From: Petrofka, Bessarabia
4 December 1912
It seems like it is impossible lately to get good weather here in Bessarabia and perhaps also in other areas. Today, 4 December, it is raining again and the signs are such that we can’t think about dry weather for a long time. In prior years, one could go a little bit by the weather and the country sayings, but nowadays the best prophecies no longer concur. All signs point toward dry weather but it continues to rain. I have always gone by certain rules and these have always at least halfway come true. For example:
1. When there were thunderstorms after 22 March in spring, then we had no more frost at night.
2. When we had a lot of fog in spring then we would have lots of rain in the summer. If we had a lot of foggy weather in fall, we would get lots of snow in the winter.
3. When we had flooding and the ground water came up often in spring, we would get tremendous heat and lots of vermin in the summer.
4. When we had an east wind blowing in the fall and winter then the fruit trees would bear lots of fruit the following year.
5. When there was lots of snow in the winter then March would be dry, April moist and May cool. When there were warm rains falling in the winter then there was a plentiful harvest to look forward to.
6. The weather that we had during the change of the moon or that lasted 3 days beyond a full moon used to last until the next change of the moon.
7. When a southeast wind was blowing and the clouds came from the southeast, we would have rain.
8. When there was a storm starting during the night, it didn’t last as long as a storm that started during the day.
9. During warm weather rain would soon follow the wind.
10. When the sun came up brightly and pushed aside the clouds and no clouds were visible on the horizon in the west, it stayed clear all day.
11. When the sun set brightly and without a special color, we had nice weather the next day for sure, namely when a pretty evening glow followed.
12. When the evening glow had the color of copper, bad weather followed. But on the other hand, evening glow was always a sign of good weather. Morning glow meant wind and rain.
13. When the sun rose behind thick clouds in a dark red color soon wind and rain would follow.
14. When clouds piled around the sun during the day, windy unstable weather followed.
15. When it was nice before noon but rain would fall in the afternoon or black clouds came in from the north before sunset, then we would have a north wind blowing the next day.
16. When there was fog in the morning but falling to the ground then the weather would clear up around noon. But when the fog raised up then rain would fall.
17. When it was cloudy during the day and a bright spot would show that stayed open then the wind would come from that direction on the next day. If the bright spot closed in then the wind would blow from the opposite direction.
18. When many white clouds (called sheep) came up in the morning soon good weather would follow.
19. (This was not printed.)
20. When there was a bright glow opposite the sun soon a storm followed.
21. Masses of white clouds looking like mountains or piles of snow announced clear weather. Black lead colored or even bright red clouds indicated wind.
22. Black, white or light gray thunderclouds were not as dangerous as red or brown clouds, even though it seemed like the thunder was more violent from the black, white and light gray clouds.
23. When the stars were only shining dimly and the small ones weren’t visible at all, even though the sky was not cloudy, bad weather followed.
24. A ring around the sun or the moon indicated bad weather or rain, which would last longer the slower it began.
25. Parhelions announced impetuous weather.
26. When people’s hands would be very dry, hard rain would certainly fall soon.
27. When the roosters crowed a lot, the swallows flew low, the geese gabbled a lot and the bees wouldn’t fly far away then surely there would be rain soon.
28. When the wind followed the sun then we had good weather for several days.
29. When the chickens would go to rest early in the afternoon good weather would follow the next day, but when the chickens were up late at night running around in the yard then rain would follow for sure the next day.
30. When at bedtime the roosters were crowing there was a change of weather coming.
For many years already, these rules are unreliable and can no longer be applied. Not just in this respect everything has changed here but also other circumstances in nature. In parts of the world where you wouldn’t think about snowfall, nowadays snow is falling up to a half arschin (71 cm). Where earlier there would be temperatures below 50 degrees, this temperature now is below 30 degrees. I have informed myself about such transformations through reports in magazines and also while I made a trip through Siberia 6 years ago. In a month and a half, I covered 7,000 werst (1 werst=.66 miles). During this trip I was told by a reliable source that years ago the temperature in Siberia was never less than minus 50 degrees. But today it doesn’t go below minus 25 to 30 degrees. There is much more of such evidence of changes in nature, but what does it help us to know that everything on this earth is changing but not for the better.
I have run out of paper and to go to the store in dirt ½ arschin deep to buy new paper, I don’t feel up to right now. So this is it for today.
Greetings to everyone,
Romuald Dirk
From: Krasna, Bessarabia
12 December 1912
Once again a year is ending and a new one is nearing.
We don’t appreciate your loyalty dear God, which you are giving us.
You have led us up to this point and have done only good things for us.
We have noticed it every day.
Only you guided us on our path.
We will never leave you.
You have to be with us furthermore.
Only you we want to embrace.
Come into our house with your blessings.
Lord, watch over our exit and protect our entrance.
Your love, loyalty and goodness give to us also in the New Year.
The holy feast of Christmas is near when we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. It shows us how excellent the God-given intellectual gift comes in handy at such occasions. The birth of Jesus Christ and the ensuing phenomenon are again as every year in our minds. How often did the savior during his life on earth up to his ascension into heaven give peace to mankind? By that we can tell how important this is to everyone, and how much it displeases the dear Lord when the promised peace is disturbed so often. If this disturbance would not happen then there would be no more war in the world. All that money which is used for fortresses, war fleets, for the support of large armies, horses, canons, powder and lead would be saved for the welfare of mankind.
On 11 December, our senior mayor gathered the community and announced that the railroad engineer had been there and had asked him to tell the community that the railroad will be built next spring between Ackermann and Leipzig. Since it would be built through land owned by Krasna, the community was asked if they would donate the land of concern or if they wanted to get paid for it. The community agreed and gave the land as a gift under the condition that the railroad station (Waksall) will be built on the field in Krasna and they made a motion in that regard. Much luck in building! The senior mayor made a little speech and mentioned that he feels offended, because several people had taken the secretary N. Zerr to court at Semsky Natschalnik (or at the high bailiff). The reason for that I could also report, but I think it is better to be quiet since the word is whoever talks less has less to be responsible for. Also, what your enemy shouldn’t know don’t tell to a friend. Also don’t lament your sorrows to anyone and they won’t spread out. Mr. Zerr is going to leave Krasna on 17 December. He is going to his old home in the Cherson region and we are looking for a new secretary.
The weather here is still nice and warm from 4 to 10 degrees. Today we even have 14 degrees. I am surprised that Mr. Dirk reported about cold winter days in the Staats-Anzeiger, since I have not noticed anything about these. On 14, 17, 22 and 23 October, we had minus 1 to 3 degrees before sunup, but during the day we had temperatures up to 10 degrees.
The money, namely 4 rubles and 50 kopeks from Valentin Ritz, I gave immediately to Wilhelm Widmer in Tarutino through the representative F. Missler, Bremen. I am asking for an answer if it arrived safely. The worthy paper and the nice maps will be sent to him, for which he is very happy and grateful. (*Editor: The receipt of the money was already reported in the mailbox of Issue #17. You are writing that the money comes from Valentin Ritz but the paper and the prize went to Wm. Widmer. Is that correct? We thank you for your efforts.)
The following people passed away this summer.
Georg Ruscheinsky, son of Peter passed away. He was 46 years old. He left a deeply saddened wife and 7 unmarried children.
The widow Margaretha Leinz passed away. She was almost 78 years old.
The old woman Christiana Wiegenbach died in her 64th year of her life. She left her mourning husband Joseph Wiegenbach.
Anton Ihly, son of Franz passed away at the age of 62 years. He left a deeply mourning wife and one unmarried child.
Jakob Deigert Jr. died at the age of 54 years. He left a grieving wife and 5 unmarried children. One of the children lives in Saskatchewan, Canada.
On 16 December, August Soehn, son of Peter died at the age of 47 years. He left a wife with 6 unmarried children.
I am greeting all fellow workers, the readers and the editorship.
Respectfully
Anton Gedak
From: Shields, Morton County, ND
17 January 1913
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
This is my first official correspondence as well as my very first subscription to the publication. (*Publisher: We will send you your first copy promptly, as well.)
Last year blessed us with a good harvest and we shall hope that the good Lord will bless our harvest this year as well.
The farmers are grumbling over the current prices. They only get $.66 per bushel wheat, and the buyers subtract 2 lbs. per bushel as commission. They steal ten more if they can get away with it, making it tough on the farmer to get ahead. Currently, we pay $4.00 per double wagonload.
Immigration fever has hit hard and heavy again. A few years back some thought they would get $4,000 per quarter land. The women folk thought perhaps even $5,000 or $6,000. Now they have to be glad to receive $1,500.
Karl Schreiner’s leg was run over by his wagon back in the coal pit, but the damage was minimal.
It's your turn, you people in Emmental, South Russia, to write some news for the Staats-Anzeiger.
I would like to greet my comrades Joseph Harsche and Anton Kahl, but especially my sibling’s child Maximilian Both in Canada.
I wish many new readers for the Staats-Anzeiger for the year 1913.
With kind regards,
Philipp Kahl