Walt & Terri Sterneman's Family Pages

Letter

Letter
Person Adèle Loew
Description to her sister Martha
Date 25 Oct 1922
Place St. Louis
Country MO

Notes
Dear sister!

This afternoon I received your kind letter, it is good to hear from you all. I have been waiting for a long time to get a letter from you, because mother had written in her first letter that she will send you my address. It is depressing that everythingis so unbelievable expensive. I can imagine well that it is hard to get along under these conditions. You need much patience and persistence but it cannot go on like this in eternity. I think a true upright German man will not give in. I think it is soon getting better, I tell you why. About two years ago you could not find anything in a shop - whatever it was - with the trade-mark “Made in Germany”. And now you can hardly find any toys or dolls without that trade mark. That proves that trade starts again.
You should not think that here people have a bad opinion of the Germans, all the soldiers who had come back report how nobly the Germans had treated them. My dear, also with us “all that glitters is not gold”, of course, I admit that we feel well in comparison to you. Everything is rather expensive as never before, but as long there is a job and good health one should not complain. I only wish I could have you here, wouldn’t that be nice? Please, do not think I had forgotten you, you at last, as we have the very picture of you in our family. I do not know how often I said to Caesar, does not Hansi Look like Martha? He is the eldest, he is almost eleven years old, I do not know whether you saw him.
Do not lose courage, as long you can keep up your head there is hope, if not all is lost. If I wrote you about all I have done you would think I were mad. It is true here a woman has much more to do than abroad.
When a man cannot find a job, a woman will always find something. In this way you have to grant it to the Americans they accept any work whatever it is if it only brings. Money. Actually you can live here in a much simpler way than abroad.
Just now you remind me of the Bible: Martha, there is too much trouble and sorrow, don’t worry so much about a furcoat if you can but one it is o.k. if not don’t let one day be spoilt. You can buy a furcoat at all time but you can never fetch back a lostday. If I tell you I have bought one hat for the summer and one for the winter as long as I have been in this country you will think this is not true, but it is. Of course, every year it is modified, once I cut off, one I piece on, once there were ribbons on it, another time feathers. You never know what you can do with an old rag. I wished I had you coat here, I would make something of it. I would take it in good hands. Don’t let grow gray hair because of an old furcoat, better let it grow on the coat. Take a liter of water with three or four spoons of ammonium chlorid, a good brush and brush the whole coat, then hang it outside. When it is worn out cut off or piece on.
Now about the postage stamps. You do not write whether you want to have your stamps back or all of the other countries. I can send you heaps of ours if they are of any value.
My dear, I will close now, I could write even ten pages more, but I will hurry that you get this letter soon. You will get a photo at Christmas. Now I must close, it is ten o’clock and I have not yet fed the chickens, I have not only five children but also 75 chickens. Please, answer soon.
Kind regards and kisses for you both.
Yours Delly