Hofheim [illeg. Abbreviation] March
2, 1933
Dear Mrs.
Plaut,
That
was truly too much of
a good thing, and I would have been just as happy with
your dear letter
by itself. At any rate, I will enjoy the things and thank you most
gratefully
for them.
Dear
Betty will have told you some things about my
well-being, so that I can to some extent spare you the long
introduction.
I
hope you, and other family members, who have not been
spared by the flu epidemic, have withstood it well.
I
thank you very much for your news regarding Mrs. Reith; I
could at last carry out my assignment, laid on me by a local relative
of Mrs.
Reith, who asked me about it daily.
I
would like to avail myself of your friendly invitation,
but I scarcely believe I can get time off enough to make the trip
worthwhile. I mean
by that that I’d have
to have at least 8 days vacation time, which my boss will be reluctant
to
grant. In his view, employees aren’t entitled to vacation,
and when he is
prepared to grand an employee a few days off per year, he believes this
is due
to the nobility of his spirit.
As
to your question, how much do I earn, I’d to reply that
in the two years in which I’ve been in Hofheim, I have not
been able to save a
red cent. My salary, which can’t actually be described as an
allowance, is
enough to maintain properly my clothes, shoes, laundry, and similar
minor
expenses, and at the end of the month, I’ve economized so
that the balance on
both sides is null.
I’m
nonetheless satisifed. One could live here very well if
one only had a little bit more free time; I mean at least one day in
the week
in which one could properly sleep in. A very modest wish, which is only
granted
for the High Holy Days (that is Yom Kippur), on which day we are closed
for a
change. My healthy is good, and I hope that is likewise the case on
Pappendamm.
[A street
name – must be
where the addressee lives].
My
mother, who still lives in Marseilles,
is not in particularly good health right now, she also complains a
great deal
about the business situation. My dear brother in Vienna
is no different, he shares the fate of so many other millions and
wishes daily
for employment. The boy takes me a long time [phrase doesn’t
make sense] and I
am very sorry that I cannot help improve his present situation. Let us hope that he may soon find employment in his field.
Dear Mrs. Plaut, in that I give you my best thanks once more
for the packages, I remain with cordial greetings to you and your dear spouse,
as well as your entire family,
Your ever thankful
Jacob
Lovely penmanship!
Letters from Lida - 40 and 50