Green letters

4 June 60

My Darling -

Well, in about 1 1/2 hours I'll be leaving the Burg for the last time (at least for a few years), and ending a 6 months experience more wonderful than any of my life except one - being in love with you (and I really mean exactly that about both.). Yesterday was so full and fast I can hardly recall it all. It began at 5 A.M. when I got up and studied lit. for a couple of hours to prepare a little bit for the exam from 8-12. It was a good test, but I wrote a pretty mediocre paper. I had an A (surprise!) on my term paper so I'll probably hold a B in the course, might possibly get an A. My German + Econ are both A's so it wasn't too bad a quarter anyway.

After lunch I spent 1 1/2 hours packing my books and suitcase, got everything in order to leave after dinner if necessary. then I took the books down to mail ($7.50!!) in MJE's car. Met the Brauters coming through town on their way to the hay fields, so followed the hay-wagon with the car, right out into the fields. There I spent a delightful half hour raking hay ("making hay while the sun shines" - excuse the pun!) - guess I'm really a part of Beutelsbach society by now! Said my sad goodbyes to them and then rushed back to the Burg to dress up for our official end-quarter party. It was just wonderful - a mixture of hilarious humor and melancholy at having to leave. One of the fellows gave an imitation of a Wally Sterling graduation speech (in honor of our "3 graduating seniors", 2 of whom are not graduating) that was a riot. Then we gave gifts to all of the staff - Erika (the secretary, who is coming to Stanford next year), Dr. Boerner, Herr Zimmelmann, Fräulein Doerfel, Dr. Whittaker, Dr. Tarshus and his wife and Tanya (a great big stuffed dog, almost as cute as she is!). At the close the Madrigal group sang a few songs (including Ol' Black Joe, and Brahm's Abschied's Lied) and then we all joined in the Alma Mater. By this time I had quite a lump in my throat, and a few of the girls were crying.

After dinner we finally got started on our last fling party, a very casual affair of dancing, and mostly talking, reminiscing. I spent a couple of hours talking with

Susie Behrman, and she sends you a special hello. Then at 2 AM I decided I'd better get to sleep if I was going to help drive today, so I said a few more sad goodbyes and took off. It's hardest of all to say goodbye to those who are staying here to study next year, since I probably won't see them again. And I am very fond of a couple of them - Sue Brown, Jackie Dewell, both wonderful girls - so it was extra hard. I hope we can just sort of go this morning, without a big production, and thank goodness I'll see most of these kids again next year. They're a pretty terrific group of individuals, and hold a large place in my heart, a lot of them.

Well, sweetheart, it's off to Vienna now and then only one week from today, back to you at last! I can hardly believe it's finally coming! I love you so very deeply, darling, eternally.

All my love, Your George

6 June 1960

My Darling -

Well, here I go on the last letter of all from Europe - from the Vienna Youth hostel. It was formerly a Baroque castle, on the outskirts of town, surrounded by woods now in full summer green. It's a beautiful spot - today is sunny and warm (since about 5 AM in fact! - bravo to Daylight Saving) and beautiful - a lovely day for me to wander around Vienna.

We had a very pleasant drive across Germany on Saturday. Left Stuttgart about 11 AM after the girls did some final shopping. Until Munich the country was much like that in the area around Stuttgart - green rolling hills. On the far side of Munich we caem through the Tyrolian Alps country, which lies partly in Germany, partly in Austria. And finally I found some real mountains in Germany - sheer rugged peaks rising abruptly from the flat farm valleys, still bearing pockets of snow in shady places. We wound our way along near the foot of the range (which I think must be the northern end of the Alps) and into Salzburg. After finding an inexpensive hotel right on the river Salzai and unloading the car (which was crammed to the gills, both girls having 4 suitcases, and which they wanted to repack that evening - boy do I earn my keep in hard labor sometimes!), we found a nearby restaurant for a very good dinner (50c!). Then just as the sun was setting we walked through the center of town and climbed up to the castle, which crowns a steep hill right in the center of the town. At its foot lies the cathedral and a very large complex of buildings which are a cloister. There are many small squares in this section, each having a lovely fountain in its center. The castle itself is very large - a virtual city lives within its outer walls. From it we had a lovely view of Salzburg by night, the lights reflecting on the river winding through its center, some os the larger churches bathed in the cool brilliance of floodlights. Sunday morning we walked along the river, and into the shopping part of town, then again up to the castle. By day it was even more beautiful. Salzburg is the most ideally set city I have seen in all Europe - nestled mainly on the hillsides of the river (much as is Heidelburg on the Neckar). As geometrically arranged plots of farmland stretching for some 5 miles to the foot of sheer snow capped peaks of the Alps. A really breathtaking sight!

We left Salzburg about 11 AM, drove past some beautiful lakes (lying in chains

in every low spot in the mountains, like the area up behind Fallen Leaf which we so love; but these lakes were a dazzling aqua-blue, almost turquoise color). The campers and swimmers and sunbathers were out in force to enjoy the holiday and lovely weather (today in Fingsten, a religious holiday in Europe). Finally got toVienna about 4:30, just in time to stop by the Austrian Travel Bureau to get my music festival tickets. I had wonderful luck - got the ticket for the Mozart opera (tonight) and even one for a performance they had said was sold out - a memorial concert of Robert Schumann songs sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, one of Europe's best (Wed. night). The prices averaged out at $2.20 over all 5 performances.

Last night was the Vienna Choir Boys Concert - Verdi + Haendel music. It was simply wonderful, almost too good for words. I enjoyed both pieces very much, perhaps the Verdi a little more, since it's dynamics and form were more expressive, vividly portraying the feeling of the text. The singing was flawless, beautifully clear and pure in tone and masterfully directed to blend and fit perfectly. They sing as one voice, and it showed endless long hours of practice, well rewarded. They are well worthy of their world-wide reputation. The concert hall itself is unbelievable - a baroque style chamber - center floor with slightly elevated stage at one end, a ring of balcony (2 decks) all around. The walls are gold, with rich draperies hanging, the ceiling also gold (carved wood, guilded) with large paintings in it. There are statues on the capitals over the windows, etc. Just like being at a concert in a royal palace 200 years ago, except for the absence of the huge ball gowns. Boy if the rest of my evenings are as wonderful as last night Vienna will be a tremendous finish for the six months.

I still can't quite believe that I'll be holding you close to me in just 5 days! Now, that it's finally coming it doesn't seem real; but I'm sure by the time I go to pick up the plan on Saturday morning it will seem very real, and I won't be able to sit still for the excitement. I love you very, very much, my sweetheart, and I'll see you in just a few hours now. HOT DOG!!! Always + forever, Your George