London has the advantage of one of the most gloomy atmospheres in the world.

The Germans form one of the most important branches of the Indo-Germanic or Aryan race - a division of the human family which also includes the Hindoos, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Celts, and the Slavonic tribes.

I study hard at Russian, which is a tough but most attractive language.

I could never see a book written in a foreign language without the most ardent desire to read it.

The more I see of the Swedes, the more I am convinced that there is no kinder, simpler, and honester people in the world.

An enthusiastic desire of visiting the Old World haunted me from early childhood. I cherished a presentiment, amounting almost to belief, that I should one day behold the scenes, among which my fancy had so long wandered.