From: Taraklia, Bessarabia
6 September 1913
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
From the time when my husband was called to northern Bessarabia to work as administrator, sadness and grief overtook me, which also caused a serious illness, so that I no longer enjoyed life. But when my husband visited the children and me after an absence of two months, I was so happy about it. I can say that I had never been happier in my whole life!
A similar happiness came to me a few days ago when my husband sent me #5 of the Staats-Anzeiger, in which I found a correspondence by my brother Georg Mastio from Wathena, Kansas. I was spellbound by those words and I read the article several times and shed hot tears. Dear brother, you couldn’t have brought greater joy to me, but it would have been even greater if you would have written about your family.
I have a brother in this world. I am 48 years old and I don’t even know where he found his wife, what her maiden name is and how large his family is. I only know that I left you dear brother at our father’s house when you were a little boy. Since that time, I had only heard about you last year in the Staats-Anzeiger and that you were living in Kansas. My husband was also trying to find out more about you through the Staats-Anzeiger, but it seemed that my brother Georg stayed silent. My husband only sent me #5 of the paper but no letter. I am certain that he was also happy to receive a sign of life from his brother-in-law, since I know he likes all my siblings very much, but it seems that none of them share my husband’s affection.
It also seems that my brother Jakob in Texas can cold bloodily read my husband’s correspondences in the Staats-Anzeiger, if he is a reader of the paper, without giving a sign. (*Editor: Since you aren’t mentioning the post office we don’t know if he is a reader or not.) That, dear brother, is cold and it hurts me very much. I beg your pardon dear brother, that I report this in the paper. Writing is my weak point and I am not able to describe my love for you as a sister.
On 1 October, my husband is going to visit here for the second time and with his help I can report more. I am waiting for more information from my brother Georg in Kansas.
I am sending heartfelt greetings to my children in Morton County, North Dakota and want to report that I am totally healthy again.
PS: Just as I was finishing my report, I received a letter from my husband in Makarofka telling me that he is also healthy, but he can’t say for sure when he will visit due to a heavy workload.
I have never sent any reports to the Staats-Anzeiger before and will not do it again. This time homesickness and heartache forced me to bare my soul.
Hopefully, my brothers and my children will write more often.
Once again I am greeting everyone and also all fellow readers of the paper.
Franziska Dirk, Wife of Romuald
From: Karamurat, Romania
18 September 1913
The reasons I have not written to the Staats-Anzeiger for a long time are the following: First, I was on a 20-day visit to South Russia in June. Secondly, three days after my return home, mobilization of the Rumanian Army started and all contingents between 1900 and 1913 had to report for duty. That also included me, since I belong to the 1902 contingent. Well, fellow readers, it is nearly impossible to describe the wailing caused by this event when the bells began ringing during the night, and we had to move out at that time.
Here in Karamurat 75 Germans were affected. Two of the seventy-five died. Namely, Martin Bolitzky (son of Joseph), 22 years old and single; and, also Peter Gedak (son of Mathias), married, leaving behind his wife and one child. The rest of us, after a seven-week absence, returned home happily, where in the meantime our women had almost finished the threshing chores.
Joseph A. Söhn married the widow Angela Bachmeier, daughter of Valentin Herrschaft in Krasna, South Russia.
We three Karamuraters were on a surprise coup at Mr. Peter Leinz’s in Krasna. We were very happy; but the booze got to our heads. Then an old man asked the three of us Rumanians if we knew at which end to start cutting a sausage. We didn’t know.
Theodor Nitsche and Johannes Götz drove to the Black Sea with their horses to have them stand in it because they were stiff and sore. But the two poor devils did not get that far. They drove as far as Schikraschi to the tavern and stayed there until evening. When they got home, the poor drunkards were more crippled and sorer than their horses.
Recently, a man by the name of M. S. had a sleepless night here in Karamurat, as it may happen to anyone. He believed that fleas were tormenting him. Well then, my good brother-in-law got the lamp in order to check on the cause of the problem. His wife was in a deep sleep. Soon he actually did see a flea jumping about. When he wanted to grab it in his eagerness and fury, he tipped the lamp and set the bedding on fire. He and his wife, who woke up in terror, had a difficult time extinguishing the fire. The man suffered severe burns to his hands. This is how fate comes about in the world. Small the cause, big the effect!
Anna Kopp, wife of Jakob Kopp, died recently in Karamurat.
Greetings to all readers of this paper, especially Blasius Müller and my two brothers-in-law Ignatz Martin and Michael Müller in Estevan, Canada. Greetings also to Valentin Ritz in Krasna, South Russia and to Peter Leinz. How come one does not read anything about these two gentlemen in the newspaper? Are they really that busy with work?
Respectfully,
Romanus Bogalofsky
From: Krasna, Bessarabia
28 September 1913
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
Since my previous scribbling was accepted, I wanted to send a short report from here again.
Everyone should know that slander harms three individuals simultaneously. Namely, the one who is slandered, the one who is told about it and most of all, the one who talks about it.
I apologize to the editorship and the readers for presenting something purely personal in my report.
For over seven years my wife ails severely from rheumatism, a painful suffering by which many people are afflicted. The rheumatism started in her chest. She was treated in hospitals, but everything proved useless. Then a home remedy was tried which actually took care of the rheumatism in the chest, but it spread it to the joints. Then we looked for help in Odessa without success. Then we ordered some highly praised pills from England, as a matter of fact three consecutive times. But they too were useless. Thereafter, we turned to South Hungary for Alpine Herbs. From there we received a letter telling us to find an agent in South Hungary. Of course I don’t know anyone there. I wrote the agency begging them to please send me the herbs or return my money. But I remained without a reply, without the herbs, and without the money. Those gentlemen may have done their duty, but I did not receive anything. That was two years ago as far as I remember. Admittedly, it is not much money, only 4 rubles and 30 kopeks. Yet, one hates to lose it.
I then ordered the “Berendsin No. 2” through the Staats-Anzeiger in Bismarck, North Dakota and I received it promptly and truly. The “Berendsin” appeared to be okay, but it did not cure my wife. Now we are with a different doctor again. If anyone among the readers could help me, I would gladly pay double. The “Berendsin No. 2”, I believe is an excellent medicine. If only one had a big barrel full of this ointment so that one could put the feet into it. However, one bottle will not help much. (*Editor: Of course we have not much to add to the honored correspondent’s explanation about his wife’s suffering from rheumatism. But since he writes that his wife is suffering for over seven years already, he should not be of the opinion that one single application of “Berendsin” will heal such an ongoing affliction. That is nearly impossible. The main thing with a rheumatism sufferer is that they should at least give a remedy a better chance over an extended period of time. Apparently, he has not done so. It is definitely useless to take a new medicine or a different doctor every month or every week, especially when it pertains to a prolonged chronic ailment like his wife has. Even the best medicine could not cure this illness in such a short time.) On the 10 September, we had a good steady rain that lasted until the 11th. All farmers are grateful to God for this because it has been very dry. Nearly all farmers have finished winter seeding, and the winter wheat is already sprouting. The farmers are presently busy with bringing in the Welsh corn.
I ask Emil, the son of Jakob Kopp, to please write articles for the paper. His father Jakob should do the same, since he too is such an avid newspaper reader. Zachäus Kopp, son of Johannes, would like to know what kind of pigeon Noah let fly from the Ark. It was surely a male, because a female would not have kept a leaf in her mouth. – No offense dear male and female readers!
Where is Michael Ternes from the vicinity of Strasburg, North Dakota with his reports? Isn’t he a reader of the paper? If not, then he should become one immediately. (*Editor: Mr. Michael Ternes in Strasburg, N.D. is not a registered reader.) I know that he likes to read reports. I have not received a letter from him in a long time. Although the saying goes that an old love will not rust, but with him it seems to have turned into gristle already.
There is nothing new to report from Krasna. Wilhelm Issert’s factory and residence in Tarutino were totally destroyed by fire. On the 24 September, Gottlieb Scherrile from Tarutino was robbed of 117 rubles in Odessa.
I greet brother-in-law Peter Schäfer and family, Karl Schäfer and family, Thomas Ihli and family, and Phillip Seifert and family. Haven’t you received my letter with the sorrel seeds?
I also greet the editorship and all the readers of the paper.
Respectfully, Valentin Herrschaft.
From: Colonsay, Saskatchewan, Canada
8 October 1913
I have to report that the weather here is very bad, and the threshing machine, which ran hard for a while, had to stop due to the wet weather and the snowfall. Up until now not much has been threshed. But it is evident that the wheat will yield 25 to 40 bushels per acre.
There is not much new to report from here, but I am sorry that Mrs. Peter Volk doesn’t report as often anymore for the newspaper. Certainly it’s no wonder, since Peter works at the threshing machine with the oxen and she can’t catch the horse by herself. Consequently she can’t take the reports to the post office. No offense, Mrs. Volk, but it is the truth
Many thanks to the editorship of the Staats-Anzeiger for the Marien Calendar. A friendly greeting to all readers of the Staats-Anzeiger
Respectfully,
Mrs. Jakob Brückner