Page 7, Die Welt-Post, Thursday, December 27, 1923
Letters from Russia
Eckheim, Russia, 21 November 1923
Much esteemed Pastor Heinrich Hagelganz, Portland, Oregon:
I learned from a local man here that you are a Pastor in America. It
made my heart glad. I do not know if you can still remember my family
because it was so long ago when we last saw you and you moved away from
our area. I still remember when your blessed father lived in Aehrenfeld
with the Muellers on the Chutor. We were in school together for quite a
while. At that time I was still unmarried and went to the Central School
in Katharinenstadt. During the summer holidays I volunteered for many
hours and for a time you were my pupil.
At that time my father, Georg Konrady, was the Schoolmaster in Aehrenfeld (Kratzke), he went to eternity in 1915. I am 51 years old, Schoolmaster in Eckstein (I don't know if Eckstein is correct or whether it might be a typographical error---translator) since 1918, my name is Karl. The reason for my writing and renewing our acquaintance is twofold, not only do I want you to answer my letter but in addition if you could also send along a newspaper with your letter because we do not get any here and thus perhaps I could get the occasional newspaper in a letter. And also this: Recently we here in Eckheim got a letter from the American Volga Relief Society in Lincoln, Nebraska wherein we are asked to answer some questions whereupon this Relief Commission in L. Nebraska will give us assistance.
I will soon write to this Commission, but perhaps you could be so kind and inform them that the Russian government forbids us to send such statistics abroad. We do however need assistance, especially with clothing since we have so many who are naked, among them many widows and orphans. Please be so kind as to fulfill my requests. My heart is pleased to have found an old acquaintance in America with whom I can from time to time communicate with in letters.
Jacob Baum left here in 1921; he should be in Poland.
With affectionate greetings,
Schoolmaster Karl Konrady
Translation courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald