I wrote all morning, for I am behind in my daily report. After that I went to look up my boyhood’s friend, Charles Schwarz, son of one of the four missionaries who were sent to Germany shortly after Father had started the work. He is an American citizen but Vice Consul of Great Britain. His office is in the residence of the Consul, Sir Oppenheim.

Charles recognized me at once and was very glad to see me. He took me to the Reception Hall and Stair Case where they have a beautiful window with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince (now King) Edward. We had a nice chat and, after office hours, we went to the English Church where he plays the organ. They have beautiful windows made in England.

We also went to his home, and he introduced me to his wife and promised to meet us at the Palmgarten in the afternoon. We had dinner at Hortense’s, and she went with us to the Palmgarten, a pleasant park continuing a large Palm House, many fine conservatories, a rose garden, an artificial rocky hill, a cycling track, lawn tennis courts, which are used as a skating ring in winter, terraces, an assembly hall and many other attractions, including, of course, a restaurant and music.

Frankfurt.
The Palm Garden

The conservatories contain the most wonderful flowering and leaf plants which I have ever seen in my life, and I saw, in the open air, the grandest collection of Dahlias which I have ever seen. It is a wonderful place.

Charles and his wife met us, and we all enjoyed the grand music. Among other pieces, they played the “Largo” by Handel. We also saw the Parseval, a dirigible balloon, perform gracefully quite near to us. They have an International Balloon Exhibition in Frankfurt for the past few months, and the Parseval seems to be similar to the Zeppelin in construction and performs for the benefit of the crowd almost daily.

Charles took me to his Clubhouse, a very nice, plain, citizens club , and here I saw the portrait of Dr. Hoffmann, the designer of Strüwelpeter, a comical story with pictures which I enjoyed when a child.

Editor’s note: Among the tales in Strüwelpeter, which Hermann found comical, are stories of children who set themselves aflame, have their thumbs cut off, or starve themselves to death. Such fun.