Headline: Original Report from Russia
Beideck, Volga Republic, April 10, 1924
Esteemed Welt-Post:
After a long wait for moderate weather I come to you somewhat late with my report. From the end of January until now we have had continuous cold weather so that many people are short of heating material and fodder. Now however, we have a south wind and it is beginning to thaw so that after Easter we can go to work in the fields. Our government has subsidized those in need so that they can put their fields in order and this is praiseworthy. All the colonies on the Berg- and Wiesenseite received assistance, but not as much as everyone wanted. In the autumn this subsidy is to be returned again to the government along with a percentage fee.
One is not yet in danger when driving carriages across the Volga. We had brethren visit from the Wiesenseite. From Warenburg were brother Eisner, H. Bradt, from Laub Alexander Hermann, Karl Roemer, K. Grasmueck, from Lauwe Conrad Fuchs, Heinrich Leikam, from old Norka Conrad Spahn, Georg Hoelzer, from Kutter Adam Ickes and Adam Schaefer, from Balzer Heinrich Schneider, Johannes Roehrig and still others whose names I do not know. It was a joyous and benediction filled meeting during which much was thought of you in America. In their speeches some brethren referred to your assistance from America which saved us from the terrible famine.
Is it not a special grace that this burning love of yours reached us in such a way? You have made it possible for us here on the Berg- and Wiesenseite of the Volga to come together here and greet one another. Therefore we also wish to go forth one for all and all for one to pray and thank God that after the terrible storm in our lives the sun is shining again and we are newly refreshed.
Every now and then a letter comes here that is insulting. There also come those which bring such joy that I will never tire of writing to you. Those who are dissatisfied with me I would particularly like them to write their names. If one writes anonymous letters of complaint here then one knows neither who has written the letter nor who it is concerned with. This is wrong and useless.
I do not seek to praise myself, neither thus nor otherwise, but I am always glad to hear from you. In former times when your magazines arrived here one could see from them how things were going over there; now however, one must rely on letters and one does not know if they will ever come. If one comes here from America we are very happy.
I was pleased, Johann Hoelzer, for the acknowledgment and thanks that you expressed to me through your brother-in-law Johann Peter Batt. All of you are affectionately greeted by me.
In Norka, new church fathers were selected. In my next report I will tell you much about them. At present I only know of one, brother "Spoche" (Spahn - editor).
In other respects there is still much also to do with the in-kind tax with which we also have to deal with daily.
For the information of Jacob Luft and his wife from Schilling--your letter was safely received by your Geier parents-in-law and also answered.
Many of you still imagine the old homeland as it was when you left without considering the fact that great changes have occurred in past years. Some years ago at "Steppberg" near Schilling there was a beautiful vegetable garden. Nothing more remains of it except an old tree which is not any stronger than it was 10 years ago. On both sides of the "Holz-Bristan," where there lay great stacks of wood, there are no more: orchards have been removed from properties. Going through the village to the Volga where each building was a place of business, now every family has a potato field there. When the flood of the Volga subsides the people go to work. Herbs, potatoes and other vegetables are grown there. This is for the information of all Schillingers in America.
Since the last time (I wrote) there is a new regulation that says that the money we currently use will only have value for a little while longer, then we will get different currency. Whoever misses the exchange date for the currency loses out, that is the way it goes, just like it always has. There are people who hoarded their old paper money and now it just lays there, it has no more value. There was a man who even sold his horses for such money and then he came to me for advice. In this case good advice was expensive. It (the old paper money) simply had no value. Often people will hide their money and not tell anyone that they have any. They let the currency exchange date pass by to their loss and damage. They go to the Post Office with their worthless money which they want to use for postage only to be told that their money is good for nothing. And thus it was with me: I bought stamps and thought that they would last for some years, but what happened? After I had sent two letters and then came to post a third I was told the stamps were no longer valid. The Postmaster said he had received a telegram and also new stamps. Thus I have some sheets of stamps on hand as souvenirs. So things go in Russia, one thinks one has handled a thing wisely but it ends up being a failure.
I received a letter from Mr. Jacob Volz. I thank you very much for still thinking of me. I read the letter in tears. When little Berta saw the photos she was very happy and said: "Mr. Volz will bring us clothes again from brother Dreith!" Then she asked: "Will he come grandfather, or not?" To keep from upsetting her I said, "He is coming." I thought back over it, dear brother, about how much you accomplished in the year you were in Russia and the trouble you went through to provide loving service to the poor (who were) covered with scabs and lice: and the many needles and spools of thread you gave to the Poor Committees. And when it sometimes occurred that things were not correctly distributed it was openly said that Volz was to blame. In only one case am I not totally at peace, as follows:
When you were in Beideck you took items from the general clothing distribution to replace those personal items that had been reported lost (in shipment). You satisfied these so well that I often thought you had given them too much. And yes, some of those things believed to be lost were received on the following day. There are also those who wrote to America that they had received bad items (of lesser value) for this or that that was lost. But we do not wish to show any hostility towards them. Here a proverb applies: Virtue is its own reward. Thus we do not want to look upon Mr. Volz as an enemy but rather as a friend because he had sympathy for the poor and much of his loving work was done in tears. During that time, if there was one or another who was not satisfied then one must consider: where are the men who can satisfy everyone? They are as few as the amount of water that flows up a mountain. And you Mr. Volz, will also endure those who were weak.
I would like to also hear something from Mr. Repp. The good man was often here with me, also Pastor Wagner and Beschorner. You all are affectionately greeted by me. I hope you all are living together quite peacefully.
For the information of Johann Dietz in Denver, Colo., that your father and father-in-law are still well. They received your letter. Br. Lukas Dreith in Lincoln, it has been over a month and I still have not received a letter from you. Are things not going well with you? I do not want us to become adversaries on account of the demand I made of you. I meant to fix things by it and not to force anything in this matter. The love for my village of birth and native country caused me to enter into the affair and try to help.
Peter Herder who lost his house and property came to me for advice. The court has said that his house and property would be returned upon the condition that he pay 125 gold Rubles. However it is not possible for him to pay this amount and so he asks the following men to send him money so that he can get his house back: Georg Gruenemeier in Denver, Balthaser Triebelhorn, Johann Peter Schneider, Peter Butz, Friedrich Mauss, Lukas Butz. Also his cousins Lukas and Balthaser Herder and my brethren should help. It is Peter Herder, house number 128, who wants to be helped.
Balthaser Ostermiller in Newark, N.J. is greeted. His uncle Ludwig received his letter. I have also received a letter from Georg Mueller. Thank you old neighbor, for asking about the children of the Deines brothers. Willie is with me but is not in good health. I could do better without him but who is there to take him in? I must take care of him because he is sickly. He has many uncles in America but they do little for him.
We carried to their final rest: Friedrich Pabst, 67 years old, Balthaser Mueller, 35 years old. This for the information of relatives and friends of the deceased.
Greetings to all Welt-Posters,
Konrad Wuerz
House Number 447 - Beideck
After a long wait for moderate weather I come to you somewhat late with my report. From the end of January until now we have had continuous cold weather so that many people are short of heating material and fodder. Now however, we have a south wind and it is beginning to thaw so that after Easter we can go to work in the fields. Our government has subsidized those in need so that they can put their fields in order and this is praiseworthy. All the colonies on the Berg- and Wiesenseite received assistance, but not as much as everyone wanted. In the autumn this subsidy is to be returned again to the government along with a percentage fee.
One is not yet in danger when driving carriages across the Volga. We had brethren visit from the Wiesenseite. From Warenburg were brother Eisner, H. Bradt, from Laub Alexander Hermann, Karl Roemer, K. Grasmueck, from Lauwe Conrad Fuchs, Heinrich Leikam, from old Norka Conrad Spahn, Georg Hoelzer, from Kutter Adam Ickes and Adam Schaefer, from Balzer Heinrich Schneider, Johannes Roehrig and still others whose names I do not know. It was a joyous and benediction filled meeting during which much was thought of you in America. In their speeches some brethren referred to your assistance from America which saved us from the terrible famine.
Is it not a special grace that this burning love of yours reached us in such a way? You have made it possible for us here on the Berg- and Wiesenseite of the Volga to come together here and greet one another. Therefore we also wish to go forth one for all and all for one to pray and thank God that after the terrible storm in our lives the sun is shining again and we are newly refreshed.
Every now and then a letter comes here that is insulting. There also come those which bring such joy that I will never tire of writing to you. Those who are dissatisfied with me I would particularly like them to write their names. If one writes anonymous letters of complaint here then one knows neither who has written the letter nor who it is concerned with. This is wrong and useless.
I do not seek to praise myself, neither thus nor otherwise, but I am always glad to hear from you. In former times when your magazines arrived here one could see from them how things were going over there; now however, one must rely on letters and one does not know if they will ever come. If one comes here from America we are very happy.
I was pleased, Johann Hoelzer, for the acknowledgment and thanks that you expressed to me through your brother-in-law Johann Peter Batt. All of you are affectionately greeted by me.
In Norka, new church fathers were selected. In my next report I will tell you much about them. At present I only know of one, brother "Spoche" (Spahn - editor).
In other respects there is still much also to do with the in-kind tax with which we also have to deal with daily.
For the information of Jacob Luft and his wife from Schilling--your letter was safely received by your Geier parents-in-law and also answered.
Many of you still imagine the old homeland as it was when you left without considering the fact that great changes have occurred in past years. Some years ago at "Steppberg" near Schilling there was a beautiful vegetable garden. Nothing more remains of it except an old tree which is not any stronger than it was 10 years ago. On both sides of the "Holz-Bristan," where there lay great stacks of wood, there are no more: orchards have been removed from properties. Going through the village to the Volga where each building was a place of business, now every family has a potato field there. When the flood of the Volga subsides the people go to work. Herbs, potatoes and other vegetables are grown there. This is for the information of all Schillingers in America.
Since the last time (I wrote) there is a new regulation that says that the money we currently use will only have value for a little while longer, then we will get different currency. Whoever misses the exchange date for the currency loses out, that is the way it goes, just like it always has. There are people who hoarded their old paper money and now it just lays there, it has no more value. There was a man who even sold his horses for such money and then he came to me for advice. In this case good advice was expensive. It (the old paper money) simply had no value. Often people will hide their money and not tell anyone that they have any. They let the currency exchange date pass by to their loss and damage. They go to the Post Office with their worthless money which they want to use for postage only to be told that their money is good for nothing. And thus it was with me: I bought stamps and thought that they would last for some years, but what happened? After I had sent two letters and then came to post a third I was told the stamps were no longer valid. The Postmaster said he had received a telegram and also new stamps. Thus I have some sheets of stamps on hand as souvenirs. So things go in Russia, one thinks one has handled a thing wisely but it ends up being a failure.
I received a letter from Mr. Jacob Volz. I thank you very much for still thinking of me. I read the letter in tears. When little Berta saw the photos she was very happy and said: "Mr. Volz will bring us clothes again from brother Dreith!" Then she asked: "Will he come grandfather, or not?" To keep from upsetting her I said, "He is coming." I thought back over it, dear brother, about how much you accomplished in the year you were in Russia and the trouble you went through to provide loving service to the poor (who were) covered with scabs and lice: and the many needles and spools of thread you gave to the Poor Committees. And when it sometimes occurred that things were not correctly distributed it was openly said that Volz was to blame. In only one case am I not totally at peace, as follows:
When you were in Beideck you took items from the general clothing distribution to replace those personal items that had been reported lost (in shipment). You satisfied these so well that I often thought you had given them too much. And yes, some of those things believed to be lost were received on the following day. There are also those who wrote to America that they had received bad items (of lesser value) for this or that that was lost. But we do not wish to show any hostility towards them. Here a proverb applies: Virtue is its own reward. Thus we do not want to look upon Mr. Volz as an enemy but rather as a friend because he had sympathy for the poor and much of his loving work was done in tears. During that time, if there was one or another who was not satisfied then one must consider: where are the men who can satisfy everyone? They are as few as the amount of water that flows up a mountain. And you Mr. Volz, will also endure those who were weak.
I would like to also hear something from Mr. Repp. The good man was often here with me, also Pastor Wagner and Beschorner. You all are affectionately greeted by me. I hope you all are living together quite peacefully.
For the information of Johann Dietz in Denver, Colo., that your father and father-in-law are still well. They received your letter. Br. Lukas Dreith in Lincoln, it has been over a month and I still have not received a letter from you. Are things not going well with you? I do not want us to become adversaries on account of the demand I made of you. I meant to fix things by it and not to force anything in this matter. The love for my village of birth and native country caused me to enter into the affair and try to help.
Peter Herder who lost his house and property came to me for advice. The court has said that his house and property would be returned upon the condition that he pay 125 gold Rubles. However it is not possible for him to pay this amount and so he asks the following men to send him money so that he can get his house back: Georg Gruenemeier in Denver, Balthaser Triebelhorn, Johann Peter Schneider, Peter Butz, Friedrich Mauss, Lukas Butz. Also his cousins Lukas and Balthaser Herder and my brethren should help. It is Peter Herder, house number 128, who wants to be helped.
Balthaser Ostermiller in Newark, N.J. is greeted. His uncle Ludwig received his letter. I have also received a letter from Georg Mueller. Thank you old neighbor, for asking about the children of the Deines brothers. Willie is with me but is not in good health. I could do better without him but who is there to take him in? I must take care of him because he is sickly. He has many uncles in America but they do little for him.
We carried to their final rest: Friedrich Pabst, 67 years old, Balthaser Mueller, 35 years old. This for the information of relatives and friends of the deceased.
Greetings to all Welt-Posters,
Konrad Wuerz
House Number 447 - Beideck
Sources
Die Welt-Post, May 22, 1924, page 2.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 7, 2016