From: Raleigh, Morton County, ND
20 September 1913
I myself am not a registered reader of the esteemed paper, but since my husband is a longtime reader and friend of it, I should be allowed to write a few lines to the newspaper. (*Editor: Certainly, dear woman. Just write as often as you wish.)
Since the “A Farmer” challenged us women in the Staats-Anzeiger to report on how we are faring in the New World and especially how it is going here with the consuming of liquor and wine, I am pleased to answer the question. The “A Farmer” shouldn’t think that just because the sale of alcoholic beverages is forbidden in North Dakota, that we cannot get anything here. We drink beer here and also liquor and for that we don’t even have to sell eggs. Rest assured that the drinking among the women here is not so bad, since that would be a big disgrace.
Contrary to that, it is much worse among the men. Especially right at this time because right now bringing in the grain is the order of the day. Here the custom is, in the morning the wheat is loaded and hauled to the station. So the men arrive all at the same time in the city, but in the evening not all of them drive home at the same time. The horses of one of them runs away from the city; another doesn’t remember anymore that he had a team and walks home; yet a third one falls off the wagon because he had too much to drink.
Mr. “Farmer”, I believe the custom would be the same in the old country but the men cannot do it there because Akkerman is too far to walk from. Therefore, they have to behave themselves. However, on the way from Anschakrak (Tarutino) many have fallen off the wagon. The honored Mr. “Farmer” should not be mad that I do not specify a certain individual, but just speak in generalities.
But now I better stop, otherwise the “Old Man”, as Mr. Brandt is often called, might perhaps think that this once again, is an old wife’s tale.
Greetings to everyone.
Aurora Kahl,
Wife of Nikolaus