Manuscript Releases, vol. 20 [Nos. 1420-1500]

MR No. 1432—Reflections After First Tour of Scandinavia

(Written to W. C. White, November 20, 1885, from Basel, Switzerland. Only the day before, on November 19, Ellen White had returned to her home in Basel after spending six weeks in Scandinavia.)

Here I am now in Basel. We reached here last night about eight o'clock. We found Mary doing well. She is looking better than I have seen her for many years. Ella is quite as well as usual, but has some cold. 20MR 45.1

November 18, 1885—We ate a good breakfast and went on board the boat. [From Goteborg, Sweden, to Frederikshavn, Denmark. See D. A. Delafield, Ellen G. White in Europe, pp. 127-129.] It was very rough. We were in the nice saloon on the upper deck, enjoying the smooth sailing when the captain came up and said, “I advise you to go below and lie down.” We inquired if it would be worse than it was then. He said, “This is nothing. You can get to the cabin now but you will not be able to get there soon.” We went down and lay down. We had passed one hour on the boat and were to be five hours more. 20MR 45.2

Soon Sara was very sick, then I was sick, and our breakfast fed the fishes. I sweat profusely, then the most wrenching process of throwing up. Sara lay where she could look directly upon me. She said several times she thought I was dead. She kept speaking to me to get some response. She said my face was as colorless as a corpse. She should understand now fully why I was afraid to be seasick. She never would want me to go on the water again, for she thought it was at the risk of my life. There was never a more thankful party that stood upon the terra firma than our company. 20MR 45.3

Kristine was a little sick, but not severely. [H. W.] Kellogg was out upon the deck and he was some sick, but he stayed there, almost freezing. He dared not go down. 20MR 45.4

We were so happy to be seated in the cars again. We had a compartment all to ourselves, and I did not sit up much of the day. I was lame and sore. We traveled all night and all day Wednesday and stopped Wednesday night at Hotel Cologne. We had good accommodations, took six o'clock train, and were by ourselves until noon. The cars went only to Mainz, and we were obliged to wait two hours. 20MR 45.5

When the express train came along we were crowded into a compartment with men and we learned it was a smoking car, but Kellogg prevailed upon them not to smoke. But men were continually crowding in with their cigars and pipes. Kellogg finally found us a place in another car with men, but they did not smoke. The road was exceedingly rough. I think I never rode in cars that shook one about so. It was as good as the best movement machines. It took all the soreness out of me—curious remedy! 20MR 45.6

Mary read us your letter and I was glad to learn you had a similar experience to ours in seasickness. I was full of cold and I threw up much phlegm and I think it did me much good. I said then I hoped you would be sick, and although unpleasant it would be a great blessing to you as it has been to us. 20MR 46.1

Brother Whitney wishes us to go next week to Italy. We are thinking of taking the whole family along; go into Brother Bourdeau's house and remain a couple of months. We want the Lord to direct. It is cold as a barn here. The coils warm the room scarcely at all. It is a failure and something will have to be devised of a different character than this, to heat these rooms. They will put me up a stove in the parlor today. I have not been warm since I came here, and the very air seems as if I were breathing in the air from a snowbank. Edith [Andrews] is evidently failing. The rooms she and her mother occupy are not comfortable. They have a little heating arrangement, not the one I had, but similar to it, but that is not sufficient, and the rubber coils are very disagreeable to Edith. 20MR 46.2

I thought if we could go to Italy and go into a house all furnished, and keep Brother A. C. Bourdeau and sons, without any appearance of evil, we would do so. But if there is the least danger of remarks we would not do this on any account. 20MR 46.3

Willie, I want Matteson to stand in a proper light before the conference. We see mistakes and failure in his work and mission, but how much better would others have done under the circumstances? I am thinking he has done, in many respects, a good work. He has suffered privation and taken the work from nothing, and all these things deserve our appreciation, and we will encourage him all we can, and not say one word to discourage. You know that the man is not guilty of that devotion the people give him. They need to see and recognize other talent, and they will do it, and I know that there is much precious material in Christiania, and I want the dear lambs of the flock to be blessed and strengthened. I do not know as I can say anything more. 20MR 46.4

I shall think of you and pray for you as we do, and may the Lord work in power for you. Do pray much and tell others I beseech of them to pray much. I will now say, God bless you, my son, with the best of Heaven's blessing. Try to get Edson heart and soul in the meetings. Help him all you can.—Letter 36, 1885. 20MR 46.5

Ellen G. White Estate

Washington, D. C.,

January 20, 1989.

Entire Letter.