From: Krasna, Bessarabia
15 January 1930
Esteemed Staats Anzeiger!
Again a year has sunk into the ocean of eternity. Therefore we have to call out, “O Lord, you are the Lord now and for all eternity! O let us spread your high praise! Our being we owe to your grace and kindness. A star leads the pious wise men from the orient to their Lord. Jewish herdsmen were the first to see and adore you. An angel led them to the manger. But since you came to not only deliver the Jews but also all of mankind, your wish was that heathens also rejoice in your birth. Pagans too should recognize you in the cradle as the savior and adore you. You guided them miraculously with a star.”
Information for the editor, Mr. Brandt, that on 30 December of last year I received the beautiful Christmas present in the form of 707 Lei. For that I convey to you my sincerest thanks. My wife and I were overjoyed that you had not forgotten us. My wife Anna Maria sends her warmest regards to your wife and children. We all wish and hope that the dear Lord keeps you and your family in good health for many years to come. Further, I also greet the assistant editor, Mr. E. J. Haag, along with his wife and notify him that his old mother and siblings are still in good health.
The weather is still as in the month of March, warm and moist. The seeded barley in the fields, lettuce, and various flowers in the gardens are still nice and green. The winter seeds are growing splendidly. The farmers are plowing the fields and gardens. We had to feed the heating stoves only a little bit this winter. Until now, the ice ferns have not appeared on the windowpanes. Also, we have not had any snow, but more often a little rain instead.
Among the people in our village the immigration fever has broken out heavily again. Over 30 families have registered for immigration to Canada and Brazil. Unfortunately, however, some families will have to remain behind, because they cannot sell their farms. A shortage of money dominates among the people because the prices for grain are very low. One pays 36 Lei/Pud (36.1 pounds) of barley in the village. For Welsh corn 35 Lei, and for wheat 100 to 120 Lei/Pud. Along with that, taxes and mandatory social contributions are very high.
Here, the first day of the New Year passed quietly and in the best of order. We had prohibition, even though it was without force; but that did not include everybody. For instance, my neighbor, Phillip Becker, still had a small barrel with 100 liters of red wine resting in the cellar. So, on New Year’s Eve several young men gathered in my neighbor’s house. Seferinus Becker had to play the accordion, and the rest sang along. With wine and song there was also a lot of smoking. The gentlemen were seated at a round table, and everyone had his glass sitting in front of him. Suddenly ‘Hannes’ got up to get his cigar lit by the man next to him. After doing this he shouted, “Raise your glasses!” Then he started singing, Let’s Live A Good Life. When Hannes wanted to sit back down again in his chair, this guy ‘Seppel’ next to him pulled it away and Hannes, a big, heavy man fell on his back and hit his head hard against the wall. Full of anger Hannes got up and hit Seppel along side the head felling him to the floor and rendering him unconscious. The women got the unconscious Seppel out of the room right away, or else the raging Hannes would have beaten him some more. Well, Seppel, at the next New Year’s party you should not pull your neighbor’s chair away from him!
On 17 December, Valeria Schreiber nee Ternes, daughter of Peter, died at age 46. She left behind her deeply grieving husband, Georg Schreiber, son of Joseph. On 24 December, Gertruda Dischner nee Keller, daughter of Johannes, departed this life. She had reached an age of 52 years, and left behind her husband Pius Dischner. May they rest in peace!
Mr. Rochus Ternes near Raleigh, N. D., is informed that we are still alive and healthy. Also, greet my old neighbor and hunting partner, Michael Volk, son of Gabriel. His brother Lazerus asks him to please pay the one-year subscription fee for the Staats Anzeiger for him. Jakob Gedak also asks his brother-in- law Phillip Nagel in Haynes, N. D., to send him the Staats Anzeiger, which arrives here on time.
So, my dear friends give your native relatives joy with the Staats Anzeiger which arrives here twice a week and brings us the news much sooner than other newspapers. Every one here enjoys reading it.
My friend, Anton Söhn, son of August, in Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada, be informed that his mother went back to her husband, Johannes Leinz, and that they now live in peace again.
I read your report dated 18 November in the Staats Anzeiger. Many thanks! More to come some other time. Mr. Joseph Föth in Brazil be informed that I received his letter. Reply will follow soon.
With a greeting,
Anton Gedak
From: Colonsay, Saskatchewan, Canada
4 February 1930
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
Enclosed is the money for my brother’s newspaper subscription because nobody wants to be without this paper. (*Editor: We received the money and mailed the calendar. We thank you and we greet you.)
Adam Seifert the reporter from Emmental, Bessarabia has not been writing lately. We ask him to write more often, because we always like to hear something from the old homeland.
Now I would like for Anton Engel in Emmental to give this newspaper to the young Josef Miller to read. Should the latter so desire, then I will order the paper for him.
My brother Elias married a daughter of Alexander Staiger.
The health conditions are good. As far as I know only Jakob Koble is ill.
We are satisfied with the weather. If it remains this way then less coal would be required.
Anna Moldenhauer
From: Fox Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada
6 February 1930
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
The health conditions leave a lot to be desired, especially among the children. There are a lot of headaches and coughing.
I have read that Peter Leinz is now receiving the newspaper. We hope that from now on we will get more reports from over there, because Peter is not one of the people who is lazy in writing. I would like to know how the sexton is doing.
I have also read in the Staats-Anzeiger that a fire had started at a personal friend’s place that is C. J. Haag the assistant editor. The fire was put under control in a timely fashion and didn’t cause too much damage. We were glad about that.
We were also happy with the report by Mr. Christian Klaus from Leipzig, Bessarabia and hope that he will write more often. I still have an army buddy in Cogealac, Dobrudscha, Mr. Christian Reinhardt born in Katzbach. We ask our friend Johann Straub to greet him from us if possible. He should also be told about our whereabouts.
I was busy one day with carpenter work at Eisenius Miller’s place. From there I went farther east to Franz Miller and his wife. When I opened the door Mrs. Ottilie called out to me; “You arrived just in time. I will prepare good soup and for that you can write two letters for me. One to Krasna to my sister Katharina Ternes your grandmother, and the other one to Emmental.” I happily complied with that request. Ottilie’s husband Franz is suffering from asthma for 4 years already and can no longer work in the fields.
After the meal we drove over to Gabriel Soehn, son of Anton and his wife Ermelia, nee Hintz who were happy to see us. We had to stay there until Sunday and had to go along to church. For that he outfitted us with a Sunday suit, because we had come up with the excuse that we had not brought Sunday clothes. After mass, we spent some time together in town and had lunch at Wendelin Materi’s and around 4 o’clock we started our return trip.
Arriving back home, my wife and children were visiting with my neighbor Elegar Soehn. Vinzens Miller and his wife, Thomas Haag and his wife, the widow Johanna Soehn, nee Miller, daughter of Martin and the rest of us, namely Gabriel Soehn and wife and the undersigned with wife Eva were all gathered. Later, we all drove over to my other neighbor’s place, namely Anton and Antonia Feininger. A large number of guests had gathered there and we had a wonderful time. There was no shortage of beer and liquor, but we did not want to drink it all.
Anton A. Soehn