Autumn Transition and Prominent Guests in Meran

P. Meran, October 24. Our little town has now pretty much resumed its usual countenance. The rustling silk gowns of fashionable ladies, the scent of patchouli, and elegant gentlemen in light-colored gloves and stiff hats are gradually disappearing from the riverside promenade, and in their stead autumn makes its procession, shaking the yellow leaves from the trees. Yet the days are mild and sunny, and one gladly lets oneself be enticed into excursions to neighboring farmsteads and castles to regale oneself, according to ancient custom, with young wine and roasted chestnuts. In the first weeks of autumn, Meran enjoyed, if we are not mistaken, an even greater number of visitors than in previous years, and as it appears, several foreigners will spend the winter here again. Princess Wasa has already moved into the house of the late Countess Desfours, and the apartments in Schloss Winkel stand in readiness for Archduke Johann. Welker stayed here recently for a few days; it pained us to see how the valiant man seemed almost broken by the loss of his daughter, who died of cholera a short time ago on their journey through Trieste. Among the current guests we also notice some Poles, among whom Zimialkowsky, a former deputy of the Austrian Reichstag, and a companion in misfortune are living here in involuntary residence; — the government has in fact relegated them hither. They move about unhindered, however, without apparent surveillance, and may count themselves fortunate to be banished to so mild a Siberia. Yet compulsion, however gently it may be exercised, always grieves; may the long-delayed amnesty soon grant them full freedom once more!