shaken off this eternal bondage of Catholicism and launched my boat
so late in life upon the broad waters of Protestant freedom.

As the son of a wealthy family, I was sent to the Gymnasium of Vechta
for higher studies, where I received the best education which Germany
could give to her sons, and from there I was dismissed with the
diploma of "Maturity" in 1870, which was a passport to any man
holding such a diploma in any scholarly community, for a diploma from
this institution meant all that it implied.

After I had gone through a perfect study of Gymnasium, and after
having obtained my diploma, I could then decide for any career that
I might choose.

About this time came the disturbance of all of Germany caused by "The
German-French War." Like every patriot, I volunteered as a soldier,
but the officers in the German army were practical men and they had
little use for unseasoned "student soldiers" in the field of action,
and I was left in garrisons where universities were situated, where I
had military practice for a few hours each day, and then could follow
my studies at the same time.

Peace followed quickly after the Waterloo of Napoleon III at Sedan,
and this peace was restored quickly in the "fatherland," as not one
victorious Frenchman had crossed the "Rhine."

I followed my favorite study, forestry and agriculture, for some
time, but as my parents and my forefathers, both on my father's and
mother's side, had been devout Catholics, I had an earnest longing to
become a Catholic Priest, as I desired to go forth in the world and