Part Two: Chapter II, The First Ten Years Are the Hardest Summary and Analysis

Taxis take the family to the Hotel Wellington in New York City. The tallest structure in Vienna is six stories. They rush off the elevator to marvel at little cars and people nineteen floors below. On the ship, they eat three meals a day. It is now eight PM. Everyone is hungry and they have four dollars for dinner and breakfast. They ask Mr. Wagner, their manger, to advance some money.

A night watchman warns them not to leave shoes in the hall, if they want to see them again. Maria discovers that in order to have Georg's hat ironed, she must see a shoemaker and that shoes are shined in barbershops. She gets lost searching for a shoemaker, but is...