Father Max and Brother Hans Fairwell Letter to Ralph

My dear Rudi !

Thanks God we did succeed in overcome your leaving and hope the same from you. From your side it perhaps was somewhat lighter, because you, being young, do see the world with open eyes and much new and beautiful and interesting.

I hope, after having read  today the letters of Edith Bär from Johannesburg. They do care about you in the future and I am totally convinced that you, with your  zeal and by your courage will succeed , only do care that you remain in good health ! Until then you already have a large part behind you.

Hoping that you will often write me.

(What follows is almost unreadable)

Dear Rudi ! In the mean time we have been in Worms.  The joy was great as you can imagine.

Traveling back we drove as you know to Essen. From there I got the leather-pants  stories.

Please write me detailed about your voyage and how you do there. Cordial greetings. Good luck and 1000 greetings and kisses from your loving brother Hans Ferd.

Aunt Eva is in good health again and since some days she is out of bed. All were interested in our meeting and we had to tell much. Greet Walter H. especially from me and write soon together. I hear that your mother would like to send something for him and feels very sorry that she did not do so. Perhaps I soon will have the opportunity with the Frankfurt people to do it. At the end of June or July they intend to leave. Do honestly  write whether or  what you still might need, especially the linen suit. It is a pity that you did not pay somewhat more in Amsterdam, to get a good suit. You are extremely well cared.  I was totally surprised when I read. I hope the fortune will persist !! All the best in the far land. Do often think about us and write in detail! Cordial greetings and kisses from your loving mother.

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…and generally spoken, one does not like to leave .

In the garden it is really  beautiful,  even some strawberries I could pick, and most of all I like to see it from the balcony.  Champagne seems to be an article for over there, because I heard from two gentlemen from Mainz, who after an orientation trip did decide to start an alcohol factory there.

I want to end now and leave the remaining space for both the gentlemen.  Farewell my dear boy, I hope the letter will arrive at you, being in good health and can soon mention good things from you. 1000 kisses. Your loving  mother.

Dear Rudi !  I can not imagine anymore how you, my faithful dear brother do look like and it is not that long time  that we did see each other.  When I think well and take the map I realize how far  you are away from me. Even the Atlantic Ocean does separate us. Surely the trip was interesting . Our collection of cactus did enlarge enormously. In the mean time the Lamboy feast came with interesting procession, for which your loving father and I were interested very much.

Cordial greetings and kisses from your loving brother Hans-Ferdinand.

Do write soon !!!

Dear Rudi! Your last letter did interest me very much, only, some things are untouched !  The behavior of the local committee did deceive me enormously and is in total contradiction with what always is read  about  social will to help, greatest compassion advice and action in favor of the emigrants. I immediately took  the necessary steps and will communicate what answered the Offfice for Advice of the German Jews and what has to be done.

A long time ago I wrote you a normal letter  to Capstad or Johannesburg (Post restante in the main office) and sent  a passport for you, as a son of the president of the front-soldiers of the Hanau group of Ryf of Berlin, to the South African Jewish Ex Services  League in Johannesburg, with the demand, to advice you in word and action !  (An agreement between the German and English government !)  Why don’t  you write about that? We hardly know where you live and what you pay !  That can not be the aim of emigration, to leave a trusted citizenship and to travel away and than to be in front of nothing, isn’t it?  That it is not that simple to find a new life is normal ! But with your knowledge and adaptability it will succeed ! Do not worry !

Today I received from Mrs Eisensimon ( called the roasted onion!) the following addresses of her relatives there : Edmund Simon or Simon and Helling, Loewisfontain, Holl. Besitzung in Calvinia, S.A. ; 50 years ago the parents emigrated inland and should be very rich, so once there and once back! Than I do remind you the great laundry  Hoffmann Johannesburg , Transvaal, 32 Sidney Road or per postbox 3278.  35 years ago the emigrated there from Hanau, first as gold diggers, lived besides the Hamburger Langgasse, the father calls Back and is cared by Miss Kirchhoff, our tailor of many years, was night-guard earlier, than basket-maker and now renter with 90 years !

Possibly occupies  100 persons at work and other personal, enormous building, worth 25,000 Dollars and more. Want to sell because too old, man is deaf, wife  again back from Hamm and does expect your visit, I spoke her personally.  Whether your declaration on word of honor has any value, I would doubt, only the German Office does count.  When I want your letters to answered they surely are in Worms or Frankfurt, such a decent ….

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personality like me is of no importance to them ! Think about the there growing magnificent cactus plants. Sending as a sample without value is desired.

Now you can greet the Schuster family on my behalf. Little space is left , therefore cordial greetings and kisses  your father. Good luck ! I wish you the greatest success !

May 3, 1936

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