Franka’s face grew still more animated: “Thanks for the congratulations, and, if I heard correctly, some one asked ‘To whom?’—a quite justifiable curiosity: in such family chronicles we must find names. My chosen husband is the poet of ‘Schwingen’—Chlodwig Helmer. And since he, as he told you a moment ago, has a kind feeling for every worthy little beastie, he will assuredly be kind to me.”
The speaker’s gayety communicated itself to the audience, and a wave of laughter swept over the hall. But now her features took on a serious expression and in altered voice she went on:—“But here another question demands to be answered: How is it that I venture to speak of my own little private affairs from this tribune where such lofty problems have been treated and when a whole world is listening to me? I justify myself thus: On this tribune I have advised the young persons of my own sex to use their brains, to learn, to see clearly in scientific, social, and political matters; even to take part in public affairs, and this has certainly awakened in many minds the notion that woman, in doing so, would suffer a loss in her affections and in her family relations; that those young girls who might devote themselves to studies and callings hitherto reserved for men alone, might be lost for love and domestic happiness. On this very spot from which I have disseminated my teachings, and before the very same listening world-audience, I now come forward to combat that erroneous notion; not in words, but as a living witness. The doctrine that ‘You are in the world to share in all thought’ cannot be so very perilous since the exponent of it stands here, happily betrothed.”
She bowed and went back to her seat, heartily cheered by the audience.
Now, one after the other, brief parting farewell addresses were made and each speaker gave pregnant expression to his favorite and leading thought. All these thoughts, without exception, were turned by different ways in the one direction: Excelsior!
Then Toker announced that he would speak the final word, but first they would enjoy the usual intermission. This was employed by the speakers and the audience in unrestrained social intercourse. Here are a few snatches of conversation:—
Bruning, hurrying up to Helmer:—“Most heartfelt and respectful congratulations, my young genius! My old dream and good advice are fulfilled. You have won her—the pretty heiress; you snatched her away just in time from the prince who was so madly in love with her! Superb!”
“I shall have to withdraw my friendship from you, Franz! You have a trick of blighting everything in bloom.”
“And you of talking in exalted figures. We shall not let our twenty-years-old good-fellowship drop for that! There have to be different kinds of owls!”
In a group of politicians:—
A. “Don’t you find that there is a little too much preaching of morality to us during this Rose-Week? Of course we know that the destinies of the nations are not fulfilled in accordance with moral laws, that they are not conducted by ethical impulses, but that they obey economical necessities.”