Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/130

 from his experience fashioned for himself the following eternal truth: "Tutti Falotti".

It was strictly forbidden to read other newspapers. Nevertheless we read them and wondered why. The offensive of our armies against Italy was making glorious progress, we were victorious at Arsiero, Asiago, in the interior of the Empire the profoundest calm and contentment prevailed; if here and there some ruffian grumbled that we had cards for everything and could get nothing, he would read that France is threatened by starvation. England is exhausted and Italy also has nothing,Comma, not dot, in the original text [sic] Why we, with the fare we received, were strictly forbidden to read such elevating news, we could not understand.

The censorists obtained the "Neue Freie Presse", Hedrich brought back with him the "Kronen-Zeitung" and the "Neues Wiener Journal" from his shaving errands. Kranz read the "Extra-Blatt" and sent it to me at 9 o'clock, at noon we had the "Zeit" and the "Neues Tagblatt",— from the superintendent's office.

The censorists had at last been permitted to get into touch with the outside world. When Mr. Fels informed me of it, he added by way of commendation to me: "You were right. You took a correct view of everything."

The worthy authorities had certainly pondered long and thoroughly as to how they would be safe from their Semitic artfulness. And this is what they finally devised: They gave them a sheet of paper into each cell, and one after another the censorists wrote briefly and concisely messages to their families, business orders, and directions to their offices,—in order that their souls might be at rest, and that the State might not be guilty of ruining their business careers. The examining accountant then read everything through, censored it, and in his office these messages were copied