From: Emmental, Bessarabia
23 October 1920

Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!

Although there is not much new to report from here, I once again have to write. First, I want to report that we are having a very dry fall. We have had no rain since the beginning of September. The wheat which we had sown early did germinate, however it is drying up because we had hot days into October. Since the 5th of this month, we have had frost at night. Therefore the wheat which was sown later is in sad shape. Hardly half of it did germinate, so that most fields still appear black. So far we are finished with the fieldwork. This year there will be no stalks left in the fields like last year when a lot of rain hindered their gathering.

Joseph, son of Johannes Paul and Theophila, daughter of Johannes Volk are noted on the wedding register. The brother Peter Volk who, if I am not mistaken, resides in Krupp, Saskatchewan, Canada has also been invited to the wedding. Furthermore, Raimund Arnold was engaged to Salomea Schlick, nee Dehn from Krasna. But the engagement was tied down with “Rumanian ropes”, which are not as strong as the “Russian ropes”, and they have already broken after one week and the wedding is off. Where and if he will look for someone else is questionable. Marriage is not like buying horses.

In my last report, I noted that I had received all editions of the newspaper from #9 to

#90. Now I have to mention that four editions have been lost again, namely #10 through #14. Contrary to that I have received all editions from #15 to #20. There are however only a few reports from there in the recent editions. Probably because people are busy with fieldwork.

The price of wheat here is 30 to 33 lei. For barley and oats you get paid 14 lei. That is not too bad. But all the other goods are still expensive.

From Russia one hears only news of horror. In Odessa many people are executed daily. Also in the villages things are happening in a horrid way. The renowned priest Joseph Nolt was murdered. On a September morning he was found decapitated in his bed. This had happened in the village of Blumenfeld. He had been the pastor in Selz for 30 years. He then fled to Bessarabia. However he was sent back and went to Frankenfeld and from there to Blumenfeld. He did not want to go back to Selz because he had many enemies there. If Mr. Strohmaier would have dared to go over there, I am afraid he would have easily found his grave there. In comparison with Russia, we here in Bessarabia live like in a Paradise on earth.

The yellow label on my newspaper indicates that my subscription will expire tomorrow. My brother will probably renew it for me, because I do not want to be without the Staats-Anzeiger. (Editor: Because you are a reporter, we send you the Staats-Anzeiger free of charge, as long as you continue to send reports.) Also, several Americans wanted to come to Krasna for a visit, namely Cyrillus Haag, Simon Riehl and Romuald Gross. However these gentlemen as yet have not arrived here. They can hardly be expected to arrive here yet this winter. (Editor: Simon Riehl and Romuald Gross have already departed from here. Look for the report from Canada in this issue.)

Here one gets rid of the Russian money. For 1 ruble we get 1 lei and 35 bani. Many of our people hold on to the Russian money with the hope that later on they will receive a better exchange rate. However, right now it is no longer accepted anywhere. With that it could come about like it did with the Odessa money. There one established a local currency which was valid only in Odessa County. The traders from India then spread this currency among the people here in Bessarabia. But in less than a year it was made known that this money had no value here. After that nobody accepted it any more. One could still get rid of it but only for 80 kopeks. Several people who did not want to lose 20 kopeks held on to it till today. But now no one wants to have worthless money in their pockets. And still there are people who have over 2,000 rubles on hand.

We have a dire need for teachers for our school children. Ever since we have been separated from Russia we have a shortage of educated people. Previously we had our sexton, secretaries and teachers mostly from the areas of Cherson and Samaria. Our young people who towards the end had attended school in Saratov all went over to the Russian side and intended to gain high positions, namely to become officers. But only a few had success and almost no one from Bessarabia did so. Therefore we are unable to obtain a German teacher with an education. There are many without an education identifying themselves as being schooled and demand the salary of 300 lei per month. These people certainly know less than the students themselves. If we would know who the “A Farmer” is, we would hire him on the spot as a teacher.

In closing, I greet my old mother in Fox Valley, Canada as well as my brothers Peter, Joseph and Adolf and my sister Aurora.

Now a word to my cousin Romanus Ternes. Supposedly my youngest brother Reinhold is working for him. Dear brother Reinhold and Romanus, please buy ink and paper and send it to me. I would have loved to write to you but I do not know your address. Of course you don’t know me. When you were leaving Krasna about 38 years ago you were a child about 5 years old. How are father and mother doing? I know it is impossible to forward scissors and other items as prizes to us, but we would be very happy if we could receive the calendars. (*Editor: Right now we cannot send any calendars to a foreign country. It will depend on the circumstances if we can do it again later on.)

With the nicest greetings to all,

Zachaeus Kopp