Headline:
On the date of 4 Sept., Georg Feuerstein in Norka writes to his nephew William Feuerstein in Grand Island, Nebraska, and thanks him for a $10 Food-Draft.
When the revolution broke out in 1917, he was in service to Borell's in Saratov, where he had worked for 25 years. When the mill property was seized and everything was taken away in 1918, Feuerstein left Saratov for Norka, where he worked a year for his brother-in-law Hölzer.
Then, he bought a small garden plot from his brother Ludwig and lived there in a shed.
Later, he worked 4 years in the local mill, which the government had taken over. In February of 1922, the mill was closed and Feuerstein lost his employment. After that he remained at his shed in the garden plot.
Feuerstein complains that the people have become sinful and brotherly love was no longer the rule. Everyone had retreated from their neighbors into a thick shell, etc.
He harvested 19 Pud (684 pounds) of rye and 30 Pud (1,080 pounds) of wheat of which he had to surrender 7 Pud (252 pounds) rye and 11 Pud (396 pounds) of wheat for seed.
In September, there was already a punishing raw wind coming in from the north. Then it says: "We have nothing to look forward to. Everyone walks around in rags and when I think about the coming winter my heart aches. No fuel, no clothing, nothing for the feet. The children are all going barefoot. As long as it was warm it was alright, but now it's getting cold. For 8 years now I have not been able to buy any yard goods (material/cloth - translator); One always hoped that things would become less expensive, but today one Arschin (2 1/3 ft.) sarpinka (a gingham cloth - translator) costs a million Ruble."
Then he writes what we have so often heard, that without any help from America, they all will starve. Also, the emphasis in all the letters is: Clothing, clothing, and always again clothing.
Translator's note: Die Welt-Post editors printed a synopsis rather than publishing the entire letter.
When the revolution broke out in 1917, he was in service to Borell's in Saratov, where he had worked for 25 years. When the mill property was seized and everything was taken away in 1918, Feuerstein left Saratov for Norka, where he worked a year for his brother-in-law Hölzer.
Then, he bought a small garden plot from his brother Ludwig and lived there in a shed.
Later, he worked 4 years in the local mill, which the government had taken over. In February of 1922, the mill was closed and Feuerstein lost his employment. After that he remained at his shed in the garden plot.
Feuerstein complains that the people have become sinful and brotherly love was no longer the rule. Everyone had retreated from their neighbors into a thick shell, etc.
He harvested 19 Pud (684 pounds) of rye and 30 Pud (1,080 pounds) of wheat of which he had to surrender 7 Pud (252 pounds) rye and 11 Pud (396 pounds) of wheat for seed.
In September, there was already a punishing raw wind coming in from the north. Then it says: "We have nothing to look forward to. Everyone walks around in rags and when I think about the coming winter my heart aches. No fuel, no clothing, nothing for the feet. The children are all going barefoot. As long as it was warm it was alright, but now it's getting cold. For 8 years now I have not been able to buy any yard goods (material/cloth - translator); One always hoped that things would become less expensive, but today one Arschin (2 1/3 ft.) sarpinka (a gingham cloth - translator) costs a million Ruble."
Then he writes what we have so often heard, that without any help from America, they all will starve. Also, the emphasis in all the letters is: Clothing, clothing, and always again clothing.
Translator's note: Die Welt-Post editors printed a synopsis rather than publishing the entire letter.
Sources
Die Welt-Post, November 16, 1922, page 7.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016.