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May 2, 1935 “I hope my brains are waterproof.”

May 2, 1935

My Sweets:

Since I do not have anything better to do in lunchtime today I will start this letter to you.

So, what happened this week. Friday evening for Shabbat I was at Samuels and met Mr. Eggener. His trunks have not arrived here yet [from Germany] and I am looking forward to the cookies. He tasted them and said they are very good. Well, the later I receive them the longer will I enjoy them. Rudy Gerson, from Dresden, was there again too.

We walked for one hour towards home and then wanted to take the I.C. [Illinois Central electric train]. After waiting for ½ hour for a train, we left to take the streetcar. Just as we left a train came. It was warm but raining and I did not get home until 2:00 a.m. Nuts!

Saturday I went to the dentist and then a little shopping. At 2:00 p.m. I met Flora Mae and “kinder-Fraulein” [governess, nanny] in the office and the 4 of us went to the circus. This was the 1st time Flora Mae went to a circus. We all 4 enjoyed It very much. It was really a nice change.

We listened to the president on the radio

Leonard and I took a nice walk afterwards, ate a good supper and went to the office. While I wrote an English letter to Ilse Niederman, Leonard slept in his chair. At 10:00 p.m. Alfred and Luise Hamburger came and we talked until 2:00 a.m. It was very relaxing.

FDR Fireside Chat - Click on image for YouTube

Sunday, April 28, the weather was bad and I slept all day. I read the papers for about 3 hours and it was 9:00 p.m. before we went to eat. At 10:00 we listened to the president on the radio.

Monday evening I went again to the dentist. Since he is on the same floor as Leonard’s office, I waited and we went to eat together. Then he went back to the office and I walked home, visited with Mrs. Saunders for about 1 hour and then to bed.

Sunbathing without spectators

I like this room so much better than the other one. The sun shines in so very nice that I can lay on my bed and get fresh air and light and sunbathe without having to be afraid that I might have spectators.

Tuesday night I was at Aunt Henny’s again. She had a very bad cold, so I got her some aspirin and made her go to bed.

How Henny earns her money

I finally found out how she earns her money. She gets people to sign contracts for home remodeling, painting, etc., and she gets a commission for each agreement she gets. She also works for another outfit selling land along the lake for summer and weekend homes. She gets a little money daily and of course commission on every sale.

[Continued 5/3 at lunchtime]

Trudel answers her father’s questions

First I am going to answer dear Dad’s nice letter dated 4/7. I hope the cigar you were smoking while writing it agreed well with you.

Aunt Henny was delighted with your beautiful birthday card.

There were more votes for Grace Gray than we had expected, but it was not published. Leonard has had too much experience with his own election campaigns so he will not take money for his speeches but does it only for his own convictions.

Yogi Fined

Yesterday he received the newspaper you sent [about a German yogi]. Our Yogi is really not such a magician. Yogi Roy [LJG’s client] uses only herbs for healing. He himself is a vegetarian. He only got a fine of $100 while some papers thought he would go to jail for several years. The judge in that case got many insults in the newspapers.

It was really Leonard’s work that made him set such a light sentence. When you compare [Frankfurt attorney] Bruno Fürst with Leonard you are not wrong. I too have made that comparison. But please only in their professions, not in private life, thank G’d.

About my finances I think I have given you explanations. Everything is reciprocal.

At that Atheist Club we went only once for fun and my drinking is not nearly as bad as it sounds. Since that Sunday with the Bishops I have been very sober.

The going to bed so late is in my opinion a family sickness. You really read my letter thoroughly even between the lines!

By Ripley

I wrote before that Marie Bing was trying to find me a job. My old boss, Gus Bing, her husband, is also working.

You asked what means “by Ripley” on the newspaper clipping. Mr. Ripley finds out very unusual things and has them in the newspaper daily.

Frankfurters are of course frankfurter sausages, a very much enjoyed food here. Now I think I have answered all your questions. My lunchtime is almost over.

Yesterday I had a postcard from Baden-Baden on Easter Sunday. Did you have nice weather? Here it was beautiful.

They do not keep Good Friday or Easter Monday here. Only Sunday was a holiday.

At Samuels’ last week I saw a business card from “Allgemeine” presented by Lotte Adler. I hope that means a raise in salary.

Now continue my weekly report. I was Tuesday night at Aunt Henny’s. Sure hope she is O.K. again and am glad I did not catch anything from her.

Now I am sitting again in a streetcar on my way to Samuels. After it was so hot and dry last week that I feared my brains would dry out, today it is miserably raining, snowing and cold. I hope my brains are waterproof.

Click on Image for YouTube

Last Wednesday I was again at the dentist. Although he is nice and careful, I keep thinking of Dr. Samuel in Frankfurt, comparing his nice big office with this little room and equipment. As usual after I had my 2 fillings done I waited for Leonard and we went to eat together.

Afterwards we saw a very good movie at the Chicago Theater, “Go Into Your Dance” with Al Jolson. Although he appeared as a Negro in part of the film I like him best of all the movie actors.

Chicago Theater

The rest of the program was excellent too with a fantastic violinist etc. It is really a special treat to go to the Chicago Theater. It costs a little more than other movies but it is really worth the difference. As you notice neither one of us has money to spare, but we both manage to get along with what we earn.

I am just now passing the fairground from last year. Too bad it is all over.

Did Max Wolfe ever write to Alfred Hamburger?

By the way, Julius Seckbach and Isi Koesterlitz are now living in the same boarding house.

Yesterday, Thursday, we worked only until 3:00 p.m. Since the weather was miserable, I went straight home, did some laundry, sewed a little. I went out to eat and right home again, lengthened my raincoat with the help of electric tape, gave myself a shampoo, manicure, pedicure and went to sleep at 11:30 p.m.

I think I have sleeping sickness (G’d forbid). No matter when I get to sleep and get up I am always tired. Maybe it’s spring fever. I am yawning again, by the way. Doris K. wrote me some time ago that my sisters had promised to call her!! Now I am going to sleep a little. I hope I will wake up before I have to get off [the street car]. That has happened to me already.

Weils, Samuels, Aunt Henny all send their best regards. Please remember me to the whole meshpoche and friends.

Your ever loving daughter and sister,
Trudel

PS Special regards to Liss.
It would be nice to get a letter from my sisters again sometime.

PPS What kind of postage stamp was on the envelope with the newspaper? Was it something special? Somebody had taken it off before Leonard received it.

On April 28, 1935 President Roosevelt gave a radio broadcast on the WPA and Social Security. The link above is edited. The complete broadcast can be found in two parts as follows:
President Roosevelt’s April 28, 1935 Fireside Chat on the economy: Part 1
President Roosevelt’s April 28, 1935 Fireside Chat on the economy: Part 2

March 24, 1935 – “I like changing jobs. At each place I learn more.”

24 Mar

3/24/35

My Dear Ones:

Last night I started answering your dear letter dated 3/8. Since I forgot to take with me today yours and the letter I started, I shall answer it next week.

I was quite busy all week. As a result I did not do a lot of things.

Last Sunday evening I met a few more nice people, then we went to an excellent chicken dinner and then home. Monday night I was at Aunt Henny’s and we played Rummy for a change. Auntie’s nice friend, who had driven us to Michigan City, happened to drop in and since he lives in my neighborhood, I got a ride home in his car.

Tuesday I worked at Miss Cooper’s. I am afraid I have to give that up. It is too much for me to work from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm, with only twice one hour intermission.

Wednesday, I had dinner with Mrs. Sanders and then finished the skirt I was crocheting for Gwen. I tacked it to my floor and steamed it so it would have the right shape. It looks very nice and I am anxious to see next week how it looks on Gwen. The sweater I had to take home again since I made the sleeves too tight. Hopefully I will have it ready by next Wednesday.

RCA Radio

Thursday I had dinner with Saunders again. For $5 I bought their old radio for Leonard’s room. Naturally I went to his room right away and connected it. This is very easy here. You just plug the cord into a wall outlet. He was very pleased with it.

I worked all week at “Gages” but realized that I could not work there for long. Maybe if I had started there before the start of the season, somebody could have shown and explained some things to me.

Now that everyone was very busy they had no time for me. I learned some things differently. When I followed the sample exactly, they wanted some changes made which I did not understand. If something was 2 millimeters different the whole thing had to be ripped. That is no good for me. I cannot make any money that way. I think I would go nuts.

Gage Building

Anyways for the 2 days of the first week I got $6.40 while at the old job at Lipper I got only $6.21 for 3 days’ work. Well, to make my story short, on Friday morning I finished a hat I had started, took my belongings and explained to the manager that I was not good enough for them, and left. I did learn a lot while I was there and will get paid for it. I left there at 9:00 am and for the first time in eight months was without a job. But I just could not worry about it.

It was such a beautiful spring day that I would not let anything upset me.

First I went 2 floors higher, in the same building, to see Marie Bing. She was very sorry that she could not hire me. We just visited for ½ hour. Then I went to see 2 school friends of Leonard whose address I got last Sunday.

Friday is the worst day to go job hunting

Friday is the worst day to go job hunting. They want all to finish as much as possible. I did talk to 1 of his friends and the manager. They took my address; “Maybe next week.” Then I went several floors down to a place where I knew somebody too. “Maybe next week.” Then I went across the street where Budwig had opened again: “Maybe next week.” Then I went to another place where I had been a few months ago. “Maybe next week.”

So I went to Mss Cooper to get some more addresses. When I came to the first one it turned out to be the company I had been looking for all morning.

They wanted me to start immediately. But since it was 11:30am they told me to eat lunch and come back afterwards. So I worked there Friday 1:00 to 6:30 pm. They manufacture similar junk as at Lippers, but better than not having any work at all. I sure am lucky!

Friday night I was at Samuels again. I invited myself for Friday nights there for the future. It is always so nice and restful at their home. Of course I always do some sewing and fixing for them when I am there.

At 10:30, we all piled into 2 cars to drive downtown. A cousin and his wife were here for 1 week and we took them to the bus to go back to NY. Afterwards the 8 of us went for ice cream and I was driven home at midnight. You can believe that I really slept well that night.

And now comes the best. Yesterday I received a letter from the company of Leonard’s friends that I should start there Monday morning at 8:30 am. Of course I will be there, work 1 day and see which job I like better. How do you like that? Now I have to choose which I like better!

Click image for YouTube

Anyway I like changing jobs. At each place I learn more. No 2 work exactly alike and I sure have learned a lot.

Yesterday I was home all day. I really had laundry to do, darn socks, sewing and mending etc. At 7:00 pm I picked up Leonard at the office and after eating we went to see a movie. Wallace Beery and Adolph Menjou in “The Mighty Barnum” — very good.

On the way home we both caught colds. It was beautiful and warm all day. When we left the movie house it suddenly got very cold. The weather really changes often very fast. Sine it was raining and cold all day today we only went to eat together. Now we are sitting in his hotel lobby. Leonard fell asleep while reading the paper so I may write a few more letters. For today I send you millions of greetings and kisses.

Your Lucky Trudel

PS How are Hedwig and children? Please give her my best regards and good wishes for a speedy recovery. I may write to her yet tonight.

PPS regards to all friends especially Liss.

Chicago was a center for the wholesale milinery business in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Gage Bros., was one of he most successful. The story of the “Gage Group,” a set of buildings built for Gage and two other hat manfuacturers on Michigan Avenue is part of Chicago’s architectural history. See also this excerpt from Carson Pirie Scott: Louis Sullivan and the Chicago department store By Joseph Siry. Click forward for several pages on the Google Books site to put the story in context.

This group of buildings was just a bock away from the Garland and Pittsfiled Buildings on opposite corners of Washington and Wabash where Trudel looked for work in her previous letter.

2 Comments

Posted by Leonard Grossman on March 24, 1935 in Chicago, diary, family, immigrant experience, Letters, Memoir

Tags: architecture, Food, hats, letters, movies, radio, Sullivan, working

March 17, 1935 – Boy, was I ever delighted, not that I had a job, but that I had this job.

17 Mar

3/17/1935

My Dear Ones,

When I have a lot to tell you I just never seem to find enough time. For a change this is happening again this week.

First of all, I am very glad that Doddo wrote me again after three months. The photo I think is excellent. Gabor is really a great artist. Weils did not want to believe that it is Doddo. Leonard is very charmed and everybody else I showed it likes it very much. When will I get such a photo of Pappa and Ernale?

Lotte Adler (Probably later photo)

What is the matter with Steffi? What’s happened to her? Why did she come back? I have no idea at all. It all sounds so strange to me what you write.

Did you not receive the answer to your postal card very fast?

I like to add that Max should get in touch with Aunt Henny first, before he starts any business with Uncle Alfred. As I wrote you before, he is not too reliable business-wise, especially at such a distance.

Everybody who sends me regards, please reciprocate.

Now to myself again. When did I write you last? Oh, yes! Last Friday. That evening I had as usual a very good dinner at Samuels.

Saturday I was at Weils from noon on and when I arrived I had to eat bean soup and sausage right away. Then we listened on the radio from the New York Metropolitan Opera live “Tristan and Isolde.”*

Click for YouTube

Afterwards Eugenie and I went shopping. She is the funniest person I have met.

For supper a 59th cousin of ours and his young wife joined us. To be a little more clear: his grandfather was Max Adler, from Arheiligen, oldest stepbrother of Aunt Jenny Weil – which means a cousin of our Dad. Do you remember him? He came to the USA when you were about 12 years old. He had one son and one daughter. The daughter, Mrs Mitchel, has several sons and daughters and he is one of those. A very nice young fellow.

He is here about five months but was earlier for one year in Washington. It was interesting to meet more relatives.

Leonard was supposed to join us but he worked until 6:00 a.m. Sunday in his office. Of course he had not much ambition on Sunday. So we only took a little walk, read the papers, listened to the radio and I crocheted and went early to bed.

Monday evening I was again at Aunt Henny’s. She is in good spirits and goes out quite a bit. No idea with whom!

Tuesday evening I worked downtown. Gwen recommended me to a lady who has a little hat shop at Washington and Wabash Avenues on the 7th floor. She is Jewish and very nice. Of course, I was delighted to make hats. I will be working for her now every Tuesday and Thursday evening and all day Saturday.

Also she took me Wednesday morning to the best hat wholesale house and introduced me to the manager and told her I would like to work for them. She told me to be there at 8:30 a.m. the next day. They really had enough workers, but she wanted to try me out. You can not imagine how happy I was.

Garland Building*

I went once more to the old job, but told the manager that I was quitting that day. She really had been very nice to me, letting me come to work many days 3 hours earlier than the other girls so I could get a little more work out. I actually worked too nice for that place.

Pittsfield Building*

Wednesday night I was at Gwen’s but went home early and early to bed. The next morning at 8:30 I was at the new job at 12 S. Michigan Ave. 50 or 60 girls. Completely handmade hats. Work like I did at Ethic Schariot. But so exactly like the model, and I am not at all used to that anymore. If only I had never seen those very cheap so-called hats.

Of course all the women were much too busy to show or explain something to me. Those two days 3/14-15 were probably the worst for me business-wise. The first hat I made was in their opinion useless. I remember when I worked for Hilda Lorsch how upset I was when we ordered something and it was not exactly like the original. Maybe it was made by a person who tried as hard and was as unhappy as I was those two days. After that first unsuccessful try, the manager gave me another model to try my luck but that was not good enough either.

The manager was very nice. She saw that I was sewing very well but explained that they were too busy to teach me and I should not waste my and her time. Nevertheless she was nice enough to rip that hat and make it over. Before I put the trimming on it I showed it to her and all of a sudden it was O.K.

I had been so careful and finished it and she told me to come again on Monday. Boy, was I ever delighted, not that I had a job, but that I had this job.

Of course I am not sure that they will keep me. The head manager had not seen my work yet and it depends how I continue to the work. But I think I learned some tricks already and it may work out. And if it doesn’t I go one floor higher in the same building where Marei Bing is and I am sure they will take me.

In any case I will not go back to those very cheap hats. I did learn a lot in those two days but was so tired that I was in bed at 9 o’clock.

Yesterday I worked for Miss Cooper downtown.

In the evening we went to a real kosher restaurant. In this kosher place you get butter served if you eat milkish or meat! The place is very clean and not more expensive than other restaurants.

Yesterday the case against the yogi was finally concluded. So this case is finally over and to celebrate we went to a movie for a change. An excellent film: The Barretts of Wimpole Street. I recommend it to you if it comes to Ffm.

Click for YouTube

Today we were all afternoon here in the hotel with Flora Mae. I took three snapshots on the way here. I hope they come out OK. I started this letter when Leonard left to take Flora Mae home, just a couple blocks from here. I can’t understand what takes so long.

Also I have no idea what time it is, according to what I have written it must be a long time since they left. Now he is coming. I hear his voice. So, I am finishing this, so we can eat. My stomach is growling.

I do have a very good appetite, but fortunately I have not gained any weight. On the opposite in the ten months since I am in this blessed land I have gotten seven pounds lighter.

Today we had beautiful weather but pretty cold. Yesterday snow and ice, the day before summerlike and the day previous warm and rain. I guess I wrote enough now. I cut out the enclosed newspaper clippings while I ate breakfast yesterday.

Now I close with greetings and kisses
Your
Trudelchen

*The YouTube clip is from the same performance of “Tristan and Isolde” that Trudel and the Weils listened to over the radio from the Met. I grew up listening to the Met on the radio every Saturday afternoon with Trudel – usually in her 1941 Dodge.

*The Garland and the Pittsfield buildings are across the street for one another on Wabash at Washington. It is more likely that Trudel worked at the Garland Building, which had smaller shops and stores. I remember Trudel taking me there to small shops that sold buttons and ribbons and other kinds of trim she used on hats. A wonderland for a little boy. Today the famous Cajun restaraunt, Heaven on Seven is in the building on the 7th Floor. (I worked in the Pittsfield Building when I was 13 years old.)

Apologies for the commercial at the beginning of the “Barrets of Wimpole Street” YouTube. I couldn’t find an ad-free version.

I had always thought the professional photo of Trudel used as the top image this week was taken in late 1936 but my brother tells me he believes it was taken in Germany before she came to the States. Perhaps it was taken by Gabor, the photographer she refers to above.

Special thanks to Chuckman’s Chicago Nostalgia site. Many of the vintage images I use on this site are courtesy of John Chuckman. It is worth exploring chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com.

3 Comments

Posted by Leonard Grossman on March 17, 1935 in Chicago, diary, family, immigrant experience, Letters, Memoir

Tags: Chicago, Food, job, ladies hats, letters, movies, music, opera, radio, shopping, work, working

December 18, 1934 “I get so much fun out of making so many very inexpensive little packages.”

18 Dec

671 N. Dearborn St.
12/18/34

1, 2, 3 how time flies. I think I did not even thank you for all the good wishes in that “not signed” letter. So I thank you now.

Of course I take it for granted that you wonderful people wish me only the best just as you must know that I appreciate it and thank you.

I had so much on my mind… and I forgot it all.

I had so much on my mind that I wanted to write to you and now I forgot it all. Maybe if I try to think what I wrote last week some of my thoughts will come back. The way I am writing today you may think I am drunk but I assure you that is not the case.

This was rather exciting for me

Saturday we were in Leonard’s office and I listened to the speech he had prepared for the radio the next day. He also read several other wonderful speeches for me. Dr. Grossberg told me he was one of the finest and best speakers he knew.

Radio Studio circa 1934

On the way home we stopped for a glass of wine and bought a bottle. I had told Leonard that I was tired of all those sodas, whiskey and cocktails and that I would like a good glass of white wine. So he bought some right away.

Sunday afternoon we were at his partner’s office and while the 2 men went over Leonard’s speech again, Flora-Mae, Leonard’s little girl, and I were playing together on the floor.

After we took the little girl home we were driven to the radio station about 3/4 hrs drive and after a very good dinner, I heard my friend over the radio. This was rather exciting for me while he did not think anything of it.

It makes me really feel good how my English is improving

We then drove back to his partner’s house and while the men talked business I visited with the wife. It makes me really feel good how my English is improving and I am able to make conversation.

The couple drove us to Leonard’s hotel and we stopped in the restaurant and first had some hot chocolate. Then he got out that bottle of wine he bought the day before and what was left of the cookies, which I stored in his room so they would not disappear in my place. And so we emptied that whole bottle and ate some cookies with it. As a result I really had a hangover yesterday but am fine again today.

Besides the letter to you, I wrote 4 more letters last Sunday and then went early to bed. My cold was much better on Monday.

Actually I had a date with Hans Werthan that evening but we could not get together. There was a very big snow storm in the afternoon like they had not had in many years and there was no way to get anywhere. Every transportation and everything was at a standstill. What normally takes 10 min on the streetcar took 1 hour.

On Tuesday it was much better and after work I did a little Xmas shopping. Leonard and I ate dinner together and I took the streetcar home right away so I could, like the previous evening, do a little sewing, reading, writing and washing, etc. I did not do much of anything but went late to bed.

I wrapped about 25 little packages which I will put into a pair of socks and hang on Leonard’s bed

On Wednesday we had no work so I slept half the day and monkeyed around my room. The only thing I really accomplished was to put all my photos from Germany in an album. Starting with Bad Pyrmont. I will need a new album.

Also I wrapped about 25 little packages which I will put into a pair of socks and hang them on Leonard’s bed on 12/24. You must know that Santa Claus comes here on Xmas eve and fills the socks of the good children with presents while they are sleeping. I get so much fun out of making so many very inexpensive little packages.

It would be nice if you would write to Aunt Henny sometime again. I will meet her tonight downtown. She sells Xmas cards in a place, belonging to Alfred Hamburger. I only heard of that last night on the phone and I will see it tonight. Wonder if she will ever get to go to Florida.

Thursday night I was in Dr. Grossberg’s office and he took me to a very nice dinner. I was home by 8 o’clock and did some repair on a pearl pocketbook for my 6 hat customers which took quite some time.

YMCA 30 W. Chicago Ave.

Friday night I had a real Jewish dinner, not kosher, for the first time in several weeks. And of course I ordered fish. Then I went to visit [Mr.] Horkheimer who had been trying in vain to reach me. He lives in a beautiful building. It is called YMCA, Young Men’s Christian Association and is one of the best homes in Chicago. It has rooms for 725 men, inside pool, gym, table tennis, inside golf, target practice room, lending library, dance hall and several nice smaller rooms for playing cards, music or just visiting. He took me thru the whole beautiful building as far as I as a female was allowed to see.

A young man from Cleveland went along with us and it turned out that he knows Hans Roos very well. We danced 4 or 5 dances, had a chocolate soda and then I walked my 2 blocks home. Well my paper is almost full and my head almost empty. Now I have just 20 min to get going to be on time at work.

Love,
Trudelchen

Shortlink to this page:
http://lgrossman.com/trudel/82u

1 Comment

Posted by Leonard Grossman on December 18, 1934 in Chicago, family, immigrant experience, Letters, Memoir

Tags: apartment, Chicago, Christmas, dancing, Food, gifts, packages, radio, snow, speech, whiskey, wine, Xmas, YMCA

December 9, 1934 – “Nobody else here knew that it was my birthday…”

09 Dec

[In English at the top of the letter]

Dear Ones:

If I had known Trudel always had goose on her birthday she would have had another one on Dec. 5th. So I was her only goose this year.

With love to you all,
Leonard.

Dec. 9, 1934
My dearest dear ones.

Saengerhalle in Niederrad

Isn’t it funny that I received a very nice birthday letter without a signature? Anyway there was a lipstick kiss under it and the postmark was Niederrad. So of course I can guess who wrote it. I also had a real sweet letter from Tante Ulli. She has always been so nice to me and I am glad you brought her something.

Well, another week has gone by and I have a few things to tell you. It is real miserable weather today. Quite cold and a little snow. Since yesterday I have my annual cold and decided to make myself comfortable in the lobby of the Devonshire Hotel, instead of joining Leonard and his darling girl. Later he drove to a radio station.

Devonshire Hotel

Leonard was a wonderful nurse last night and this morning gave me the key to his room in case I do not feel well and want to lay down on his bed while he is gone all afternoon and evening. But, thank G’d I am now feeling much better except having a continuously running nose.

Now most important I thank you sooo much for the cookies and the “22.” It all arrived on time and is almost gone already. I took a piece of one of the the 2s with me to work and divided it with the workers at my table. Liss’s ears must have been ringing an awful lot, from the praises the girls sang over her baking.

Stollen Shaped into a Candy Cane. The "22" referred to by Trudel was made of two stollen, each shaped into the number 2 in honor of Trudel's 22nd Birthday.

Leonard sure likes the butter cookies. If the box was near him it would be empty by now. This morning between the broken cookies I found 1 saying “Trudel”. Will I find some more surprises?

Actually the “22” was perfect while most of the cookies were broken but they taste just as well.

Aunt Henny gave me a very pretty necklace of hers which she had loaned me a few times during the summer. Leonard gave me a box of candy and since we both are very practical he had me buy a very nice 3 piece knit suit which came very handy today!

As soon as we both have time he wants to buy me a pair of nice black shoes. On the 5th we met after work and went for a delicious–no goose–dinner and then to a horse show.

The young beautiful wife of one of Leonard’s friends was in the show. We went afterwards for a cup of coffee and came home very late in a big snow. Nobody else here knew that it was my birthday but I received loads of mail which of course unfortunately have to answer all.

Old Heidelberg

Since we did not find that nice couple on Wednesday we met them last night. We had a wonderful dinner at “Old Heidelberg” a real German very nice restaurant. Then we went to a Burlesque show. It probably was for me the 1st and the last time that I look at something like that. I really do not care to see all these almost naked women.

The very nice young wife of Leonard’s friend was anxious to see it. She was once in shows like that herself and now she is married to this very wealthy man. Leonard once represented her in court and she is very thankful to him for that.

On Friday I finished the hats for my new customers and received yesterday a $12 check for it. Isn’t that nice. That pays for 3 weeks room rent. For the porcelain figure I got $10. The lady would have liked to buy some more. Aunt Henny sold her for $10 the blue sweater, cap and shawl that I had given her. I wish I had just a little of her business ways.

Gwen Bishop

On Tuesday we visited another brother of Julius Seckbach. His mother-in-law died last week and we thought this is a good time to visit them. Well, I used to think that we 3 sisters did not look much alike but I never saw such a difference between 3 brothers. And the 4th brother, who had been run over by a car, looked all together different too.

I kept looking at this man all the time because I could not imagine how he could be a brother of Julius. Anyway that day Aunt Henny received the 1st payment of $14 that the court ordered Julius to pay her. Enclosed was a very nasty note. Not only a lot of lies but trying in vain to give me a bad name. He tried to tell Dr. Grossberg that I was dating a married man, but he knew that Leonard has been divorced for over a year. Julius is such an idiot. People who know me know what to think of me and people who do not know me I could not care a bit what he tells them. By the way with this 3rd brother he is completely out. They do not talk together at all.

As you probably know Aunt Henny had the same cancer as our dear Mother but fortunately she thinks that it was found in time and completely removed. Now, this idiot talks about it in that letter! I sure hope she is right.

While I am writing I am listening to beautiful music on the radio. They are now playing a beautiful waltz and I can hardly sit still.

Your new apartment must be very nice. Everybody tells me about it very enthusiastically. How is the new car? Does it start o.k.?

Everybody writes about the new theatre, it must be really very busy. By the way that letter without signature was the only one of the 12 I received this week that had been opened. Please do not write with business return addresses. Tomorrow I have a date with Hans Werthan who had already his appendix removed in the 10 weeks he is here. On Tuesday I hope to go ice skating. And now I will close and go to eat something downstairs in the Hotel Restaurant.

Love and kisses,

Trudel

Note: Here is a link to an excellent discussion of how to make Stollen.
The recipe for the butter cookies is in the previous post at http://wp.me/p1yA95-7r

Shortlink to this page:
http://wp.me/p1yA95-7z