barcelona

　　wednesday， 2∶00 p. m.

　　22 october，1908

　　my dear parents，

　　the worst is behind us！that was last night's organ concert and the lecture preceding it.quite frankly i was somewhat worried about this lecture since i am not used to giving long talks in french… and the hall is enormous： three thousand people. but to my amazement i discovered that i felt as much at home in french as i do in german，and that it was easier for me to speak loudly andclearlyin frenchthan in german！istood there without a manuscript， and within three minutes i sensed thati had captured my audience more surely than i had ever done before. i spoke forfifty-five minutes， and next came an organ recital that lasted for one hour. i have never been sosuccessful.when the program ended， they allremained in their seats： i had to go back to myorgan and play for another half hour； the audiencewas sorryto leave… it was half-past midnight！

　　here， the concerts are announced for 9∶15，but at that time there's not a soul in the auditorium；toward 9∶30 the first few peoplearrive， strolling about in the hall and the lobby，and toward ten o'clock， after three rings of a bell，the people deign to finally take their seats！

　　on saturday， a grand concert with organ andorchestra is scheduled in the morning， and i have long rehearsals in the evening， for the organ isvery difficult to play since the sound is always delayed. luckily. i am well rested， and i am managing to overcome the difficulties. absolutely everyone addresses me as“chèr ma re”；the artcritics settle down in the auditorium during rehearsals； my portrait is displayed in the musicstores. it's such fun.

　　i am staying with walter at the premier hotelonthe grandsquare with splendid palm trees.i have a view of the square and the entire city all theway to the big mountains forty minutes away fromhere；they are as high as the hohnack.i walk overto them every afternoon；it takes me a total of twohours.

　　the weather is the same as at home on a lovely june day.the men who were waiting for me at the railroad station roared with laugher whenthey saw walter and me in overcoats.

　　as i am writing to you，the square below my window is filled with a terrible din.the king isarriving in an hour，and the troops are now takingup their positions. tomorrow evening there will bea grand gala performance at the theater. ihavebeen invited， buti am not going； iwant to rest，fori feel too well to risk my excellent condition.

　　i will close now， otherwise the letter won't goofftonight. ithas to be at thepost officebyfour o'clock. there is no night trainto france.

　　please forward this letter to the ehretsmannsandto the woytts.

　　hugs and kisses，

　　alber