From: Emmental, Bessarabia
20 January 1914
Honored Editorship!
Even as a non-registered reader of the paper, I have the audacity to write a few lines to the Staats-Anzeiger. I read the paper on a regular basis at my uncle’s, Romuald Dirk. I would have ordered it the very first time, if we would have had in mind to soon say farewell to Russia and set out on the journey to the New World on 15 February. That is why we have postponed ordering the paper time and again. However, as soon as we arrive we will subscribe to the paper right away. I was especially happy to read in the paper the correspondence from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Celestina Schnell, and to find out that they too are readers of the paper. The Staats-Anzeiger must be circulating throughout the world. But, dear brother-in-law, as soon as we arrive there we will talk more about it. Then the Staats-Anzeiger must immediately come into the house just like it does at your place.
I have to make the report short because the paper has more than enough correspondence from registered readers, and therefore the non-registered readers should not be demanding space too.
A news item to brother-in-law Schnell, we received his letter and we will follow his guidelines in reference to the journey. We are hoping that by the middle of March we will be hugging you all.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon, and a friendly greeting to the readers of the paper everywhere.
Klara Müller,
Wife of Mathias
From: Raleigh, Morton County, ND
21 February 1914
My friend Pius Dressler mourns the loss of his milk cow that disappeared about a month ago, and of which no trace has been found. A heavy loss for a new beginner because cows are valued high and cost $60 to $70.
Recently, a horse belonging to our neighbor had died on the prairie and it was not noticed until evening when the horses were brought home. Darkness had settled in already when the father and two sons got on the way with a lantern to the dead horse to skin the hide. The horse was located about 200 paces from the schoolhouse. When the teacher, who is living with another neighbor, saw the light he thought the schoolhouse was on fire and that thieves may be present. Armed with a shotgun and accompanied by the landlord’s son, he went to check things out. When they came closer to the light they saw that the school building was not on fire, but that three men were pulling the hide from an animal. Naturally, they believed that these were thieves and hurried off to get help. They happened to come to the farm belonging to the neighbor who with his sons was skinning the horse. The landlady soon cleared up the situation and the excitement came to an end.
The teacher surely wouldn’t have assumed the worst right away, but in our settlement many rustlings have taken place. Last year, cattle were stolen from three places. Even at my father’s place thieves butchered a year old steer in the stable and took it along. This shows how impudent the thieves are around here. We never could find a trace of the thieves.
I send a greeting to all readers of the Staats-Anzeiger and especially to Uncle Romanus as well as to the Dressler family in Krasna, South Russia. I paid for his newspaper subscription for one year. (*Editor: Everything was taken care of. Refer to mail box number 32. Many thanks.)
A hello also goes to Aunt Elisabetha Erker and children. S. P. Herrbach in Canada is informed that I received the letter along with the address. Many thanks for that.
Lorenz Löb,
Son of Peter
From: Brisbane, North Dakota
23 February 1914
It is bad when a correspondent does not put his own name under his scribbling, but the name of some other man. That is what happened in Edition #28 to Mr. Heinrich Gimbel Sr, vicinity Hazelton, N. D., who did not know anything about the story of the girl in Strasburg, N. D., and whose name was slandered by a wretched coward in red. In this way, many a man fares badly and many a person is innocently dragged through the newspapers.
I found a similar article by the “A Farmer” in Edition #29 who has it in for the mayor of Krasna, by dragging him through every mud hole, and in the end leaving him on a heap of manure. Of course the whole story is a lie, or at least badly put together.
I know all the people in Krasna. There is no one by the name of Hänsel Seppel and also no “A Farmer”, nor an “Also A Farmer”. One uses such name only as a convenience to hide behind some other name when one has written something that one has to be ashamed of.
Briefly stated, such signed correspondences arouse suspicion in every reader, that they are lies, and that’s the way it usually is.
The “A Farmer” is a clever fox. He is laying all his eggs under strange names, so that his own remains untarnished. The “Also A Farmer” does likewise. I believe that if the editor of the paper would know what all readers of the Staats-Anzeiger in Krasna know, then such correspondences from the “A Farmer” and from “Also A Farmer” would promptly end up in the wastebasket. They would not take up limited space needlessly in the newspaper. These gentlemen should make their real names known to the editorship and come to an end with this matter.
I believe that the “A Farmer” is afraid of the mayor and afraid that he may end up on a dry spot. (*Editor: The honored gentleman submitting this write-up is hereby informed that the names of the gentlemen “A Farmer” and “Also A Farmer” are well known to us. We ourselves do not like to accept such reports, but sometimes make an exception when these gentlemen submit their true names. These names are privileged information, which we cannot reveal without the concurrence of the writers. Now, if the Mr. “A Farmer” wrote the truth, or if he made up the story about the mayor, we cannot say. But even if he did invent the story, an earthly truth rests in the narration or the description because, as it is known, every man believes that he can do everything better than the man who is in office.)
I send a greeting to godfather Georg Schreiber and wife, and to Melchior Weber and wife. I especially want to draw their attention to the Staats-Anzeiger in order for them to subscribe to this good newspaper. Furthermore, a greeting to all friends in Krasna and the readers of this paper.
Maximilian Winter