D O C . 4 5 5 T R A V E L D I A R Y 4 5 5
of War Refugees was in attendance. Sat next to interesting Englishman (Nansen’s
coworker). Latzki (Russian, residing in Berlin) was also there. Received from me
a letter of recommendation to
Gallardo.[78]
29. Reception at School of Engineering. Memorial medal from students. Last
lecture. In the evening, major reception by the German envoy attended only by Uru-
guayan politicians and
scholars.[79]
30. In the morning, cinema. South Pole expedition, Australian archipelago, and
a nice Chaplin film (the fake pastor), shown especially for me by Glückmann. In
the afternoon, wonderful sailing
party.[80]
6 o’clock reception at the Engineers’ As-
sociation. 9 o’clock in the evening, grand banquet given by government and uni-
versity. I sat next to president and one minister and was excellently entertained.
Sentinel on the Rhine played instead of German
anthem![81]
German envoy and I
smirked. The people were moving and without ceremony. But nothing goes without
a dinner jacket.
¢1 May² Comment: the text about Montevideo is written from memory on the
steamship.[82]
There was much more in reality and it was much more colorful, to
the point that at times I could hardly catch a breath for all that love. But it was much
more human and enjoyable than in Buenos Aires, to which the smaller dimensions
of the country and the city contributed, of course. The people simply remind one of
the Swiss and Dutch. Modest and natural. The devil take large countries with their
craziness! I would cut them all up into smaller ones, if I had the power.
1 May. All work has stopped and no cars may drive. I am brought in a city auto-
mobile to the railway and taken by harbor steamboat, together with all my numer-
ous company, on board the ship. Valdivia. French, very filthy and small, but friend-
ly crew and
pleasant.[83]
But I shudder at the latrines. One can put up with it for
3 days. My nerves are strained. I’d give a lot not to have to climb back onto the tra-
peze in Rio. But one must stick it out.
2 May. The ship doctor gave me a book by Le Bon with aphorisms on politics
and sociology. Witty, but not free of certain prejudices, particularly as regards the
Communist problem. He reasons like the liberals of 1850. Nor is he free of
militarism.[84]
It’s getting quite hot. Add to that the quite heavy and badly cooked
food. One sleeps badly. Company at the “dignitaries’ table” is quite relaxed, partic-
ularly the captain. They are much more pleasant than Germans, much more modest
and natural. Add to that a certain fine perceptiveness, not intrusive. All my scien-
tific ideas which I thought up in Argentina, prove to be
useless.[85]
The weather
ranges from bad to middling.
3. Weather somewhat better. Much wind but scarcely refreshing. The rest does
feel good, though. Tomorrow evening this splendor is over, and I must climb onto
the trapeze one last time. With God’s help, I shall bear these couple of days of crazy
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