As a genealogy translator, I’ve translated my share of old letters. While many of these letters simply speak of family matters, farming information, financial issues, etc., every once in a while, sage words of wisdom seem to jump out at me from across the page. Of course, these words of wisdom are meant for the letter’s recipient – but I choose to think of them as voices from the past, sharing their advice with all of us who may very well need it today.
Below, I’ve collected some of these words of wisdom from the letters I’ve translated the past few years. Dating from 1874 to 1945, on topics such as love, health, clothing, and life in general, it’s fascinating to see how, while the world around us has changed, humanity in general remains much the same. Read on and see what you think. What quote do you think most applies to us today?
On Love:
1. Love is our most important weapon and nothing can resist it forever.
– Family friend to teenage girl, June 1920
2. Since you’ve been friends for a year already, you should know where you stand. There is no reason for you to be treated like a toy; he’ll simply get rid of you one day if he so desires. If you aren’t courageous enough to have a serious conversation with him, and you think it will lead to you two splitting up, then the relationship was never a good one anyway.
-Mother to daughter, April 1940
Nachdem die Freundschaft schon bereits ein Jahr besteht, solltest du eigentlich wissen woran du bist, es hat doch keinen Zweck daß du dich Jahr u. Tag hinhalten lassest zum Spielzeug, u. wenn es ihm einfällt hängt er eines Tages ab. Wenn du den Mut nicht hast zu einer ernsten Aussprache u. denkst daß es daran zum scheitern kommt, denn ist das Verhältnis ohnehin doch eine Aussichtslose Sache.
On Health:
3. We are all still healthy, which I wish for you all from the bottom of my heart – as health is the best thing in this world, better than money and property.
– Father to son, August 1924
Wir sind soweit noch gesund, was ich Euch von Härtzen Winsche thun, den die Gesundheit ist ja doch das Beste auf dieser Weld, beser den Geld u. Gut.
On Children:
4. I was more with the children than ever and never enjoyed them so much, and never so clearly realized that now is the time to enjoy them, if I am ever going to – for they will soon, if they live, have other things that will take them from me.
– Father reflecting on trip with children, June 1880
Original in English.
On Clothing:
5. Always be well-dressed – people judge a great deal based on appearances.
– Mother to daughter, July 1939
Gehe nur immer gut gekleidet, man urteilt viel nach dem Aüßern.
On Life:
6. It is only when times … are so hard and a person grants help to other people during such times that one can hope to be saved from the current bleak situation. We emerged from the chaos of the Thirty Years’ War; we will also need to raise ourselves out of today’s hardships if we don’t want to be completely destroyed.
– A suitor to his sweetheart, December 1919
[German no longer available.] Wir sind aus dem Wirrwar des 30 jähr. Krieges herausgekommen und werden auch aus dem heutigen Elend herausmüssen, wenn wir nicht ganz untergehen wollen.
7. Don’t despair. We’ve pulled through other bad times and we’ll pull through these times as well.
– Husband to wife, during World War II
…nicht verzweifeln. Wir haben schon … andere schlimme Zeiten überstanden und werden auch dies überstehen.
8. Keep your head up high and don’t lose your courage; just think, if something doesn’t work out, then you are gaining more and more experience.
– Mother to daughter, October 1938
Nur Kopf hoch u. den Mut nicht verlieren u. denke wenn etwas nicht klappt, du bekommst immer mehr Erfahrung.
9. Don’t think that our life here on earth should always be filled with joy and pleasure; no, it wouldn’t be good that way. That would make us arrogant, because pain, displeasure and want – if they are not too great – simply test us, influencing both this world and the eternal afterlife; that is why we shouldn’t despair in times of adversity and why we shouldn’t be arrogant in times of happiness.
– Father to son, October 1874
Denkt nicht daß das irdische Leben allezeit nur Freude und Genuß gibt, nein das sollte nicht gut sein das sollte uns übermüthig machen, denn auch Schmerz Verdruss und Entbehrung wenn dieselbe nicht ja hart eintreffen stellen uns auf die Probe und entscheiden über ein dieseits und ein einigest Jenseits; deswegen in Widerwärtigkeiten nicht verzagt und in Glück und Wohlleben nicht übermüthig.
10. In any case, my beloved, we are right to hope, as we are both still young enough and are only standing at the beginning of this uneven road called life.
– Marie Lustgarten to Isadore Colle, sweethearts, January 1898
In allen Fällen mein Geliebter, haben wir vor zu hoffen Recht, denn, wir sind beide noch jung genug und stehen daher erst beim beginne dieser unebenen Strasse, Leben genannt. – Irene Kaplan, January 1898, Marie to Isidor
And one final quote – while this isn’t exactly sage advice, it did make me laugh to think our stereotype of Germany hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years!
Germany in general is terrible regarding the drinking habits of the young and old, tall and short, rich and poor, everyone is yearning for beer, can’t live without beer, and is completely undone by beer.
– Man visiting Germany from America, July 1900
Es ist überhaupt mit Deutschland etwas Furchtbares betreffs des Trinkens Jung & Alt, Groß & Klein, Reich u. Arm, alles strebt nach Bier, kann ohne Bier nicht leben und geht noch völlig in Bier auf.
Wilhelm Müller, as a WWI chaplain on the French front, 1915
The Old Letters
I rummage through old letters
that have slept for decades long
about to toss them to the flames
I realized that was wrong
as I began to read
of all that once had been
I knew, I couldn’t do it
couldn’t burn these words of men.
–
How those yellowed papers
so warmly spoke to me
A soul shining through the page
I couldn’t let it be.
–
Letters from a mother,
seeped with her selfless heart
her endless care for children
apparent from the start.
I read her loving words
so loyal, kind and true
Such good they did to me,
my sense of safety grew.
–
And touching notes from children –
forming letters wide-eyed
Seeing their little faces
shining with joy and pride
and, the writing over
on paper oh so fine
I see their bitter tears as well
when missing a stroke or line.
–
Adoring letters of friendship
from old romantic days
swearing to a lover
to keep one’s heart ablaze.
How soon this passion fades away
as time does take its course
This token of remembrance
recalls the relationship’s source.
–
I cannot part with these letters,
which speak to my very soul.
These letters are the hearts of men
To the flames, they shall not go.
Die Alten Briefe
Ich kramte in alten Briefen,
die seit Jahrzehnten schliefen,
den Flammen woll’ ich sie weih’n.
Doch dann begann ich zu lesen
von allem, was einst gewesen,
Da wußt’ ich: es kann nicht sein!
–
Wie’s doch aus den alten Papieren
so warm und so traut zu mir spricht!
Sie haben ja eine Seele;
nein – ich zerstöre sie nicht.
–
Da sind die Briefe der Mutter,
von selbstloser Liebe durchtränkt,
von nie ermüdender Sorge,
die nur ihrer Kinder gedenkt.
Und las ich die lieben Worte,
voll Andacht, wie tut mir’s so gut!
Ich fühl mich noch einmal nach Jahren
geborgen in treuer Hut.
–
Und rührende Kinderbriefchen –
die Buchstaben sorgsam gemalt!
Ich seh, wenn die kleinen Gesichter
in freudigem Stolze gestrahlt,
wenn Ihnen das Schriftstück gelungen
auf Briefpapier herrlich geziert,
ich seh’ noch die bitteren Tränen,
wenn Ihnen ein Unglück passiert.
–
Und schwärmende Freundschaftsbriefe
aus alter romantischer Zeit,
in der man begeistert geschworen
auf Treue und Unfehlbarkeit.
Wie schwanden die Ideale
dann vor dem erwachenden Blick!
Ein kleines Erinnerungszeichen
ruft alles Entzücken zurück.
–
Ich trenne mich nicht von dem Briefen,
aus denen so viel zu mir spricht.
Sie haben ja eine Seele! –
Nein, ich verbrenne sie nicht.
10 Responses
Thank you for posting these heart-warming sentiments. It is helpful to see the German and English side by side to compare expression, grammar, and word order. And I think your ancestor looks down from his heavenly home with great pleasure and satisfaction at the fine work of his progeny, including the lovely translation of his poem.
Thank you Josephine! I appreciate the kind words – glad you enjoyed the quotes and the poem!
That ending poem is priceless.
I love it too, Karla! I had a really fun time translating it and trying to find the best words. It just fits so well with genealogy, and is neat to see how people appreciated old letters back then as well.
Family letters must be cherished. My sister found some documents that our great grandmother had saved, including her alien registration card in America and a long letter from her nephew in Germany that described what had happened to his family. It is heart-breaking to read, but also an insight into what life was like at the time of the early 1900s, and it was not good. I try to imagine what she felt and thought upon getting that letter that described such rotten children as some of his siblings were, her nephew’s WWI war injuries, and that her cousin, his father, died in prison after political jealousies by the mayor of their town over a street theatre license. Did she feel lucky? or guilty? Certainly she would have been sad that this happened to her family. Yes, family letters must be cherished.
Thank you for your comment, Jan! I completely agree with you – it’s fascinating to get such a glimpse into the past. How fortunate you are to have that letter!
#5 made me sprew my coffee. Growing up in San Francisco, you were always well-dressed when going downtown, including when you were going to the doctor! A dress, patten leather shoes, dress coat, and gloves.
Haha I love it! Now I wear yoga pants to the doctor…
These are great summations of life from various perspectives. Thank you for finding & sharing them!
Happy to hear you enjoyed them, Andy!