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THE STORY OF IDA PFEIFFER
And Her Travels in Many Lands.
“I’ll put a girdle round the world.”—shakespeare.
LONDON: THOMAS NELSON AND SONS.
edinburgh and new york.
1879.
I. HER BIOGRAPHY.
II. JOURNEY ROUND THE WORLD.
III. NORTHWARD.
IV. LAST TRAVELS.
p. 9CHAPTERI.—HER BIOGRAPHY.
Ida Pfeiffer, the celebrated traveller, was born in Vienna on the14th of October 1797. She was the third child of a well-to-domerchant, named Reyer; and at an early age gave indications of an originaland self-possessed character. The only girl in a family of sixchildren, her predilections were favoured by the circumstances whichsurrounded her. She was bold, enterprising, fond of sport andexercise; loved to dress like her brothers, and to share in their escapades. Dolls she contemptuously put aside, preferring drums; and a sword ora gun was valued at much more than a doll’s house. In somerespects her father brought her up strictly; she was fed, p. 10likeher brothers, on a simple and even meagre diet, and trained to habitsof prompt obedience; but he did nothing to discourage her taste formore violent exercises than are commonly permitted to young girls.
She was only in her tenth year, however, when he died; and she thenpassed naturally enough under the maternal control. Between herown inclinations and her mother’s ideas of maidenly culture agreat contest immediately arose. Her mother could not understandwhy her daughter should prefer the violin to the piano, and the masculinetrousers to the feminine petticoat. In fact, she did not understandIda, and it may be assumed that Ida did not understand her.
In 1809 Vienna was captured by the French army under Napoleon; adisgrace which the brave and spirited Ida felt most keenly. Someof the victorious troops were quartered in the house of her mother,who thought it politic to treat them with courtesy; but her daughterneither could nor would repress her dislike. When compelled tobe present at a grand review which Napoleon held in Schönbrunn,she turned her back as the emperor rode past. For this hazardousmanœuvre she was p. 11summarilypunished; and to prevent her from repeating it when the emperor returned,her mother held her by the shoulders. This was of little avail,however, as Ida perseveringly persisted in keeping her eyes shut.
At the age of thirteen she was induced to resume the garb of hersex, though it was some time before she could accustom her wild freemovements to it. She was then placed in charge of a tutor, whoseems to have behaved to her with equal skill and delicacy. “Heshowed,” she says, “great patience and perseverance in combatingmy overstrained and misdirected notions. As I had learned to fearmy parents rather than love them, and this gentleman was, so to speak,the first human being who had displayed any sympathy