U M B O L D T 



>HE Baron and Baroness von Hollwede 

 were not happily married. The Baroness 

 had intellect, spirit, aspiration, with an 

 appreciation of all that was best in art, 

 music and the world of thought. As to 

 the Baron, he had drunk life's wine to 



S'vvvs^' t * ie ^ ees anc * P ronounce d the draught bit- 

 -\O^^ ter. He was a heavy dragoon with a soul 

 for foxhounds. Later, when gout got to 

 twinging him, he contented himself with 

 cards and cronies. QAnd then Destiny, 

 like a novelist who does not know what 

 to do with a character, sent him on an 

 excursion across the River Styx. 

 This was a good move all 'round, and the 

 only accommodating action in which the 

 Baron ever had a part. He left a large 

 estate, not being able to take it with him. 

 Q There are two kinds of widows, the be- 

 reaved and relieved. 



In India no widow is allowed to re- 

 marry. The canons of the Episcopal 

 Church forbid any widow or widower 

 to remarry whose former partner is 

 living. A member of the Catholic Church 

 who makes a marital mistake is not al- 

 lowed to rectify it. 



Yet Nature, sometimes, as if to prove the 



95 





