Wednesday 8.3. 1939
My dear Gretel, yesterday I
received your dear letter of Sunday, as I do every Tuesday, and took great
pleasure in it because the contents did not affect my mood as negatively as they
do most of the time. It is good that you have a little more time for yourself
now, at least you can spend Monday and Saturday afternoons as you please,
although you still have to deal with too much correspondence. Forgive my
scribbling, I am trying for once to write to you while I lying down, because in
the afternoon that is better for my leg. And to lie down and do nothing is
terrible for me and only fatigues me. Yesterday I looked through the old
account books while lying down, and through he housekeeping book of my dear
grandmother, all of which is to be pulped, together with the contents of
another bookcase, as well as Der Morgen [a German-Jewish literary
magazine founded by Julius Goldstein, Emma’s son-in-law, published between 1925
and 1938] – or should I not do that? But what will happen with it in
future? In the afternoon I am more hands-on (although I’m talking about my
leg!) and at that time I also have A[delheid]’s [Emma’s maid] help.
First the laundry was put away, then the (finally cleaned) bookcase was set up
– earlier on, there was still broken glass in it from 10. 11. [a reference
to Pogromnacht, when Nazis rampaged and destroyed Jewish property]—but with
almost no books, and why bother? Last week I gave away a huge number, including
several novels, to Babettchen, to whom Mrs. Schweizer, her sister, has set a
good example. In other respects, too, she is a woman who does an infinite
amount of good and constantly cares for the poor. This time your letter was
opened by the foreign exchange office, and some time ago the same happened with
one of Lilly’s [emma’s oldest daughter]. But they miscalculated. They
could see only what good and loving daughters I have, so ha-ha! And you write
that you are now in possession of the clearance certificate for the furniture –
so what’s next? Who notified you of this? I wish you’d write in a little more
detail about these things, also if anyone else apart from me reported to you
about the tax ruling of 800 Marks, and why suddenly such a large sum. Your
friend Kahn [?] threated through his advisor to force an auction. The letter
was addressed to my administrator, with a copy to me. I am waiting what the
future will bring. I just want to know who will take care of your furniture –
since I will shell out the money for it. I don’t want you to be under any illusion
that you will have the furniture by 1.4., as much as I would wish it for your
sake. Aunt Pauline, who emigrated in May, has only now come into possession of
hers. It is true, however, that there were constantly new difficulties and new
regulations. On Saturday afternoon I had pleasant visitors, and in addition I
invited Mimi [Emma’s sister, Wilhelmine Bing]– indeed, I can’t seat more
than 4 persons at the table in the living room. I bet you 10 to 1 that you
won’t guess who my visitors were, but not to make the test too hard on your
curiosity, I will tell you that they are Lilly’s friends from Hanau. I even let
them take along the fine little handkerchief which you left behind in the
summer – it would be regrettable if it got into the wrong hands. Well then,
they are approximately 2 hours [away], you will find the address in the list of
names in the green address book. Besides, Mimi knows about it, and I am sure
you will have an opportunity at some time, when it’s worth your while, to fetch
the handkerchief or have it brought to you. That answers your question of last
month.
This
morning I received a list of silver items one may keep or must surrender. I
wanted to tell you in case you don’t know about that, and I am glad I no longer
have much silver, yet sorry for every single piece that I must surrender. Last
week I forgot to write to you about a letter from Rose which came to my address
but was meant for you and asks for your address. She writes from Villars [skiing
area in Switzerland] (the highest and most beautiful place in all of
“Bexen” [Bex, town at the foot of Villars]), where she accepted a
position for a few months. – Now that I have gotten up, I see that the letter
is for me after all. She just wants to know whether you are still en France
[in France], etc. and where, and she complains bitterly that she has
lost a great deal on account of her husband’s brother, that she couldn’t pay
the interest (ses intérêts),
that’s why she took this job. Yet she kindly invites me, if necessary, to
come to her, saying that she had always room for me. She wants your address –
should I give it to her? I am sure she will not ask you or me for anything. If
you do not write to her, I will, she is there only until 20.3.
A
few days ago someone from the Staedtische Sparkasse [municipal bank] called
concerning your taxes. I referred the gentleman to Dr. Kraus [Emma’s legal
counsel, former mayor of Mainz]. [I said that Kraus] took over those
matters because I am too old and sick, and he ought to call him. Have you heard
anything about that? K[raus] no longer tells me anything, I assume that he
corresponds with you directly and that you know more than I. Perhaps this
matter is connected with your furniture – I don’t know a thing about it. When
Milly [Amalie Schwarz, emma’s sister, who later left for Riga and Great
Britain] is there, I assume you will talk to her, then she can report to
you about Leo herself. That idiot has only now, that is, a short while ago,
applied for an extension to his resident permit. I am glad that family M will come to you
shortly, but it is tragic that the poor man has to go on suffering so much,
just like poor L in L – which again shows the duplicate nature of the cases.
Here the weather has also turned warmer, and I frequently air out the apartment
and sometimes also go out on the balcony – but that’s not possible today
because of the stormy weather.
I
want to conclude because Mimi will soon arrive, perhaps also Georgi [perhaps
Georgine Eller, Emma’s sister], and then I won’t be able to continue
writing, or rather to send off the letter, because Adelheid has been
participating in air raid safety exercises for more than 8 days, and I want her
to take the letter along around 7.30. Prior to that of course she will look
after my dinner, and everything is prepared for that.
Stay
healthy, my child, and be especially careful in this March weather. By the way,
did you solve my riddle? I don’t think it was hard.
All my love and
heartfelt greetings and kisses from your loving mother.
FOR MORE LETTERS SEE MY NEXT BLOGPOST. For the originals
see LBI Archives AR 7167/MF 720.The translation is by Erika Rummel
and Susi Lessing.
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