poets. It was there Baggesen and Ingemann learned their Latin. When
I once questioned the hostess regarding the lions of the town, she
would only acknowledge two,--Bastholm's library, and the English
fire-engine. The curtain in the theatre represents an alley with a
fountain, the jets of which are painted as if spouting out of the
prompter's box; or is this, perhaps, the English fire-engine? I
know not. The scene-decoration for towns represents the market-place
of Slagelse itself, so that the pieces thus acquire a home-feeling.
This is the modern history of the little town; and, with regard to
its older and romantic history, learn that the holy Anders was
preacher here! Yes, indeed, that was a man! He has been also
sung of by our first poets. We end with Korsoer, where Baggesen
was born and Birckner lies buried. In the more modern history
of this town, King Solomon and Jorgen the hatter play a considerable
role. Besides this, I know that the town is said once to have
possessed a private theatre; but this soon was done for, and the
decorations were sold; a miller bought them, and patched his
windmill sails with them. Upon one sail was a piece of a wood,
upon another a shred of a room, or a street; and so they rushed
round one after the other. Perhaps this is mere slander, for I have
my information from Slagelse; and neighboring towns never speak
well of each other."

In this manner Wilhelm gossiped on, and the friends travelled over
the way he had described. Slagelse, and the peasant village of
Landsgrav, they had already behind them, when Wilhelm ordered the
coachman to diverge from the high-road toward the right.

"Where will you take us to?" asked Otto.