From: Krasna, Bessarabia
9 March 1931

Dear Staats Anzeiger!

I mentioned in my report of 1 March that by all appearances spring would come to us soon, because the weather was all in favor of it. On 4 March, however, an immense blizzard set in, as if winter really wanted to get its start and not give way to spring. The storm was so violent that it caused considerable damage to many roofs.

Our parsonage wasn’t spared either. On one wing the tin roof was blown off. Many people with tile roofs had to spend the whole day and part of the night holding on to the tiles that were about to blow off. That during a blowing snow in which hardly an eye could be opened. Even lives were lost in this snowstorm. The night of 6 and 7 March brought us an even snow cover once more. This snow will probably not last very long, because:

So even if winter intimidates,
And defiant gestures he creates,
Spreading ice and snow all about
Yet spring must come, we shout.
Therefore, blow you storms, blow with might.
About that we shall not worry,
Softly walking through the night
Spring shall come in a hurry.

It is also high time for spring to arrive; many people sold all belongings late last year in order to cover debts. Now a shortage of seed and fodder for horses exists; to be able to buy feed you need money. Chances are favorable as some have good pastures, because there is sufficient moisture in the ground, and the grass has spread well. All that is missing now is warm weather, and the fodder problem will soon be solved.

In retrospect of Mr. Friederich Strohmaier’s “After the Holiday Blues”, which was published in Edition #63 of the renown newspaper, I have to say that he hit the nail right on the head. In order for all the people from Krasna, living scattered all over the world, to get a clear picture in this respect, I feel cause to say the following:

As everywhere, as in Krasna, one made the mistake not to live according to one’s means and in moderation, but with the hope for better times one incurred debts for clothing, food and drink, and even more for none-essentially needed construction. As it is known, one cannot hold back any construction for which one received an advance loan. For that reason one expects a good harvest and even better prices. Although the hopes for a good harvest came true, everything else failed because of unusually low prices.

Anyhow, Krasna suffered more because of its aggressive enterprise than through thoughtless living. Krasna is known as a commercial village. A lot was bought hoping for better times to make a little profit. But times took for the worse, and that is why everything was lost. The professional trader risks as much as the player.

In regard to the fashion devil in Krasna, I must say that he cannot really establish himself. It is in the nature of the people from Krasna to detest anything extravagant. Foremost, however, the fashion devil needs applause. But whoever follows this trend in Krasna will only earn ridicule and contempt. Although our women as a whole, no longer follow the older traditions, it must be acknowledged to their praise that they quietly tolerated several times the changes of fashions taking place in the surrounding villages without imitating them. For instance, you could not find a female in Krasna, who would have dared to wear a dress so tight that when seated it crept up and until pulled over the knees caused everyone present involun-tarily to blush.

Until now there was very little exaggeration in fashions by the women in Krasna, with the exception of kerchiefs with which they went crazy. There was nothing neither good enough nor expensive enough. That’s when 800 to 900 Lei per kerchief was paid. For variety there had to be black and white ones. All the grumbling by the fathers did not help, because with the fashion question the women are not weak but as strong as Hercules; they usually get what they want.

Today’s circumstances have achieved what grumbling by the fathers could not get accomplished. The borrowing of money has completely ceased. Unfortunately, one can no longer pay cash for anything. The merchant now may let his expensive kerchiefs glimmer in the shade or shine in the sun: It does not attract anymore. Although the eyes of women light up when they see these desired items, they pretend in saying right away, “No, no, I do not want anything like this. Don’t you have any for 200 or 300 Lei?”

In regard to men’s fashions, nothing has changed for many years. Nowadays the “Paletot” (overcoat) has replaced the traditional so called “Barnos” (A special, partial fur coat), and that’s about all.

Preparations for holidays also are no longer the same as they were in the old days. Church attendance these days is still great, but worshipping leaves a lot to be desired. On certain days and with certain opportunities, it is easily turned aside with pleasure from the ordinary, but not any more than in earlier and better years.

Well, things are happening now that would have been considered impossible earlier on. As for instance, one did not know in older times that chickens could lay over-hatched eggs. Today that happens more often; namely, with families who live together, and that with the price of one Lei per egg. My old neighbor’s proverb reads as follows: If you were as I am supposed to be, then we would be nice boys. But so it remains that the Good became a rarity, the Average is weakly represented, and the Evil grows everywhere and is in fact born out of atheism. If brutality and ignorance join in, than nothing humane can be expected anymore.

This point should be thoroughly scrutinized by every educated person and acted upon accordingly.

Today, 9 March 1931, our stepmother, “Anila” (Anna) Leinz nee Habrich, died after a long and serious illness. She was 75 years old. May she rest in peace and may the perpetual light shine upon her. (Editor: We convey to you our heartfelt condolences.)

On the sick list still are Ferdinand Wingenbach and the wife of Kornelius Koch.

Greetings everyone,
Isidor Leinz

From: Colonsay, Saskatchewan, Canada
5 April 1931

Dear Staats-Anzeiger:

Today we celebrate the holy feast of Easter. In the church the Easter bells are ringing and nice melodies are being sung:

The Lord has risen from the fold,
Of death’s firm grip and hold,
He, as the Easter Lamb so pure,
For us death he did endure,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Pertaining to the weather, I must say that for several days now we have had very strong winds. The air is so full with dust, that often it is completely dark.

In my last report, I mentioned that old Anton Brandel was still suffering with cancer. Today I can provide the information that on 3 April the Lord delivered him from his sufferings. He succumbed peacefully into blessed eternity, where there will be neither pain nor suffering. O Lord, give him eternal rest, and may the perpetual light shine upon him. The funeral shall take place tomorrow.

I also must report that our priest has left us, saying good-bye with teary eyes. O, how hard the word “parting” is but it has to be. Hopefully, we will soon get another priest, but we are of the opinion that such a good one we will not get so soon. Our parish is praiseworthy. The church is well attended; therefore we will soon get a priest. May the Lord grant this!

Let it be known that burglaries are the order of the day. Even with prices for wheat so low, many still take pleasure in stealing that grain. All the seed wheat was stolen from Jakob Baumann, but the thief was soon caught and arrested. Now he has three months time to think about his evil deed.

A little mistake crept into my last report, because it should have read that Dora Heisler, daughter of Joseph Heisler, was married. So, now everything is well.

In closing, we say hello to all readers and remain your faithful reader.

Anna Moldenhauer