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January 8, 1937 “Trudelchen gets such happiness out of your letters.”

January 8, 1937  “Trudelchen gets such happiness out of your letters.”

January 8th 1937

My dear Father and dear Sisters Lotte and Erna:

Trudelchen gets such happiness out of your letters – she just lights up, and her eyes dance whenever she hears from you – your letters make her happier than anything – and I enjoy them too. I must admit she makes them clearer to me when she reads them to me – for I have forgotten so much of my German that I learned as a student.

I am more in love with precious Trudel every day . . .

But I have a surprise for you. You can never guess – so I’ll tell you. I am more in love with precious Trudel every day in every way! She is so wholesome, so genuine, so fine. We are very happy together. I have just read her letter – or should I say her book – that we are enclosing with this. How many pages she writes, and since I have read it all just now, I must say there is little more for me to add to what she has written.

How wonderful it would be . . .

Business has not been good, but that was no reason to postpone our happiness. We get out of our love, pleasure and life what money can not buy. So we are rich with each other – without money. How wonderful it would be – if things would just get better, and I could help bring you here. But one thing at a time. With God’s help, the things we all want in life will come in their rightful time.

Trudel

Trudel

Should you ask me how Trudel looked Sylvester Abend – I would answer you – There was no lovelier, more beautiful little woman in the country. Trudel was radiant in her metal cloth evening gown and red velvet jacket and cape, and Mrs. Olive McDonnell with us in Blue velvet gown and cape was also lovely. Mr. McDonnell said his wife was the prettiest woman in town. I agreed, that was why I imported Trudel I told him. And beauty is as beauty does, and Trudel does everything beautifully.


A Happy New Year to each of you, in which Trudel joins,

affectionately

Affectionately your son and brother Leonard




  • Erna and Lotte are Trudel’s sisters. They remained in Germany for several years when she came to the United States.
  • LJG refers to the letter Trudel wrote on January 7, 1937, which was posted in this blog on the anniversary of that date.
  • “Sylvester Abend” is New Years Eve.
 

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March 3, 1937 – In the next 12 days I have to finish 18 hats.

March 3, 1937  –   In the next 12 days I have to  finish 18 hats.

3/3/37

Sorry I did not write sooner. We are very busy at work and I just wrote two long letters in English and in the next 12 days I have to finish 18 hats. Some alterations and some new. And then I will have to make some decent hats for myself since I will be leaving for Sumter on March 16.

Hats

Hats

Madge invited a lot of the meshpoche so I can meet them. I had some nice clothes made by Rose LaMarque, so Madge and her husband Ray will not have to be ashamed of me. The dresses are mostly black or dark color since everything gets very dirty here and I do not like to spend a lot of money on cleaning bills.

Leonard went shopping with me for other things. He has a wonderful taste but unfortunately not that much money. Just like home!!

Gone With the Wind

Gone With the Wind

Before leaving for South Carolina, I want to finish reading “Gone with the Wind” which plays mostly in Atlanta, Georgia, where Leonard was born. Unfortunately Leonard will be too busy and will not be able to go south with me.

Last night we had dinner at Frances and Felix Welsch, Leonard’s very nice cousins where Aunt Flora stays when she is in Chicago.

It is very hard to explain “corn on the cob.” You do not have that, only the big corn cobs that are fed to the animals on a farm. This corn is very sweet and delicious, with some butter and salt on top.

If the movie “Camille,” with Greta Garbo, should come to Frankfurt, try to see it. It is excellent.

Love,
Trudelchen

http://youtu.be/t2f4M9G8kec

Shortlink http://wp.me/p1yA95-o6

 
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Posted by on March 3, 1937 in family, immigrant experience

 

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June 6, 1937 – “Yesterday I went for my citizenship papers”

June 6, 1937 – “Yesterday I went for my citizenship papers”

June 6

Yesterday I went for my citizenship papers. Since I had studied very hard I had no trouble answering all questions. It will be 90 days before I get my papers.

Citizenship Prep

Studying for her Citizenship Exam
Click to enlarge image

We are now looking for an apartment. In the last 2 weeks we have seen about 50. Some furnished and some unfurnished. So far we can’t make up our minds. What we like is too expensive and what would fit our income we do not like and some places Jews are not welcome (here too).

cost of living

Cost of Living – U.S. 1937

Sunday we will go to a German frankfurter evening by a sports club, and tomorrow I will go to my first meeting of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. Grace Gray is president. Maybe I wrote you 2 and ½ years ago that I made my first English speech for that group.

Madge and Edith will come to Chicago for 10 days in July. I am very much looking forward to their visit. Aunt Flora will probably come here at the same time.

Erna’s papers should be ready soon.

Love,

Trudelchen


LJG

LJG enjoys the ride

Trudel Rows

Trudel Rows.

 

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