A Tramp Abroad

9

When Baedeker’s guide-books mention a thing and put two stars (**) after it, it means well worth visiting. M.T.

10

I do not know that there have not been moments in the course of the present session when I should have been very glad to have accepted the proposal of my noble friend, and to have exchanged parts in some of our evenings of work. – [From a Speech of the English Chancellor of the Exchequer, August, 1879.]

11

Months after this was written, I happened into the National Gallery in London, and soon became so fascinated with the Turner pictures that I could hardly get away from the place. I went there often, afterward, meaning to see the rest of the gallery, but the Turner spell was too strong; it could not be shaken off. However, the Turners which attracted me most did not remind me of the Slave Ship.

12

The accident which cost Lord Douglas his life (see Chapter xii) also cost the lives of three other men. These three fell four-fifths of a mile, and their bodies were afterward found, lying side by side, upon a glacier, whence they were borne to Zermatt and buried in the churchyard.The remains of Lord Douglas have never been found. The secret of his sepulture, like that of Moses, must remain a mystery always.

13

“Pretty much” may not be elegant English, but it is high time it was. There is no elegant word or phrase which means just what it means. – M.T.

14

This was on a Sunday. – M.T.

15

Sir George Young and his brothers James and Albert.

16

See Frontispiece.

17

“Revenge!”

18

Wenn er aber auf der Straße der in Sammt und Seide gehuellten jetz sehr ungenirt nach der neusten mode gekleideten Regierungsrathin begegnet.

19

I capitalize the nouns, in the German (and ancient English) fashion.

20

It merely means, in its general sense, “herewith.”

21

“Verdammt,” and its variations and enlargements, are words which have plenty of meaning, but the sounds are so mild and ineffectual that German ladies can use them without sin. German ladies who could not be induced to commit a sin by any persuasion or compulsion, promptly rip out one of these harmless little words when they tear their dresses or don’t like the soup. It sounds about as wicked as our “My gracious.” German ladies are constantly saying, “Ach! Gott!” “Mein Gott!” “Gott in Himmel!” “Herr Gott” “Der Herr Jesus!” etc. They think our ladies have the same custom, perhaps; for I once heard a gentle and lovely old German lady say to a sweet young American girl: “The two languages are so alike – how pleasant that is; we say ‘Ach! Gott!’ you say ‘Goddamn.’”