GAUSS, William T. to Virginia Gauss - 1923-07-19
From Gauss and his Children
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Letter
Colorado Springs, Colorado
July 19, 1923
Dear Cousin Virginia:
Your letter of the 13th received today, with enclosure of draft for $15.00 to be sent on to our cousin Carl Gauss in Germany. I have cashed you draft here and am sending the amount in fifteen on-dollar bills, our currency, per registered mail to him today, this being the only manner in which I can make sure of the receipt by him personally of the amount in our currency; as I understand that all exchange drafts, whether through Bank or Express, even when made payable in U. S. Currency, are paid at that end in their equivalent in marks. With the quotation on marks at about $4.00 U. S. Currency, per million marks, your contribution will net him there in the neighborhood of four million marks. so far, with yours and Eugene's of today, he has been sent $45.00, equivalent to approximately 11 to 12 million marks. I am sending in one-dollar bills, in order to enable him to avoid cashing in, in larger amounts than his current needs may require from time to time, and thus carry his balance as it may be in our currency, for use as his needs may be.
What you say about his sons and their possible ability to help him, is the very question that has presented itself to me, as also to Sister Mary. I cannot think that they could be so lost to all right feeling as to allow their father to call on us here as he has done, if they are in a position to care for him themselves. But I must say it would appear that the oldest son, Carl, with a good position as a professor at Coblenz (?), should be able to care for him. I do not know what the younger son is doing, but with wages as high for all kinds of labor over there as they are, he certainly should be able to do something. I am very glad you sent to Mary Gauss for his letter, and trust Anne will be able to read it and give you a translation of it.
I trust you and Eugene are both well. With best wishes and kindest regards to you both, from Helen and myself,
Sincerely your Cousin
(Signed) Wm. T. 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 6, 2000.
