Letters from Flemming
Heinrich von Flemming (1818 – 1899) was a lifelong friend of FFL. From the letters it appears that they served as cadets together and remained friends their entire lives. After his business failed in Costa Rica, FFL went for a time to live with Flemming, who had moved to the U.S. in 1859. Their letters to each other are full of humor, poetry and mutual admiration, always addressing each other in the formal “Sie” form, not as a sign of distance but of great respect.
Milwaukee, October 30, 1877
My old bosom friend!
You will have received my letter by now, which contained my congratulations on your recurring birthday on Nov. 1 and which I addressed to Königsgraetzerstrasse. When not, I hereby repeat my warmest congratulations, which are expressed in my wishing you all the happiness in the world and lasting health for many years to come. My wife and children join me in these wishes. As I’ve told you, I’m an accountant at Rindskopf again. I also informed you of Hartmann’s death. I sent you a souvenir from Milwaukee separately, as well. Krausens are doing well and send their regards. Your dear letter fro Oct. 7th was received this morning. It arrived in Milwaukee on the 28th of this month, according to the postmark.
It arrived late, but it did arrive. Its delay is excused by its long journey. A thousand times and a thousand more, I say thank you for your heartfelt congratulations. Yes, my dear bosom friend, this letter did my heart good, because I saw from it that you still think of me with friendship and a love that has lasted through the years. But it remains to be seen whether this letter will reach you, since you want to set sail again on November 8th. Well, I’ll take my chances and send you the pictures of Toni, Hans and Jutta. Toni scribbled the message herself, I had to step in for Hans and Jutta.
I see you in my mind; you look like a stalwart, well-fed retired general, no trace of the slender lieutenant’s waist. Your dear old face probably already has a few wrinkles, the mustache splits into two straight, moderately waxed points, yet your eyes gaze steadfastly into the world and your courage remains unbowed. If this letter still reaches you, please write to me immediately, also to where I should address my letters in case of a change of location. I was happy about your eldest daughter’s wedded bliss and hope the other two ladies also marry well. That your youngest son was lucky enough to come out of a shipwreck unscathed is proof to me that he will make his fortune as a sailor.
For today adieu. A thousand greetings and kisses from me. Heartfelt greetings from my wife, from Antonie, the pirate Hans and Frölen* Jutta.
Always
Your faithful friend
Heinrich von Flemming.
* “Frölen” is Platt German for “Fräulein”
Milwaukee, November 1st, 1878
My dear, old bosom friend!
Today, on your birthday, I take pen to hand to send you my heartfelt congratulations from afar. May the twilight of your eventful life be joyful, may sorrow and worry stay far from you, and may lasting health and joyful courage remain with you until the end.
Received your dear letter from September 11 on October 12, and I give you my heartfelt thanks for your kind congratulations. I found all of the news you kindly imparted to me so very interesting and I think to myself that since you are again living in paradise, you will certainly get as old as Methuselah.
Only one thing will shorten your life, that is the pursuit of wealth. If you renounce this pursuit, you will assuredly be happy.
I myself know how to acquire it very quickly, but never learned how to hold on to it. Now, for example, I am down and out again. Made about 1000 4 months ago, but during my illness I couldn’t keep an eye on it and lost it all again.
I am better now, but my limbs don’t really want to obey. No 
festering in my bones. It’ll get better again, if not, then my horoscope lied. But before I die, I will write to you again. Better dead than crawling around like a cripple.
If my health improves significantly, I think I might go back to New Orleans. I will write you then, maybe we two old gamecocks can take on fate together. Just don’t want to buy expensive things. We should just live and enjoy and, I do mean it, the world owes it to me.
My wife and children are doing well. Everyone is healthy and send you their warmest regards. Today Toni decorated your picture in the old fashioned way with flowers and gave it a big kiss for you.
Things do not seem to be going well with your lighting venture, because a Mr. Charles Lemale already contacted Mr. Ernst from there in reference to my letter addressed to you. Perhaps Mr. Lemale is your partner, then that’s fine. If he is not, you were deceived yet again. Enclosed item found in the local newspaper.
There is not much else new here. Krause’s send their regards, as does Br. Kempfer and other B. B. Many thousand greetings and fraternal kisses from me and write to me again very soon
Your
old faithful friend
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet
The sample lamp will be sent in the coming days.
Article:
Milwaukee Street Lamps in South America.
Mr. Adam Ernst, Alderman of the Eighth Ward, is known to be a practical plumber and experienced mechanic. And, as such, he has constructed a new, improved street lamp, the advantage of which is that its reflections are very bright and that the flame in it is completely protected from wind and weather. The lamp can also be used for gas, naptha or oil lighting and is generally considered to be excellent. Recently, Mr. Ernst received a letter from San Jose de Costa Rica, a major city in South America, with an order to send one of his naptha lamps there as a sample and to include the price for 500 to 1000 lamps along with 5000 to 10,000 gallons of gasoline. The letter says that there is every prospect that Mr. Ernst’s lamp will be accepted by the local authorities and that a contract for the delivery of 1000 units will be concluded with him.
In any case, that would be very desirable and a new achievement for Milwaukee’s industry abroad. The local gas company is also in negotiations with Mr. Ernst for the purpose of accepting his lamp.
My old bosom friend!
Received your dear letter from the 16th last night and [I] hasten to answer it right away.
I did not receive the letter you mentioned, and you must know that I would have immediately responded and expressed my deepest sympathies on such a sad occasion. Thank God that the outcome was a happy one and I am glad that, instead of my condolences, I am able to send congratulations on a recovery. Please assure your son of my most intimate commiserations and give him my regards.
I learned that Mr. Sam Rindskopf was here, but he neither summoned me to him nor gave any other indication of his presence. I only learned from Horwitz that he had been here and had already left again. You know, my dear old friend, how I love Sam and how highly I hold him in my esteem. You know how I have demonstrated how advantageous it is to have me around and save him from losses, and the least I could have expected was that he call on me.
He was completely wrong not to place his trust in me from the very start of his enterprise. A lot of things would have gone better, as the experience I have gained in this long life would have been very useful to him. The people who operated together with him were more clever than he was, and he was far too trusting and confident. The trick would have been to attract Germans to the company, not Americans or German Jews. Even the capital could have been obtained from Germany if the matter had been handled properly. And I would have been the one to handle the tricky situations; I might have gotten burned in the process, maybe it’s better this way.
If you have another chance to see Sam, please give him my regards.
We are all well and optimistically looking forward to better times.
My wife and the brats all send you their warmest regards. Now, my best regards to you and Curt, and I am and will always be
Your
loyal old friend
Heinrich von Flemming
More to follow
851 Marketstreet
Milwaukee, July 16 1881
My dear old bosom friend!
I found your postcard by chance today. It had been slipped under the door during my absence and was hidden away under the wax cloth. I’m very happy that you’re in Chicago. Hopefully things will be better for you there than in St. Louis.
I have not had any connections to Chicago in the last 19 years, only a casual contact with the lottery business Chr. Poppe 141. South Waterstreet
In the wine business, Grommer & Ullrich – No 174-176 Madisonstreet.
You will find a letter of recommendation enclosed for the latter [business].
Heartfelt greetings from all of us. Always,
Your old loyal friend
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet
P.S. Please close the letter to Grommer & Ullrich before submitting it.
HvF
Milwaukee, August 10, [18]81.
My dear bosom friend!
Received your postcard at the time and wrote to you at the given address, but received the enclosed letter back marked undeliverable.
Today received your letter in response to the same, was very happy to see you regenerated. You would fail spectacularly with character references, as this is more of a German thing than an American. People do not place a lot of importance on references, as they are usually issued upon request and accordingly an attempt to paint a pretty picture. You’re going at this the wrong way.
When you apply for a position, just say:
In regards to my ability and integrity, I refer [you] to:
Hugo Broich
Biersach, Company Haase and Biersach
Henry von Flemming, Liquor Dealer
Write to the other two, send me the letters, and I will go to Haase u. Biersach and Hugo Broich and submit your letters with a request for a favorable response to your inquiry.
I will write a response as a liquor dealer using the letterhead of my company if I receive an inquiry
3 references are sufficient. Testimonies as I said [are] extremely bad. — Nobody cares about them, usually makes things worse.
Warm regards from everyone. Always and forever
Your
faithful friend and brother
Heinrich von Flemming
In a big hurry:
My liquor company is
Mr. Henry von Flemming
Wholesale Liquordealer
551 Marketstreet Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Aug. 15, 1881
My dear old bosom friend!
You will have received my letter which contained references for you. Today, [I am] sending you a reference from G. Abert. [He] was very friendly and also made an effort to word the reference like I wanted. Enclosed please find the result with which you and everyone else can be satisfied. Hilbert is not still not around. Somewhere in the country..
Write to me if you still need his reference, but I think it is superfluous. In any case, write to me right away whether you have received the references and whether they are sufficient. [If you] need more, [I am] always at your service.
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet
Return to Geo. A. Abert
390 Sixth Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
If not called for in 10 days.
Milwaukee, Oct 31, 1881
My dear old friend!
Tomorrow is once again the day of your birth and my heart urges me to send you my heartfelt congratulations. The included birthday lyric expresses only faintly but approximately my heart’s desires, because with all my heart I wish you the greatest happiness that can be bestowed upon a human being. My wife and the whole pack, Antonia, Jutta and Hans, join their wishes with mine and send their dear good uncle congratulations and greetings from their hearts.
My dear son has not yet sent the obligatory hat, although promised. [I] think, however, that it will happen soon. If old Fortuna favors me to some extent, I will ensure that your venerable head is not lacking the necessary ‘roofing’ for the winter, and you may consider the need for a new ‘roof’ to be sorted out.
But now my dear old friend, what are you actually up to? Have you finally found employment and a gainful one at that?
Believe me, I think of you almost every day. How often do I long to tell you of my small and large worries and, through your friendly advice and consolation, be able to carry on with the struggle of my existence.
I have no contact with anyone because I can’t find anyone suitable and prefer to keep to myself.
My business is almost at a standstill, I move forward creeping and crawling very gingerly, just enough to avoid going back to square one.
For today, once again many greetings from all of us, and from me faithful friendship and a brotherly kiss.
Always
Your faithful friend and brother
Heinrich von Flemming
Marketstreet 551
On the occasion of the 68th birthday of his dear old friend, Mr. F. von Schmalensée
Milwaukee, November 1st, 1881.
Heinrich von Flemming
Today we have All Hallows’ Day
When everyone then wants to pray.
On this day I’d say a prayer
If only to avoid despair.
If this my prayer had answered been
Then earnest praying I would mean.
My hands I’d fold for you, my friend,
That your misfortune finally ends.
That now in these, your olden days
Shall worry, grief remain away.
That you shall always, as before,
Go walking upright evermore,
And in your pockets as much gold,
As necessary, they should hold
And all that you could ever crave,
These blessings come in a tidal wave
And on earth for you increase
Until it’s time to rest in peace
And the many extra years you crave
To stay well away from the grave.
This is my wish for you today
which I mean in every way.
If able, I shall bring next year
Another wish, my friend, so dear. —
Heinrich von Flemming
Milwaukee, Oct. 31th, 1881
Dear Uncle,
On your birthday, which happens tomorrow, I send you my heartfelt congratulations. May you always enjoy good health and be prosperous in all of your undertakings. This is my sincere wish,
Antonia von Flemming
Note: This letter was originally written in English
Milwaukee, November 25, 1881
My dear old friend!
Last night I had a rather vivid dream about you. I dreamt we were both in the Corps and were taking our exams in the Field Marshal Hall, where we used to take our written exams. Old Professor Liehemer, who taught the same old Brandenburg history since time immemorial, had taken a particular liking to you and sent you all the questions and answers (ahead of time). Dr. Lobell, who taught more recent history, on the other hand, was well-disposed to me, as was Preacher Deibel, who taught German language and literature. We helped each other out and came up with most excellent compositions. Math teacher Lieutenant Gabler, a most likable blond young man, who was, however, quite a stickler and therefore did not like me because I was suspected of having pulled a prank on him, namely the following:
On the board was the following drawing
and beneath it:
“Outside of numbers his life was naught, that’s why his neck in a root sign was caught”. –He had noticed our malfeasance and walked up very sternly to us both and said: “My dear Schmalensée, for your sake I will turn a blind eye, Flemming is undeserving.” I was so ashamed that I had mocked such an amiable man and then I woke up. That was my dream, which I remembered upon waking –
In general, I dream a lot about things from my boyhood years and I believe that these reminiscences are harbingers of my imminent departure. Taking exams means imminent death.
The American Day of Thanksgiving with its inevitable turkeys, geese and other fowl, etc. is over. Now, I hope that you, my dear old friend, received your fair share this poultry and that you spent Thanksgiving day quite enjoyably. Even if I didn’t know what to be thankful for, Mother Minna put the inevitable goose on the table, at whose sight I exclaimed
“Is there no Dalberg here to bestow the first imperial knighthood upon. —
Firstly, I of course wished that you had been present to carve the goose, an art I never mastered, and, secondly, to help eat said goose in a most enjoyable atmosphere. But, but, there is no eternal covenant to be made with the powers that confer skill.
Upon the first bite I took between my teeth, I recalled the immortal words of Heine or some other poet whose name I can’t remember. –
Oh, oh, even the cooked goose,
A being so quiet, sublime.
Who knows, she may have loved me.
When we both were in our prime.
Now she gazes at me, so meaningful,
So intimate, so faithful, so woeful.
She must have had a beautiful soul,
As her flesh is such a tough mouthful! –
Well, this cup has also passed from me, as everything in life passes by and today I gnaw on the bones. Finis coronat opus** to finally give the beau restes*** to Bismarck.****
This Thanksgiving day always reminds me of our own beautiful harvest festival celebrations. Oh, how merry it was, how the wine flowed in streams and how happy the folk were partaking of beer, brandy, roast pork and rice. And then the dancing on the barn floor and then, and then, the private pleasures of the servants and maids, the farm workers and day laborers, who evaded the public gaze. —
Well, even we, my dear old friend, sometimes had our private pleasures, of which mothers may know nothing. We’d best keep our silence about these things.
My Anna sent me a five-dollar bill to buy the Thanksgiving turkey. As I said, this resulted in the purchase of a tough goose and a gallon of California wine and other accoutrements. Mother Minna knows nothing about the five bucks, of course, otherwise she would have confiscated it.
(Als) „taritur„ –
Otherwise things are still going sincerely badly. Next to no business, nothing is working. Healthy, as much as possible, the wife and children are also healthy and send you their warm regards. Henry has not yet sent the obligatory hat, but I am hopeful.
As I have been chatting with you from the heart and do not have any other news which might be of interest to you, I will close, greeting you most amicably and fraternally and entreat you to gladden me with a message before too long.
Your
loyal friend & brother
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet
* “Is there no Dalberg here?” On the occasion of the imperial coronation of Frederick III during the Rome procession in 1452, a member of the Dalberg family was allegedly knighted on the Sant’Angelo Bridge (Italian: Ponte Sant’Angelo / German: Engelsbrücke). Since then, it has been the fundamental prerogative of the Dalberg family to be the first to be knighted by the German king as part of the coronation ceremony. Before a newly crowned emperor granted the knighthoods, the imperial herald asked if a candidate from the Dalberg family was present. From this right of the first knighthood emerged the saying “Is there no Dalberg here?” which Julius Mosen discussed in the poem of the same name.
** The end crowns the work
*** beautiful leftovers
**** Presumably the name of his dog, not the actual Bismarck.
Milwaukee, Feb. 27, [18]82
My dear old friend!
Words I seek in vain
In the heart’s inner urges
Every bliss of life
Has no words, only song (Körner)
Therefore, I sing:
“Blessed be the day that in printed form appeared
“Wi di bum, Wi di bum, Wi di bum
“The first word from you
“It lies here before me.
Well now, confound it, Pegasus tosses me into the sand, he cannot bear parodies, so I will have to write most prosaically.
I have known for a long time that you, my dear old friend, are a poet by the grace of God, because your dear letters testify to me that a lively source of the subtlest poetry springs forth from your heart and mind, which comes from your innermost heart and goes straight to one’s heart. You have now entered on the thorny path of a writer for the daily papers, upon which may you only find blooming roses hidden amongst the thorns and embellish the twilight of your life by finding not only the recognition of your contemporaries but also by giving you a carefree life.
I read the works of your muse with such pleasure and interest and was truly refreshed by the good humor that must cheer every reader, may even take away his worry and sorrow.
[I] couldn’t get the latest opus to the man who usually only reprints the words of others for the current pages of their feature articles. If they ever used an original essay, either nothing or an incredibly small sum was paid for it.
“No money, no goods,” I thought and kept your manuscript.
Our local free press gets its reading material for the inner pages from the free press of other cities, and hence I had already read your sea voyage [story] before you were so kind to send me such. I thought to myself that only you could be “Fritz vom See” because I was familiar with your style of writing and the soldier “Fritz vom See” rightly alludes to your name.
New Year and Miami were entirely new to me and are truly very well written.
The “little garrison” is so full of humor, but I don’t think this humoresque will appeal to the larger American audience (vulgar oafs), because this specifically deals with military relations that only a certain circle of readers would understand.
If you now want to continue on this chosen path and use it to make a living, as a friend I will give you the inconsequential advice of not worrying about borrowing suitable material from other works. American scenes are always likely to find a large readership. The sceneries could be borrowed from [Gerstacker*], not verbatim, of course, but paraphrased. In this setting, you could put characters from your imagination, have them act humorously or woefully, depending [on the situation] and your success will be great. [You’re on your way,] so, forward ho.
It’s now up to you to see to it that “little garrison” gets printed, please kindly inform me when it is, perhaps the Herold will do so (without remuneration).
Assuming your kind permission, I greeted Broich from you and [acting] as your representative passed on your works for him to read. I haven’t received his assessment yet, as he could not have read everything yet, and I’ll see him in the coming days and will then let you know.
I was this far along [in my letter] when the doorbell rang, and the postman delivered your postcard to me. “Well, what’s this? Well, well,” I thought when I saw the address and recognized your handwriting. The contents of the postcard made me so elated that I hopped around the room and cheerfully exclaimed, “Thank God, finally, my good Schmalensée has a home. May he be happy, very happy, he deserves it.” My wife, too, was so very pleased and we both wish you
Luck! Luck! Luck!**
Good luck!! much good luck!!
a thousand times luck!!!
But where to send this letter now, it shall wait until you give me your address.
Actually, it no longer suits the new situation and the first part [of this letter] will arrive post festum***. But once it is written and we say yes , “Word sworn is blindly sworn and that’s that. —
Milwaukee, March 21, 1882.
With the powers of acumen
No eternal bond is woven
And fate moves swiftly
Misfortune, it seems, has declared you its favorite, as it follows you relentlessly. As soon as I believed you forever safe and cared for, it thrusts you back into uncertainty, as I have gleaned from your postcard from the 15th, which I just received. Luckily, I hadn’t told your close acquaintance Broich about your idyllic holiday and all still believe that you are engaged in writing. I am now glad that I was spared from having to talk about it.
I am sending you back the manuscript according to and hope that it will bring you a lot of money.
I am, thank God, perfectly horrible, have almost no income and worse, no luck. Would like to have had a little horse, a gig or a saddle to be able to get myself riding again. Unfortunately, [it] won’t happen.
Jutta had the measles and diphtheria, is still sick, but is recuperating. Doctor comes twice a day. Costs [us our] last cent.
Wife healthy, I healthy, Hans and Toni healthy. The last two only have a little trouble with their feet, i.e. both have totally torn shoes and I don’t know where to borrow any.
Adieu for today, my dear, good old friend. Greetings from all of us to you.
Write soon to
Your
old friend
Heinrich von Flemming
A drop of ink went wandering and left its mark at the top, which [I] ask [you] to please forgive.
Above-signed
* It could be he meant Friedrich Gerstäcker, an author in the 19th century.
** Glück in German means both luck and happiness.
*** post festum (Latin) = after the celebration
Milwaukee, April 21, 1882
My dear, old bosom friend!
It seems to me that you want to collect material for a new novel, to which end you have embarked on a journey again. I am reminded of the old song of Urian, whose refrain went:
Since he did nothing bad
Just keep telling Mr. Urian.
Or the refrain from the old student song: “Ubi bene ibi patria*.” Now, may you fare quite well and finally find the happiness you have been seeking for so long after so many disappointments. It’s never too late.
f.z. sent you your manuscript and you will have received the same. Incidentally, I missed your detailed description of what caused you to leave North Evanston 
. Your communications are of the greatest interest to me, because they are so true to life, and when I read your dear letters, it always seems to me as if you were talking to me in person. Oh, why don’t I have just one little million in 20 dollar gold pieces to allow you to enjoy the pleasures that that would provide. I had to laugh when you talked about your 
(_______ holdings), which amounted to 20 cents. You, Croesus**, had precisely 19 times more wealth than I. Well, I received this news with indifference
Happy is he who can forget
That which cannot be changed.
My fellow Bühe was forced to give up his business, is quite poor. His pension must be paid to the mortgage creditor.
This week old Blanil followed in the footsteps of old Neukirch, who lived in the house with us. He died at the youthful age of 83. Requiem in pace.*** My children had the measles and diphtheria for a change but are all well again. Otherwise, everything is the same here.
I followed your instructions and Herr Baumbeck will get in touch with you directly.
I am enclosing his address.
Now my dear old friend, fare well for today. My wife and children send you their warmest regards. I also send you greetings in fraternal love and ask you to regale me with more news
Your
old sincere friend
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet.
After I closed this letter, the newspaper boy brough the free press, in which I find, to my astonishment, the obituary of Herr Haase.
The enclosed excerpt gives further details.
The above-signed
I kiss you
Jutta von Flemming.
Obituary
To our friends and acquaintances the sad news that
our good husband and father A u g u s t H a a s e, has
passed away on Thursday evening, at the age of 47,
following a brief illness.
The funeral will be held on Sunday, April 23 at
3 o’clock in the afternoon, at the funeral home, at No. 696
10th Street.
The bereaved ask for silent condolences:
Bertha Haase, wife
Clara Otterstret, daughter.
*Well, there where the country is…
** Croesus: renowned for his wealth, was the king of Lydia who reigned for 14 years: from 560 BC until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BC.
***Rest in peace.
Milwaukee, December 30, [18]82
My dear old friend!
As your letter from December 20th did not include the number of my house, the same was not delivered, because the postman delivering it did not know me. However, it was displayed in the newspaper where I picked it up yesterday. Its contents saddened me greatly, because as much as I would like to, I cannot be of assistance. I was denied a free ticket for you, because the free tickets are issued to the poor to get them away from here, but not to let them come here.
I myself am staring into the void. I did not have a sumptuous Christmas or New Year’s, as we had coffee and dry bread for dinner on the Christmas holidays. How things will turn out or how they will end up is a mystery to me. Since I had to move my office, the business has passed into the hands of Romstocks because he is closer to the people. I must look for new customers and they are hard to find. Maybe I’ll succeed over time, but honestly I don’t have the energy it takes; I’ve gotten too old and tired. Such hard work for so little reward is wearing me to the ground and I think I will soon give it up, because I would rather make a painful break than to draw out the agony.
But enough of this misery. If you were here, you would have to make do with me. In any case, you would be taken care of. You would even partake of my meager meals until something had been found for you. With all my heart, I would gladly share with you, when there is something to share.
Writing is difficult for me because my thoughts are scarce.
For the New Year, I send you my most heartfelt wishes. May the great architect of this world take you under his special protection and may the sun still shine warmly upon you in the twilight of your life.
My wife and children send you their best wishes, I however greet you most fraternally and am always
Your
faithful friend and brother
Henry von Flemming
529 van Burenstreet
Just this very moment Tony has brought me her congratulations for you on a postcard, and I too say to you
Happy New Year
Signed the above
To my dear friend
Fritz von Schmalensée
On his 74th birthday on November 1st, 1886*
Another year has already passed.
The pace of which was arrow fast.
And we, ourselves, we now do find
In an Indian summer of a kind.
Although the autumn may steal our spring,
The flowers’ splendor, the meadows’ green;
Our friendship is a garden of rose’,
That forever blossoms, forever grows.
As your friend, I send from here today,
Wishes for my friend’s birthday.
Although in a gift I did not invest
I wish you all the very the best.
I now stand up to say this thing
I wish him, oh, so many things.
Yes, my friend, you will now have gained
That wishing here has no true aim.
For now, I wish you confidence,
Good health and fortunate happenstance.
May your noble blood not ever be
Sullied by the slightest adversity.
Your wallet be never as flat and bare,
As mine unfortunately has been, I fear.
With gold may it be brimming o’er
For now and, yes, forever more.
A flock of grandchildren at your feet
Shall make you so rejuvenate
That you will thus for many more years
Remain upon this earth right here.
This is my heartfelt wish today
May it be fulfilled in every way
And for both of us, of old age woe!
May your happiness forever grow.
Heinrich von Flemming
These verses have turned out rather rotten
And often so awfully misbegotten.
Yet their wishes are most true and real,
And from my heart, I truly feel.
The ‘above-signed’
On the envelope: Fritz von Schmalensée Esq.
Present (It is unclear what this meant.)
*With “74th birthday” he got the age wrong as FFL was born 1813.
Chicago, October 6, 1887
My dear old friend!
As you can see from the enclosed, I have taken care of your order to the best of my abilities and hope that by carrying it out, you will move a few feet closer to becoming a millionaire.
A certain Schiller once said
“Man does not tempt the gods”, but you my dear old friend try the same month after month, in the end virtue will prevail and your perseverance shall be rewarded.
If you sing this evening:
Oh, I am so tired,
Oh, I am so weary *
I would not be surprised, because we old boys are no longer built for running, but you can last longer than I, a frail old, lame lad.
Otto wrote that he has not forgotten you and will think of your son at the first opportunity.
As he wrote, Heinrich still has not made a final decision, but I should sell my things at Otto’s risk, etc. But he did not send money. Now, Count Oerindur, explains to me this dichotomy of nature.** I do not care, to travel without fare, in this world so fair. So he wrote “Point l ́argents pas de suisse”.*** In other words: Dear Father, do not come, just send money.
President and wife were here but did not have themselves introduced to me, so I had no reason to pay a visit. Didn’t see either of them.
Write again soon, greet son and daughter for me. With fraternal greetings and a kiss from your old friend,
Heinrich von Flemming
News:
Yesterday my old residence on Woodstreet burned down. Those poor bugs.
Your letter to me arrived opened, as the inserted envelope will show you. But the money was inside. Be a bit more careful in future.
[Signed,] the Old Guy.
* https://www.volksliederarchiv.de/ach-ich-bin-so-muede-couplet/
** https://universal_lexikon.de-academic.com/234721/Erkläret_mir%2C_Graf_Oerindur%2C_diesen_Zwiespalt_der_Natur
*** “No money, no pleasure “
Brooklyn, N.Y., October 29, [18]89
My very dear old friend!
In honor of your birthday celebrations on November 1st, I hereby send you my warmest congratulations. May you celebrate this occasion many more times over in very good health, as well as in prosperity, and be bestowed all the happiness in the world. You have now completed the first year of the last quarter century in this first stage of your life, and I celebrate this most momentous occasion by firing off a joyful salute from my heaviest guns with for which I have made use of the old smoking powder, as you can see from the faithful representation of the guns in question, which shall now take place.
I’m not fond of this new smokeless powder, because I need to see fire and smoke if I am to be completely engaged. But now, my old dear friend, you should also actually see the smoke. But you must make an effort on your part and produce some of the same yourself. To this end, I am sending you by mail several extra fine Havanas, which I bid you to kindly accept as a humble token of my friendship. The quality will stand in lieu of the quantity and produce the desired smoke effect.
I received your dear letter from the 15th with the two beautiful wreaths, which I hung in my heart, and I would like to thank you for that, as well as for your kind congratulations. I was all the more pleased by your letter as I had been worried about you for some time. The absence of the same could only be due to two things: Either you were angry with me for some reason unbeknownst to me or you were prevented by illness from writing. The former meant nothing, because always something beautiful emerges from true friends splitting up, namely the awareness that no disagreement can break them apart. The latter was cause for serious concern to me, which your rather humorous letter has now happily dispelled. I did not think about a third case, namely that fatigue might keep you away. On my birthday, Heinrich and Otto sent me congratulatory letters, I have not seen any either from their children or from their wives. My daughter Hedwig had a precious gold frame made for my mother’s picture, and my dear granddaughter Anna honored me with a large pretzel made of the finest pastry, and my son-in-law had a 6-inch long cigar made expressly for me. Flowers were not lacking, of course. My daughter Anna gave me a pair of very fine smooth fur gloves, from her eldest daughter Hattie a half dozen finely embroidered handkerchiefs, from her oldest boy Otto a silk muffler, from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th boys each a necktie of different sizes and colors, as well as bouquets of flowers. From Milwaukee I received the usual congratulations and Tonie sent me her picture. She looks very good and everyone finds that she is a beautiful girl. In the afternoon Anna and her children were with me for coffee and in the evening her husband came with Otto, the eldest, to congratulate me. We had a rather happy birthday party, where there was no lack of good food and good wine. Fritz also came to congratulate me in the evening and, embarrassed, shoved five dollars into my hand.
My daughter Hedwig is a magnificent gentlewoman, who does anything for me with devotion. She organized the birthday party. I am as healthy as a frog in water. I eat excellently, because my daughter is such a good cook and my son-in-law is a gourmand, who can cook the finest vegetables as well as the best meats or have them cooked for him. He also has a fine wine cellar. Materially, I live most excellently and also have the necessary pocket change to cover my extra expenses.
My son Otto visited Europe. He saw the Paris World Exhibition, took a trip on the Rhine, then climbed up to the Wartburg, visited Brandenburg and Berlin, etc. A lot has changed in Brandenburg. Magnificent buildings have been built. The barracks of the 6th Cuirassier Regiment are like a castle, as are the barracks of the 37th Infantry Regiment. Sulder School is located in a new magnificent building, etc. He brought pictures with him for Henry. He brought me a magnificent meerschaum pipe bowl from Paris and one for Heinrich. He didn’t bring anything in the slightest for his sisters
He took care of my affairs in Brandenburg. I would have been able to travel with him, but my feet would not permit it. I am almost completely lame and have difficulty moving. This as well as my old eye ailment are the only things I can complain about.
I played in the Saxon lottery and the Louisiana one, that’s what my game playing is limited to nowadays. But I haven’t won a cent yet. Well, it will happen someday. The idea of taking out a patent on kiss boxes is terrific. The millions are just lying in the streets.
For today, my dear old bosom friend, I bid you farewell and I ask you give my regards to your son, as well as your daughter-in-law and give my thanks to the former for his congratulations. My children reciprocate your greetings, as far as those who were able to. I remain again, wishing you happiness with fraternal greetings and a kiss in d.u.h.z.*, your sincere old friend
Heinrich von Flemming
98 Reid Aven
Brooklyn N.Y.
* We could not figure out what this meant.