December 17, 1939

I am very delighted about your l[ast] lines.
Many regards and kisses on the hand from Heinz Rosenzweig
[written upside down, in the top margin of page 1., above the printed
business name in the letterhead.¹]

Brünn, December 17, 1939

My Dear Ones!

7 o’clock in the evening – we are still sitting in the little overheated
small room of the unfortunate in-laws who have their heads bandaged
most of the time.²
Lussinka [Anny³] and Heinzi ⁴ “devour their abundant dinner. ——
Elsa is unfortunately sitting muffled and is complaining about her
bitter pain, for this poor, poor and good woman has been afflicted
with arthritis [pain] in her right upper arm for 14 days: God tests his
favorites in fire.
“Pumpkin,”⁵ I say to my Fritzele, “slip into your poor little winter
coat with the almost shabby, narrow fur collar.” But this is
my selfless Fritzele: Working, laboring from early in the morning until
late at night,
but never for oneself, only for others…. At this moment, I am thinking:
What
elegant coats with
rich fur trimming do my daughters have –
and you, my wonderful wife, buy a knitted west for your “Hugolink”
instead,
which, nowadays, is not only of high relative value, but is also of high
absolute
value. But this is how this noble, altruistic nature is: For one self a life
full of
effort and trouble, making heaven on earth for others - - -.
What a wonderful life she could live, how many rich and highly
regarded,
gentlemanly suitors would strive to lead this “treasure” home. But
if she chose me, an “unknown Maccabee”, so if I have
successfully achieved “plucking this flower”⁶, then I have to
thank the omni benevolent Dame Fortune for arranging our
acquaintanceship just like in a novel.
That Fritzele almost became the sister-in-law of your kind Ms.
Hofrätin,⁷
does also not lack spicy romanticism.
However, the following lines do not mean to strut or to brag,
but they shall be read as a contribution to “life’s mazy and intricate
course.”⁸
As the sister – may God rest her soul – of your neighbor, who was
always so kind to our mom,
was one of the best friends of my hearty Fritzele —

p.2. (on reverse side of p.1.)

and not only [due to] the weekly séances in the café “Esplanade”, but
also the numerous visits in
Fritzele’s wonderful apartment, assured and deepened this pure and
intimate friendship which was based on
the harmony of two noble female souls. The late [woman/friend] was
also after the time of poor
Hugo Fränkel’s death – who died too early and after deep suffering – a
devoted comforter and deeply
sympathetic friend during those very grievous years of mourning…
The very day, when the German
troops invaded here ⁹, this poor woman was carried to Julienfeld¹⁰ –
the weather was
terrible then: at the cemetery, we trudged through deep dirty snow.
Everyone of the scarce escort
paying the last respect was broken-hearted, and in addition, full of
deepest
sorrow and dejection
caused by this gloomy background. . . . . Of course, also my faithful
Fritzele was among the
mourners – also today, in spite of the cold and snow flurry, we visited
the grave of
Maria Mayer, which is already surrounded by beautiful granite, and
the stone will probably be erected
soon - -
But also the Oberstaatsrat¹¹ Mayer, who was known for his esprit and
cheerful
sociability,
felt esteem for my intelligent and optimistic Fritzele; but these
feelings of esteem
and reverence were also mutual feelings. - - - And I don’t know why
nothing “came out
of it”, after various sides put out feelers ~~
I am writing the continuation at my parent’s, with many people
around me. That is to say, at home
it is quite cold, we have not been heating since three weeks, besides
the kerosene oven in the
big kitchen once in a while – Lußinka and Heinzile just came back
from a stroll and
Lußinka already placed three large slices of bread with jelly in front of
her. [?] Would she only have developed
such an appetite with you, (dear sister?) ! Apart form that, for the
time being, nothing has changed and everything is well.

Kisses Your Hugo

Due to space limitations only warm
regards from aunt Else

My dearest ones, I do not know how you will judge the state of mind
of my
Hugole¹² after having read his lines above, I am afraid he
is not quite sane! You will be very
unpleasantly surprised some time. I want to break it to you gently
already today.
We are happy and content, which is the
most important thing in these hard times. We are always delighted by your
lines. Stay healthy, many kisses from

Your Fritzi¹³

Such chutzpah! 14 days of strike. . . .¹⁴

[written upside down at bottom of p.2.]

Many 1000 kisses from Anny