The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrantsGerstäcker, Friedrich
General
The wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrants
Gerstäcker, Friedrich
Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- Fiction; Immigrants -- Fiction
hours of leisure not only to chat about cattle and merely mechanical
matters, but will also like to converse about something which shall
occupy his mind, and, in some degree, recompense him for the now merely
material life. But, generally speaking, the less educated man feels
himself hurt by this; for as he takes no interest in such conversations
himself, he can seldom comprehend how others can do so.
"A feeling, unknown perhaps to himself, awakes within him. He thinks
himself neglected, and considers those men proud who are only mentally
his superiors. From this moment forward all their steps are sharply
watched, and it does not remain unnoticed that, as their limbs will not
immediately adapt themselves to the unaccustomed occupation, the hard
country work, they do less work than the rest. A breach has arisen in
their friendly relations which becomes wider every day. The old
mischievous saying, 'All are equal here in America,' comes into use more
and more frequently and pointedly, and even if those who wish well to
the colony do everything in their power to allay the angry feeling, and
to restore friendly relations among them, which have been disturbed,
nobody knows how, yet it is of no use, good will is gone, a hard,
thoughtless word, from one of the 'gentry,' as they already begin to be
called, which, perhaps, he never meant himself, gives the finishing
touch, and some fine morning Peter clears out this way, Paul that.
"Those who possessed the least now come off the best; all the sacrifices
made by the founders are forgotten; they must not calculate upon
gratitude, and soon find themselves alone again."
"It would be best, then, for persons of the same way of thinking, and of
the same style of education, only to join in the formation of such a
colony; the objection to which you allude would thereby be obviated."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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