GAUSS, Carl A. to Helen W. Gauss - 1923-08-20

From Gauss and his Children

1 Letter
2 Source
- 2.1 Transcriber's Notes
3 References

Letter

Hameln, Germany
20 August 1923

Liebe Helen:

I wish to thank you for your letter in July and the enclosed $20 which you and Cousin Sadie sent to me. Please tell her I wrote you, and thank her very much. You certainly were kind to help me so much; together with what your Father sent, it was indeed a great help in the hard times which we have to go through here now in Germany. Pardon my not writing sooner; but to save the postage I wished to wait until your Father might write also; and then I had to be away a few weeks, and so the letter was postponed. I enclose a letter to your Father, and when you write to your home will you be so kind as to send the letter there.

In the mean time, Our condition has grown still worse in the last month, and one can't see what will be the outcome of it all. The prices go up from day to day, our money has no value at all, and we go nearer and nearer to bankruptcy. For instance, railroad fares have gone up tenfold. A letter sent in this country costs 2,000 Marks, and one sent to America costs 6,000 Marks. One has to save as much as possible and not make unnecessary expenses, because all the money one has is needed for coal and food and clothes. The times are hard indeed, with no sign of getting better. I with my seventy-four years of age will likely not see better days again. France wants to ruin Germany and is so bold that no other land dares to oppose it or to help us; and yet is will hurt all civilised countries, if France should gain its goal. The conditions on the Rhine and Ruhr are worse than you read about. I wonder if ever there will be peace again. I thank thee again and with best regards to all, I am,

Sincerely your Cousin,
C. Gauss.

Source

Location of handwritten original unknown. From the Black Book, notes of Anne Durfee Gauss and Minna Gauss Reeves. Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, May 7, 2000.