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Although the narrative of my journey, “with knapsack and staff,” is now strictly finished, a few more words of explanation seem necessary, to describe more fully the method of traveling which we adopted.  I add them the more willingly, as it is my belief that many, whose circumstances are similar to mine, desire to undertake the same romantic journey.  Some matter-of-fact statements may be to them useful as well as interesting.

We found the pedestrian style not only by far the best way to become acquainted with the people and sceneryof a country, but the pleasantest mode of traveling.  To be sure, the knapsack was, at first, rather heavy, our feet were often sore and our limbs weary, but a few days walking made a great difference, and after we had traveled two weeks, this disappeared altogether.  Every morning we rose as fresh and strong as if it had been the first day—­even after a walk of thirty miles, we felt but little fatigue.  We enjoyed slumber in its fullest luxury, and our spirits were always light and joyous.  We made it a rule to pay no regard to the weather, unless it was so bad as to render walking unhealthy.  Often, during the day, we rested for half an hour on the grassy bank, or sometimes, if it was warm weather, lay at full length in the shade with our knapsacks under our heads.  This is a pleasure which none but the pedestrian can comprehend.

We always accepted a companion, of whatever kind, while walking—­from chimney-sweeps to barons.  In a strange country one can learn something from every peasant, and we neglected no opportunity, not only to obtain information, but impart it.  We found everywhere great curiosity respecting America, and we were always glad to tell them all they wished to know.  In Germany, we were generally taken for Germans from some part of the country where the dialect was a little different, or, if they remarked our foreign peculiarities, they supposed we were either Poles, Russians, or Swiss.  The greatest ignorance in relation to America, prevails among the common people.  They imagine we are a savage race, without intelligence and almost without law.  Persons of education, who had some slight knowledge of our history, showed a curiosity to know something of our political condition.  They are taught by the German newspapers (which are under a strict censorship in this respect) to look only at the evil in our country, and they almost invariably began by adverting to Slavery and Repudiation.  While we admitted, often with shame and mortification, the existence of things so inconsistent with true republicanism, we endeavored to make them comprehend the advantages enjoyed by the free citizen—­the complete equality of birth—­which places America, despite her sins, far above any other nation on earth.  I could plainly see, by the kindling eye and half-suppressed sigh, that they appreciated a freedom so immeasurably greater than that which they enjoyed.