From: Emmental, Bessarabia
1 March 1914

Today I received Edition #30 of the Staats-Anzeiger at the post office in Kainari. I did not have the time when I received the paper to read in detail everything that was written in it.

Inquisitively, however, to see if the wastepaper basket had not swallowed any of my reports, I hurriedly scanned the paper and found that my correspondence was dated in Krasna instead of Konstantinofka. This is puzzling to me and must be an oversight by the office of the editor. (*Editor: Yes indeed, dear reader, and we apologize.) I read the report and found it to be complete as submitted, with the exception of the puzzle, which was not accepted. On this I am in agreement with the editor’s office. It seems to be true, that once one is accepted, and then a lot more would follow from many people, which then would be too much.

I was very startled, however, when I read the note from the editorship that the presents were sent a second time, and if they possibly could have gotten lost again. I am truly sorry about this, because I have not received them and, predictably, I shall not receive them. In spite of this I extend my sincere thanks to the editorship. But I advise not to send these things uninsured to Russia again. Rather, distribute the value of the presents among the poor, which would be better than to have them stolen by some unscrupulous fellows. As mentioned, such items should only be sent when insured. (*Editor: Well, if the presents were lost a second time, then we really do not know what to do.) Three days ago I had a serious confrontation with the officials at the post office in Kainari about such irregularities.

At that time I did not know that the editor’s office had forwarded the presents to me for a second time – else, the confrontation would have been a lot more serious.

On the same day, I received an insured package from America from my children, Ignatz and Amalia Gross in North Dakota. It contained two pictures. Their parents were on one of them, and the other showed my brother Jakob Dirk with family from Emmons County, N. D. The picture of my daughters-in-laws delighted us. The photo of my brother had a painful effect on us because it did not come directly from him. The picture with my brother Jakob Dirk and family decorates the walls in the homes of his close and also distant relatives in Russia already for 15 years or more, but I waited in vain for such from my brother’s hand.

My friend Mathias Müller left Russia on 22 February. He had to overcome many difficulties with his departure. The date for departure approached and he did not have a passport yet. All the other families among the traveling group had obtained their passports on their own without help from an agent, and they departed. Müller did not want to remain behind alone. His family, without passports, went along with the group to Libau on the Russian border. He, by himself, traveled to the county seat in Bender to obtain the needed passports. It took him five days before he could follow his family. All of this means that one should have one agent that takes care of everything up to the day of departure. I hope to receive some news from my friend soon and find out how everything turned out for him. On 26 February, our farmers went out for the first time to plough the fields. Two days later they had to curtail their work because of rain and snow. Today a strong wind is blowing from the south under a clear sky, so that the work can soon be continued.

In February, Michael Seifert and Phillip Engel died in Emmental, both due to lung diseases. Recently, I found out from Krasna that the wife of Bertus Riehl, nee Natalia Kuss, entered into eternity. Someone had notified her brother Zachäus Kuss who lives in Emmental

I was very delighted to read in the paper that Maximilian Winter in Brisbane, North Dakota, as a good acquaintance remembers me after all these years. Maximilian, how are you in the new home? How are your parents and Joseph Hinz over there? Mr. Hinz always was a sharp critic in the old country. Now, ever since he sits in America, he acts as if he cannot count to three. I hope he comes to when he reads these lines.

You people over there are really lazy in writing. You always say that you like to read reports from the old homeland. Likewise, we love to read reports from America. But who should always write, if you continue to be so lazy in writing? I thank Mr. Winter for letting us hear a little bit from him.

I also thank Mr. Jakob Sommerfeld for his offer. But I am sorry that I cannot accept it, because my boys are fond of America and have no intentions of dying in Russia.

In closing a greeting to the circle of readers everywhere.

Romuald Dirk.

From: Prelate, Saskatchewan, Canada
25 March 1914

The work in the field, which was started because of nice weather, was put to an end yesterday by a mighty snowstorm. It seems that the seeding this year will be postponed until April.

(*Editor: The mailing of the paper to the mother-in-law will be stopped as requested. The paper was delivered 3 months past the expiration date therefore we should receive 50 cents.) Mother would have loved to continue reading the paper, but wishes that for once one of her other children would order it for her. If that doesn’t happen, I will order it again for mother, if she sends word to me. (Editor: Until now there has not been an order from anyone else.)

I am asking my friend Romanus Bogalofski to report more often to the paper. From one of his correspondences, we learned that my cousin Aspenleiter and his wife were blessed with triplets. I wish you good luck, dear Ludwig.

I want to let my godfather know that I received the money order back. During the dispatch of the same, a mistake had been made. It was not bought for Rumania and therefore could not be cashed there.

Anton Dillmann and Johannes Kosolofski together bought a stallion for $800.

To the gentlemen Franz Joseph and Lorenz including their families, I wish them good luck on their journey to America, and I hope that they arrive soon. I also have heard that Melchior Aspenleiter wants to come to Canada. He is cordially welcomed.

During the night of 23 into 24 March, a fire started in Prelate, turning a butcher shop, a grocery store, and a restaurant into ashes. The loss is great. To the mother-in-law and my brother, sisters and friends in Rumania a greeting.

Longimus Kosolofski

From: Shields, Morton County, ND
1 April 1914

I have to complain about our need since none of the readers who live here received #33 of the Der Staats-Anzeiger. I can’t say who is at fault, but I believe we should have reported it to the editorship right away, maybe then we would have received the issue. (*Editor: It is not our fault. It seems the whole package got lost if it hasn’t found its way to Shields by now. Along with this issue, we are also sending Issue #33 for the people there. It is a fairly large package but luckily we had enough issues on hand.)

We like to read the reports from Krasna, South Russia, but unfortunately the readers in Krasna are lazy in writing. As I learned the community there founded a bank. Whoever has money can invest it at the bank and receive 7% interest, and whoever borrows money pays 10% interest. This way the bank has earned 1192 rubles and 62 kopeks in 8 months.

On the morning of 7 March, the children of my neighbor went onto the ice to glide. After a while the oldest wanted to go home with his brothers and sisters. The three youngest didn’t want to go along but stay there. The oldest son went home but a short while later the 5-year-old brother came running and reported that one of his brother had broken through the ice. The water was 5 feet deep. When the father arrived at the place, the boy had already drowned.

The seeding is going to be a little late this year. We had already started with the work in the fields on 17 March, but soon had to stop due to cold weather and a snowstorm. We can hardly start again before 10 April.

As we have heard, new Russians are arriving and among them are many marriageable girls. Watch out you boys and don’t wait too long! In our small town of Shields, a German storeowner could be doing great business.

With a farmer’s greeting to everyone.

Phillip Kahl