XI.

Among my Danish excursions was one to Slesvig in July, 1860. The
Copenhagen students had been asked to attend a festival to be held at
Angel at the end of July for the strengthening of the sparse Danish
element in that German-minded region. There were not many who wished to
go, but several of those who did had beautiful voices, and sang
feelingly the national songs with which it was hoped the hearts of the
Angel people, and especially of the ladies, might be touched. Several
gentlemen still living, at that time among the recognised leaders of the
students, went with us.

We sailed from Korsoer to Flensborg one exquisite Summer night; we gave
up the berths we had secured and stayed all night on deck with a bowl of
punch. It was a starlight night, the ship cut rapidly through the calm
waters, beautiful songs were sung and high-flown speeches made. One
speech was held in a whisper, the one in honour of General de Meza, who
was still a universal favourite, and who was sitting in his stateroom,
waked up out of his sleep, with his white gloves and gaufred lace cuffs
on and a red and white night-cap on his head. We young ones only thought
of him as the man who, during the battle of Fredericia, had never moved
a muscle of his face, and when it was over had said quietly: "The result
is very satisfactory."

Unfriendly and sneering looks from the windows at Flensborg very soon
showed the travellers that Danish students' caps were not a welcome
sight there. The Angel peasants, however, were very pleasant. The
festival, which lasted all day and concluded with dancing and fireworks,
was a great success, and a young man who had been carousing all night,
travelling all day, and had danced all the evening with pretty girls