Cohlentz. 255 



differ very much from those of the Americans. Though the 

 opinion ])revai!s in Germany that American ladies are very 

 fast, I must say that the German ladies have no great cause fo** 

 blaming and criticising them, for from what I heard and saw 

 I came to the conclusion that they beat in this respect their 

 American sisters. I was much astonished on seeing many of 

 the ladies smoke in company with the gentlemen, not only 

 cigarettes, but cigars, like old smokers. I thought it best to 

 do in Rome as the Romans do, and smoked also, though I do 

 not like it. The Queen is rather strict, and not pleased at all 

 with the fast manners of these ladies, but though they behave 

 well 01 course in her presence, they do as they please when 

 amongst themselves. 



On Monday, December 21, Felix left for Coblentz to join 

 his regiment, and after having made all my arrangt^nents and 

 paid my farewell visits, I followed him on the 24th, and met 

 him next day at the station in Dusseldorf with Count Her- 

 mann Salm and the hereditary Prince of Anholt. 'Wq stayed 

 a day in Bonn to celebrate my and Felix's birthday, for we 

 were both born on December 25, a curious coincidence. 



On the 26th we arrived in Coblentz, our future home. Hav- 

 ing no house yet, we remained in the Hotel de Treves, which 

 is a most comfortable hotel. 



I need not describe Coblentz, for everybody has visited the 

 Rhine. It is certainly a beautiful place, and the favourite 

 residence of Queen Augusta, who has done much to beautify 

 it with splendid promenades and tastefully laid-out grounds, 

 an undertaking which offered great difficulties, arising from the 

 circumstance that Coblentz is a fortress, but which has been 

 carried out with a success as perfect as can be. The new 

 promenade is a great ornament to the city, and will remain an 

 everlasting, endearing monument of the predilection and love 

 ot Queen Augusta for Ct>blentz. 



The frequent presence of the Queen had in every respect 

 its influence in this city. It changed, as it were, its character 

 oi a provincial town, and bestowed on it many advantages and 

 peculiarities of Royal residences. Though this mfluence ex- 

 tended more or less over all classes of inhabitants, it made itseli 

 especially felt on those forming the society of Coblentz. This 

 society consisted, as almost everywhere in Prussia, ot the 

 families of persons who are employed in the service of the 



