Letters from Blanca
Blanca Friederike Wilhelmine Natalie Clara von Schmalensee, first daughter of FFL and his second wife, was born on May 26, 1851, in Gross-Paglau. In 1877, she married the Royal Saxon District Court Councillor, Dr. Friedrich Karl Heinrich von Ferber, who was born in 1846. He was the lord of an entailed estate in Melz, Mecklenburg. They had one son, Johann Georg, born in 1878, and a daughter, Catharina, born in 1883, who was a canoness of the Dobbertin convent. Friedrich August Karl Heinrich von Ferber died on April 12, 1908. Blanca passed away in 1945 at the age of 94 years.
Waldheim, Sept. 21, 1877
Dear Papa!
I am truly sorry that our good Clara has gotten into such an unpleasant, awkward situation. Emmy had certainly hoped to find her a position, perhaps she will still succeed. At the very least she must seek advice, and I have none at the moment, except that Clara simply asks Frau Müller to allow her stay with them until she has found a job. Old Frau Müller might be somewhat difficult, but she has always been motherly and loving towards Clara. Clara has acquired a lot of love there, so they will certainly keep her there, and if they can’t or won’t give her any spending money, I have already sent Clara some money and wrote to her that she should speak to Frau Prepositus. The story is unpleasant, but it can’t be changed. If I could help in any other way, I would be very happy to do so; but I am not able to accommodate Clara now, first of all the long and expensive journey and where should I go with her, if, as my husband intends, we give up our house here and move to the countryside?! August has leased a property from his father, which he recently offered him and has settled the matter just recently. The handover is on St. John’s Day (June 24th), but August wants to turn in his resignation already in January, and we will go to Melz until then. For even if August is not exactly sick, it is very hard on him, this sedentary lifestyle, and he does not enjoy it at all and it only taxes his health. Therefore, I am very happy about this change, and I am also looking forward very much to my responsibilities in the countryside, although it will be difficult for me at first to give up our cozy little home here. Carbow is the name of the estate, and it is located 3/4 of an hour away from Melz.
Rest assured dear Papa, I will always do whatever is in my power for Clara. She must not under any circumstances go to Berlin and to Adelheid Armin. I also found Adelheid’s letter a bit curious! I would advise you to let Anna go her own way, given the various experiences I have had with her. If you let her go, she will come back on her own again. She has far too hard a head and is way too stubborn and self-confident to accept well-meaning advice! Just let her go her own way. I am very happy that Anna has found a faithful friend in Adelheid. She should keep her as a friend and hopefully Adelheid will not make the same experience with Anna that we unfortunately have, forcing us to leave her alone.
Now on the subject of the papers, which Mama mentioned in her letter to you! Does she mean the Russian papers? If so, I ask that you send them to her if you are in possession of them again, to send them to her and not to me / as you told me in Berlin / they belong to her and she will probably make sure that they later go to my siblings. The matter could be misinterpreted and I am very peculiar and sensitive regarding this matter.
How happy I would be if your ventures succeed, dear Papa. August returns your greetings!
always
Your loving daughter
Blanca von Ferber
Side note: I also wrote to Friederickenthal regarding Clara.
Waldheim, September 26, 1877
My dear Papa!
I can imagine how deeply the news about Curt must have alarmed you! We cannot thank God enough for having so graciously protected him! I was extremely upset when I read your letter. But you see that even at sea he is as much in God the Father’s faithful hands as he is on land! Please write to me as soon as you receive a message from him again and then write me his exact address. Did he write anything more about his captain and rest of the crew? All the dangers and hardships that Curt is facing are making a very capable sailor out of him!
We can also relax about Clara, I am including for you the letters I received yesterday, from which you can see that Emmy has found several prospective positions and if she is unsuccessful, Clara still has a home in Recknitz, and Müllers are making an effort on her behalf, but I also very much hope that Clara will leave there, at the very least because a certain B. recently got engaged to a rich girl from Hamburg! So, please never mention this matter again to her! She wrote very calmly about it and I think if the dear Lord wants her to marry, then Clara will find a man anywhere, and this was probably not the right one for her! In any case, she will always have a faithful sister in me, even if she does not get married, and then it will be my duty to stand by her even more. How are your affairs coming along? Trust in God, dear Papa!
Always your
loving daughter
Blanca v. Ferber
Side note: Please excuse the stain.
Waldheim, Oct. 5, 1877 (?)
Dear Papa!
Frau Kjust gave me this letter for you from Herr Dittmers. He didn’t know your address and therefore had to send his letter via this detour. There has seldom been such an amiable gentleman as Herr D. and it is very gratifying that he has taken such an interest in Curt. I am certain that you will answer his friendly note right away, dear Papa. I also received a message from Clara that she has arrived safely in Königsberg and will go from there shortly to Graus. She has accepted a position with a preacher’s family a half an hour away from Königsberg. They appear to be nice people and she will be treated in any case like a member of the family. In other homes, reading aloud, teaching a language and music skills are required, and unfortunately Clara cannot do that.
Yesterday we returned from our trip to Ernst Ferber’s wedding.
I am writing in a hurry today! I hope you are doing well, dear Papa!
Sending you warm greetings
Your
loving daughter Blanca v. Ferber
Waldheim, October 22, 1877
Dear Papa!
You can imagine just how much your last letter saddened me. I so [certainly] hope that you will be able to raise the money to travel to America and I am so very sorry that all of your hopes have been dashed! Now I would like to ask you, dear Papa, to contact me immediately and to write down exactly what the trip to America costs. Perhaps I can still manage to get you the money to travel, but since I must also borrow it, you will understand that I can only give you enough for the bare essentials. Please write to me how far you both will travel to the ship and how much it costs. My husband thinks he once heard that a trip from Hamburg to Havana would cost per cabin 1 1/2 [Kleste] at the most 200.00. So please tell me your exact itinerary, every single major station from Berlin – Hamburg etc. to St. José. You must first retrieve the suitcase held by your former innkeeper to get the papers, just how much more do you still you owe there?
If it is in my power, I will make it happen, but I can only give just enough to cover the absolute essentials. Please write immediately, as there is no time to lose, also with which train you will depart from Berlin.
Always
Your daughter
Blanca v. Ferber
Please specify exactly how
much money you will
need in total and list the details.
Waldheim, Nov. 1, [18]77
Dear Papa.
Today we received a message from Uncle Bornstedt that the financial matters have been settled and he will hand over the 450- to you tomorrow on the 2nd day of the month. I will not rest until everything is resolved. – God be with you on the journey. –
If he is able, my husband will reimburse his mother in full later and I will pay interest from my allowance until then. It is better this way. Regarding Dessow, I can tell you that I have heard from others that the affairs have been sorted out in that Plüskow and the Jew Böhm, all creditors have accepted 20 percent, i.e. this probably greatly simplifies the debts and thus the matter itself. Of course, these gentlemen will probably also take advantage of this.
But now I must close! Please write soon, also which day you depart from Hamburg.
Your
loving daughter
Blanca von Ferber
Waldheim, November 10, 1877
Dear Papa!
Yesterday I received the papers you sent, which I will forward to Mama in the near future. My husband has read the will and the conclusion, and he fears that the matter of the Russian-Polish papers will eventually lead to nothing, because it will be difficult to get the treasury bonds back, even from the bank, if they are being held by a third party. But perhaps Mama has other papers regarding this that would clear up the matter better. Furthermore, according to the very last provision [in the will] of old Herr von Koschkull, in the event this money has been paid out again by the bank in Warsaw to his Koschkull relatives, legacies would have to be paid out in the amount of 3000 [talers] from it and that would then leave about 12,000 [talers].
August also read through the Schnabel inheritance papers and he seemed to find this interesting, but we did not find the “public notice” in the papers. Why don’t people contact their county commissioner or the Imperial Chancellor’s Office directly? Or do you think there is anything else that can be done in this matter? I am looking forward to the long letter your promised, dear Papa, because I would also like to hear more about Curt in order to be able to write to him.
Why can’t Herr von Rüts go with you to America? I think it will be rather difficult for you there all by yourself. Are you now living the entire time with Herr von R.? Otherwise, it is going to be rather expensive for you if your departure is continually postponed. We are doing well, we live quietly and comfortably, just [the two of] us. August has now submitted his resignation for February 1st, as he is taking over the estate in the summer and we will go to Melz for a while before the taking the reins in Carbow. For today farewell, dear Papa! May God be with you!
Sending you warm greetings from
Your
loving daughter
Blanca von Ferber
Waldheim, February 19, [18]78
Dear Papa!
Since your journey has been postponed again and I see from your letter that you are now probably first traveling on the 22nd of this month, I wanted to send you greetings and thank you for your letter. I hope from the bottom of my heart that this was the final postponement, because otherwise one must truly worry that your undertaking will not come to fruition! I was most surprised and interested in what you had written to me about Artur, because I had not heard anything from him in a year. – So now he is fleeing from his wife! Rather ridiculous, but still it is good that it has finally come to this! If only he would continue to act sensibly now, but I don’t have much faith in his character – he is just not cut out for work! And if I were him, I would be embarrassed to rejoin the military, that’s just for spending money! – As far as your wish regarding the suitcase is concerned, this summer when we are set up in Carbow, I will write to Herr v. Lagerström and instruct him to send it to me by cargo, and then the same can wait there quietly until you want to have it again. I recently had a letter from Anna with a side note that she was very sorry not to have seen you in Berlin anymore – but you had written to her at the time that you were leaving on the 5th of December and she thought this was had been the case; so she should really be forgiven for it. –
Since Mama has already told you about my prospects, dear Papa, I just wanted to add what you are probably already thinking, that we are very happy about this! The dear Lord, who has fulfilled my heart’s desire, will continue to stand by me! Please don’t worry about me, dear Papa, you know that we are all in God’s hands! –
But now I must close so that the letter gets to the train on time and will hopefully still make its way into your hands. I commend you to God, dear Papa!
Greeting you warmly,
your
loving daughter
Blanca v. Ferber
Envelope:
Herr von Schmalensée
Hamburg
Hieggs Hotel
Postage paid
Waldheim, February 21, 1878
My dear Papa!
To raise your spirits, I wanted you to find a farewell greeting from me while you are still in port, even if it is only a few lines that I write to you today! God be with you on this long, long journey and bless your undertaking, dear Papa! My thoughts will be with you so very much! Thank you for your last dear lines! Please write to me as soon as you can again and always send me good news about how you are faring! I’m most curious whether Arthur will still follow you! It would be the smartest thing for him to do; but I doubt that he is so sensible!
We are doing well! My husband sends you his best regards. You have favorable weather for your travels. Please greet Herr v. Ruts. And now farewell, dear Papa! God bless you!
Sending you another heartfelt kiss
Your loving daughter Blanca v. Ferber.
Melz 1st June 1878, dated
25 June sent from: Carbow near Röbel – Mecklb. Schwerin
My dear Papa!
What great joy your two very dear, long letters gave me, and especially the second one which I received on May 27th, so just one day after my birthday. I thank you so very much for your loving wishes! Of course, I was very interested in the account of your travels, my thoughts have been with you often and so very much during your long, arduous journey and I am happy that you have survived all the hardships etc. so well! May God now also bless your endeavors, may you also find an occupation there that suits you and that you, dear Papa, finally achieve your goals! I wish this for you from the bottom of my heart! I sent your letters first to Clara, from there they will go to Mama and then on to Anna! So, they will all hear from you and they are all certainly yearning for news from you. The mail has been rather slow; I received the first letter on May 20th and you probably won’t get this letter before the end of June, and then you can send your lines to me at our own little home, in Carbow, which we will move into on St. John’s Day.*
We’ve been here in Melz for almost three months now; I am also doing very well here, as I have been given such a loving reception by the relatives, but I really long to run my own household. Nevertheless, we will probably not have an easy time getting started in Carbow, even though our house there is rather small. The actual house burned down last summer and will likely not be rebuilt for the time being, and so we will have to see how we settle in. Fortunately both of our needs are modest and we do not permit ourselves to be influenced by what is going on around us. I am in good physical shape, thank God, and so I trustingly and confidently place everything else in His faithful hands! The thought of being a mother soon makes me indescribably happy and grateful! May the dear Lord grant me the strength to always be a true and faithful mother to my children; this is what I pray for the most! I received good news from Mama and the sisters! Clara feels very happy and comfortable with Karbes, and they like her very much as well, and as always, everyone there has come to love her. She will probably tell you herself how she is doing, because I will send her this letter so that she can add a few more lines about that herself. Anna has also started to get closer to us sisters again! Things seems to be going well for her and I do hope she is happy, because it seems like she has a good job, unfortunately her difficult character makes it hard for other people to accept her! Perhaps you have already received news from her directly, as she asked me for your address some time ago.
As I have heard from Frau Kruse, Curt’s ship should be coming to Hamburg soon, and I will write to him there, also about you, and I will send him your address. I also received good news from Kriegsheims; they are well and Aunty and Editha have now returned to Dessow from Wiesbaden. I’ve had very little direct information about their circumstances – they want to sell but haven’t gotten around to it! I do hope they finally find some peace, because these unfortunate circumstances are wasting away the blossom of my dear little Editha’s fair youth! I have heard that Arthur has arrived safely in Ceylon, but has not yet found anything specific! If only he had more character!
I don’t have much else to tell you, dear Papa! We live very quietly and isolated, and I hear little about the outside world, which is fine with me. You will have probably heard about the assassination attempt on our dear old Kaiser, how clearly the dear Lord protected him, and of the terrible misfortune of the armored ships “Kurfürst u. König Wilhelm” at Dover! Surely you must also get news there and also have newspapers.
We had an early, rather nice spring this year, so much so that we had hoped that this year would be a fruitful one. However, the cold has now unfortunately returned, bringing back the winter with the late-night frosts. Normally, the grain would be growing magnificently high by now and given the strange and poor way my old peculiar father-in-law plants the fields here, it is a miracle that anything grows here at all. Good wheat fields can tolerate a lot – but such difficult soil often leads to poor harvests! We have also had a lot of wind and storms lately – a kind of tornado went over Melz and caused a lot of damage, blowing over many beautiful old trees in the garden and completely twisting off the treetops in the forest. We still have beautiful old oaks and beech trees here. But now I must close, dear Papa, and send you my warmest greetings! Hopefully your next letter will bring me very good news of your endeavors there. This was the finest paper I could get here! We are a bit off the beaten track! But fortunately, the railway has come a bit closer to us now, so that we are now only 3 hours away, previously, i.e. just last year, we had to drive 7 hours to the nearest railway station. You are even further away [from a train station] now, but this is rare here in Europe. It is God’s will, my dear, dear Papa!
Thinking of you in faithful, heartfelt love
Your daughter
Blanca von Ferber, née von Schmalensee
*St. John’s Day is June 24th.
Carbow, June 16, [18]79
My dear Papa!
Your dear letter for my birthday made me so very happy, as I hadn’t heard anything directly from you for so long and am amazed that you have not receive my letters either – I also know for certain that Clara wrote you on your birthday. I deeply regret that your experience with Rüts’s friendship turned out to be a bad one. I am now very happy that you are back with your old friend Herr von Flemming, as we can rest reassured that you are in good hands and people are looking out for your physical wellbeing and that you, dear Papa, must certainly be grateful and satisfied to have finally found employment and the prospect of earning money again !
Since you did not receive my letters, you have not heard about me and my sweet boy, who is my absolute pride and joy. Johann-Georg is a beautiful child, with strikingly beautiful big eyes – quite the image of his father, who loves the child tenderly and plays most charmingly with him. Of course, the boy crows when he sees his father and stretches out his hands and feet towards him. Thank God, the child is healthy, very happy and incredibly lively — only I find him too slender for a boy, although he has a high chest and a strong back; he also lifts his legs.
I don’t have much to tell you about myself, dear Papa. We spent a very quiet, monotonous winter in a terribly small house, which was not very good for our health. It was damp and cold, with only one dry, warm room which, of course, was given to the child. The child was also my entire joy and delight, but otherwise, I must confess that our stay here in Carbow was just awful. It is now bearable in the summer; but my husband, in particular, is weary of country life, which was greatly exacerbated by the proximity to Melz. I am not exaggerating when I say this about my father-in-law: he is a dirty, stingy old man, who has only half his mind. This is in stark contrast to the rather noble character of my husband. Hence, he now intends to return to Saxony in the fall and return to civil service there. He is now about to take his second exam. – My sister-in-law Hermine* got engaged to an officer, Herr von Maltzahn, but I cannot begin to describe the horrendous sum of money her father had to pay for consent to the marriage, forced to fork over money to marry off his only daughter!
It is still unclear where we will be going in Saxony – probably to Dresden – and I will let you know later. We will remain here until Oct. 1st of this year. – Mama, Emmy and all the children there had the measles. Clara is doing very well, she always writes how very happy and contented she is.
For the first time in a very long while, I recently received a letter from Anna from Nimes in southern France, where she accepted a position with a Mdme. Renonard. Her address: Nimes, Château Fadaise, Rue Porte de France – Gard. She was in Geneva in a position with children for a long time, but now they have a French teacher, and the lady for whom she had worked arranged this job for her, because nothing else was found. Anna’s ‘wanderlust’ will certainly be quenched, only I admire her courage. She is learning French. I also had news from Curt that he had intended to join the American Navy. He left Hamburg on a ship that he did not like it at all, heading to Portland in North America. There he was encouraged to sign up with the Navy, because they earn so little in the Merchant Marine and part of that meager salary always goes to the seafarers’ mission**. However, he would have to commit to the Navy for three years and receive $28 a month. Then he would receive American citizenship and can then do whatever he wants. He wanted me to advise him on this matter and I wrote to him that it seemed acceptable to me. I am otherwise unfamiliar with the circumstances. I answered him at the address: C. v. S. boarding by John Foxton, Fore Street No.124 Portland Me. America and have not received an answer since.
Did you know that Dessow was declared bankrupt last summer? It has now been sold to the Norddeutsche Bank, very much below value for 350,000 marks, and Blankenberg at 10,000 marks, losing a lot in the process. Kriegsheims have only held on to Lögow and are now in Italy. Uncle suffers so much in his head. – There has been good news from Arthur thus far; he has found work there. – The prospects for the harvest this year are quite bad, mice in autumn, then a very long, severe winter, which lasted until almost mid-April and, of course, everything, especially the animal feed, declined. As soon as I’m back in a bigger city, I’ll have my sweet boy photographed and send you a picture; he’s too small right now, I think.
Please write to me again soon, dear Papa, hopefully I will soon receive some good news from you. I would be very glad if you could help support Mama, so that I don’t have to worry so much about taking her in, because Graus write all the time that they can’t keep Mama without financial support. I give as much as I can – but I cannot and may not ever take Mama in with me!
Many heartfelt greetings, dear Papa, also to your true and faithful friend H. v. Flemming, from
Your loving daughter
Blanca von Ferber
* https://www.geni.com/people/Luise-Ernestine-HERMINE-Marie-Freiherr-von-Maltzahn/6000000096400966856
Melz near Röbel
Mecklbg. Schw[erin].
April 14, [18]91
My dear Papa!
Today you should finally receive a note from me again! Thank you very much for your dear letter, through which you have given me such great joy! I can see from it that you are doing well in general – your mind still seems so spry as if you were a young man! Your vivid description of Curt’s sweet, adorable children was of great interest to me, and I can imagine what joy you must have in those little creatures! My two children are also the only joy I have in this world! I put a lot of effort in their upbringing, which is not easy for me because their father has a very strange method of raising them. The children must always be the center of attention and may not even be reprimanded in his presence. Their appreciation of good food and drink is being trained on a regular basis, they have already learned to appreciate the finest treats. Since the children are attached to me and love me greatly, I am still able to have a good influence on them, especially on the development of their minds! For my boy, however, it was high time that he went to the Gymnasium in Dresden this Easter and with the assessment of ‘good’, he qualified for the Tertia level, which was a great achievement for his 12 years! We thought he would only qualify for the Quarta level, but his answers in the preliminary examination in Latin and French were so good, that he was sent straight to Tertia at the request of the director. He only needed to catch up in mathematics and learn a year’s worth of material in five weeks! We had engaged a tutor for three years, who taught him excellently, and Johann is a gifted boy, who learns quickly, but he is also a bit absent-minded due to his rich and lively spirit. The boy has grown particularly close to my heart, as he is very sensitive! The separation from my beloved child has been very difficult for me and yet I let him go with a calm heart.
I am certain that Hanni will make us proud! The boy already thinks like someone much older, yet has so much depth of mind and a rare character that is noble, generous and firm at the same time! I always enjoy talking with him. You completely forget that he is still just a child – to me he was often a dear little friend and great consolation! I am certain that the dear Lord will always protect and preserve this beloved child! Hanni, like all boys his age, is a very eager stamp collector and I would like to ask you, dear Papa, if it would be possible for you to send me some rare copies or the like for my boy! He desperately wants to have this kind of newspaper stamps, you can only get fake ones here. Dear Papa, as regards the money my husband gave you back then, don’t worry about it. He has long forgotten it! In any case, he has enough! – I don’t want to write anything more about my marriage – it would weigh heavily on your heart and would change nothing! I must endure it all because of the children – but I am unfortunately so very unhappy! We just aren’t suited for one another! I am gentle, sensitive and need someone to lean on! And I would so love to just live cozily together! My husband, on the other hand, is rigid, rude, harsh – ruthless and repulsive and an enemy of all forms of coziness and conviviality – but he does have a thoroughly honorable character! Only his heart is too small, in my opinion! His stomach takes up all the room! He is well aware of his great mind and is therefore always ironic and sarcastic. My delicate feelings are dismissed as merely being oversensitive and nervous! How can one not be nervous when one is treated with such disregard? Of course, my health has paid a heavy price in this life! It often feels as if hoarfrost has descended on the blossom of my life, and I have not been able to develop freely as a person! They don’t understand me and don’t want to understand me! My mother-in-law, who also shares a lot of the blame, wrote me a horrible letter last summer, in that I should fall on my knees every hour of the day to thank the dear Lord that I, coming from such an impoverished family, was accepted by such a highly respected and rich family! That’s why I should accept my oppression! But I will not!! That cold money cannot make me happy, I need love and that is what they are greatly lacking here! In addition, the family has endless pride. But just forget it! If I have endured it this long, I will hopefully be able to endure it even longer! I must be there for my children! Luckily, I also have 1/10th of a drop of sanguine blood! As soon as things become somewhat easier for me, I will be right back on top and get healthy again! And, after all, you must take all that God hands out to you, the good, as well as the bad, and often having a cross to bear is better for one’s salvation than too much sunshine in one’s life! But what I have had to endure has often been too much for me. I’ve often thought I would succumb to this despair! – Clara has an excellent husband in every respect. He is in his heart a “nobleman,” fine through and through, deep and considerate! He is well respected and only has friends in this world! He absolutely adores Clara and fulfills her every wish! In such a life, it is within our nature to find it easy to love and to make someone happy. Clara probably wrote to you that they were both in Italy for 5 weeks! I am not permitted to have any such recreation, not even a trip to Berlin; fortunately I am not envious at all, but am happy for Clara with all my heart!
Please give Curt and his family my warmest regards and give my goddaughter a kiss.
Farewell, my dear Papa! May the dear Lord keep you healthy and grant you many more years to come.
Many warm greetings from
Your dearly loving
daughter Blanca
Melz, by Röbel M. Khn. February 3, [18]96
My dear Curt!
A few days ago I asked Editha Kriegsheim, to send you 150 marks +, which is worth 35 dollars, from me, as I borrowed 50 marks from her. I hope that you have received the money and are now wearing warm clothes, no longer must freeze, and have something left for the landlord! – You do not need to pay me back the money now, dear Curt! If you have anything left over this summer, then you can set something aside set aside as emergency funds for times to come! But I know you will do that without me telling you! I admire how you manage to support your big family through painting! In any case, it is an honest craft on which God’s blessing rests. Do your children also show a talent for drawing? Then make them practice a lot. And I am certain you are now also practicing it in your free time. I can imagine vividly how unhappy you are during this period of unemployment – now only 8 weeks to go until you are earning again. Couldn’t you perhaps find employment with a book printer and book binder in winter and supply drawings for fine carpentry? It all takes practice – but if you only had even a modest income daily, then you would already be better off. – But in winter, there is probably already a lot of people looking for work in this time of high unemployment! I can vividly imagine the joy that the homemade Christmas tree gave you all. In general, I find that children who grow up in simple circumstances end up much happier and physically healthier than the children who have had it too easy in every way! The saying in the Bible is very true: “If you have food and clothes, then be satisfied!” – This is also my view that being physically healthy children and: “raising them in discipline and to worship the Lord” – will make their souls healthy! If both were applied in raising children, there would be less misery in this world, where most merely pursue pleasure, luxury and money!! – Values take one down the path of righteousness and let the dear Lord prevail!
God keep you and yours, dear Curt. Greetings to your wife and children and remember lovinglyYour faithful sister
Banca
Side note to first paragraph, page 1: + But I don’t know for sure if Editha had 50 marks to spare, normally she would send 100 marks.
Melz, February 26, [18]96
My Dear Curt!
Since I do not know whether Emmy from Rohrfelt already found the time to inform you of the death of our dear mother, I wanted to tell you that our good mother, after having fallen ill with and recovering from long bout of stomach and intestinal catarrh in mid-January, passed away on Feb. 21. She had a stroke on about the 19th and after being calm for many hours, lost consciousness. She passed on to eternity peacefully and painlessly in her sleep. For you, dear Curt, as well as for us all, the death of our dear Mother will, of course, be very hard and painful. Even though we always told ourselves that with her old age and frail, sickly body she did not have much longer to live, the parting of our loved ones, when it suddenly comes, is nevertheless very painful! Our two dear parents, each in their own special way, had to struggle through so many, many difficult things in life! Even our dear mother had little joy here on this earth and how patiently and acquiescent she endured it all! I have often admired her for that. Her soul was truly purified here on earth in the burning pit of misery! How happy she must now feel to be free from all worries and physical suffering, transfigured and reunited with the loved ones gone before her. If it helps you, please write to me about your feelings, my dear brother. I truly understand everything. I was able to send one of your last letters to Mama.
Hopefully you and yours are doing well and the roughest times are soon behind you again.
When you write to Emmy , thank her and Grau for all the love they have shown to Mama. Mama was with them for 23 years. May the dear Lord be with you and with us!
Sending you and yours heartfelt greetings
Your faithful sister
Blanca
Melz, near Röbel M. Schw.d. 1.10.[18]96
My dear Curt.
Right after I mailed the letter to you addressed to Belvederestr., I noticed your address on the envelope, which I had overlooked when I got it. In that letter, I wrote how happy your picture and the expression on your face made me. Perhaps you will get it, in spite of the incorrect address. Please write to me soon and let me know how your situation is, because if you aren’t earning anything there right now and enduring hardship, then I urge you to move to St. Louis as soon as possible. If you need money, I could send you 35 dollars as soon as I receive word from you. Probably not more, unfortunately, because it is unclear what Editha’s situation is. – But you may prefer to receive assistance quickly and rather than wait for more money. I have unexpectedly come into some money meanwhile and I would send it to you immediately if I were certain that you are still in St. Paul.
My greatest wish is that you, dear brother, get out of that oppressive situation there as quickly as possible. You fared poorly in St. Paul from the start.
With heartfelt greetings and “God protect you”
I remain
Your faithful
Sister Blanca
Envelope:
Mr. C. von Schmalensee Esq.
St. Paul Minnesota
82 E. Congress Str.
U. St. of North America
Postage paid
Melz, by Röbel
Dec. 14, [18]97
My dear Curt!
Your last letter made me very sad! You are living in such desolate conditions and I had truly hoped that your situation had improved. I immediately sent you 20 dollars after receiving your lines and hope that the money finds you in better circumstances than when you mailed your letter – and that you are now free of your greatest worries for a while and can celebrate a peaceful Christmas with your family. And you, my poor brother, do find courage again when you look into the happy faces of your children. Now you can give little Eva some joy on Christmas Eve. As soon as I have an answer from you that the money arrived, I hope to be able to send you another small sum, so that you can gradually get over the worst of the winter. When the spring comes, you will be more likely to find work again. Although it will not be easy for me to send you the money, because I also have to borrow it. Grau’s have also fallen onto hard times after they were forced to sell the manor. Emmy wrote me the most desperate letter in Nov., hence, I had to help out there. Poor Emmy has also had her share of trouble and hardship. Her 80-year-old husband is completely paralyzed and has no steady income. They live in Königsberg and take in boarders and seem to be having some success now. They even managed to take in a few more on New Year’s Day and are able to live from it. In addition, the eldest son got a good job as an inspector, which began on New Year’s Day and so, thank God, their circumstances seem to be improving somewhat. Because of your situation, I also wrote to Clara today and asked if she could send you anything, but I’m not sure if she can. – She is also supposed to forward your letter to Fritz, with whom she has been corresponding recently. – Can’t you learn to cut hair or something that would easily earn money? And you do know any pharmacist or doctor there, or have friends who could advise or help you? Maybe the clergyman? Or you could become a carriage driver? That is easier than a coachman. I am too unfamiliar with the circumstances there to be able to advise you better.
Side note: God protect you and yours! Sending you greetings, your faithful sister Blanca.
Melz, September 12, [18]99
My very dear brother Curt!
Your letter today has saddened me greatly in [my] soul and I wept bitterly with you and felt deeply with you, and mourned with you for your dear little son, Hans, whom the dear Lord has taken from you, in accordance with His holy will and unfathomable design! His thoughts are thoughts of peace for us and our loved ones! Even though we often do not comprehend at first why He permits these things to happen. We will see it one day in the hereafter and learn to understand it better. Perhaps your dear boy was too tender for this harsh world and would not have withstood its tribulations! Whenever I looked at your family picture [and saw] little sweet Hans – my absolute favorite – I always thought: how will this delicate child, with his sweet face, be able to withstand the harshness of America? He vividly reminded me of my Hanni when he was that age – and at that time he was my source of consolation and my everything! My boy is now 27 years old and a very dear person, incredibly fine and deeply feeling, and thus life is not easy for him. And I often tremble silently [with worry] about him, about whether he will be able to cope with life’s struggles! But I know he is in God’s protection and I am calmed again! – You are right, dear brother, no matter how many children you have, they are all equally dear to their parents’ hearts and [it is] so very, very painful to lose one! But remember, the dear Lord is much more the father of our children than we ourselves are and ever can be. Now your darling is with his Creator, from whom he once came and to whom he has now been called back home to continue growing in God’s garden, to receive you one day in Heaven as a beautiful angel when the Lord calls you home to Him after many years. – Your dear child lives, not here on earth, but in Heaven and will often be with you in spirit when you remember him with love and in devotion to God. Having a dear being in Heaven draws you to Heaven. But be reassured, dear brother, you have done nothing to cause the suffering and death of your child – for all of our lives, whether young or old, are in God’s hands and only He, the Heavenly Father, alone knows why He takes one so soon, the other much later! – I am truly pleased that you have a good, pious minister there. This can be a great blessing and support for you. Surely you still have many cares and worries about your daily bread for your family, dear Curt – and yet I have the feeling that you have made some progress with the purchase of the small property! The dear Lord must surely bless this undertaking. But I find the man who lent you the 53 dollars incredibly heartless – I am sending you here 20 dollars to help you to soon be free of this terrible worry, as a small aid to help you find better work! How I wish I could send more to ease more of your worries – but sadly, sadly, I can’t spare more at the moment. If you are still in need, tell me openly, because at the end of December I might be able to send you another 20 dollars. And if I can, I will do it with all my heart because there is no one I am happier to help than you! You are close to my heart, I love you sincerely, understand you and sympathize with you and share all of your sorrows, sufferings and joys. – In my heart I am very much alone in this world, because almost no one understands me and the heartless, selfish world of those who think only of themselves and the most fleeting pleasures is quite incomprehensible to me. How can they say nice things, without meaning them! When it comes to [showing] love, I believe in deeds rather than mere words! Even Clara, who was once so close to me, no longer understands me! I am too pious for her! And God sees into my heart [and knows that] my piety is truly not just an outward appearance, but that I, for the love of my Heavenly Father, perform acts of charity! Empty pious words disgust me! – Don’t count on Clara’s help, dear Curt. She got married again in the middle of July this year to a Herr von Blücher. He owns an estate in Western Pomerania. So Clara’s money will probably be going towards that because, as Emmy recently wrote, the manor was in quite a state of disrepair! Clara announced her engagement to me, whereupon I congratulated her warmly. I was then invited to come to Stettin for the wedding, but did not go because I didn’t have the money for it, because my husband believes such expenses are quite unnecessary! I haven’t heard from Clara since then. I really don’t understand why she would get married again at her age, given that she is so well off! – I hope she will be happy! –
Emmy is also always complaining and asking me for money. But her children should be supporting her now that four of them are doing so well. I rarely hear from Anna. She also has a rather difficult life, many worries and an unkind husband. But now farewell, dear brother. May God continue to protect you and your loved ones. Greet your wife and children from me and tell her that I also feel her pain for the dear child! How must his siblings be missing their dear little brother! Hopefully the other children are healthy again.
In faithful, heartfelt love
Your sister
Blanca
Your home will be quite cold in winter, so freshly built. It would be better not to put up wallpaper for a while yet, so the walls can dry out better. If there is no cellar underneath, it will also be cold beneath your feet. If possible, cover the floor with straw mats, this will help warm [the room] immensely and the children should wear felt slippers in the house. The walls near the beds should always be covered with straw mats. This will keep additional moisture away from the new walls. I have trouble imagining how you can cope with a big family in only 2 rooms and 12 chickens. It must and therefore will work out in the end – especially in your own home!
May the dear God bless your little home! My dear brother!
If you have the time, please write me in detail. I am interested in everything!
Melz, June 19, [19]00
My dear brother Curt!
I wanted to answer your letter as soon as possible just to show you how pleased I was by the lines you wrote for my birthday. Yet four weeks have already gone by since I received it and I have no idea where the time has gone. The spring and summer bring a lot of work for such a large manor in the countryside and, regardless of how willing I am, my frail body is often not up to the task. Although overall the work has become easier since my husband has started to treat me more kindly. And though the pressure my soul has been under is easing, I still suffer greatly from the great strife and discord that prevails in the Ferber family and from my still rather spry mother-in-law unfortunately fomenting things by taking sides. This is likely because of her old age as she can no longer think clearly and logically or exercise good judgment. Well, one must be patient, because in the end I also feel sorry for the old woman! When you really look at it, these quarrels usually arise from something really childish – and old people should be ashamed of themselves for making life so difficult for themselves and others over such trivial things or out of envy that someone has more than someone else. It simply isn’t good when siblings live as close to each other as they do here. After all, it is better to be far out of range than to be subjected to every little strife. This ailment also afflicted our own family, as I still remember from my childhood and I found it terrible – and now I am right back in the middle of it again, without my doing. Please don’t mention any of this in your letters. I really don’t like to talk about things that can’t be changed – even though it weighs heavily on my heart. I have mentioned it only so that you can see that I’m not exactly lying in a bed of roses either. I felt very badly about your mishap with the chickens in the cellar, also that your salary was cut. I still keep reading about the tram strike in the newspaper and hope it will be over soon and that your will soon be earning more and better times will come. In general, I have the feeling, dear brother, that the future is beginning to look brighter again for you and your family and I am very pleased that you managed to have your Eva trained in good domestic skills with that nice German family. This is better than any scholarly learning in a woman and later she can properly support her mother! Women’s complaints can be extremely hard on one’s nerves and mind. And I am glad to know that you yourself, dear Curt, also have sympathetic people from your past that you can talk to. And I truly hope that whenever you have trouble making your monthly payments, you can turn to them – that they will not fail to help you, especially since they themselves have also come to know hardship and poverty. –
But what you mentioned about Emmy, dear Curt, is not quite accurate regarding Clara, because the two are not very close – and Clara also judges Emmy harshly. Clara’s marital bliss has not been good for her inner being and has made her forget that she herself was once poor and that Graus supported her at one time, as did I to some extent. Clara’s nature has become very independent, and she acts entirely on her own accord, and unfortunately her second husband, who is very good-natured, idolizes her! The situation there is supposedly modest and the manor is said to be somewhat run down – both are working very hard bring it back up to standard – but gentleman farmers here in Germany do not have it easy under the current social conditions. Clara has been completely absent for a year now, because when she announced her engagement, I told her that she should to set aside what was left of the fortune from her first husband and to be careful in this respect! She was greatly offended and, as she said, it hurt the feelings of her present husband, whom I do not know at all, so deeply that she has completely forsaken me as a sister. Hence, I must come to terms with this. But this new experience breaks my heart, nevertheless. Clara will probably come to her senses again! Just let her do what she wants. Right now she is too happy! I don’t really understand people like that anymore.
I haven’t heard from Fritz in years.
This fall Emmy will move in with her children in Berlin, two daughters. They support themselves by giving piano lessons, which is a very most honorable way to earn money! I visited the girls recently and have grown very fond of them. All five daughters, and especially the two oldest, are of excellent character. They earn their keep wherever they are and are welcome guests. The one son, an officer in the military, has gotten married to a wealthy woman, is very competent and is climbing the career ladder. Even the youngest officer is competent, receives a bonus salary from the military and when that isn’t enough, the sisters and the eldest brother, an inspector, help him out. Emmy may have her faults, like we all do, but she raised her children excellently. Anna also recently asked me for money to pay the doctor for herself and her sick children, as the husband doesn’t give her a thing. Anna has now taken over a summer guesthouse for lake side tourists, while her husband has remained in London. But I must close now that I have filled you in on everything! May God protect you and yours, dear brother! In heartfelt love
From (your sister) Blanca
Melz, June 4, [19]04
My dear Curt!
Thank you very much for your affectionate good wishes on my birthday. I am pleased that you thought of me and at the same time I learned about how you and your loved ones are doing. So you’re now living in the chicken coop?! I only hope that your beautiful house is finished soon, that will be a great relief for you. How happy I would be to sit with you on your veranda and listen to your concert! Such informal, cozy family joys, they are the sweetest things in life, and they delight and make the heart stronger and strengthen the family’s ties. I visit you often in my mind, dear Curt. I hope your lumbago is completely gone, otherwise I would advise you to put a Benson’s plaster on it. It is very good for this kind of ailment. For almost 30 years, I have endured all types of rheumatic complaints!
Hopefully your dear son will soon be released from the doctor’s care and be completely restored. How wonderful that Fritz is able to earn so much with poultry, and that Blanca is earning money as well! That is good of her; your children are already helping out so faithfully! The reward of a good upbringing. I had written to Anna, and also received an answer today, which was rather odd. I had written to her at the time “that her letters and worries weigh heavily on me.“ Now I myself do not understand, only that I wrote to her – since I had been supporting her for years with money almost above my means — that I can no longer do so and that her children would have to take care of her, as her daughter is married to a rather wealthy man. Shortly before this I had also sent money for a sewing machine, so that Anna could earn money herself with it. Well, Anna is to be pitied and is probably somewhat unbalanced from all she has experienced. Hence, my heart can rejoice for her that she will be under your protection and that you will also be a good influence on her sons and teach them that it is a matter of honor to care faithfully for their mother! Proper education and leadership are probably lacking. It is questionable whether Anna can still earn and achieve very much, since she was always weak and sickly and is already 51 years old! Otherwise, she had always been very talented and hard-working and, being there with you in a healthier environment, may also recover physically.
Later, if your time permits, dear Curt, please write to me when you have had a chance to observe Anna and her sons for a while. [Let me know] what impression they make on you and whether you believe that Anna can still earn something outside the home – or perhaps at home working on the sewing machine? Don’t people do that there? If she lacks the means to buy one, write me how much one costs. Perhaps a used one in good condition? And how much new? If I can, I will send some money — even though I won’t have too much to spare. Anna always imagines that I’m rich, but she is mistaken. I really must scrimp and save to get by with what I receive. My husband is very frugal. The countrymen all complain nowadays, where expenses are steadily rising. In any case, from the bottom of my heart I have always tried to help out whenever I could. But there is a limit to everything. I must close now; to you and yours, dear brother, heartfelt greetings and may God protect you faithfully.
In heartfelt love, I remain
Your Blanca
What about your fruit trees? Are they bearing fruit? Did you also plant some vegetables? – When your house is finished, have it photographed if you can and send me a picture – You must all stand in front of it. How big is your place? In other words, how many acres.
Lankwitz near Berlin
Beethovenstr. 35 II
Dec. 30, (19)10
My dear Curt!
My heartfelt happiness and blessings on your birthday. I wish you only the best this New Year and that your children bring you great joy. As you can see from the address above, I have left Melz and now live here in a suburb of Berlin in silence and seclusion, as I am forced to save money. My good son gives me what he can, but he himself is also suffering from a tight financial situation and must see how he can get by in the current difficult circumstances. He was married in the fall and has a very dear, intelligent wife, who is also a very dear daughter to me – capable and practical, but she herself is without means.
I have not heard from you in so long, dear brother, and hope that this is not a bad indication of your well-being and that you are too busy working, then that is the most important thing for you and your big family.
Anna’s youngest son was transferred to Cleveland by the shipping company where he works and is earning well, and so Anna has moved there with him. Bert also wanted to go there, as he has learned a lot and also expects to get a job with the shipping company.
Clara is doing well; I plan on visiting her next summer.
My eyes are getting a little better. I have been taking a remedy for a year, and it has been good for me and I will hopefully no long need surgery. Anna needed surgery on her cataracts and her vision has improved since then. When you get old, you must endure all sorts of pain and suffering.
I turn 60 this year. God protect you and yours, my dear brother, I send you heartfelt greetings.
Lovingly,
Your sister
Blanca
My dear brother Curt.
I received your so dear, comprehensive letter on Dec. 13th and I thank you and your dear Fritz very warmly for your great love and kindness. But don’t send any more money, it is enough, and I’m embarrassed at the thought of you being forced to cut back on other things because of it. So, this Christmas you will all visit your dear children in Bell[e]ville, that will indeed be a great pleasure, seeing the young and the old. Greet your loved ones there particularly warmly from old Aunt Blanca.
Please continue to tell me about you and your children, I’m so very interested in everything and can be with you more often in spirit! Congratulations on your 7th grandchild! May this little child also thrive, give you joy and grow up in God’s glory.
I loved hearing that Papa’s picture pleased you so much. Here I am enclosing for you a picture of our dear old grandmother, which you surely do not have. You wrote at that time so fondly to Clara, reminiscing about our old grandma, you would probably have been 6 years old when she died and yet you can remember her! she was also so loving to me. People said that I look just like her.
I haven’t heard much from Clara at the moment, in the dark winter my old eyes are failing me, and I cannot write very much, and Clara now is also starting to neglect her correspondence. The election of your new President Coolage (Coolidge) was also exactly what I was hoping for! I also have a feeling that he will be a blessing for our Germany. He seems to have his head and heart in the right place. At first, he seemed to be a bit reserved towards Germany, but this was probably his tactic. When you receive this letter, the lovely Christmas season will already be over, but I was with you in spirit and wishing you blessed holidays, because Christmas is and will always be a festival of love, which is particularly meaningful to us Christians that our dear Lord himself became man to redeem us.
I will be thinking of you on your birthday on Jan. 15, my dear brother, with very special love and am now sending you my most intimate and faithful wishes for happiness and blessings. May the dear Heavenly Father bless and protect your loved ones also in this new year he has given us, and may he grant you health and all that makes you happy.
Greetings to your wife and children. Lovingly, my dear brother, I always remain
Your old faithful sister Blanca.