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Collection: Rustemeyer Papers
Author: August Stockebrand
Recipient: Bernard Rustemeyer
Description: Letter from August Stockebrand to Bernard Rustemeyer, July 20, 1924.
August Stockebrand to Bernard Rustemeyer, July 20, 1924
English Text
Dear Cousin Bernard and Family! As in years gone by, I am once again in Bad Salschlirf to improve my health and to fight my gout, which hits men of my age. I have other problems as well. My eyesight is very poor. On top of that I found out that I've had a kidney stone since last Spring, so that I thought I wasn't long for this world. God willing it is better again now. Brother Franz is not well. As you know, he is living with his only daughter in Dulken. One of his sons, who has been employed as an assistant doctor in Cologne since January, is taking care of him. It is sad that I can't take a drive over there. That's is something the French won't permit. Would that Germany would once again be free, but I don't put much faith in that. The French wanted to totally destroy Germany, and are not far from doing so. The [low] wages kill us, along with the inflation and the unemployment and the shortage of money. For the past several years we had money on top of money and now we have almost none. That's because the government converted a billion Marks to one Mark. One Mark will buy a loaf of bread or a pound of meat. That says it all. All of you dear cousins can be glad that you are there. Misery prevails here. Nicht mehr mit.....braucht. My business is still idle because no rye can be allotted for whiskey. But then I don't have any special desire for that any longer, in my old age. Now, my dear cousin and his wife, I want to send best wishes to your daughter-in-law. I'm sure she is all right; otherwise your brother Joseph would surely have let me know. So wish the young couple much good fortune and many blessings. Dear Bernard, pass along my greetings and best wishes. I would be so very happy if I could get a daughter-in-law. This Winter, my son will settle down as a doctor and then might well give some thought to marrying. Our oldest son seems to have no desire. How sad! Now, dear cousin, when you write again please tell me why your brother Joseph is never heard from. Please greet all the cousins. I know you have been waiting for these lines for a long time. Forgive my long silence. A lot of the blame rests on my poor eyesight. You must forgive my bad handwriting. I hope you can read it, anyway. Dear cousin, it is very boring for me here at the Baths. And I hesitate to establish any special acquaintances because then I wouldn't get the rest I need. I could have brought my wife along, but she is not for musigt.., and since all of Germany has become impoverished last year and is still getting poorer, the order of the day now is saving and working. But that doesn't helps any longer, for we are too old. I will now close for this time with the promise that if I remain healthy you will not have to wait so long for an answer again. Ha! In Koerbecke, everyone is still alive so far. Cousin Josef Giese gt Bunsen is not long for this world. He suffers greatly from asthma. My son took care of him since last Fall. When he's feeling good he is happy. Otherwise, all of the relatives and acquaintances are still healthy. So far I have passed along your greetings to everyone, and they bid me to return the greeting, so here it comes. I send my sincerest greetings to you and yours, and to all the cousins, Josef, Anton, and Ferdinand. I hope that our dear God will let us live some longer. My very special greetings to you, dear cousin Bernard, from your cousin, August Stockebrand Once again, forgive my bad handwriting. It is not at its best anymore.
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