From: Krasna, Bessarabia
13 November 1913
Now I also want to try to write in High German. To begin with I wish the dear Staats-Anzeiger, its proficient editor and the dear readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Along with that I am hoping that my scribbling will not end up in the wastepaper basket.
On 9 September, J. K. had driven to Tarutino to take care of some business. He had 300 rubles in his pocket. Over a period of time, he became quite intoxicated with liquor and wine. He was as one might say not so mildly, three sheets into the wind. But by evening, he was totally drunk. He had a big mouth with everyone he talked to. He was so clever, that the likes of him were not to be found.
In the evening when it was time to turn on the lights, Mr. J. K. started to scream, “My money, my money is gone!’ They looked in every nook and cranny and paths with lanterns. J. K. is getting smarter all the time and calls upon God and all saints, but nobody understands him and they also did not find the money.
The following morning, Mr. J. K. was quite sensible. He asked the town bailiff to proclaim that the individual who would return the money would be rewarded with 25 rubles. A night and a day had passed and Mr. J. K. had not found his money. But on the second day as J. K. came out of his door, his money was lying on the stairs in a manner like he had stored it. Not one kopek (i.e. cent) was missing. That must have been a well-meaning thief or a good friend who had guarded the money for Mr. J. K. Thieves like that one doesn’t mind.
In August, several guys got together and decided to steal some watermelons and melons. To begin with they took away a horse and a wagon from a poor man. But the poor animal could hardly pull the wagon. At last all went well and they drove to the patch and started picking the melons.
In the middle of their work they heard to their horror two men calling them by their names, which made them run off as fast as they could. The two men shouted, “Stop or we will shoot!” But the guys didn’t pay any attention and kept on running like crazy. One of the men fired a shot from his shotgun, hitting two of the guys. One fell and stayed right there, but the other one took off.
Now the two men helped the young fellow onto the miserable wagon and transported him home, because his calf muscles were full of buckshot. The other fellow too had plenty of buckshot in his calves. The shot had hit the two fellows just in the right place. Now the need was great and one had to transport the two thieves to the hospital in Tarutino to have the buckshot removed.
One of the guys recovered soon but the other one had to remain in the hospital for four weeks. At this time, the two burglars are completely healed, but their uncles are not satisfied and want to sue because their thieves were shot. But first of all, they’ll have to sue the two thieves before they can sue the two men. Therefore, they are full of rage and anger.
They should know the Seventh Commandment that says you shall not steal. I could name all of these people but in doing so I would make many enemies.
Also A Farmer
From: Karamurat, Dobrudscha
21 November 1913
The oppression of the poor Germans in the community of Karamurat. –
All of us here are in great difficulty and hardly know how to help ourselves anymore. On 18 November we had an outbreak of mouth disease among the cattle, but only among the ones belonging to the Rumanian community members. We consist of two communities here – one Rumanian and one German, and therefore the cattle of the Rumanians are kept separate from ours.
Now the veterinarian came to our community and announced that we have to keep our cattle at home, because he has to make them sick too so that all of the cattle will be healthy again at the same time. We Germans refused to do so and drove our herd to the field since ours never came into contact with the cattle of the Rumanians. But now the doctor appeared with the police and the village guard and drove our cattle home. Later on, the doctor arrived with a sick oxen belonging to the Rumanians. He went from house to house and smeared the drivel of the sick oxen into the mouths of our cattle. What can one do about that, since the doctor himself is probably an ox. Why make healthy cattle sick?
It is certainly a screaming injustice against the Germans. I believe the reason is that we Germans are better off than the Rumanians due to economizing and diligence. They are jealous of us. (*Editor: Now, dear friend, it also could be that you misinterpreted the doings by the doctor since it is possible that he was going to prevent an infectious disease by vaccination.)
I really don’t think that the Rumanians can keep up with us Germans, because with them it is always retrograde, but with us it is always forward. The Rumanians would like to always live off the German people and sponge off of us. They think that when we Germans pay them 40 Francs for a hectar (o/a 2.5 acres) of land, then they do not need to work any more. However, we Germans in Rumania always work diligently and Dear God will stand by us.
It is so exasperating when one considers how it went here during the mobilization. The Rumanians got to keep all their horses, but they took everything from us Germans. Even if a German owned six or seven horses, all of them were taken away without even paying only 5 Centimes.
The Germans themselves went off to war and had to leave their wives and children home alone. Even then someone came along once more, looking around the loft or granary and in many cases took the last wheat away from the poor woman. If the women started crying and lamenting, the Rumanians would let their scornful laughter resound.
I will write more about this subject later, but for now it is enough.
Romanus Bogalofsky