Page:Selected letters of Mendelssohn 1894.djvu/15



, 21st May, 1830. my travels began I can’t remember such a bright and fresh day’s journeying as yesterday. Early in the morning the sky was grey and clouded, but later on the sun came out; the air was cool; it was Ascension Day, so the people all had their best clothes on, and I saw them in one village going into church, in the next coming out, in another they were all playing bowls. The gardens were full of brilliant tulips, and there was I driving fast through it all, getting a view of everything. At Weissenfels they gave me a little basket-carriage, and at Naumburg a regular open drosky; the luggage was piled up behind, hat and cloak along with them; and then I bought myself a pair of May nosegays, and so dashed through the country in perfect holiday fashion.