Letters from Curt

Bartelt Curt von Schmalensee, was the third son of FFL and his second wife. He was born on January 15, 1860, in Gross-Paglau. Unable to afford his tuition, the family took him out of military school when he was 15 years old. That same year he joined the Merchant Marine and sailed all over the world, including to Africa and the Americas. In 1877, at the age of seventeen, he survived a shipwreck off the coast of Valparaiso. In 1880, he immigrated to the United States to live with his father, whom he found living in dire circumstances. He worked as a sailor on the Great Lakes, and later as a bartender, waiter, newspaper agent and carpenter. He lived in St. Paul, Chicago, and eventually settled in St. Louis, Missouri, in later years building his own home there on Thrush Avenue. He married Dorothea Steckling in 1884. Their marriage was blessed with eight children, two sons and six daughters. Curt died on May 23, 1932, his wife having already passed away on November 2, 1931. Both found their final resting place in the New Bethlehem Cemetery in St. Louis.
Schield, March 8th, 1877
My dear Clara!
As we had nothing but poor winds, we were forced to change course and come here instead of sailing to Cardiff.
When I arrived here, I wrote straightaway to the Consul in Cardiff regarding any potential letters there for me, and I received a letter from Blanca and with it the picture of her husband. He must be a very good man, because he has such a good-natured face. I had also hoped for a letter from you, but it appears I must still wait for one. Please, please write me a letter quickly, because we might leave in 8-10 days.
We go to Valparaiso from here, it is located on the west coast of [South] America. I don’t know much more about it.
We have docked here for eight days while we get new copper. I can tell you our ship now looks brand new again. We also had it freshly painted again. At Blanca’s request I had my photograph* taken here and am enclosing a picture for you. I am not so pleased with the pictures, but I cannot expect any better in England, because they do not have such good cameras like the Germans.
I wrote to Papa and Blanka the day I arrived, but unfortunately still have not received an answer from them. If you perhaps write to Papa, ask him whether he has received a letter from me. It is possible that the letter got lost. I gave it to the captain when he went on land. But don’t tell Papa that I’m writing this to you now. The weather has been constantly cold and wet here, which was not the case in France, there everything was green for the most part. We recently celebrated Carnival there, which was great fun for us. We got all dressed up and joined in a Carnival procession and then were drawn into a large party. It was really nice, and even though we could not communicate very well, we were able to dance and be merry. We joined them on the second day for a big masked ball. All of these celebrations cost me a mere 2 francs = 1 mark 60 pf., which is what I paid for my Chinaman costume. Well, my dear sister, I must close here. I have run out of time as well as paper. Please give my regards to Herr and Frau Präpositus.
Side note: Many greetings and kisses to you from your faithful brother
Curt
* This is the very portrait displayed at the top of the page.
Valparaiso, August 6, 1877
Dear Papa!
You have probably been very worried about me, because you haven’t heard from me in a long while. Unfortunately, I must tell you that we were shipwrecked. Can you imagine, one of the most beautiful ships went down on the 24th of July. We had a terrible voyage. At Cape Horn we encountered several strong gales, and on that high sea several torrential waves crashed on our deck. This broke two (life)boats and knocked off the front hatch, so that the ship’s hold stood open for a time, and a great deal of water rushed in. All the while we had to pump constantly, because there was also a leak in the back of the ship that we couldn’t reach. In spite of all of our efforts, the ship ran aground near the beach roughly 100 English miles south of Valpareiso, a day’s journey from where we set sail / Meuthe. We had moored the mast sails, as it had begun to blow most strongly, and we wanted to turn around at four a.m. as the wind was coming from the front. But the storm threw us ashore when the ship had turned a few lengths, and it struck ground for the first time. We then found ourselves in a terrible surf, which then threw the ship ever closer to land. All this happened at three o’clock in the morning. We could see nothing but surf because it was pitch dark. Then a lifeboat was launched in the water, in which seven sailors made it safely ashore; five remained on board, myself included. The cook and the boatswain tried to get ashore in water barrels, but were carried away by the current and drowned. I myself took two cork mats (cork balls) and tied them in front of my chest and jumped overboard, and so swam towards the shore. But I swallowed a great deal of water, as the breakers constantly struck over my head. I made it to shore after about fifteen minutes and was taken to a hut and placed by a fire, where I soon recovered. In the afternoon the sea settled down, and we took the other two* off the mast, but the worst thing was that we had lost most of our belongings, the Chileans took everything including what had washed ashore. I only managed to save a few of my things, but I should be able to equip myself again. The consul has promised to help find me a job as a sailor on a German ship (15 talers a month). I will write you the destination and name of the shipwhen once I have signed up with another ship and am ready to sail. I will probably be away from Europe for another eight to ten months. Please let the sisters know and give them my regards. Perhaps you could also be so good as to send a postcard to my friend, Johannes Bartsch (Friedenstr. 99) about what happened. He was my best friend in Berlin and has been in constant correspondence with me. I have received your and Mother’s letters.
Side note, page 2: I will write you more in my next letter. With heartfelt greetings and kisses** from your loyal son, Curt.
* I can only assume he meant the drowned sailors.
** “Es grüßt und küßt dich herzlich” was a common phrase used in letters at the time, even from fathers to sons, and vice versa.
Callao, September 20,1877
Dear Papa!
On September 4th, I signed on with Capt. Ode on a Hamburg barque owned by the Amsing shipping company, a ship of 1600 tons, with an 18-man crew. It is a purchased Italian ship, only 4 years old and very nice. I have replaced my kit, although I wasn’t reimbursed for my losses. By my calculations, I only lost 80 talers worth of items in the shipwreck. I earn 12 talers a month.
We will probably still sail for 10 or 11 more months because we are heading from here to a guano island that we are unfamiliar with to take on our cargo ourselves. This will probably take two to three months, as there is not a lot of guano at the moment. If you are still in Berlin right now, please write to me here in Callao to let me know if you are going to America and when, because I would then send my next letter there. Please give my regards to the sisters when you write them, and apologize to them for my lack of correspondence, as I have neither time nor money. I have recently seen and learned so many new things, I used the time I had to spend in this country to see all the points of interest in the city of Valpareiso and surrounding area. But, the people are rather unclean and lazy. I also watched the maneuver of the Chilean soldiers, but they couldn’t hold a candle to German soldiers. We arrived here on the 16th after a swift and pleasant voyage on the trade winds. Peru is a very barren country, nothing but bare cliffs to see here. My address is
Ship Orion, Capt. Ode
Schipping Agents Grace & Brother
Callao, Peru.
Please forgive my bad handwriting. As you know, my hands are always full of tar, because I am now an ordinary sailor.
Sending you greetings and kisses, your faithful son Curt
Note, top of page: I would also receive your letter on the guano island, because the shipping company also conveys any post there. Write to Mama.
Newspaper clipping included in the envelope:
“Policy” seller sentenced.
Edward Swartz, 25 years old and formerly residing at No. 179 West 97th St., who had been arrested on three different occasions for selling “Policy” tickets and ran his lucrative business in No. 202 and 202 1/2 William Str., pleaded guilty yesterday to the charges brought against him and was sentenced by Judge Cowing to 2 months for each individual instance, i.e. a total of 6 months, in the penitentiary.
Havana, March 28, 1879
Dear Papa!
You will have probably been waiting a long time for a letter from me. I now have some time to myself at the moment and didn’t want to miss the chance to send you news about me. A lot has changed for me in the last few months. When I returned from Africa, I stayed in Hamburg for three weeks and visited Dittmers, who are always so very kind to me. I then had to embark on the English Barque, Windward, from St. John. I earned two pounds a month. We sailed from Hamburg to Savanna, and from there to Portland. There, I went ashore and intended to join the American Navy. But since it just wasn’t the right time to do so, I made another trip on this ship. We were paid 15 American (dollars) a month. We unloaded and took on other paid cargo, namely syrup and sugar. The journey continued on to Portland, Maine, where we were discharged. I am now on an American schooner, where I am the only German, the rest of the crew is American. I am navigating the English language rather well, it is very similar to Platt German. When I get to Portland, I want to go to Portsmouth, and there I want to enlist with the American Navy. I will get 21 American dollars a month, but I must sign up for three years. In this way I can earn the money for my helmsman exam, even two or three times over. But, I am 19 years old now and it is high time that I take my helmsman exam by the time I am 22. Once I have passed the exam, I would only need to serve one year in the German Navy. Havana has a rather nice harbor, and there are many large and small ships. However, it is all very expensive there, except the cigars. I sold my revolver here and received 10 dollars. I had paid three for it. I bought cigars with this money and will sell them in Portland. 100 cost 3 dollars here , in Portland I will get 7. I’m only doing this to earn a little money to buy my naval uniform. If I don’t do this, it will cost me two months’ salary.
Please write me as soon as you receive this letter and tell me how you are doing in Costa Rica, and whether you are still quite healthy. You would make Dittmers very happy if you would send them a letter. They are really so very nice to me. I am in constant correspondence with them.
Sending you hugs and kisses.
Your faithful son
Curt
My address: C v. S: by John Foxton
Fore Street No. 124, Portland Me
Side note, page 1: Blanka is also getting a letter from me, I am very happy about her young son.
Side note, page 2: In the first year 21 dollars, in the second year 28 dollars, and then 35 dollars when I leave.
Boston, August 21, 1880
Dear Papa!
Luckily, we reached the port of Boston yesterday. If we hadn’t been lucky enough to reach a tugboat, we would still be far off at sea today, because a heavy snowstorm from the northeast reached us just as we entered the harbor.
My first thought was to approach the owner of the ship and ask him if there were any letters for me. Lo and behold, there were two letters waiting for me. Your letter and one from Herr Dittmer. You can imagine what a joy it was for me. After I was in Africa, Herr Dittmer told me that his wife had been sick for eight months, suffering from a severe stomach ailment. I wrote him suggesting that he try a Hollmann liver patch, because I had heard it was an excellent remedy for stomach ailments. He accepted my offer gratefully. I really hope from the bottom of my heart that it helped the poor woman. I am now staying in the same boarding house as last time, the same place where I also received your first letter. I will be paid next week, but I cannot tell you with certainty on which day I will come, but will let you know a day or two before I arrive. I have to take the Boston Albany train. The trip will cost me about 16 dollars.
Side notes:
You can imagine how happy I will be to see you again so soon.
You are right in your letter that we will have a lot to tell each other about the last four years, as so much has happened in this time.
Hopefully, you are in good health, and I believe your lucky star has not faded just yet.
A heartfelt greeting and a kiss from your
Loving son
Curt
DIX HOTEL,
PETER DIX, Proprietor
339 FOURTH St.
Milwaukee, October 27, 1880
Dear Papa!
Your letter really pleased me, all the more so the offer from your friend, to whom I am extremely grateful. Naturally I accept, but I am concerned about one thing, namely that I cannot get the necessary funds together in the next 14 days, because the business is going very slowly, as the sail makers are all busy. The timing isn’t the best for me, perhaps you can advise me what to do?
The trip would cost just $10, and Broyeh and Kickhefer together would also make $10, hence $20. I will do whatever is in my power.
Please write me soon and tell me what you think.
You can rest assured I will keep my silence.
Your
faithful son,
Curt
DIX HOTEL,
PETER DIX, Proprietor
339 FOURTH St.
Milwaukee, October 27, 1880
Dear Papa!
Your letter really pleased me, all the more so the offer from your friend, to whom I am extremely grateful, Naturally I accept, but I am concerned about one thing, namely that I cannot get the necessary funds together in the next 14 days, because the business is going very slowly, as the sail makers are all busy. The timing isn’t the best for me, perhaps you can advise me what to do?
The trip would cost just $10, and Broyeh and Kickhefer together would also make $10, hence $20. I will do whatever is in my power.
Please write me soon and tell me what you think.
You can rest assured I will keep my silence.
Your
faithful son,
Curt
Milwaukee, November 15, 1880
Dear Papa!
I just received your letter, which I had awaited so eagerly. I do not have a penny to my name. I gave the last of my money to my landlady and still owe her $1.25 next Friday. Including Dix, I will owe $6 next Friday. I don’t know how that will work out. I’ve already looked around at different places for work, but in vain. I had the prospect of working in a machine shop for $35 a month, but couldn’t accept as I won’t be here that long, so the job went to someone else. Work in the shipyard has also decreased as there’s a shortage of wood. Also, I don’t want to work outside in the snow and rain. I would mostly be wasting my time. They only work 8 hours and get $1 per day. But I think it would save money if I came right away, and I could make myself useful around the house. If this drags on for too long, I will have to look for a more permanent position. I have been told that the fire brigade needs people and will look into it. Please write soon,
Your faithful son
Curt
I would need about $15 if I am to come.
Side note, page 1: Best regards from the Professor and Krause.
Milwaukee, November 16, 1880
Dear Papa!
I am glad I now know when I should come. Of course, I will leave here as soon as possible, because this is costing me money unnecessarily. But I must confess to you that I can no longer get by with $10. I owe $6 for board, $1.25 for my room, $1 to Maschringer and $3.50 to old Schultz, who lent me money to pay my rent, so nearly $12. You can see for yourself how much I need. I think that Mr. Kötter will lend me a little more; I can pay him $20 just as easily as $10 when I will be earning such a good income. You can rest assured that I will try hard to fill my post to the best of my abilities. If I can get the money by Friday afternoon, I will leave that same evening. You know I wouldn’t like to go to Broich to borrow money; I regret that I can’t pay him back the $5 I owe him before I leave. I have gotten rid of my old things, but they were basically worthless.
In the hopes of seeing you again very soon, I remain
Your faithful son
Curt
Envelope:
Von:
DIX HOTEL
PETER DIX, Prop.,
No. 339 4th Street MILWAUKEE
An:
F. v. Schmalensee Esq.
Kötters Hotel
Corn. Fourth and Elm St.
St Louis Mo.
Chicago, March 8, 1881
Dear Father!
Please don’t be angry with me for making you wait so long for an answer, but I am currently so very busy. I was very pleased that you finally have some good prospects, and I hope to God that they will not be thwarted. Dear Father, please don’t worry about me, I have no desire for any business other than the one I am in right now, namely working as a fine waiter, because I would need to learn the ropes in any other job and would never reach the goal that is almost within my reach. I intend to get by on my own now, and I’m certain that in time I will make something of myself.
How are the Dixes and little Emilie? Hopefully there will not be too many obstacles standing in my way when I want to approach her in roughly seven or eight months. What do you think about it? Does that make sense? When I have $400-600 together, I think it would be fitting to approach her, and then open a salon or a restaurant? Tell me, what opinion do people have of me? Two months ago I visited Dixes and was received most warmly. I was also treated very kindly by Emmy, for which you can thank her for me. Give her my regards and tell her that I will visit her at the end of April and then bid her farewell as I intend to go to New York for the summer, where I have been offered a good job. Please also give Flemmings my regards.
I have written this rather hastily, so please excuse me. I hope you are well and especially that you have recovered from all the stress and strain.
Please write me and tell me a lot about Milwaukee, it always feels like home to me.
Your faithful son
Curt
Envelope:
F. von Schmalensee
Per H v Flemming
519 Van Buren St.
Milwaukee,
Wis.
Chicago, May 2, 1882
Dear Papa!
You must excuse me for not answering your letter sooner, but you also know that my job is very demanding, and I am grateful when I can nap in the afternoon for a few hours each day. I don’t have any news for you because my chances of a better job are still very slim. I don’t want to talk much about it, either, because I’m superstitious that talking too much about something will chase away the chance of it happening. Hopefully you are fine. You will probably already have spring there. Here the trees and the grass are starting to turn green. I’m not going to send you the fishing rod today, but I will get it the day after tomorrow. I sent your watch and hope that it has arrived to you undamaged. The people you used to live with send their regards and asked how you are doing. Helmann also sends his regards. (I could swear he’s Jewish.)
I have also seen Dreßler several times. He asked how you are faring and requests that you drop him a few lines. The skiing will probably amount to nothing, because Jacoby is now only rarely in Chicago.
I am also writing to Blanka today and make sure she understands that you need her help. How is Herr Müller? Please give him my regards. Hellmann told me Herr Haase in Milwaukee was dead, that it could have been a consequence of his emotions. I had tried to find Herr von Ort to pay off my debt, but have not yet been able to meet up with him.
Adieu for today, dear Papa. Give Müller my regards and remember with love your
Faithful son,
Curt
Chicago July 7, [18]82
Dear Papa!
You’ll have to excuse me that I did not write to you sooner, but I was actually waiting for a letter from you, because as far as I know I was the one who wrote last. I left Reicholds about 2 months ago, because I demanded better wages and they didn’t want to give it to me. I’ve worked at two other places since then, but I didn’t like either of them. At the moment I am working midday in a first class restaurant, and in the evening when the weather is good at Fischers Garden but unfortunately the weather has been very bad in the last two weeks. I am currently living in the same room that you lived in at Mrs. Nelson’s, who sends you her warm regards and often asks how you are doing. I’ll send you the $2 you desired sometime next week. Dear Papa, I do not believe that this area and the job would be very suitable for you. Wouldn’t it be better for both of you, you and Müller, to come back here again, and to look for any other type of work or to seek your luck in some other area. You are (hopefully) not considering staying there for the winter, because what I’ve heard is that it’s supposed to be terribly cold up there in winter. Last Sunday I saw Herr Funk from St. Louis and acted as if I did not know him, but he came right up to me in his false overfriendly manner and inquired about your health and mine. He also told me that the mutt had chased Schmitt and other such things. I did not let myself get drawn into a long conversation, but soon turned my back to him. Immediately afterwards I ran into Rubel who was very friendly to me and also inquired about you. He has his office in 46 E Lake Str. and said I should visit him. I got a letter from Frau Krause. They’re fine, she says I should come to Milwaukee. There are a lot of jobs for barkeepers there, but I want to stay in Chicago over the summer.
I often go to Drexlers, they are always very friendly to me and send you their regards. Do you also have saloons up there and what are the [prices] for drinks there?
Adieu for today, dear Papa. Please address your letter to 56 W Randolph, care of Mr. Ne(l)son.
My regards to Müller.
Your faithful son Curt
Chicago, Sept. 20, (18)82
Dear Dad!
You have probably been expecting a letter from me for a long time. I actually went to Delphi, Ind. with an acquaintance for an extended period of time and tried to sell items there (porcelain, knick-knacks). My prospects were not good, and I failed to make a profit and had large expenses. But I have had gained experience and the next time I take such a business trip, will take more (goods) than I did this time. I wanted to write to you from there, but since the business didn’t go brilliantly, I decided to come back sooner and write to you then. This took longer, however, because my friend encouraged me not to give up so soon. When I arrived in Chicago, I found your letters and really regretted that I had not written to you sooner. At the moment, I am working here as a fine waiter in the Vienna Café and am earning rather good wages. I will work there until mid-November, and then I will try my luck once again before the Christmas season. Hopefully, you and Herr Müller are both well. According to the newspaper, they are expecting good harvests in the next few years. Also, I found a letter from Dittmers in Hamburg when I returned home, which I am including (in this letter) for you. Dresslers are well and send you their regards. I go see them almost every day.
My apartment is again at Nelson’s, 56 W. Randolph, who did not hold my room during my absence. What do the letters from Germany say? Blanka has probably answered your letters. For today, dear Papa, I say Adieu, and in the hope that my letter finds you in good health, I remain your faithful son
Curt
Regards to Müller
Are there saloons in Goodwin and do you have to pay license fees there?
Chicago, October 20, [18]82
Dear Papa!
Pease do not be angry with me for not answering your letter right away. You can imagine how your letter shocked me, but I was glad to learn from your postcard that you had improved, and so I put off answering from one day to the next. Hopefully you’re back to your old self now. I am now at Dresslers very often, and feel very much at home there when Dressler and I smoke our pipes, drink our beers and discuss all sorts of things. My situation is already beginning to improve a bit. I am still working in the Vienna Bakery and have paid off my debts, and I am now in the process of buying good sturdy winter clothes. When that is all taken care of, I will start saving up for our Christmas expedition, which includes $80 to buy goods. We will be more successful this time, dear Papa, and will also have a better showing. Then, if I earn something at the traveling Christmas market, I intend to start a small business.
All I can say is that I must work a lot and in addition to this, I’m still working at night at balls, but which is very well paid.
I am now so very well known here in Chikago [sic] that if I would stop working in the Vienna Bakery tomorrow, I could start in any other big restaurant, but I don’t give that too much thought. So, we will start our journey on November 3rd and head to Ind[i]anapolis. From there we will go through all the small and large towns between here and there along the Louisville and New Albany Roads.
On December 26th, we intend to come back to Chikago [sic] again with our pockets full. I have my mind set on it.
A very nice young man gave me this idea; he has already done it twice during the Christmas season.
How is Müller? Please give him my regards.
I remain always,
Your faithful son,
Curt.
Top of page: Best regards from Dressler
Envelope:
Mr. v. Schmalensee
Goodwin
Dakota Terr.
Chicago, Dec. 27, [18]82
Dear Papa!
I just received your letter and see that you are in a very bad way. I will do everything in my power to get you here. I have very little cash on hand and I am not earning much, but I think I can manage to send $20 in 10-14 days. I hope that you can hang on until then and don’t lose hope, then all of your worries will be gone.
My Christmas plans were ruined, as my friend backed out of the project. But I believe that my present income can support us both, barely but assuredly.
Do you know a certain Albert Roseneck, who is employed at the Free Press? He often asked about you through Nelson. If he or Strutz could help you with something, then it would be best if you wrote to both of them and through them perhaps find a cheaper long-distance ticket. It turns out Dressler was only friends with Jakoby, who is no longer here. Write to both of them yourself and describe your situation. I cannot approach the gentlemen at Pape because my position would not allow it. If they do not help you in the next 14 days, I will send you the $20, which should be enough to cover the journey.
Now please do not lose courage. When our need is greatest, God’s help is not far away.
Your faithful son
Curt
2 Kentucky Lottery Tickets
Envelope:
Mr. v Schmalensee
Post Office Troy
Dakota Territ.
Chicago, March.27.83
Dear Papa!
Forgive me for making you wait so long for an answer, but I could never get the time during the day to look for the Electric Pocket Light and such shops are closed in the evening. Today I found someone to take my place and went to the address (you gave me). There I found out that they chased those people out of the store 3 weeks ago and couldn’t tell me where they went. I was also told that that the light was a big fake and really just a gimmick.
I’ll probably visit you before I go to New York and I can tell you more about it then. I am often at Drexlers. They are well and cheerful and send their regards.
Forgive me that my letter is so short. I can tell you everything of importance when I see you. At the moment I have no news.
I am very tired and worn out because I am working so much.
Please give Flemming and Dixes my regards.
Your faithful son
Curt
Chicago June 15, [18]84
My dear Mary!
Today I survived another hard day and hope that all the days that still stand between us will pass quite quickly, because it will be very difficult for me to control myself and not to cast everything aside and rush to you. Thank you very much for your dear letter, I received it on Friday. You must not think that your letters seem stupid to me. That is not the case at all, even if you are not able to write letters easily as I can, please do not worry that your letters might not please me. No, on the contrary, I’m very pleased that you can write such good German letters for an American-born girl. As for your love, I can only tell you that I reciprocate your feelings from the bottom of my heart and that I would go through fire and (face) death for you, my dear sweetheart. How could an honest heart be immune to such a faithful, openly loving heart as yours? I was very pleased to read from your letters that you (will have your portrait taken) today, because if I had a thousand photos of you, it would still not be enough for me. Because I always want to look at your dear face.
I remember that evening when I brought you home from the City Theater, but at that time I was very careful not to get tied down to a young girl, because otherwise I wouldn’t have moved away from Milwaukee and would not have ended up as far away as I am now, even I was too young back then.
Therefore, my love, don’t be mad at me. Today I love you two and three times as much. My father sends you his warm regards, including to your loved ones. Thank God, he is well and has a lot to do. You will probably see him in two or three weeks. Accept my warmest greetings [and] a very heartfelt kiss from your faithful
Curt
May a sweet warm wind blow you to sleep now from me.
Page text: Many regards to your loved ones from me.
Chicago, July 21, (18)84
My dear Mary!
It happened just as I had expected, because I had sensed that I would receive your dear letter this afternoon. My heart always beats faster as soon as I see the postman. How could I be mad at you, my beloved, since your wish to see me so soon proves to me how truly and dearly you are attached to me. For this, I thank you a thousand times, my sweetheart. You will find enclosed with this a letter from my sister Clara to our father in which she writes a great deal about us. I think you will enjoy reading it, but it would take up too much space to write it down for you on paper. Please be so kind and send it back to me afterwards. Clara is the youngest sister and the only one with which I still correspond. You will see from the way she writes that she still thinks of me as a little boy and cannot quite imagine that I am old enough to get married. What do you think, my love? I believe that although I am young, I have weathered more storms than many have in their entire lives, and that I have gotten to know every facet of life. Thank you for feeling sorry for me, but don’t worry, I will cope. If I can’t wrestle something with my hands, then I’ll grab it with my teeth. That’s the way I’ve always managed to handle everything. Hopefully my sweetheart is fine. I would love to just sit with you and chat for a few hours, or to hear your lovely voice singing. But I must acquiesce myself and wait, as hard as it sounds to me and regardless of how heavy it makes my heart, I must. When I listen to beautiful music, my imagination sometimes conjures up your dear voice, bringing me relief for a moment.
So, my sweetest, a thousand greetings from me and heartfelt kisses, dream of a sweet kiss from me on your forehead and lips. Your deeply lovingCurt Schmalensee
Page text: Many greetings to your loved ones from me and to your fatherChicago August 2 [18]84.
My dear Mary!
Thank you very much for your dear letter, which I received this afternoon. I can see from it that you also have a lot of work, but as you correctly say, then you are not bored. I nevertheless stand alone, behind my bar sometimes in the afternoon and have nothing to do after I have prepared everything for the evening, and then I long for you so indescribably that I am sometimes tempted to give it all up and hurry to be with you. But I mustn’t do that yet, I have to wait another month and a half and then, my sweetheart, you will be mine. Just think, the longest part of our wait is now behind us, just forty-five days to go.
We had a gypsy band here last week. They played such fine, lovely, yet also wild music, that our garden was not big enough to hold all the people who came to hear them. You can imagine how the evening went, with six barkeepers and 22 waiters. All I can say is that I have never experienced anything so wild like it these past few days have been. We survived it, however, and are now wishing for more work, which we do have because we have the Roman Students playing here with us again as well as a Jewish comedian, who received a great deal of applause tonight. He had the whole audience swaying to his humorous way of singing Jewish songs. If the weather stays this good next week, we should also make a great deal of money tomorrow or even today, right now it is between (1-2) at night and we will have matinee and I will be very busy, too, because everyone goes out on a Sunday afternoon. But always keep your eyes and ears open, that’s my motto. Finally, please forgive me for drawing your attention to one little thing, my darling, namely that “Schmalensee” is only spelled with one “l.” I should have pointed this out to you a long time ago, but never got around to it.
Now, my dear heart, in my thoughts, a passionate kiss from me to you and dream of sweet and dear things. My thoughts are always with you. Please make me happy again soon by writing me a long letter.
Kisses and hugs
a thousand times over,
eternally and faithfully yours,
Curt
Side note at the top, upside down: Father sends you his warm regards. Greetings to your parents and siblings from me.
St. Paul, Minn August 12, 1894
Dear Mr. Lombard!
Through the letter of my sister Frau District Administrator* Karbe of Adamsdorf I received your address, which she was given by your father, who, as you may well know, is an old friend of Herr Karbe. On the advice of my sister, I am introducing myself to you by letter. I have lived for a year here in St. Paul but cannot say anything positive about this city because the times here are overwhelmingly bad and even with the greatest effort I have as yet been unable to secure a permanent position. St. Paul has not only suffered from hard times, but also from the real estate boom that took place a few years ago, and this also tells me that this place will never be as good as it once was. To give you an insight into my circumstances, I will briefly describe my past. I was born in 1860 near Danzig on the estate of my father, in 1862** my father went to America because his estate had burned down and he was so in debt that the amount generated by the sale [of the estate] hardly covered the debts. My mother remained behind with us children in Germany, I received schooling in Culm in the cadet corps. As an officer my father returned [to Germany] for the French War and did service for the state; after the war he took me out of the cadet corps and enrolled me in the royal secondary school in Berlin as there was no money for me to continue my training to become an officer. I remained there through the ninth grade. My father returned to America in 1875 because conditions there [in Germany] remained unfavorable and I left school shortly thereafter and went to sea ***, making two trips from Germany to avoid being conscripted into military service. In Hamburg I signed onto an American ship and sailed for Portland, Maine, sailing from there and Boston until 1881. My father returned to Milwaukee, where he had resided before the war. We remained in constant correspondence and he asked me to visit him. When I returned from Africa to Boston in 1881, I traveled to Milwaukee and found my father living in very dire circumstances. I decided to stay with him, found work there as a sailmaker and spent a summer on the Great Lakes, earning very well, but sailing on the Lakes and the ocean are two very different things, the former entails unbelievably hard work. And, as for the latter, this can only be endured by the strongest of men. The sailing season ended late in the fall and there was no suitable position for me in Milwaukee during the winter. So, I went with my father to St. Louis where I found a position as the first porter in a medium-sized hotel. Here I stayed until 1882 in July but lost my job when the hotel was sold. I went to Chicago and found work there as a waiter and then as a bartender. Unfortunately, I was influenced by my father’s friends to give this up, as they said it was unsuitable for me, although I had gained more than had I lost. I found a position as a newspaper agent and traveled. I received a fairly good salary, but the expenses I had to pay out of my wages were often so great, I was unable to put much of my salary aside. I remained in this business for seven full years, until last year when the times turned bad and they wanted to cut my salary. I quit my job and became a spokesman/guide**** for the World’s Fair, but this didn’t pay very well as the work wasn’t steady. I wanted to improve my situation and was convinced under false pretenses to go to St. Paul. Here I have now gone from the frying pan into the fire because I was forced to spend all the money I had saved. I have no prospects of finding a position because St. Paul is dead and thousands of laborers have had no work in two years. I am convinced that the big cities are not favorable for advancing a man’s situation; in bad times the inhabitants of smaller towns or the countryside are rarely lacking for anything. Should it be possible for you, dear sir, to find suitable employment for me, I would be forever in your debt. I am married with four children; the youngest is three years old. I am in no way choosy and can take on any job. I speak several languages, write English as well as German and am familiar with Scandinavian. Please forgive me for taking up your time with such a long letter, but since the distance between us is so great (200 miles), I am unable visit you and speak with you in person. In the hope of receiving a few lines from you in the very near future, I remain
Sincerely, Yours Curt Schmalensee 232 Curtis Str.*****
* In the 19th and early 20th century, the wives of important men were addressed with their husband’s title, such as Mrs. Mayor, Mrs. Lawyer or, in this case, Mrs. District Administrator or Frau Oberamtsräthin in reference to Curt’s sister Clara.
** I recall Dad mentioning something about Curt’s father, Friedrich Franz Ludwig, going to America to command German troops in the Civil War. The timing would seem to confirm this.
*** Curt joined the merchant marine at this time. If he had been drafted, he would have entered the military as a private and not as an officer, at the time unthinkable for someone of the nobility.
**** No one can make heads or tails of “Prinwortführer”. Curt’s German was less than perfect, with some spelling errors that left us scratching our heads. “Wortführer” means spokeman, so perhaps this means some sort of spokesman or maybe even a guide at the World’s Fair. He also may have left out a “t”, making this “Printwortführer”, which might have been some sort of “printed word spokesman,” or publicity agent.
***** Lombard responded to Curt’s letter, offering him not a job but a farm to purchase, including a house and two horses, for $1,000 at 7% interest over 10 years, even offering for Curt to first start paying installments when he began to have an income. Curt did not take him up the offer as Marie, his wife, wanted nothing to do with life on a farm.
St. Louis Mo, Feb. 28. (18)97
Dear old friend Carsten!
You must be surprised that I am writing you a letter. It’s only been 3 1/2 years since I left Harlem and unfortunately not in a particularly fine way, but my situation was intolerable and I definitely wanted to improve my circumstances. I was in St. Paul until November last year, but could not find a job there that suited me. I held different jobs, but was always out of work come winter and could just barely support myself and my family. The winter is always terribly cold there and heating was terribly expensive, I soon realized just how stupid I was (to go there). I went to St. Louis in November to try my luck, I had lived there 16 years ago, and I believe everything has improved here, though I haven’t found a paid position here yet, but should find one soon. I have met up with many old acquaintances here who will help me to find a good position. My family is still in St. Paul and I will send for them in March, but I want to make sure that I have a good job first, besides it would not be good for the children to make such a long journey and move here in winter. My wife and children are well, and two years ago we were blessed with a new member of the family, a healthy boy we call Hans. Hopefully you’re back to normal now and are better off. Please write to me, because even if a dirty trick was played on me in Harlem, I still sometimes think fondly of the good times I had while living there. I could have lived more frugally, but you only live once. I had also not intended to owe anything to anyone, but when misfortune comes, it comes quickly, as was the case with me. How are your wife and children, your brother, sister, Mr. Schmidt and their children? Please give everyone my regards, and also remember me to old Heinz, his wife and son and tell them that I would have been very grateful for any kindness they would have shown my wife. I still owe Heinz another $5 in back rent and, if I am successful here, I will give him his money when I come to check my father’s grave.
How is that rascal August Meske doing? Has he broken his neck yet? I would like to ask you to give me a brief description of how my acquaintances there are doing, as you know, I got to know virtually everyone there through the newspaper business, there must have certainly been changes. I am still very interested in Harlem and would be grateful if would you write to in detail. Winter is just about over here, it is still somewhat cool, but the snow and ice are gone, and one can expect the early morning birds to return any day now. We had no snow until January, the only real winter we had was in January and 2 (degrees) below zero was the coldest day we have had here. Business here has always been consistently good during the 9 bad years and I regret not going straight to St. Louis back then. I have heard that Chicago is supposed to be particularly bad and the poverty there is the worst there has ever been, it may be a bit exaggerated, but there must also be some truth to it. St. Paul and Milwaukee, like all western cities, are struggling financially, and some southern states are said to have held up well. St Louis has had steady business and hasn’t had a single bank failure in the last four years. Please find out whether the Harlem Gymnastics Club will be coming to the gymnastics festival in St Louis. (it takes place at the beginning of May.) Once again, I ask that you write to me soon, and say hello to all of my acquaintances who think well of me. Hoping that you and your family are well, I send you greetings and remain always
Your friend
Curt Schmalensee
1122 South 8th St., St. Louis Mo.