue Has So
Often proved a useless piece of baggage
to me, and so troublesome to carry around, in a country
where they
Haven't the checking system for luggage, that I
finally set to work, and learned the German language.
Also! Es freut mich dass dies so ist, denn es muss,
in ein hauptsaechlich degree, hoeflich sein, dass man
auf ein occasion like this, sein Rede in die Sprache des
Landes worin he boards, aussprechen soll. Dafuer habe ich,
aus reinische Verlegenheit - no, Vergangenheit - no, I
mean Hoflichkeit - aus reinishe Hoflichkeit habe ich
resolved to tackle this business in the German language,
um Gottes willen! Also! Sie muessen so freundlich sein,
und verzeih mich die interlarding von ein oder zwei
Englischer Worte, hie und da, denn ich finde dass die
deutsche is not a very copious language, and so when
you've really got anything to say, you've got to draw
on a language that can stand the strain.
Wenn haber man kann nicht meinem Rede Verstehen, so werde
ich ihm spaeter dasselbe uebersetz, wenn er solche Dienst
verlangen wollen haben werden sollen sein haette. (I don't
know what wollen haben werden sollen sein haette means,
but I notice they always put it at the end of a German
sentence - merely for general literary gorgeousness,
I suppose.)
This is a great and justly honored day - a day which is
worthy of the veneration in which it is held by the true
patriots of all climes and nationalities - a day which
offers a fruitful theme for thought and speech; und meinem
Freunde - no, meinEN FreundEN - meinES FreundES - well,
take your choice, they're all the same price; I don't
know which one is right - also!
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