Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-06
REAL CONDITIONS
IN GERMANY NOW
The Censor Must Have Been
Absent When This Letter
Came Through

The following letter received by
John T. Trautwine. Jr.. of Philadel-
phia, from Mrs. c. Robert Grimm,
Neuwied -am-Rhe Germany, Jan
uary /. 1918, gives little idea of
just how bad conditions really are
in Germany. The writer would have
had less trouble in writing things
which are not needed than things
which are needed. 1t is not known
just how the letter managed to reach
American shores. 1t will be noticed
that money seems to be of the least
consideration in Germany. The let
ter follows:
My Dear Mr.. Trautwine:
Your letters dated Thanksgiving
Day and forwarded through the
kindness of Mile. Panchaud were re-
ceiVed by me this a. m. A thousand
thanks for all your trouble in my
affairs. l am afraid l have made
you overanxious about me. How
ever, l will make the situation in
this letter as clear as possible. In
the first place it is not so much
money that l need as things"
Health prescription to be tried one
week and if you find improvement
then a number of years. No milk,
buttor or fat of any sort, no flour. no
eggs. (They act on the liver); one
quarter pound lean meat, and, above
all things, no soap. Then do not
replenish your wardrobe for four
years, and if, at the end of that
time you do not resemble Rip Van
Wrinkle, my name is mud"
When I read in my aunt's letter
that Miss Crawford had sent fifteen
boxes to Europe and not one to her
dear Bette in her dear Germany"
l must say il fired me on some
what. l am quite sure she must
have read in the great" New York
papers at least twice a day for S65
days in the year how we are all
starving and dropping down upon the
streets like flies, but not once did
the brilliant idea cross her mind that
perhaps her dear Bette" might like
and could use one of those fifteen
boxes! Under like conditions am
quite sure l should have acted other
wise.
If it is possible to send me a box
through the Spanish Consul 1 shall
be very glad and the things" 1 so
much need 1 will gladly pay for-I
can't believe that there are no more
generous, kind-hearted Americans
who are above all pettiness, noble
and anxious to help their fellow-be-
ings-but it looks black. When l
think of the turkey and mince pies
and all other luxuries such as good
cast-off clothing which are flying
around in my dear land, and I think
every day how much I could do with
some of those cass-off luXuries, it
makes my heart ache. I have given
almost everything l have away-but
when it comes to putting wooden
soles on my shoes 1 feel it is time
to stir somebody up. Don't worry
about money. l can pull through
with what 1 have here. Ny best
greetings TO you and Peggy and my
deepest thanks for all your trouble.
Things 1 need: One pair oxford
ties, one pair buttoned boots. calf
skin; one pair rubbers; hot water
bag; one piece longcloth for n. G..
Then If you can beg. borrow or steal
rice. lard, bacon. cheese, coffee, a
jug of oil, cast-off clothing, in fact
anything. Even -four and soap. corn
starch, oatmeal. In fact, all you
can, you will do a good work for
Suffering humanity"
Mr.. Wickersham, of Thompsontown.
visited his daughter. Mrs. Walter
Barton. OF North Fifteenth street. this
week.
John Campbell and Edward Camp-
bell entertained their little school
friends at a luncheon yesterday at the
summer home of their parents, near
New Cumberland.
Mrs. Charles Ziegler. of 1411 Thomp-
son street, is spending the latter part
of the week with Halifax relatives,
Mr.. and Mrs. Kase. of North Seven
teenth street. have opened their coun-
try home, near Middletown, for the
summer.