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Today we see two letters that Eva kept with other documents and letters in an envelope marked “Otto.” Helene’s nephew Paul kept a copy of his reply to Otto’s letter Paul — he takes the lightest tone I’ve seen in any of his letters – he jokes about becoming a “rich American cousin.” If only he had succeeded!
Prague, 16 June 1939
(received June 28)Dear Paul!
Many thanks for your last letter, which I will answer in detail later.
I just wanted to send you a short piece of news that on 10th of this month I married Steffi and I am sending you a photo.
Many greetings and kisses from Steffi as well.
Your
OttoP.S. On the 23rd, we will be moving into Robert’s apartment which we have rented for the foreseeable future.
718 W. 178th St. July 28, 1939
c/o Cooper, Apt. 44
New York NYDear Otto,
I was so happy to get your marriage announcement. I know you will not regret this. From the moment I met Steffi, I knew, despite difficulties in communicating, that she was a person one can get along with. She will be a good housewife and a compassionate companion for you, just what one needs in these times. Please translate my congratulations into good Czech for her. Tell her of my request that she and I be on friendly terms, just as I have always been with you without any trouble at all. I owe you a wedding present, and in order to pay this debt, I hope to become a “rich American cousin” as soon as possible. With patience and luck this goal should be possible even nowadays, although it may be the exception.
My complaints about being lazy about writing letters are perhaps tempered somewhat by your failure to send me a detailed letter. You are forgiven, of course! But you won’t get a detailed description of my life, either. It’s bad, and uninteresting. Thousands are running around who share my fate. My intention is to go away from here, probably to San Francisco, if I don’t find something soon. Job opportunities are better anywhere but New York. What are you going to do? I think you have your job until September; and do you have any plans for later? If you have time, tell me about it in detail, and let me know what your brothers, cousins and other relatives are doing. If you get together with them, say hello from me, and tell them I’m sorry I haven’t written yet.
I know that you are dealing with my issues, since Leo Schauer wrote to me that he, in agreement with you, asked me to provide the bank with my address because of the locked-up papers (may mean: frozen accounts). I have done this. How does it look re selling Czech state papers; do you think we will ever see anything from that? Thank you so much for your trouble and care. – Also, re getting the sum back which I paid, under the title “surrender”, for the approval/permit of further (payments), I hope you can confirm that you have tried everything humanly possible. I don’t suppose I will get the first 200 pounds back. The first 200 pounds (and, after all, that is all I got approved) were tax free, and legally the ministry should return the surrendered amount, if not the donation demanded. --- I also wanted to ask you if Mother, from whom I haven’t heard in a long time, is receiving her full pension – and if not, why not? You are in touch through letters with Robert, whom I’m very worried about. Otherwise, I unfortunately don’t have any good news to tell you, other than the fact that I am in good physical health, except for being bothered by the New York hear and humidity. That last thing is really a serious excuse for not writing. --- Your climate probably has not changed, so I hope to hear from you. Greetings and kisses from