Berlin

Jan. 22.

Dearest Elsa. I am much amused by your letters – you do seem to have got into a funny place, but I hope it will turn out a success. What an odd tale about the cat! I shall write to Moll in a day or two.

I made my bow to the Kaiser Paar on Wednesday. It was a very fine show. We drove to the Schloss in the glass coach and were saluted by the guard when we arrived. We felt very well! Then we waited for a long time with all the other dips in a room next to the throne room and at about 8 the doors were thrown open, we all hastily arranged one another’s trains and marched in in procession while the band played the march out of Lohengrin. The Emperor and Empress were standing on a dais at the end of the room and we walked through a sort of passage made by rows and rs of pages dressed in pink. The Allerhochst looked extremely well in red uniform – I couldn’t look at the Empress much as I was so busy avoiding Aunt Mary’s train. She introduced me and then stood aside while I made two curtseys. Then I wondered what the dickens I should do next, but Aunt Mary made me a little sign to go out behind her so I enjambe’d her train and fled! We spent a long time in the supper room talking to all our little friends and came home about 9 to dinner. It is very cold; today it is snowing so hard that F. and I have decided not to skate. I am going to hop into a cab and go and see the pictures before lunch. This evening we have a ball which I hope will be amusing. I shall pay visits with Aunt M. this afternoon, which is always rather fun. 

I will write to Mother tomorrow to Sloane St. I hope Miss T. is all right again.

Ever your affectionate sister

Gertrude