An Undated Letter, circa 1950

[This letter was undated, but the postmark was one that was used in Freiburg between 1950 and 1952. The letter mentions the canonization of a young girl in Rome, and that helped narrow down the date. Maria Goretti was canonized in June of 1950. Thanks to Steven Schuyler for help with the German phrases in the first paragraph.]

Freiburg i/Br. [im Breisgau] 68 Talstrasse. Frang. [?] Zone 17G. Germania

Dear good friend!

It was such a long time, since we wrote to you dear but this year has been so full of all kind of illnesses for us and one does not want to write, before it is better. I wonder now so much how you are? It is so strange, how we have thought on you the last time so quite special often. Gottwalt was long time [German phrase: some sort of infection on both sides] and had to be operated and stayed long time in the clinic; than Sven had to be operated for his [German phrase: bad tonsils], but after that, he is grown so strong, so we are very happy. Maja had all this time difficult and is so think and can't sleep and now she came to take care of me, when I came back from Italy, where I was ill - heart. It took 7 month[s] instead of 2 and now I have still to make a "strenger liegekur" [German: "strict rest cure"] long time. Two days ago G. came for the Ferien (vacance) and took Maja upp [sic] to Schwarzwald to Sven and the good high air will do them good I hope.

Dear friend, imagine me sitting in the little garden before the Madonna[...], where dussin [?] of little bird[s] drink an[d] bath[e] the whole day long. I am quite alone in the house, all areway for the Ferien. [German: "vacation"] Now, I wonder dear good friend how you are??? If you are better and if can walk better now? How often in Italy I thought on you both, when Alfred my son in law was there, when Prof. Dohrn was 70 years old and he hold [sic] a great speech in the Aquarium. I saw a lot of sea animals I never had seen before. What about your fine collection of photos and cards from your journeys? On the way back I had to stay in Rome for my passbord [?] and my friends took me all days long in their auto, so I could see everything from outside[.] It was just the days of Heiligsprechung [German: "canonization"] of the young girl and many 100,000 people were their[.] [sic] It was very imposant [sic] and life all round one can't describe. But all the Romans went way and you could not have a room in Napoli or at the fine cost, because they hated all the trouble. I often thought, what pleasure you dear friend would have had to see all this and who knows, if you get quite well again, dear, one day you will come to my little nest and sleep in the Engelscorner in my salon. Also for dear miss Hayes. There is always room. You will find a Germany full of Trümmer [German: "rubble"] but much has been done again, you can buy nearly everything, if you only have money and poeple [sic] are working [...] I don't have any paper journal, because I don't want to hear about all those Congresses and talking, but they are not able to bring peace in the world the first and only thing, they need. My son in law had so much interesting things to tell on all provinces in the American Zone. The[y] are doing so much and they poeple [sic] have work and to do. When I was up in Konigsfeld Prof. Bartning they [sic] "Kirchenbauer" told and showed more interesting things he had done from 1 million dollars from the American Quäkers. He had to build 40 churches for that money for 1000 - 1500 - 500 poeple. [sic] But he built 42 Churches and the good American Donors were very pleased. He showed us pictures of all Churches and the[y] were all different. What wonderfull [sic] inventions the Americans have done, we hear of them and they help the human beings very much. In Napoli the[y] had an Am. Club, where you could lend most wonderful books, old and new, so there my sister and I were reading enormously much of best literature - there I could look on the new Geo. magazines and it is an enormous well of science in them.

Please write to me what you are doing dear. What a luck, that you have the dear kind Miss Haywood so near you. How is your little garden? Maja has taken way all the weeds, when she was with me. but she is working fare [sic] to [sic] much and can't sleep well, so I am sorry for her.

I wonder, if many of your friends have come over for the "L'anno Santo" or for Oberammergau and Salzburg. They say it is full overall.

Thank you darling friend for all the wonderfull [sic] things you send us of all kind during those terrible years. That fine skicostym [?] for Sven he still uses, naturally with short Hosen, because he is now so big. He is a dear boy, has greatest interest for everything, learns so easy, but the schools are nothing. For his class are 81 boys, so you can understand the time is lost for an illel intelligent child. He may come with the father into the University to hear the colleges for the younger students and he knows so much. Now he is making long walks with the parents in Schwarzwald. Have I told you, that der Staat [German: "the state"] has helped to bild [sic] up my husbands tower, ateliers and workrooms and they have done an Academie for painters and sculpteurs and I am so glad, that it seems to go on and there are good teachers and 45 pupils, and they are working with earnest and pleasure. It belongs to the town - Here in the French Zone, they frenchman [sic] have erected french school, where the German children can come and need not pay anything for it. In one way it is good so the[y] learn a new language and have contact with other countries.

My sister with her 83 years is well, can walk good and have interest for so many things. She love[s] to teach young poeple [sic] other langes. and does it very well for her pleasure.

[...], now goodbye my dear good friend, excuse my terrible handwriting but my arm get[s] so swollen and does not do what I will. May you get stronger and more well every day, that is my and Majas great wish and please don't be sorry that we havent [sic] written so long. It had its reasons.

Ever yours affec. friend
M Geiges.

[Anton Dohrn, founder of the Naples Aquarium, had four sons, and his youngest, Reinhard, was born in 1880, making him 70 years old in 1950. Reinhard Dohrn was a German zoologist, and from 1909-1954 he was the head of the Zoological Station of Naples.]