Copenhagen, Sat. Aug. 16, 1947

The Copenhagen situation cannot be described easily, nor full – nor want I have it described so. But it is cheering, sad, & lovely.

First about the beginning. The trip from Kiel to Hamb. started very early. Ely House was spartan, but a car brought me to the station & the Diesel went to Hamburg, where a 2h wait. I was not admitted to the Brit. canteen in H. by a ruffian sergent or whatever he was. I complained with the Brit. Railroad Admin. & I got an excellent breakfeast at the Reichsbahndir. in the kitchen, with lots of apologies. H.-Altona (where that was) makes a desolate impression; heaps of rubble, sullen people, poverty - & slight rain to give it a severer setting. Few people left with the Nord express – which is barred to Germans - & I felt so conspicuous (as before) with my 2 valises compared to the drabness of the German crowd on the opposite platform. The train killed a man, cutting him in ½ when pulling in; I saw, fortunately only little of it from the distance. Overcrowded, I got a sleeping car compartment for $ 4.- which was cheap & I traveled in greatest comfort to Copenhagen. Met a nice swedish Ing Rolf Dahlberg (Tech. High. Lector). The trip was beautiful, espc. the ferry in the sunshine with several 100 healthy children just returning from vacation. We ate dinner there & at 930 were here. No Hotel room whatsoever. I wound up at the d’Angleterre in a windowless bath room, but I had a good sleep.

Saturday, the 10 th, I phoned Miss Inge Drejberg, whom I had met last year at Ruth Beck’s (a cousin); she is a journalist & I liked her in Princeton. She was sick in bed, but wanted to see me soon. So we should meet Sunday, - which we did & that led to quite something. – I tried to see Mr. Wessel, but they were in Vebaeck but he was just on the phone when I called & so he invited me out next day.