Today we have three letters written on the same day and presumably sent in the same envelope. To save money, sometimes Helene wrote on half-sheets of paper. She typed the last part of Eva’s letter on the back. Saving every penny. These letters were written just two days after the letter she wrote to Paul that was posted on January 28. It’s like being privy to a conversation, albeit a one-sided one, and we see how Helene “speaks” differently depending on to whom she is writing. The letters to her children are filled with puns and jokes and sweet pet names. The ones to her nephew Paul are more serious and often deal with practical matters.
Vienna, 31.January 1940
Harryssimo! I’m insatiable and I keep waiting for a letter every time the mail comes. Even though I know it’s not going to happen. I still believe maybe the letters I posted might be trickling in and maybe even in order.
Jo’s nephew Fritz was in a serious accident. He fell while you were still in Vienna. It was an accident from a ladder in a bunker/basement. He was unconscious for awhile. He did recover then. On the way home he met his father, but the father had some trouble with his work, so he went to school as if nothing happened. 3 weeks later he collapsed during PE and was unconscious and was brought to the hospital where he spent 6 weeks and could not go to school. Some time after that he was allowed to go back to school but had terrible headaches and had to go back. He went to a field trip and he was tall (1 meter 87) and his friend is even 76 cm taller than that. I don't know what his parents will do with their clothing coupons. I believe he would be very happy to hear from you.
Now I assume even in this blessed country the Christmas celebrations are over and you are back in school. Is it difficult? Little Eva assured me of the opposite. I wish you in any case much luck. I will see if I can find another little job. My debut as a snow removal worker was somewhat of a disaster and my feet were really cold.
Papa has his imperial sport which is wood cutting and he has quit that as well. He was looking for a new patent and he has invented the profession of splitting wood without hacking it up, just with his own iron biceps. The result: he injured the muscles on both his arms. But that’s over now and he’s not cutting up any wood. We have both had our little dalliances into other professions.
Goodbye and kisses for now.
Mutti
Vienna, 31.January 1940
My dear poor Everl!
What’s the kid doing? Now I know why I was dreaming of you. When I told Papa, he told me I was a “raven mother”. He’s not really wrong because I am now complaining. That damn snow removal!
How did we get to this? Did you have pain? It was only 4 teeth that were killed off. Why did 5 have to be pulled? Was the 5th the reason the others had to be pulled? Robert has a partner in suffering now. You however cannot compete with him. If it hasn't happened yet, I want you to send me an exact description of your tooth woes. Please tell me the truth and don’t spare my nerves. I believe they can handle it….
Did you hear anything of your friend who seems to have scattered in all directions? Since you go to school you have enough opportunity to get a new, nicer friend.
I’m done for today. I have written lots of letters. Nothing has really happened and there’s not time for much fun. If this continues, I’ll be telling you the pudding joke. By the way, an anecdote occurs to me (from about the same time) so please don’t think badly of it. Frau Rebbezen [Rabbi’s wife] doesn’t like her name and she asks her husband ask for a name change. He agrees. When he comes back from the capital several days later, angry that she’d gotten to him (she says: it costs quite a bit but you have a name for your whole life”). His wife asks “what is our name now?” “Schweissloch” [sweat hole] was the laconic answer. “Schweissloch,” she asks disappointedly, “for so much money?” The husband: “do you have any idea how much the ‘w’ alone cost?”
It’s time for me to end or else my crazy little girl will get even crazier. I’m going to end this 15th Clipper letter with kisses and hope to hear from you soon.
Mutti
The following letter to Hilda is in English. Hilda Firestone was the daughter of a first cousin. When they arrived in San Francisco in 1939, Harry lived with Hilda and her husband Nathan. Eva lived with a different cousin. Paul lived with Hilda at times and tried to teach Hilda some German. Helene is effusive in her gratitude to all that Hilda has done for her children and nephew. You can see how much less fluent her English is here than in other letters and stories written later on. Helene and Hilda met for the first time in 1946 - at this point they were strangers, bonded over Hilda and Nathan’s generous hospitality.
The German proverb Helene quotes says: A fool asks more than 10 wise men can answer. She continues: But now I am not a fool but ten, and that I must not expect you to do that. The original proverb may actually be: Ein Narr kann mehr Fragen stellen als sieben Weise beantworten können. One fool can ask more questions than seven wise men can answer.