Letter, William Gleason to Kate Gleason
A letter to Kate Gleason from her father, William Gleason. William describes his arrival in Berlin and his difficulties communicating with the population of German speakers there. He reports that he finds the city more attractive than either London or Glasgow and describes Berliners as a “festive lot.” He discusses sales, relationships with various companies, and a trip to Vienna that he might have to take. He also tells of getting lost in the art museum.
[page 1]
Savoy Hotel
Berlin, den Nov 11 1898
Dear Kate
I arrived here late
last night and you cant
have the least idea off the
plight I was inn. I could
not make my self understood
nor could I understand a word
untill I thought off the name
off the Hotel, at which I
finaly arrived. Mr
Hollingworth gave it
too me as being a good
place to stop at as the
manager and most off
the attendants speak English
it seems too be a name
that the Berlin [illegible]
all catch so it take it that
[page 2]
it is the same in German
as in English at all events
after an effort off nearly
½ hour in trying about
twenty other names off
Hotels in Cooks and
the Express Co books
I thought off this one and
so far I have not any
difficulty. But the lack
off knowledge off the
language retards my
business and makes
what I do more costly as
I have too hire a [illegible]
[illegible] and for every place
I go to but they are cheap
[page 3]
and easily had at all points
I have got through with
[illegible] and my visit
will result in a sale off
a 48” half automatic.
I also visited Shukart & S
and spent a couple off hours
with them, and then visited
the art gallery for the noon
hour and got lost in the
Labyrinth off rooms and
lost a half hour trying to
get out. None off the
attendants being able too
understand what I wanted.
St I am picking the language
up very fast and I think
that after about one weeck
[page 4]
I can safely deliver a lecture
on it I have already mastered
the finances, and know the
value off the different coins
relatively—as too our money
Shukart & S want me to go too
Vienna and see there agent
there, and I may have to go
if so it will put quite a hole
in my finances, and I may
even with the $50 expected to
receive at Paris, have too
take steerage passage home,
but I can borrow I expect
Shukart has an elegant
place. they have one off the
G Planers running and in
good shape they have a mac
here from Browne &Works
[page 5]
that has been on
& [illegible] [illegible]
knows a little about it my
business at present is
instructing him too set the work
and run the machine and
Jim and Andrew can easily
judge off my job when we
have so mutch trouble in
finding men at home too
be experts, with sutch men
as Gitner to lead them
and being present all the
time my old time knack
off being able too handle them
seems to have returned and
I expect on my return too be
[page 6]
able too give Gitner pointers
I received your letter off the
28th and am very sorry
to hear that George Glass
is laid up on his own ac
as well as ours some
one said if a Roman
went too Spain his faith
ought too be well grounded
or he might loose it
well a person visiting
Berlin has need off
heaveing his morals well
loocked after for the natives
off this tow City seem to
be a festive lot and
iff Paris beats it I will
[page 7]
be surprised. it is a fine
City and I like the appearance
off it mutch better than London
or Glascow. if I go too vie
Vienna it will delay me
at least one weeck, but
I think I had better go as
they seem very anxious
too have me
[Illegible] is an expert
at least his superintendent
and the man he has at the
head off the gear department
is they do good work and
are getting both quantity
and quality out off the
machines.
[page 8]
he concealed nothing and
showed me several things
they done in there works that
was new and I was able
too reciprocate some
Parted the best off friends
My Love too all
William Gleason