Letters from Fritz
Friedrich (Fritz) Alwin von Schmalensee was the first son of Friedrich Franz Ludwig and his first wife, Wilhelmine Amalie von Puttkamer. He was born on October 22, 1842, in Stargard in Pomerania. He lived in the household of the manorial lord, Günther Peter von Puttkamer, who owned property in Schlackow, East Prussia. He was appointed Mayor of Halsenbach in the Rhineland from 1885 to 1888, when he was forced to step down due to health problems. Following the sale of the Puttkamer property, he moved with the family to Berlin and died there in 1912. Although once engaged, he never married.
Hallenzin p. Rummelsburg
September 29, 1870
My dear Father!
The newspapers say that the first steamer will be heading back to America on the 5th of October, and I wanted to take the opportunity to send you my congratulations on your dear birthday.
The dear Lord, who knows our hearts, knows that mine has not ceased for a moment to beat for you, and I ask him to allow me to look upon your dear face just one more time. Oh, if only you had never gone to America. Unfortunately, I have not saved anything and am still unable to provide you with a carefree existence here. But if your strength begins to decline, you must be 58 years now, then write to me.
I was very pleased that you could use the small amount of money, hopefully you will be able to find a more suitable post.
We are witnessing grand times here. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be a part of it because I can’t handle the great marches that our troops make. But Uncle Julius sent his two oldest boys, one as Lieutenant (bar)/G. Ulanen, the other as an ensign to the 5th Hussars. Among the relatives, so far the youngest son of Wangritzer Lettow, who was named as Rm. Lieut. and company commander and stayed with Wörth, and among my acquaintances Carl Lehmann, whom I brought along as a boy to Paglau on my vacation, he was as First lieutenant in a Rhine regiment. A lot of officers have fallen, and this is probably the reason for the victorious campaign, because when the officer charges ahead, the people always follow. Wangeritzer sent along 6 boys, the oldest of which is Ab.Lt.
There is nothing that I can write to you about the willingness to sacrifice and desires of our people that you haven’t already read in the newspapers.
As far as the agriculture is concerned, the real backbone of our country, things are looking bad in our areas here. The winter grain was not good and the summer grain got a lot of rain, so that it has only partially grown.
But now, dear Father, I must close, fare most well, and send a few lines again
To your
most loving
son, Fritz
If it is possible, stay here
Szczecin, the 7th of October 1878
Dear Father!
I would have answered you sooner and thanked you for your kind congratulations, but still had hoped to come over to Berlin once more and do it in person, but didn’t have enough money.
As far as I and my current situation are concerned, I now only receive 100 marks per month, but I am to use it for inspection trips, and then, depending on whether I ??? …. re, through the important journey ………………….. the matter is different.
Life here is very expensive, even more expensive than in Berlin, since many live only from so-called “young people”, and the pensions p.p. are quite the same as in the Gründerzeit (Wilhelminian period), where a “young man” at least b. ???? 200. Now that you are (considering crossing the Atlantic) again, I have one big request of you, if I am still alive and healthy, please stay there only as long as your age permits, since you are even now beginning to notice the complaints of old age! Sooner or later it would I will be better it you were with me and rest assured, you should then come here.
I would have liked to have taken you with me already in Garzigus, and then we would have had each other, you could have helped and advised me, but I first wanted to have proper home, i.e. a wealthy woman wife; now I have no one, and the whole thing simply fell apart, it was not meant to be. But now that the curse of Puttkamer’s money has been taken from me, I feel freer, and things will be different; but one thing I feel, I must do something for my body, because it also goes hand in hand with my mind too much.
I am thick and round today, but the constant sedentary way of life is also uncomfortable; I would now like to go to Berlin to get there at Eulenburg to go to the Eulenburg Orthopedic Institute, but I don’t know if it will be possible to do it this winter; one more reason I also want to go to Berlin.
I have almost no news from the relatives, I received congratulations from both Uncle Julius and Aunt Bertha only for my birthday; they are not doing well; I don’t know if Grandmother is still alive. If you’re still with Curt üstung …………… tell him to contact me, that he is not completely defenceless. There is also a naval school [where he can learn to become a helmsman] here in Szczecin.
But what about his military situation, and where does he have to register? Please do not overlook this. I don’t know anything about Uncle Leskow, I have seen him only twice in my life. He has a young daughter and lived in Berlin.
I am happy to hear that Blanka is doing well, remind her to keep an eye on her sisters, and admonish them to stand together.
The news from East Prussia only interests me in so far as I wish my fellow human beings there only the best from the bottom of my heart. I have never been that thrilled with East Prussia.
If I can, I will still come to Berlin, if not then farewell, bon voyage and may you be in the best of health when we meet again.
Hold dear your faithful son
Fritz
Goerzhagen near Pustamin the 6.11.78
Dear Father !
I read your dear letter with great joy, and although your description of the journey is exciting, but what made me happiest was that you are well. The Auto Gesellschaft no longer required my services, I left on [1 July ] daselbst and am now with Uncle Julius, or actually with my cousin Agathon in Goerzhagen. I would have liked to have written to you on November 1st and congratulated you on your birthday. Uncle Julius, however, advised me to wait and write to you only when things had been settled regarding my future plans.
Through Uncle Julius’ connections I could have had a job at Colonia, but did not accept it, because Uncle wants to lease to me for a small fee next year the 2 mills, 1 windmill and a water mill in addition to fields and livestock, where the Marfow manor is located. Until then I will stay here part of the time and will also spend some time at a mill, but I’m not sure where yet, to familiarize myself with the business operations. That is all the news I have. — But now, dear Father, my very best belated congratulations on your birthday, I have no idea what your prospects and hopes are there, but I am very glad that you are healthy and safe, then all is well.
On your birthday I traveled from Hof in Bavaria to Berlin and had you on my mind a great deal. I went to Merano in Tyrol with my youngest cousin and there was already a lot of snow on the tracks in the Alps on the way back. I saw in the newspapers that Blanka has a young son, otherwise I only get any news about my siblings from you.
Please recommend me very much to Herr von Rüts and thank him from me warmly for every kindness he shows you.
Please look upon these lines as if they had arrived on November 1. Please write to me again about how you are doing, and stay out of harm’s way.
I am unsure whether or not my new undertaking will succeed, but I will let you know when I know more, maybe things will work out.
Uncle [Liekow] participated in maneuvers in Pansin, but is rather ill. Grandmother is also in a rather poor state. I caught a cold on the trip and have been coughing and pruste.
Otherwise, I don’t have any other news here, as times are very depressed.
With the warmest greetings and a kiss from your
faithful son
Fritz
Berlin, the 23rd of March [18]80
Currently at Koernerstraße 23 pt.
Very dear Father!
I had misplaced your dear first letter with your address, and I had to wait, for better or worse, until you wrote me again. But I would have only had the saddest things to tell you, because my situation is almost like yours at the moment.
Uncle Julius did not keep his promise with the mill in Batezt, but he does give me a small allowance, and I should now look for a position myself. I have been here since the summer of last year, and I have not yet managed to find a position, despite my greatest efforts. Until recently I was living with the youngest son of Uncle Julius, who is visiting a here, but since it was of no use, he had to return to the institution. Uncle Julius now wants me back home, but I do not want to go as things are no longer good between us. – If I do not succeed in finding a job soon, he will withdraw my allowance, and then I will have to rely completely on myself; I do not know yet how things will work out, but it is possible that I might receive a position, albeit very sparsely paid.
It breaks my heart that I can do absolutely nothing for you, but I don’t even know what to do for myself. I worked for a banquier as a volunteer, but he also went bankrupt, and then I asked my uncle, as we are no longer getting along, to allow me go to America. But he turned me down as he had no money.
I am very curious how things will turn out for me in the future; I would have been very happy if Uncle had given me a few hundred thalers to travel, and then we could have started a little business.
My body is also hobbling, and I cannot therefore work in an agricultural position.
These lines will no longer reach you by Easter, but when there’s a ringing in your ears, know that someone is thinking of you with love.– Regards also to Kurt.
Please don’t mention my current sad situation with to anyone and burn these lines; I am aware of my complete powerlessness and it weighs heavily on me. At the next opportunity I will try to have the boxes sent from Lagerstroems to Schlackow, where some of the other things are, or are on their way there. Uncle Leskow is dead, his little daughter the heiress. Grandmother is still alive. Uncle Julius has become very different, since the manors here are not yielding anything in these bad times, and he must pump money into them.
Please do not mention any of this in your next dear letter, as Uncle reads your letters and has [become] very ill-tempered.
Side text 3: Now farewell, may the dear Lord keep you in his mercy and guard your health. I will probably
Side text 2: write you soon again about how my fate
Side text 1: has been decided.
With warm greetings and kisses, I remain your faithful loving son, Fritz.
Halsenbach, St. Goar County
October 6, 1885
Beloved Father!
I thank you not only for your dear letter but also for your wishes on my birthday, and ask that you also accept my very best wishes and blessings on your upcoming birthday.
When my letter was returned last year, like the enclosed envelope will show you, I was forced to wait for a new sign of life from you, and was therefore very glad when I saw the stamp and your dear handwriting. But I am even happier that, as can be concluded from the total impression of your dear letter, although not abundantly, on the whole you are doing well, and I pray to God, that you will remain that way.
After several years of unpaid work, I too have now succeeded in gaining a permanent, if not yet lucrative position as mayor in the Left Rhine-Rhine section of the Rhine Province. To this end, I had to work several years in the mayor’s office in Remagen and on the district council and the Royal Tax Office in Ahrweiler. Then after the Royal Government in Coblenz took notice of my training, I have been employed here a little more than one and a half years, first as administrator, then provisional mayor, and for one month now as the official mayor.
My salary isn’t great because I must pay for a scribe and small office expenses out of pocket. But I am a salaried civil servant, and that’s enough for me, since I am no longer a child and my physical stature is not too impressive. Like Clara, I am unmarried, but I would be hard pressed to get married as I am already over 43 years old. The town where I live is called Halsenbach and is about 7 miles from Coblenz and one and a half miles from the Rhine. It is a village of 615 souls, but I have several 
daily, as well as telegraph in town. In addition, I have been assigned to 9 other municipalities, about 4,000 souls in total, where I, like every other mayor of a town, am responsible for overseeing the administration. The difference is that city mayors are elected, while the government appoints them to the smaller municipalities.
My uncle Julius and Aunt Bertha are doing well, thank God. Last month their youngest son, a Lieutenant in the Zieten Hussar Regiment was married to the only daughter of the commander of his regiment, a pretty young girl, Anna von Alvensleben. I happened to be there for the engagement. I was invited to the wedding, but did not go because of work as well as out of financial considerations / the wedding took place in Rathenow. The trip would have cost me altogether at least 150 thalers and I couldn’t spare it.
The son of my late sister Ottilie, who has become a rather rich young man through various inheritances, was in Vienna at the Military Academy, which is pretty much like our Cadet Corps. At his age, he could already be in the army. That is all I currently know about him. But he is fine, because if not, I would have heard something from the family. His father is a major in Stuhlweisenburg and has not married again.
Old Lagerstroem is dead. His wife is working as a housekeeper in the Central Hotel in Berlin. One daughter has improved her situation and is working somewhere. Both of the two younger children are in Petersburg, the girl is married. Uncle Jeckow is dead and is survived by only one daughter, who is not yet an adult and will one day become very rich. Of General Kirschfeld’s children, the son is a Cavalry Captain of the Hussar Regiment. One daughter is married to a Captain von Dewitz, the other is unmarried. Matthias Below is here again, much to the chagrin of his relatives. I don’t know what he’s up to right now.
So now I must close. Thank you again very much for your dear wishes. God keep you fresh and healthy for a long time to come. Regards to Curt and his wife. Tell them that I thank them from the bottom of my heart for all the good they are doing for you, and ask them to continue doing so, for that will bring blessings to them and their home.
I remain always your faithful son, Fritz.
Halsenbach, November 12, 1886
Dear Father!
My congratulations on your dear birthday are arriving late, but they are thus meant no less heartfelt and filial than ever. The reason for my delay was that I intended to show you I had followed the advice in your last dear letter that I should get engaged once again. Well it did not come to pass, it is probably no longer necessary, (as I am) at an age where you soon had your last child. God grant you happiness, blessings and beautiful health in this new year of life. This is my most heartfelt and pressing wish, which I ask you to kindly accept, albeit rather late. Now I would like to thank you very much for your kind wishes for my birthday and also ask you to convey my thanks to Curt for his dear lines. It’s tedious how the years add up from birthday to birthday.
Now I would like to answer your questions about the family as best I can currently. Although I am on a very good standing with them, as has been my experience in the event of my birthday, the great distance I am from the old homeland as well as from people’s emotions, and (I am) no longer so well informed about f everything.
Frau von Puttkamer-Pansin, in other words Tante Gretchen, has not married again, as far as I have heard she lives rather quietly, spends the summer in Pansin, the winter in Berlin, is in contact with Uncle Julius. The daughter should now be 10-12 years old, and will one day be a rich heiress and a good catch. Herr v. Henkenhagen is dead, he got married again to a lady I haven’t met, and who (just) appeared in the Schlackower family. He died very much in debt, so that nothing remains for his wife. Uncle Julius also has about 20,000 thalers, and it is not unlikely that he will buy Henkenhagen as a result. The man was not survived by any children. His father was a nobleman, who remembered you at Ottilie’s wedding with very kind and eloquent words, for which I thanked him especially. He has been dead for a long time now.
Uncle Julius’ only living daughter, my dear cousin Armgard, the same one who was slandered by the ‘most splendid’ homosexual Below, married her brother-in-law, i.e. the husband of her late sister, the Captain v. Arnim, and she is doing quite well.
The eldest son of Uncle Julius, my cousin Agathon, will probably remain a bachelor, like me. He took over the manor of Goershagen from his father a number of years ago and is the Cavalry Captain of the Guard Landwehr Cavalry.
The youngest son, Günther, Lieutenant with the Zieten Hussars, who married the daughter of his former commander, a Herr von Alvensleben, has (saved up a little nest egg) to start off with. Uncle Julius became (Royal) Chamberlain last spring; he and Aunt Bertha are reasonably well, but complain about the afflictions of old age which you do not notice when you are with them. They still want what is best for me, and if I had followed their advice, today I would be looking out of other windows (than I am) at the moment.
And yet I, too, cannot complain. If God keeps my health, I have my steady income, can enjoy food, drink and tobacco, the civil servants working for me are satisfied with me, my superiors (are) also tolerable, so why should I complain?
For today, dear Father, I will now close. Give Curt my cordial regards, recommend me to his wife, although we haven’t met and to you my heartfelt greetings and kisses from
Your faithful son Fritz
Halsenbach, December 23, 1886
Dear Father!
I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year and I ask you to convey the same wish to Curt and family for me. You will probably have a happier Christmas than I will, because I am sitting all alone in a village that is snowed in up to the teeth. Although the village is only 1 1/4 miles away from the Rhine, there is so little happening for me during the holidays, and I am happiest at home, albeit alone.
I have heard little from the relatives in Pomerania (ect.) since my last letter to you and I will probably first hear how they are doing during the Christmas holidays; only my cousin Armgard, Frau von Arnim, is said to be expecting; given the illness of her deceased older sister and since she herself has been under a doctor’s care for years, there is cause to fear for her life. Well, this is a woman’s lot and they wouldn’t want it any other way.
I’m doing awfully well, I enjoy my food and drink and one shouldn’t ask much more [of life]. The political landscape of our German fatherland is unclear and will likely remain so for years to come, and people are quite ready and prepared for another ‘fine, lovely’ war, God only knows how it will turn out. I was wondering, “in which way Curt managed to avoid being drafted by the Prussian military”? Could he also be in any trouble in the event of war?
Now farewell, dear Father, I have no other news to tell you at the moment as I haven’t gotten out much in the last few months because of so much work.
I wish you all good luck and blessings, also for Curt on his birthday, which, if I’m not mistaken, is at the end of January; I’ve always had a bad memory for such dates; remember with love,
Your faithful son Fritz
Adr.: Halsenbach not: Haselach
Halsenbach, 14 October 1887
Beloved Father!
My deep heartfelt thanks for your dear letter and your heartfelt wishes for my birthday and ask you very much to accept also mine. May God add countless more to your days and also give you beautiful health and a cheerful mind.
The news about Brother Curt, your move andtyour well-being has made me veryhappy, and I wish you all a grandson, son and brother, whom you will then hopefully nameFritz, to the pathen per distance I am happy to be ready.
I don’t have much to tell you about me. I’m healthy. I’m very much alone because I’m living in the countryside, and it makes me sometimes irritable and I occasionally complain about my liver.
Uncle Julius is doing reasonably well, but old age is already catching up with him. I haven’t seen him and my dear aunt for almost three years.
Herr v. Puttkamer-Henkenhagen, who, as I told you, died deeply in debt and had tricked Uncle Julius so badly, that he was forced to buy Henkenhagen.
My oldest cousin, who served in your old regiment, is the Cavalry Captain of the Guard Landwehr Cavalry, has inherited the Goershagen estate from his father, is and probably will remain unmarried. My (female) cousin, who is married to Captain v. Arnim, is doing very well, as the dear aunt tells me.
My youngest cousin, who is with Zieten Hussars, visited me in the summer; he is very happily married to a Fräulein v. Alvensleben.
My most cordial regards to you and Curt’s family and am your faithful son always
Fritz
Halsenbach, December 17, 1887
Dear Father!
I wish you a healthy and blessed New Year and ask God that he not to count off your days for a long time to come. You will probably be celebrating the holiday with Curt’s family more merrily than I, an old bachelor. But you must, when you are raising your glasses, as I hope, in the old German custom on New Year’s Eve, remember the dear old German homeland.
I have absolutely nothing to report about myself, other than I, rapidly approaching my fifties, am slowly beginning to exhibit one gray hair after another, but (my) heart is still young.
My dear (female) cousin Armgard, whom the ‘most splendid’ homosexual* v. Below attempted to libel, and who had married her brother-in-law, Captain v. Arnim, already has the prospect of becoming a mother for the second time, as will the youngest cousin Günther, the (member of the) Zieten Hussar (Regiment). The oldest cousin G Agathon has been suffering from typhoid fever repeatedly since 1866 and in 1870 also developed rheumatism and is often ailing, so that he often goes to the spas; God knows whether he will ever be completely healthy again.
Farewell, dear Father. Again, I wish you a Happy New Year and remain
Your faithful son Fritz.
*Note: the word used here, “Hinterlader”, refers to a back- or breech-loading rifle and also a derogatory term for a homosexual. It is unclear but assumed that the term was also used in the 19th century.
Halsenbach, January 23, 1888
Dear Father!
I congratulate both Curt and you on the birth of the little son and heir to our name and thank you both for naming me his godfather. I have been a godfather several times over now, even for the youngest son of Uncle Julius*, however it was my great misfortune that all of my godchildren except one have died, that one being brother Curt himself, and I take this as a good omen that if my eternal personal misfortune left the father unscathed, then his son will also remain far from harm. I would have gladly made a contribution to the propagation of the family, but all that I have tried was in vain and, in spite of my best efforts, have never managed to marry. The ladies I would have liked did not want me, and those who wanted me I did not like.
But once, and it was not my or anyone else’s fault, fate or destiny or whoever had a hand in it dealt me an evil, so evil blow, and that was a hard thing indeed. Now that it is all in the past, I say over and over again: “God forbid, it would have been so wonderful, but God forbid, it was not meant to be.”
Whether or not I will get married, I do not know. There are only Catholic girls here with very little fortune and: “you can’t catch a Swiss without money.” And the issue of reproduction is also a peculiar thing; I’ll soon be 46 and ultra posse nemo tenetur. **
But it will be whatever it will be.
Give my regards to Kurt and my honored, as yet still unfamiliar sister-in-law, a photograph of whom I anxiously request. Tell her that a boy is a child that you constantly fear for, and that she is obligated to continue carrying out the task she has just completed, alone for the sake of our ancient name. She should not nourish the child herself***, at the very least give the child the bottle; but do not use any kind of substitutes, such as Kinderrest**** or that sort of thing, they are just a vain deception. Cow’s milk from a good cow.
Best regards to you all from
Your loyal son
Fritz
* Julius von Puttkamer, the brother of FFL’s first wife
** “No one is committed to do anything beyond what is possible.”
*** I.e. should not breastfeed
**** No translation could be found, perhaps some sort of powdered milk or cereal of the day.
Halsenbach, 20. October 1888
My dear Father!
I would like to thank you very much for your congratulations on my birthday sent to me most kindly, and I ask you to accept my good wishes for your birthday.
The dear Lord keep you strong and healthy for many years to come and help you bear the grievances of old age with joyful courage.
How I would love to hug and kiss you again, but how to do that; because even when one says the world has become smaller, it unfortunately only applies to the children of this earth who are not tied down.
I was pleased (to learn) that Curt is doing well, but I can’t really imagine what the duties of a newspaper agent are.
I am faring so-so. Unfortunately, I am getting older by the day, of which I currently disapprove, and I am already beginning to turn grey. Admittedly, (turning) fifty is not that far off.
Uncle Julius tragically had the misfortune of losing also his eldest son, the former 1st Guard Ulanen, most recently Cavalry Captain of the Garde Landwehr Cavalry, and I have lost my best friend; he was somewhat wild, but a nobleman from head to toe.
My female cousin Armgard is not very well physically; she married her brother-in-law von Armin, she has two children, a boy and a girl, but (she) is said to be sick of a lot.
The fabulous Mathias von Below is still living in Seehof and is up to his old tricks. I am really surprised that he always manages to get away with things.
How are the mother and the sisters doing? You have not told me anything about them for a long time, and I otherwise don’t hear anything (about them); the mother must be 70 years old soon. Uncle Julius bought Henkenhagen in the public auction of the bankrupt estate of my ‘most splendid’ stepfather and bemoans this a great deal. As he says of this man: the only thing he knew how to do in his life was to get other people to spend their money. Unfortunately, he is not completely wrong.
What do you say to our new Kaiser? Isn’t it splendid? And one can now be proud to be a German.
Farewell, dear Father, God keep you; my regards to Curt and his wife and children, and once in a while remember your faithful
Son Fritz
Halsenbach, 17. October 1889
Dear Father!
I have not written in a long time. It was hardly worth it, because I had nothing major upcoming to regale you with during this time, other than a few gray hairs appeared in my beard, although I did nothing to deserve it. Even though they directly affect me, things like changes in the Catholic parish office or the arrival of a doctor leave me cold, and I imagine would leave anyone else cold.
More importantly, it is your dear birthday on which I send you congratulations and wish that you may have many more and that you are celebrating it merrily and in good health.
The reason why I did not write you on this day last year was that I was still planning to enter into something, namely the state of holy matrimony. There’s no fool like an old fool. I thought I would be sending you this message together with your birthday wishes, even if the former would have made the latter a bit late.
Alas: It would have been so nice,
But it wasn’t meant to be! *
And now I must come to terms with it.
I am pleased that the sisters are now taken care of. I was often worried how Anna’s life would turn out. So I am the only one left. T. Schlakow is doing well, even though the eldest son, Rittmeister of the Garde-Landwehr Cavalry, has died. The youngest who is serving in the Zielen Hussar Regiment is expecting his second child. Cousin Armgard, now Frau von Armin, has 2 boys and a girl. Farewell, dear Father. My regards to Curt and his wife and children, and the warmest regards
from your
Faithful son Fritz.
* Excerpt from “Behüt‘ dich Gott, es wär zu schön gewesen“ by Joseph Victor von Scheffel
Halsenbach, December 19, 1889.
Dear Father!
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I will probably be spending both holidays alone, because unless I travel a great distance, I only have a Catholic pastor [at my disposal] here, who, although he is otherwise a very nice gentleman, is so busy especially during the holidays, in the evening holding mass, prayer services etc., and since he has neither the time nor the energy, he has no desire for any other kind of celebration that an old German boy [like me] is accustomed to.
However, apart from the fact that one prefers to be at home on such evenings and wistfully think of the old days, long distance travel is also rather difficult here as it currently is very cold and terribly slippery; so you will hopefully be spending your evenings in much happier surroundings. Greetings also to Curt and family, as well as to Crown Prince Fritz. A stroke of luck has happened in Schlackow, as Hussar Lieutenant cousin Günther has managed to have a boy, Uncle Julius’ first (legitimate) grandson.
Cousin Armgard, the wife of Captain von Arnim, has three children. You are obviously doing well. I am slowly starting to turn gray at the temples, as it’s not long until I turn fifty.
Fare well and think sometimes lovingly of your
faithful son Fritz.
Halsenbach, May 12, 1890
Dear Brother!
Our elderly father used to write to me from time to time, but has not for a long time now. I therefore ask you to graciously take a moment and let me know how he is faring.
Hopefully you and your family are doing well. I’m doing as well as can be expected. I don’t have any news that might interest you. I am slowly beginning to grow old, and I live very alone.
With warm regards, I remain
Your faithful brother
Fritz
Envelope:
Mr. Curt von Schmalensee
Agent of the Ill. State Newspaper
Hochwohlgeboren
Oak Park
by Chicago Ill.
Halsenbach, May 8, 1891
Dear Brother!
The news of the death of our old father has saddened me deeply, and hit me all the harder as I received the news of the death of my Aunt Puttkamer the very next day. She was very kind to me.
Although there was a great distance separating me and Father, he was at least alive. His letters let me know how both he and you were doing and I knew that with you he was in the best hands possible. And now he is gone.
Unfortunately, I was unable to do anything for him and cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for him. I know God will reward you and your children. Please be so kind as to let me know what the tombstone will cost and any other details.
I live all alone and it was dear old Father and ‘Aunt Puttkamer’ who regularly wrote to me on certain days. I was happy to have someone else in the world who thought of me with love. Now they are both gone.
I have a good picture of Father, but my Uncle Puttkamer is keeping it for me in Schlarkow. He is currently living in Berlin. As soon as I find out when he is back home, I will send for it and have a good reprint made of it for you.
With heartfelt greetings and wishes for your well-being and that of your dear family. I remain always
Your faithful brother
Fritz
Dierdorf, District of Neuwied
April 17, 1893
Dear Curt!
I thank you very much for your dear letter and I, too, have a great desire to see my only brother again, especially since the relatives of my mother one after the other have headed for the big hunting ground and the world has become empty of real and true friends for me; one does not make such firm friendships later on in life.
Unfortunately, however, I must decline your kind invitation for now, since I have been residing in a hospital for over a year now and therefore cannot travel. I will be happy if the summer restores my health. I am suffering from sciatica, i.e. inflammation of the nerves in the right leg, something that is not dangerous but most painful and ultimately terribly boring, as I must use crutches and avoid any cold. This is brought on by cold and often lasts 14-15 months. As a result of this ongoing condition, I have also had to give up my position. I will have to look for something else once I have recovered, which should hopefully be in 2 months. As long as you are healthy and young, you are able to do anything. But now that I have grown older and sicker, I often regret not having gotten married previously- but it just didn’t work out that way. – I rejoice over your many children. May God grant that they grow up to your joy and prosper.
As regards your mother and the sisters, I know nothing but what our old father used to tell me and what later you told me. I was so angry with that old woman because she didn’t look after her husband or her poor children and was attached to Esebeck*. Father had even said that she had a relationship with him. The matter was this: your mother had inherited nine thousand thalers from her stepson, the old General von Kosekule. The nine thousand thalers was made part of the estate in Paglau, and Father did not touch it, even when everything was sold out from under him and he was in dire straits and went to America. Your mother got the money paid out in cash after Paglau was sold and did not give it to her husband, who was too decent to ask for it, also hoping it would be for emergencies for the children. But she did not use it for them, rather she simply sent the sisters off to strangers, where they were often not at all happy. She turned her attentions entirely to Esebeck, who also had no trouble spending that money without a thought for the poor children.
When I was in Wilkritt in 1866, she still had more than half of the money. I saw it. Phrasing it as well as possible, I asked her to hold on to the money and to write down what she had already spent. If she had registered what she had spent on him immediately afterwards, it would have still been saved – but no – dear Herrmann – .
Like I said, I have no idea about your [family’s] current circumstances. I am also too far away – over 300 German miles – to get a proper idea about it. But I would advise you to contact Blanka or Clara, because if your mother should still have assets or the prospect thereof, then you would undoubtedly have a claim to part of it, and you can certainly use it.
Give Clara my address if she wants to write to me. Now about your exhibition. When one hears you Americans going on about it, you would think that the devil himself was dancing barefoot there, and that there has never been anything like that before. Oh, son, you’ll find the same things here at any fair, and even nicer at that. – Now, greetings to you, your dear wife and children. As always,
Your faithful brother Fritz.
Side note: Uncle Julius kept Father’s picture and I will first get it when I can visit him. Then I will have a print made.
* “Hermann von Esebeck (1816–1876) Prussian militia captain and lord of Wangnick, Katlack and Buchholtz. He was married to Laura von Studnitz (1821–1897)** in 1843 and was survived by three sons.”
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esebeck_(Adelsgeschlecht)
** Her sister (!)
Schlarkow near Saleck
in Pomerania, 22 October 1894
Dear brother Curt!
I have received your dear letter and as I see from it that things are not going well for you, I am even sorrier because I am unfortunately unable to support you.
My illness is still not gone, my right leg remains lame, and I need to use two walking sticks. As a result of my illness, inflammation of the hip joint, something that lasts for years, I was forced to quit working, I then visited thermal baths and various hospitals, and my only hope now is that the coming spring will bring relief to my painful condition. Things will never be the same as the leg is shorter and will remain so.
I have now left Rheinefort to stay with my cousin Puttkamer in Pomerania, and I sit here enjoying his good hospitality and, as they say, assume “a waiting position”.
In the matter of the capital expected later from your mother’s stepfather, I am also unable to provide you with any hopeful information as to whether our father has renounced it as your natural and legal guardian. As a stopgap measure, you might register a formal objection later, since our father probably renounced “for himself”, but not in the name of his children. You could do that, too, if you mention that Ms. Gran supported your mother in her old age, you could mention that you did the same for our old father. You could also say that our missing brother Carl is still alive, and that he explained to you that he either does not intend to renounce at all or only for your benefit. Carl was already an adult at that time and Father’s renunciation does not apply to him.
Did you ever hear anything about Carl? Whether he is still alive! Or when and where he died? If I were you, I would want to find out where he may have ended up. But for now, fare well, dear Curt, God help you. Cordial greetings to your wife and children cordially and my warmest greeting to you as well from
Please write again.
Yours Loyal brother Fritz