From: Montebello, Brazil
30 October 1929
Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!
Right now we are busy with planting corn and rice. One had the notion that here in the jungle wheat would not grow. But now one is of a different opinion. About one kilometer (5/8 mile) from here, a farmer planted wheat on several hectars (1 hectar = 2.5 acres). Today I was over there and looked at the wheat field. I must say that I have seen some really nice wheat fields in Bessarabia, but such a magnificent wheat field as this one, I have never seen. The kernel is ripe, and after six days the grain can be harvested. I will write about the results of this wheat field in my next report. This is the first grain that was planted in this area. As far as I know, the government sent 2,000 bags of wheat to Noroest for experimental planting.
I thank the editor Mr. Brandt very much for sending the Staats-Anzeiger on a regular schedule. Everybody likes to read it, because it brings us lots of news from the old homeland. I am especially fond of reading the reports by Mr. Adam Seifert from Emmental, and by Mr. Anton Gedak from Krasna, Bessarabia, as well as by all the other correspondents. Well, Adam, write sometime about how things are in Emmental with the COOP Store and the dairy, which were strongly fought against by the older generation in Emmental. I believe that the younger, with onward strive, won over the older.
I read in Edition #12 of the esteemed newspaper, the report by Mr. Alexius Fenrich about the terrible accident that happened here. Best of thanks, Alexius, for your effort. I too reported the accident. Unfortunately, however, I have not as yet found the article in the newspaper. (*Editor: It appeared at that time. You probably overlooked it.)
Heinrich Ternes hit the nail on the head with his report in the Staats-Anzeiger. Yes, yes, the masters who own half a farm in Bessarabia and do not want to work should best stay at home. Here, and probably in North America too, loafers are not wanted. Here, anyone who wants to eat bread has to work and very hard at that. Markus Söhn already had enough. So, whoever is feeling well should come over here to the jungle, which is a land that demands great efforts.
The Canadians should order the Staats-Anzeiger a lot more for their friends in Krasna. (*Editor: The newspaper will continue to be sent to Alexius Fenrich and also the calendar for 1930. We ask that the fee be mailed as soon as possible. Best of thanks and greetings.)
Anselmus Wagner
From: Krasna, Bessarabia
8 November 1929
Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!
Should the proverb “If the farmer has dirt, then he also has bacon” have some truth to it, then the circumstances in Bessarabia could soon improve. Since the last third of October, we have had rain almost every day. I believe that our gentlemen car owners can now pull their cars in to the farthest corner without a worry. Surely they will not be able to use them before March 1930. Whoever has gotten used to such rapid transportation, and then has to resort occasionally to a wagon with a pair of pathetic horses hitched to it, driving through churned up mud, could care otherwise.
Only a little winter wheat was planted, because no one had seeds, and most did not have any money to buy such. Also, because rain came too late, not too much winter wheat could be seeded. However, the small amount that was planted sprouted well and can proceed nicely developed into winter. Those fields, which were burned and lay fallow, now really have good growth. The pastures were all reddish and dried up before the rain, but now after the soaking rain everything is nice and green again. All that is missing now are good prices for grain. But the way things are we will have to sell our barley at a trifling sum.
Autumn in the bygone year passed quietly without a sound of wedding music. None of our young men in the village had the desire to get married. Everybody was just concerned with acquiring bread, feed for livestock, and other necessities to last through the winter. However, now that what was missed is being made up for. On last Tuesday, five young couples were married at one time, and everyone celebrated this happy event on that day.
The fathers of the nuptial couples had a hard time to come up with the required kettles, cooks and musicians. Yes, there was also a shortage of dancers. Many an old lady cook who already was completely out of the culinary art and for many years had retired her wooden rice spoon behind the rafter, could now retrieve the same and wave it wildly in front of the wedding guests’ noses and say, “Now pay attention, just once more I want to cook a rice following my own recipe. One cannot really help it if it should turn out to be a little unpalatable.”
But as unpalatable as the young “owls” cook it nowadays, I am not capable of doing, even if I had to cook it in a chimney. And bread! The young females do not know how to make bread! They either burn it, or have it raw. They then say, “People do not really like to eat bread; stewed food is much better and more nourishing.” Well, listen here my dear, they just don’t know how to do it, that’s why they have to say something like that. And soup! They don’t know how to cook soup! They will cook some kind of black broth, and then sprinkle so much seasoning on it that you cannot taste the meat in the soup anymore, but only the seasoning. Just wait my dear, my rice will melt in your mouth, and my bread will turn out just like the color of black Katherin’s cheeks, and my soup will turn out clearer than the Danube. You could serve it to the emperor! He would say, “Thank you.” I am still of the old regime, not an owl with buckle shoes, shaggy hair, and short skirt. No, hold everything! That’s not going to happen with me. My old man today still loves me more than such a shaggy headed, knock-kneed thing, even though I am old, grown crooked and stiff! Because a man only loves a woman who can cook well. What does a man have from one who wears high heels and an unkempt head? A nice, but empty bowl! That’s where we old-timers were different, useful for everything, just the way a woman is supposed to be… The following couples were married:
Bernhard Leinz, son of Maximilian, (Note: The Staats-Anzeiger misread “Bernhard” and printed “Leonhard” – Bernhard is the father of the translator!) to Emerentiana Nagel, daughter of Rudolf Nagel; Peter Wagner, son of Joseph Wagner, to Armelia Leinz, daughter of Johannes Leinz. Bernhard Bonjakowsky, son of Anton Bonjakowsky, to Agatha Mathery, daughter of Phillip Mathery; Wendelin Maas, from Emmental, to Agnes Ternes, daughter of Wendelin Ternes; and, my daughter Ida Leinz to Johannes Gedak, son of Joseph Gedak II.
And before these five couples, the following were married:
Maximilian Koch, son of Kornelius Koch, to Faustina Kuss, daughter of Peter Kuss; Balthasar Kahl, son of Johannes Kahl, to a daughter of Zachäus Ternes;
a son of Zachäus Ternes to the daughter of Anton J Söhn.
Several other couples were married, whom I don’t want to mention in order not to bore the readers. Yes, life is in full stride, but death also wants its share.
On All Saints Day, 1 November, Lorenz Riehl was buried, which may already have been reported.
On the 4 November, Erasmus Ruscheinsky, son of Mathias, wanted to take a wagonload of grain to the railroad station. Because he was a little frail, and the horses spooked and ran off, he fell under the wheels and was internally so severely injured, that he passed away after a day and a half. Today, with a large funeral procession, he was brought to his final resting place. He left behind one child and his young and deeply grieving wife, nee Kuss, daughter of Narzisius Kuss.
Seriously ill is Phillip Harsche. By and large, however, the health condition among the people is satisfactory. Also among the livestock there is no contagious disease.
There is much left to be desired in community affairs. It is hard to say who is to blame the most, the community itself or its administration. Most likely both are to blame, because it is a fact that no one wants to do his duty.
The price for the products, which we have to exploit, is dirt cheap; but everything we have to buy is exorbitantly expensive. A lot of work and expenses and no pay for the trouble involved.
In closing, I greet all readers, Mr. Brandt, the editor and his assistant E. J. Haag.
Isidor Leinz