Object numberM2016/004:004
DescriptionJANA IN PROGRESS
Hand written letter in Italian, 2 large pages thin paper densely ascribed in green ink, dated Genova 10/6/1939 and 15/6/1939. Letters start with Cara mia Alice.....My dearest... the signature is not apparent. Comes with an original envelope clearly addressed to Miss Alice Krohn of Sydney - Stratfield which was crossed out to change to a Belevue Hill address. refer to Inscriptions for translation of both letters.
Hand written letter in Italian, 2 large pages thin paper densely ascribed in green ink, dated Genova 10/6/1939 and 15/6/1939. Letters start with Cara mia Alice.....My dearest... the signature is not apparent. Comes with an original envelope clearly addressed to Miss Alice Krohn of Sydney - Stratfield which was crossed out to change to a Belevue Hill address. refer to Inscriptions for translation of both letters.
Production placeBrazil
Production date 1939 - 1939
SubjectWorld War II (1939-1945)
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 216.00 mm
height: 278.00 mm
envelope width: 145.00 mm
height: 115.00 mm
Language
- German In envelope, letters written in green ink.
Letter 1
Genova, June 10th 1939
My dear Alice,
You'll never know how disappointed I was when I got to know how late my letters arrive to you.
I planned to write to you on a weekly basis and I was happy to know that you would have had news from me continuously. It's not my fault, believe me, I would be very happy to know to send some joy in your hard and demanding life. I know what a letter means because the ones you send bring me some much joy and I read them many times. Be aware that the reason of these delays of my letters are due to the air post while yours always arrive perfectly in time. I'm happy that you go to have some fun and amuse yourself every once in a while but don't forget to respect "the limits"; I also go dancing sometimes but I always think of my dancer partner as you. My dear Italian friends told me that in the table at the Ragno d'Oro where we used to sit there's now always an ugly woman sitting. I really suffer for some our little memories as a coffee in our place, a film and specially now the Sundays together.
Your birthday is getting close; think how hard it is for me not even giving you a kiss. I would like to see you through a hole in the door, I really miss you and I don't care of anything else. I feel empty without you and I can only survive thinking one day I'll see you again. For what concerning the studies in Australia I have been thinking a lot about it and I have to tell you that I haven't got to a conclusion yet; it's hard you know. I should loose two years to repeat and have new expenses; I confess you that I really can't decide without my parent who are so good to me. They rose my salary in fact, although I'm angry they didn't do it when you were here, but they deserve I'm a good son. Now they know about us, I informed them myself, and, I know them very well, they are a bit shocked about the Australian story. We have decided that the studying problem remains suspended until I get home again and that I only have to send the necessary documents to you. I've already sent to you: the birth certificate, the medical one and two photos. The council informed me that even as a student you need a regular permit: you will have to fill the application and put my profession: driver as your helper. We don't need the other documents you wrote about since we will be able to sort everything when there, try instead to get a temporary admission. My dear Alice just to avoid misunderstandings, I beg you of one thing: to share between the fact that I'm willing to come in Australia to live with you and my convenience to go on with my studies. I will be in Australia soon, it is only a matter of time because your will is also my will and we are as a single person.
Please be patient because it's not impossible that I could leave to there as soon as I'll have my permit ready. So please be sure of your sentiments and we will reach our goal. You will have the documents I've sent within the 20th of July so be patient and you'll be satisfied. I've forgotten to tell you that I've already prepared three exams but I've only done one so I still have to work on them. If you could see me now, I'm alone in the room we two used to be together and where, I guarantee, we'll soon be in three. We have been stupid not to do it before so he could have simply sent the permit to his father now. So not much leisure recently: few cinema, no swimming and the last dance two months ago. And you why do you feel bad? Why did you loose weight? and you feel shattered? don't worry, when I'll come you will feel like a Lady beside me and I will give you your spaces. I will not be impolite as in the seven months spent together. Dear Alice, we have spent wonderful hours; the times I liked most were the Sundays and when you came for your little visits with sandwiches, apples and oranges. Oh Alice I'm getting mad! Why did your sister has now changed her mind on me? apparently she realized that I love you a little bit. Give my regards and tell her I'm gonna give her a kiss when in Australia, on your permission. I see your parents quite often and they start loving me even if a little bit late. I have studied English language in Poland but also you have to manage to learn Yiddish which is very important. I thank you for the letter and for all the hope on us forever together. Happy birthday, did you like my flowers? Collect them all so I can see them when there.
infinite kisses,
Yours Forever,
J.
2.1
Genoa June 15th 1939
My Alice,
I thank you a lot for the letter I’ve got from you five days ago.
You don’t have to worry too much about the English, don’t get upset about it, when you’ll wash the dishes I’ll be able to learn it with care. Believe me; best thing will be to get rid of pen and paper and talk to you in person and bite your ear and little nose whenever I’ll want, whenever we’ll want. Sometimes you say stupid things: how could you think that we could not be able to talk each other before your birthday? This is really bad.
I had started to wish you happy birthday because my letters reach you with such a delay. I hope you will have a letter in the day of your birthday too but for sure you will have a nice bouquet of flowers. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Think how much I love you, I send flowers from Europe for you. In case they’ll not get delivered I just send you the details of the shop: Stewars Beatrice, Sydney 112 King 8 Cable Witrigo.
It would be a shame for me anyway because I’ve ordered them on May the 20th. I’m sorry that because of me you have not gone to the ball, you should have gone. I feel so good when you write to me to tell me you’ve had some fun. Your caresses were so sweet and it was so beautiful to hear your nice words, I want you with me, close to me, I don’t worry about the rest, we will do whatever we want one day. I think to be able to guess on what we’ll do when together which I hope will happen soon. My little dove, you don’t speak Italian anymore, you make terrible mistakes: to imagine is written with one M not three. Alice, since we haven’t been together all goes wrong. If we’ll not get together I’m going to get sick, I’m getting crazy, all the things I do I can only do them for a 40%. Everyone say I’m dazed and confused Mrs Kirchner could not recognize me yesterday, she is so nice. You know, I have nothing to do so I often go to the Moser. Mrs Kinchner is also very busy with the exams, for what regards me I’ve done four of them and I still have three left.
When you’ll get this letter maybe I’ll have them finished. If you could only know how much melancholy I get when I see our cherries, you remember I used to put them in your mouth one by one and sometime I got one back eating it….how upset you got! ah ah ah. Better not to remember these stories, the best in my life, in such a bad moment for us. It’s unbearable this separation, if it doesn’t finish I’ll get some complex. I Can’t recognize myself, how beautiful when you spent all day with me. My dear Alice, how to tell you all what I feel, the only outburst I have is the letter, who else I can have it with? I’m trying to comfort my parents who are very worried about you there and my decision to join you, if you were not there I would definitely avoid to come but I will leave Italy around half July, how unfortunate we are in our luck! I started drinking vine and smoking cigarettes “nazionali senza filtro” but I remember your little cigarettes; oh, what I would pay to have an “Africa” with you! From far away it’s easy to imagine: I’m proud of you and you of me since I’m not interested in any other woman; I’m very happy to be able to offer you such a sincere and profound love and sincerity which are overall spontaneous, sane and not forced. We have to live in the hope to rejoin again and live together forever. The present is worthless for me now, I only think about our goal and we’ll make it, you have to be confident. All which is mine is yours and only yours. Good luck and warm love words form your S.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Thomas Mackenzie