From: Emmental, Bessarabia
September 1911
Esteemed Editorship!
Before I take off on a trip to Krasna, I want to quickly do something for the readers of the Staats-Anzeiger.
Today in the afternoon, the sky cleared up completely and indicates nice weather. Every farmer thinks that tomorrow he can pursue his task. It is about time too. It is already late, and almost no one has done any plowing for the winter seeding. If the weather is not favorable for the farmer, then he is readily distressed, because he wants to gain prosperity fast; however, for him no opportunity comes about. Nowadays, necessities are of no concern to the farmer, but prosperity is. If our Lord does not give him an abundant crop, then he is dissatisfied and says, “No, here in Russia one can no longer make ends meet. If one has a few rubles (Russian currency) left over from the harvest, then one has to apply them to taxes and I remain a poor man, year in and year out. But wait, I bring an end to this. I’ll go to America. There I certainly will soon be a wealthy man, because here in Russia the many taxes will turn one into nothing.”
Dear reader! Recently I came to a locale where a large crowd sat gathered. Upon arriving, I heard that the topic of conversation was that because of the high positions in government, it was impossible for the farmers during these times. ……illegible text………Only one among them was quiet during the conversation, which I noticed and I asked him, “And you, uncle, do not say anything about these negotiations?” The old Uncle Christian pondered the question well and answered, “If they also demand my input, then I will provide it to most people here, because for the sensible, one word is enough,” as the ‘Milk-Seppel’ would usually say.
All stopped with their conversation and Uncle Christian continued as follows, “The contributions, dear young men, are indeed heavy. If there were no others to complain about than the ones the government imposed on us, then it would still be bearable, but there are many others that came along, which for some among you are even more pressing. You are taxed twice as much because of your laziness, three times as much because of your pride, four times as much because of your foolishness, and five times as much because of the bazaar in Kainari. The taxing authorities cannot deliver us from this burden with a tax reduction. However, let us heed good advice, then we still may be helped somewhat. “God will help those who help themselves,” as ‘Milk-Seppel’ would usually say.
“Firstly, a government which would tax its subordinates by ten percent for its gain would be accused of great harshness. However, through laziness many of you are taxed a lot higher, as well as through idleness, because the devil finds work for idle hands. Idleness is comparable to rust, which will consume faster than work will wear us out, and “a used key is always shiny” as ‘Milk-Seppel’ would say. But if you love life then do not waste time, because it is the essence of which time is made. How much more useful could it be not to oversleep, because you don’t realize that the sleeping fox will not catch any chickens, and that we will sleep long enough in our graves. If time amongst everything is most precious, then the wasting of time must be the biggest slander. So let us be alert and act. Act usefully. That way, through industriousness, we will accomplish more and be less embarrassed. Idleness makes everything difficult. Bustle, which is industriousness, makes everything easier. Whoever gets up late, like you, has to trot all day long and will hardly make up for lost time by evening. Laziness, however, proceeds so slowly that even poverty will catch up with it. Do not let this drive you, carry on with your business, and “early to bed and early to rise, makes men healthy, wealthy, and wise” as ‘Milk-Seppel’ would usually say.
What does it help then, when you wish and hope for better times, or for the praised land America? You could do everything better here through your own efforts. Industriousness does not need to wish, and whoever lives on hope will die hungry. There is no income without work; that is why I need the land. Because I do not have land here as Mr. Romuald, or if I do have it, it is heavily taxed.
Whoever has a business has wealth; and whoever has a trade, has a job. However, that’s when the business has to be taken care of in an orderly manner, and the trade has to be conducted with diligence, or else, neither the property or the office will put us in a position to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we will never die of hunger, because hunger may look into the house of the active worker, but will not be allowed to enter. The same goes for tax and debt collectors. Because industriousness pays off the debts, discouragement will multiply them. If you have not found a treasure, and if you have not inherited anything from your deceased father, then the better. Diligence is the mother of luck, and God gives everything to industriousness. When a lay-about likes it in bed, then you should carefully tend to your field. That is when your grain will provide you with bread and money.
Uncle Christian spoke further, “Be active while there is still time, because you or another among you here cannot know what will hinder you tomorrow. A ‘today’ is as good as two ‘tomorrows’, when you can get something done today.”
Without using gloves, get a hold of your tools; think that a cat with gloves will not catch any mice. It is true, there are things to be done, and maybe your hands are weak; however, remain steadfast and you will see that one can achieve a lot. Unceasing rain will eventually affect rocks. With patience and diligence a mouse will succeed in gnawing through a mooring rope, and through weak blows with an axe, the strongest oak will fall in the end. Maybe some of you will ask, “Should we not have, or allow any amusement?” I want to tell you, my children, as the ‘Milk-Seppel’ would say, “If someone wants to have pleasure, then he must utilize his time well, and not throw away an hour, because you are not sure for a minute. Amusement is leftover time during which you could accomplish something useful.” A diligent man will find such pleasure, but the lazy one never, because a life full of pleasure and a life full of idleness are twofold. Many would like to get along with a clever mind without working, but do not forget that the bottle with water cannot offer any wine.
Whoever does not have knowledge about a subject, should ………Text missing……. We have to pursue thrift if we want to count on the success of our industriousness with our own certainty. Whoever does not know how to preserve what he earns can sit all of his life with his nose to the grindstone and still die without being worth a cent. “A fat kitchen institutes a meager testament,” as ‘Milk-Seppel’ would say. And, if there is no knitting, sewing, or spinning, because women like to sit at the coffee table, or if there is nothing started with axe and plane, because men are sweating with the shot glass, then it is said that the way it is won is the way it is lost. If you want to get rich, then think about how to make ends meet as well as about the income. America did not make Spain rich because expenditures were always bigger than the income. Away then with costly expenditures! For the daughter a new dress every week, for the son a pair of patent leather boots at 12 rubles, and in Kainari and Bender the alcohol. Then you will not have much cause to lament about hard times, heavy taxes and expensive cost of living, because through cheating and gaming, through women and wine the shortcomings will grow and the wealth will decline.”
(Continuation follows)
12 September 1911
The weather keeps itself clear and dry every day. The farmers are busy with plowing daily, so they do not have time to drive to the market in Kainari. The grapes have been picked. Until now the wine is still sweet and is useful only for a cure; however in eight days it will be master.
A heartfelt greeting to my sons-in-law Ignatz Gross and wife, Eduard Richter and wife. Special sincere greetings to my colleague Anton Jochim. If anyone should know his address, then please send it to me, because I have so much to write to the old patriarch. (*Editor: Mr. Anton Jochim resides in Harvey, North Dakota.)
Romuald Dirk
From: Brisbane, Morton County, ND
10 October 1911
I just have a few free minutes at hand and decided to give a sign of life!
The weather is okay here. We have had a few nice days and the threshing hands can be used. They are not going gangbusters though. They take their time, since they like eating at the table. My neighbor bought a new oven so the housewife can make fresh cakes and pies. As soon as the threshers hear that, they will be squatting around the place until Christmas.
Cutting the flax is kind of hard too, since we had the drought in the summer. So there is quite a bit of weed material in those fields as well.
Joseph Bachmeier lost his barn, harnesses and four horses to a fire last week. It is a tough loss for him, especially with the failed harvest.
We had a rough storm 3 October. The wind carried away not only the loose stuff, but also some tied down bundles of flax that I had cut the previous day. The wind also destroyed a header box at neighbor C. Braun's place.
I read in Issue #10 about Postmaster General Hitchcock delivering mail items by flying machine. We have women in Morton County who can deliver the news as quickly as the Postmaster General all over county.
Our guests from South Dakota and Adams County left us at the beginning of October. They would have left earlier if the railroad company had given them more rail cars to ship their hay.
When I was still in Emmons County, I heard that Morton County had great deal of rocky land, hills and gorges, which is possible since Morton County is a large area of range. There is much good land. We have not had a lack of fodder as dry as the summer was. As often in life, the things we do not think much about prove to be invaluable later on.
I wish to get some news from my relations in Maple Creek, Canada. I never received an answer to my mail.
Greetings to friends and relatives, as well as all the readers.
Max Erker