Page 7, Die Welt-Post, Thursday, January 17, 1923
Letter to Jacob Volz
(Copy of the original)
Balzer, 8 December ---
My dear friend Jacob Volz:
Your 2 letters of 4 October and 10 November are in my possession. I received the first on 26 November and the second today. I did not receive you letter of 16 August. From your letters I take it that you went on a long speaking tour and spoke to many thousands of people. I can imagine the many individual questions that were addressed to you. I passed on your greetings. J. Bauer is a bit ill. Bender and a friend opened up a Gingham Business, I very seldom see him. My brother-in-law Schneider is a teacher, Idt works as an accountant. Church and Prayer Meetings remain unchanged.
The weather here was wet and terribly dirty throughout the entire autumn; now the days are?just cold with very little snow. I was sick for a while and I still do not feel totally well. Once again I am without work. At my Institute 50 percent of the employees were dismissed, myself among them. Without earnings life is difficult, all the more so if one does not have any supplies laid by. Little Otto is also sick, he got Scarlet Fever, had both ears operated on and the wounds have not yet healed. I kissed him for you; he still remembers you well.
I know nothing of brother Ehlers other than that I heard he had died. I know nothing for certain from Torgun, perhaps I will know more next time I write. I don't communicate with your friend Sinner or P. Seib, so I have nothing to tell you, I only know that they were both dismissed some time ago. Kraemer left Saratov for Pokrowsk and I have heard nothing further from him and I don't know his address.
The Children's Home still exists. If you want to send money for the poor, the widows and orphans, you can address it to the Committee for Mutual Assistance. There is/are no more "Powgol" (most likely a Russian acronym for the earlier distribution committees--translator). I am also ready to do this and I pledge to send a certified receipt from the Committee for every amount received. Naturally you will write to me for which village and how much, or whatever is best. The sums that are received from you will be distributed by the "Ispolkoms" (another apparent Russian acronym for the committee??--translator), the latter will know where the emergency is greatest. Anything I can do here I will gladly do in order to satisfy your Society and ourAuthorities. I advise you not to send anything to the Church Authorities.
That's all I have to tell you for now. More next time.
J. Bauer, Bender, and my brothers-in-law Schneider and Idt send you their affectionate greetings.
Dear Mr. Volz, another request. I have an uncle over there, Alexander Kisselmann, from whom I have heard nothing for many years. His brother-in-law Philipp Grott lives at 120 E. Arndt Str., Fond du Lac, Wis. I would be grateful for his address.
Affectionate greetings from myself and my wife to you and your wife, your unforgotten friend,
Woldemar Kisselmann
Translation courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald