DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62134#0062
54
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
so covered was it with blossom. Bees hummed about the
pear-tree., the sun showered down its warm beams upon
tree, chapel, and murmuring bees, and from the open door
came a low monotonous chant. I looked in through the
open door; the little chapel was full of peasants, about
twelve women on one side kneeling, about twelve men
kneeling on the other side : the men chanted in their
deep bass, the women took up the chant with their
shriller voices ; and when they paused you heard the bees
hum, and over all, within and without, was the breath of
May and the blessing of God.
Higher up in the woods, too, how pleasant it was !
People arrived ever faster and faster : there were parties in
carriages, with servants and grandeur; there were parties
on foot—the gentlemen with wreaths of ivy or stags’-horn
moss twisted round then1 straw or felt hats, with gentians,
cowslips, and those lovely primula flowers stuck into then’
button-holes—the ladies and children grasping great
bouquets in then’ hands. Here were whole families, and
little knots of friends; there were parties of University
students, of Academy students, of lads from the Gymnasium.
Now I recognised one well-known Munich painter and his
family, now another—and friends greeted friends, and
fresh tables and seats were brought out from the near
rustic inn, and groups sat upon benches on the grass, talk-
ing, laughing, eating, drinking, and being right merry.
Some, like ourselves, having greeted their acquaintance,
and seen what was going on, returned to the lake.
We found our boat and its handsome mistress awaiting
us, and soon were landing upon a certain little island
which had temptingly invited us all the morning, its trees
and bushes seeming to rise out of the very water. But
“ distance in this instance had lent enchantment to the
view.” The island was in a very chaotic state, King Max
having also thought the island attractive, and preparations
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
so covered was it with blossom. Bees hummed about the
pear-tree., the sun showered down its warm beams upon
tree, chapel, and murmuring bees, and from the open door
came a low monotonous chant. I looked in through the
open door; the little chapel was full of peasants, about
twelve women on one side kneeling, about twelve men
kneeling on the other side : the men chanted in their
deep bass, the women took up the chant with their
shriller voices ; and when they paused you heard the bees
hum, and over all, within and without, was the breath of
May and the blessing of God.
Higher up in the woods, too, how pleasant it was !
People arrived ever faster and faster : there were parties in
carriages, with servants and grandeur; there were parties
on foot—the gentlemen with wreaths of ivy or stags’-horn
moss twisted round then1 straw or felt hats, with gentians,
cowslips, and those lovely primula flowers stuck into then’
button-holes—the ladies and children grasping great
bouquets in then’ hands. Here were whole families, and
little knots of friends; there were parties of University
students, of Academy students, of lads from the Gymnasium.
Now I recognised one well-known Munich painter and his
family, now another—and friends greeted friends, and
fresh tables and seats were brought out from the near
rustic inn, and groups sat upon benches on the grass, talk-
ing, laughing, eating, drinking, and being right merry.
Some, like ourselves, having greeted their acquaintance,
and seen what was going on, returned to the lake.
We found our boat and its handsome mistress awaiting
us, and soon were landing upon a certain little island
which had temptingly invited us all the morning, its trees
and bushes seeming to rise out of the very water. But
“ distance in this instance had lent enchantment to the
view.” The island was in a very chaotic state, King Max
having also thought the island attractive, and preparations