From: Krasna, Bessarabia
28 December 1930

Esteemed Staats Anzeiger!

Since the middle of December, we had rain almost every day. It came down slowly and therefore soaked in much better. We now have 60 to 75 centimeters (25 to 30 inches) of moisture in the ground. On the 17 December, a fierce northeast wind blew and changed the falling rain to ice. By evening the trees, bushes, and vines were shrouded with ice a finger thick. It offered a magnificent panorama in the sunshine. However, this condition lasted 8 days and cost us dearly.

The belief in general, is that the ice caused enormous damage to trees and vines, and also to the tender seedlings. The ice was not as bad in the Kogalnik River Valley; there the rain changed more to snow. Last night brought us a nice blanket of snow, so that we are now content with the weather.

Presently, there is a lingering light frost, which makes it easier to walk. It was also the reason for Christmas to be observed in high spirits. There was no great abundance, but the circumstances that a hard earned lei is appreciated more than ten easily obtained ones, may have caused everyone in general to be happy and content.

The second Christmas day here and in the surrounding area is the day when the old year closes and the New Year begins with regard to hired employees. The old previous job assignments come to an end, so that new ones can be put into effect. That is when some kind of strike occurred. The employers, as it is well known, are in a difficult situation and cannot give much. However, the employees maintain that everything they need still has the old high price and demand wages accordingly.

The workers have an advantage. Whoever spent his previous year’s earnings wisely, realizes that he can confidently wait until spring. Rarely then would someone be forced to immediately seek an income. At any rate, reduction of wages will follow, for until now nobody has hired. This is an omen that has never appeared here before. Omens that never have occurred however are plentiful nowadays.

We have a separate school for girls, accommodating the three beginning grades. Among the teachers who teach these grades, there is only one who understands a little German, but the others truly do not. Nevertheless, with the exception of religion, not a word in German is taught. I do not want to blame the teachers, for they are diligent and honestly strive to teach the children. But because the kids do not understand Rumanian and the teachers no German, then anyone can easily imagine what kind of chaos exists for both sides, and what the results are. Moreover, the children are being denied their mother language. None of us is opposed to teaching our kids the country’s language, for we know that this will greatly benefit the children in their lifetime. Nonetheless, the applied means do not amount to beans. The laws of the land require the beginning grades to be taught exclusively in the mother language.

Among the written laws there are unwritten ones that carry more weight than the former ones. We already submitted a petition through our chamber representative to the applicable administrative department asking to abolish this misapplication. However, up to now we have not received a ruling, and most likely everything will remain the same at least until the next school year.

Arriving at year’s end, I would like to somehow identify any progress, which we could record regarding our inner ethnic life over the course of the year. However, I am not finding any. We will continue to put up with everything fate has in store for us, and raise no hand to somehow free ourselves from an intolerable situation or obtain some relief. The few reforms that we have essentially contribute nothing to practical life. The absent-minded easily can forget that such even exist. The people among themselves are already distrustful and even more so against the various reforms, so that our whole local ethnic German existence cannot be described as being well.

There is no shortage of good advice. The people cannot be aroused to action, because the needed unity is missing. Those, who are willing, wrapped themselves into deep silence, like it was their duty to do so. Hence, for things to improve here in the future, then foremost a good many things must change. This would be my wish for the New Year.

Isidor Leinz