"I should like to know, how it is that no castles are to be found in America."

Eric repeated with pleasure Goethe's verses,—

"America, to thee is given

A better fate than here is found!

No mouldering castle-towers hast thou,

No monumental columns fallen;

No gloomy shadows of the past,

No vain and useless strife

Becloud thy heavens serene.

To-day suffices with its good;