| | | 9 May |
A bord de l'Oldenburg
dans le détroit de Malacca
le 9 mai 1893
Marriage in Seoul of Max and Max: 15 April 1893
-- J'oublie de te dire que quand nous arrivâmes le capitaine a fait décorer le bateau de drapeux l'allemand en avant et le drapeau Américan ??? main, et comme nous quittâmes bord il a tiré un salut Chinois -- trois coups de canon. Je reviens á ma journée du vendredi - de 2 hrs à 6 1/2 je reçu des visites - beaucoup de vieilles connaissances. Il fallait parler allemand presque entièrement! Ereintée je me sauve enfin pour me reposer un moment avant le diner du soir -- 16 personnes, encore de l'Allemand. Mais j'ai éprouvé pour la première fois la sensation d'être femme mariée et "excellence". Aussi au dessert, c'est à dire au moment de se lever de table je remarquait que la conversation languissait, ou attendait évidemment quelquechose, j'étais fatigué et je me demandait quand on allait se lever. Enfin notre hôte me demande si je voulait bien retourner au salon pour le café -- jamais il ne m'était entré en tête que je devais me lever la première. C'est une des choses qui m'a été le plus difficile à apprendre surtout quand il y a une dame de la maison. Je me suis vite hibitué a l'Excellency [???stuff in German???] -- le lendemain vendredi à neuf heures Dr Hall m'arracha deux dents. je me sentais dèja indisposée après toutes les bonne choses dont j'avais trop mangé et le champagne et ceci ne me rendit guère plus vaillante, mais je fis quelques commissions, puis une visite à des vieux amis de B. qui partaient pour Canton dans une heure, et ne rentrit que juste à temps pour m'habiller pour aller dejeuner en ville. J'ai du quitter la table au beau milieu heureusement nous étions tout à fait en famille car nos hôtes étaient en grand deuil. Mme L. fut très aimable et me soigna si bien que je me sentais beaucoup mieux et rentrit sans accident. Aussitôt rentré j'ai un autre accès et B. me mit au lit et fait vinir le docteur qui prononce -- bad indigestion, ce que j'avais dèja diviné. J'avait le fièvre et ne pouvait plus remuer, de sorte que B. va seul au diner chez les B. Dimanche je reste tranquil et ne mange que de la soupe au riz! ce qui fait que je me suis assez bien pour assister au diner du soir, à la maison 20 personnes -- bien que sans rien manger. Lundi B. me mène dans des magazines chinois pour fair des emplettes, c'est à dire pour me gâter en m'achetant des brocarts -- 3 robes, une petite broche et un bangle en or pour me dédommager du diner. Je me repose toute l'après-midi formant la poste à tout le monde, mais je me suis déjà assez forte. Le soir je me suis fièrement amusée. Diner chez Dr Hall - mon dentiste! où j'avais une vielle connaissance à ma gauche. Nous ne nous étions pas vus depuis longtemps et il est toujours amusant. A dix heures bal au Club j'ai été tout de suite entourée ce qui ne m'a pas empêchée de danser. Chief Justice Ha????, le Président du committee me conduisit au souper et à deux heures je rentrais à moitié morte. Mardi je me portais bien au désappointement de B. qui m'avais préparé un bon sermon, mais jusqu'ici il a dû le garder en réserve. Mardi soir les Allemands et principaux Anglais lui donnère un grand diner au Club Allemand. 80 couverts, musique, speech etc. etc. On lui presenta une adresse sur sur parchemin magnifiquement illuminée et signée par toutes les maisons allemandes en Chine, et une énorme lampe en argent. On bût à ma santé séparément avec énorme enthousiasme des hurrahs et chansons. Enfin il revint enchanté me raconter toute l'affair en détail à onze heures. Je fit 34 visites et alla à un petit thé de Mme Ha???? en mon honneur. Mercredi, emballage et adieus. Jeudi matin à 7.30 encore des adieux à maison, à huit heures une autre dose sur le wharf, accompagné de fleurs en quantités. Nous avions un launch à nous et commes nous abordâmes l'Oldenburg la musique joua et les drapeaux fur hissée. Il pleuvait. Une fois partis nous poussâmes un soupir de soulagement et dormirent toutes l'àpres midi. De ma vie, je n'ai été plus fatiguée et j'ai bien compris quel ennui cela doit être pour des grands personages de voyager. Nos cabines sont sur le upper deck, avec de vraies petites fenêtres; on a couper une porte entre les deux de sorte que nous sommes on ne peut mieux. La cuisine est très bonne et je ne fais que boire manger et dormir. Je commence aussi à me rattraper un peu et déjà gagner deux livres. La mer est calme mais quelle chaleur! A Hong Kong il pluvait encore. Une atmosphère accablante. Je vis M. et Mme. Forbes qui demandèrent de tes nouvelles. Nous arrivâmes à huit heures dimanch (30 avril) matin, furent conduit à l'hotel par le Consul et sa femme, gentils. Nous nous reposâmes jusqu'à une heure et demie quand on (Mr. Hoppins [??]) vint nous chercher pour aller au club allemand - en chaise. Là, conduite par M. H. au son de la musique qui jouait en haut, je traversait la grande antichambre entre une haie de messieurs qui, avec B. en tête, se referèrent [???] et me suivirent sur le grande escalier, dans une grande chambre sur le premier étape. Là neuf dames allemandes me furent présenté, et quelques uns des messieurs. Cinq minutes après nous defilions encore dans la grande salle où deux énormes tables étaient servit 70 couverts. Mauvais dejeuner speech. adresse en peluche bleue avec monture et monogram argent, etc. la même histoire. A cinq heures nous rentèrons assez fatigués, mais nous fimes encore un petit tour en chaise, nous arrêttant dans quelques magazines.
Lundi matin, visite, promenades dans le brouillard. Grand déjeuner de 20 pers. chez M. et Mme von Loeper. de la à bord accompagné de tout le bataclan. tas de fleurs etc. etc. Pendant tout ce temps rien que de l'Allemand et je fais des progrés sensible. On me fait des compliments de toutes part. [several unintelligible words, possibly German] et ainsi de suite avec des point d'exclamations sans fin. C'est amusant mais si absurde. Je ne puis pas me faire à l'idée que je suis "quelqu'une" et j'ai toujours envie de rire quand on me fait des révérences. A Singapore nous étions plus maitre de nous mêmes et pour le moment nous sommes au bout de festins et autre cérémonies. Nous nous sommes amusés tant bien que mal par la grande chaleur. C'est à dire que nous avons -- où B. à acheter un tas de choses pour moi, broderies, argenterie indienne etc. Je t'ai acheté un petit mouchoir de Kurachi que je t'envoie par la poste. Une fois lavé il doit être tout bleue. Un petit souvenir de mon voyage de noce qui surpasse encore toute ce que je m'avais imaginé. Mon mari est si bon -- et si heureux qu'il fait plaisir à voir. Nous n'avons qu'amabilité et bonne chance de toutes parts. Nous sommes naturellement aussi le sujet d'intérêt et nous ne pourrions rien nous souhaiter mieux. Même le ciel nous es propice et depuis un jour avant Singapore nous n'avons plus de pluie et la chaleur n'est pas si intense que d'habitude. Pour nous il fait bien assez chaud et tout le monde porte des coustumes les plus légers.
En ce moment nous passons devant le côte de Sumatra, enveloppée d'un brouillard lourd et chaud -- un ciel gris et une mer luisante nous écrivons sur le pont pour être plus a l'aise. B. un long rapport moi - de nos triomphes. Faut esperer que tu pourras en débrouiller quelque-chose. A tu reçu le télégramme du 15, "Brandt, 15th" sans délai? Je l'ai envoyé aussitôt après le mariage civil pour que tu l'aie plus tôt. As tu envoyé les lettres de faire part? J'espère trouver des nouvelles à Berlin en arrivant. Il me semble qu'il y a un siècle depuis que je n'en ai eu.
Le 10 mai
Interrompu hier je vais tacher de finir ma lettre aujourd'hui bien qu'il n'y ait plus rien à ajouter ce me semble. Les journées passent tranquillement et sans accidents. Je mange boit et dors tant que possible, me réveillant seulement quand nous rentrons dans un port quelconque. Après demain nous devons toucher à Colombo, déjà trois jours d'avance de sorte que si tout marche bien nous arriverons à Gênes le 1er ou bien du cinq juin. J'ai hâte d'avoir des nouvelles et d'apprendre comment tu vas -- et tu yeux.
Brandt se fait rappeler à ton bon souvenir avec amitiés à Russell. Mille baisers de ma part. à toi
Hélène .
Je t'ai envoyé plusieurs journeaux de Shanghai que je te pris de faire lire à Tante Alice ou à qui que cela peut intéresser. Papa t'enverra aussi deux photo. dont une est pour tante alice.
On board the l'Oldenburg
in the straits of Malacca
9 May 1893
The Korean is the President of the bureau of foreign affairs, who proposed our health in a very pretty little speech which the interpreter translated. At 6 all was finished to our great satisfaction. Poor Papa was exhausted not have stayed in one place for half a minute during the entire day he was so excited. He did so much for us, and his two little letters since I left are so sad! ---
Sunday afternoon B. and I had an audience with the King and the Queen and the Prince. She was very friendly and questioned me for a good quarter of an hour what I was going to do, my house, etc. --
That evening B. received an enormous quantity of gifts from the King and the Prince, which made up for with enough friendliness and intrest all he had done for the treaty of 1882 with Korea. You will find a list of presents attached. Also you will find a photograph of B. taken three days before the wedding -- which is passable. Monday morning we departed early with supurb weather having with difficulty gathered all of our things. We went immediately on board the "Ping Ching" which was waiting for us and left the next day at dawn. We had good weather until Shanghai -- it rained alas and during the entire week the weather did not completely recover. Arriving at 3 we rested tranquilly, chatting with hour host, the Consul-general M. Stuchel. Dinner that evening ???. The next morning I did some shopping and made a quick visit to the Dentist. ???? -- late enough because we went on board the ship to see our cabins and dirct the changes that had to be made.
-- I forgot to tell you that when we arrived the captain had had the ship decorated with the German flag forward and the American flag on the main deck, and when we departed he gave the Chinese salute -- three blasts of the cannon. I return to my day of Friday -- from 2 until 6:30 I received visits -- many old acquaintances. It was necessary to speak German almost entirely! Exhusted I finally saved myself to rest a moment before dinner -- 16 people, again German. But I experienced for the first time the sensation of being a married women and "excellency." In addition at desert, that is to say at the moment to rise from the table, I noticed that the conversation was languishing, or was apparently waiting for something. I was tired and I asked when we would leave the table. At last our host asked me if I would like to return to the salon for coffee -- it had never entered my head that I was supposed to be the first to get up. It is one of those things that was the most difficult for me to learn, especially when there is a woman of the house. I quickly habituated myself to the Excellency [??? text in German ???] -- the next day Friday at 9 Dr Hall drew two teeth. I already felt indisposed after having eaten too many good things and the champagne and that scarcely rendered me more valliant, but I accomplished several errands, than a visit to two old friends of B. who were leaving for Canton in an hour, and I did not return until just in time to dress myself to go have lunch in the city. I had to leave the table right in the middle, happily we were completely among family because our hosts were in high mourning.
Mrs L. was very friendly and took such good care of me that I felt much better and retourned without accident. As soon as I returned I had another attack and B. put me in bed and had the doctor come who pronounced -- baed indigestion, which I had already guessed. I had a fever and could not stir, as a result of which B. went alone to the dinner at B.'s. Sunday I rested tranquilly and ate only rice soup! which left me well enough to attend a diner in the evening, at the house with 20 people -- eventhough I ate nothing. Monday B. took me to Chinese shops to do some shopping, that is to say to spoil me by buying brocades -- three dresses, a little brooch and a gold bangle to compensate me for the dinner. I rested all of the afternoon writing to everyone, but I am already strong enough. I proudly amused myself in the evening. Dinner at Dr. Hall's - my dentist! where I had an old acquaintance on my left. We had not seen each other for a long time, and it is always amusing. At 6 a Ball at the Club, I was immediately surrounded, which did not prevent me from dancing. Chief Justice ????, the President of the committee, conducted me to supper and at 2 I returned half dead. Tuesday I was well enough, to the disappointment of B. who had prepared a good sermaon for me, but up until now he had to hold it in reserve. Tuesday eveing the Germans and principal English gave him a grand dinner at the German Club. 80 tables, music, speech etc. etc. He was given a speech on a magnificent illuminated parchment at signed by all the German houses in China, and an enormous silver lamp. People drank to my health separately with enormous enthousiasm of hurrahs and songs. Finally he came back enchanted to describe the entire affair in detail at 11. I made 34 visits and went to a little tea of Mrs Ha??? in my honor. Wednesday, packing and goodbyes. Thursday morning more goodbyes at the house, at 8 another dose on the wharf, accompanied by quantities of flowers. We had a launch to ourselves and when we borded the Oldenburg the music played and the flags were unveiled. It was raining. Once departed we sighed with relief and slept all the afternoon. In all my life I have never been more fatigued and I released how sad it must be for the great travelers. Our cabins were on the upper deck, with real little windows. A door had been cut between the two with the result that it could not be better. The cuisine is excellent and I do nothing but drink eat and sleep. I also begin to recover a bit and I have already gained two pounds. The sea is calm but what heat!
In Hong Kong it was still raining. An overwhelming atmosphere. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Forbes who asked me for your news. We arrived at 8 O'clock Sunday (30 April) morning, we were conducted to the hotel by the Consul and his wife, nice. We rested until half past 1 O'clock when someone (Mr. Hoppins [??]) came to find us to go to the German Club -- by chair. There, conducted by M.H. to the sound of German music which was loudly played, I traversed the grand antichamber into a line of men who, with B. at the head, ??? and followed me on the grand staircase, into a grand chamber on the first floorl. There nine German women were presented to me and several men. Five minutes after we filed again into the grand room where two enormous tables were set for 70 people. Bad luncheon speech. address in plush blue with silver mounting and monogram[???], etc. the same story. At five O'clock we returned quite fatigued, but we again made a little tour by chair, we stopped at several stores.
Monday morning, visit, walks in the fog. Grand lunch of 20 people at the house of Mr and Mrs von Loeper. From there on board accompanied by the whole kaboodle. Bunch of flowers etc. etc. During all the time nothing but German and I am making perceptible progress. Everyone was complimenting me. [unintelligible, in German] and so on with endless exclamation points. It is amusing but so absurd. I cannot grasp the idea that I am "someone" and I always want to laugh when one is reverential towards me. At Singapore we were more masters of ourselves and for the moment we were at the end of the festivities and other ceremonies. We were well enough amused for better or for worse by the great warmth. That is to say that we had -- where B. had bought a bunch of things for me, embroideries, Indian silver etc. I bought for you a little handkerchief from Kurachi which I am sending you by post. Once washed it ought to be entirely blue. A little souvenir of my marriage voyage which still surpasses anything that I could have imagined. My husband is so good -- and so happy that he is a pleasure to see. We have only amiability and good luck from all parts. We are naturally also the subject of interest and and we could wish for nothing better. Even the sky is propicious for us and since the day before Singapore we have had no more rain and the heat is not so intense as usual. For us it is hot enough and everyone wears the lightest clothes.
At this moment we are passing before the coast of Sumatra, envelopped in a heavy and hot fog -- a gray sky and a sparkling sea. We are writing on the bridge to be more at ease. B. a long report, me - of our triumphs. I must hope that your are able to disentangle something. Have you received the telegram of the 15th, "Brandt, 15th", without delay? I sent it right after the civil marriage in order for you to have it more quickly. Did you send the announcements? I hope o find news in Berlin when we arrive. It seems to me that it has been a century since last I had any.
10 May
Interrupted yesterday I am going to try to finish my letter today even though it seems to me there is nothing more to add. The days pass tranquilly without accident. I eat drink and sleep as much as possible, waking only when we return some port or another. After tomorrow we are going to touch at Colombo -- already three days in advance as a result of which if all goes well we will arrive at Genes the first rather than the firth of June. I am in a hurry to have news and to learn how you are doing -- and your eyes.
Brandt asks to be remembered to you with best wishes to Russell. A thousand kisses on my part. à toi
Hélène
I sent you several newspapers from Shanghai that I ask you to read to Aunt Alice or whomever might be interested. Papa will also send you two photos of which one is for you and one for Aunt Alice.
Wedding presents
Diamond neclace (or tiara)
" brooch (or pendant)
Silver tea set - Sir Robert Hart 42
" tea set - Mr and Mrs Ohluser & Mr von Ha????
" tea caddy - Count & Countess Brockdorf
" " " -- Dr Wiles 43
" Center piece - Foreign representatives in Peking
" Inkstand - Mr O'Conor 44
2 silver napkin rings - four principal Chinese servants of Legation in Peking
silver tray - Mr Behdirs [??] & Mr Baur with a piece of original poetry!
6 little silver models of chinese furniture, Bar. & Baroness von Lechendorff
Silver tea kettle -- Mr & Mrs Lieder
2 oil sketches of Chefoo -- "
12 Silver coffee spoons Mr. F.D. Cheshire
" Korean bride's spoon -- Mrs Scranton 45
" plated biscuit & butter dishes -- Captain & officers of the ?.C. "Ping-Ching"
Heavy gold hand bracelet & ring set with a large white pearl (each)
Yellow satin mattress & cushion heavily embroidered -- 15 hair ornaments of Chinese jewelry -- 4 pcs white silk -- 4 pieces yellow (dyed) pass cloth -- 6 mats & 2 large bamboo window screens -- Queen of Korea
A large roll of thick, colored paper, two tiger skins -- 2 marble boxes -- ??? and silver ??? -- mats, window screens faces, 4 pcs yel. gr. cloth -- 4 pcs white silk -- King and Crown Prince of Korea
Marble box & emb. pillow ends -- Pres. of the Foreign Office - (C?? P?? ???)
?? & silver tobacco box - 2 pil. ends -- Min Yung Chung
Leopard skin -- Kim Ka Chin
Tortoise shell comb, brush, & glass Mrs ????
Hankow lace collar & cuffs Russian towel -- Mrs Dmitrevsky 46
Horn & ivory box -- M. Kandin T?????, pen, candlestick & photo frame of plate & leather. Dr. Schrameier
3 albums of Japanese ??? -- Col. Nienstead47
4 rolls of silk H.E. Li Hun Chang48
4 boxes of tea
Small gold chatelaine -- E.L. Foster
Chique -- Mrs K.C. Winthrop
Chéque -- Amy & Russell
Large punch bowl. Bar. Goltz & other members of Legation in Peking.
2 painted enamel vases & bit of emb. Baron Spoeck von Sternburg
rolls of silk -- ?ui of jade -- ??? ecarfs Ministers of the Kungli Yasuen (in Peking)
Japanese vase -- Bishop Anger
Large white Canton crape shawl. Secretaries of Consulates & Customs staff in Söul.
Traveling clock. Foreign representatives Gen. Le Gendre, Mr. Greathouse & Mr Neoyan Commissioner of Customs in Söul
Bronze inkstand with large monogram
- med quill pen -- Mr Krein H.I. G.M. Consul in Söul
??? o brassware -- Mrs Greathouse
Small emb. pouch -- Mr Yi
Carved ivory photo frame -- Mr Ker 49
Book -- Bishop Corfe 50
Large silver lamp (5 ft high) German firms in China
Carved ivory photo frame -- Mr Budler 51
| | | 9 May |