
When my husband and I visited Balcombe in Sussex, England many years ago, my cousin's widow offered my my great aunt's ancient-looking travel diary. As well, she provided all the articles my aunt Mary had collected while on her journey to North and South America. I was fascinated with the pictures and the autographs albums, some with paintings, poetry, and the fact that many of the books were in German. I believe that the family spent time in Dresden and that must have been when the girls learned German, and probably French. All books date to the 19th century. At that time, I thought that someday I should put everything together into a book.