The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-30
LOCAL MANS FAMILY
UNDERGOES HARDSHIPS
IN EUROPEAN CRISIS

Vivid portrayal of suffering in Eu-
rope is contained in a letter received
by Ben Levine. 1877 FIT. Wayne avenue
from his cousin living in small town
in Lithuania, who suffered many naro-
ships during the war and spent sew
eral years in Siberia to escape the
Germans.
Mr.. Levine came to this country IN
1909 expecting to send for MS wire
and family within a short time. III
1914 he sent tickets to them but be-
fore they could depart for this coun.
try the war broke out and they couio
not leave the country.
Not having heard from his relatives
for three years. Mr.. Levine gave them
up as lost. He received a letter re-
Gently from his wife stating she and
the children were back in their for
mer home. He sent tickets to them,
but they were unable to get passage
because of the traffic congestion in
Danzig.
Son Is Injured.
After having obtained passage the
youngest son was thrown from a NOV
ing train and was taken in an unco-
scious coalition to a hospital in Konigs-
burg, Germany, where he is being
taken care of. Mrs. Levine writes that
they are expecting to sail at any time
and expect to arrive here for the Jew
ish Easter, which comes in about three
weeks.
Following is the letter received from
Mr. Levine's cousin:
Dear Cousin: Very unexpectedly
received your letter, which was
great pleasure to read-first, to know
that you are we'll, which you know that
always was anxious to hear concern
ing you and all my relatives, especial,
ly you since we were raised as sister
and brother. Since you are such a
long distance we have almost forgot,
ten each other There are many peo'
pie here who are receiving letters
from relatives in America and other
countries. but have almost forgotten
what letter looks like since l dc
not receive any mail at all-not even
from my brothers. Even my children,
who do not know you at all, were sur.
prised at your letter coming from
America.
Il cannot write you everything in
one letter so will try to tell you every
thing about your sister that l know
She is still in Saratof. A party came
from there d few weeks ago but
have not been able to see them yet
This party lives only about eight miles
(48 American miles) from our town
but we cannot send or receive mail
from there. ! will try to see her and
will then write you her address. As
to her home, which she left in this
town, there is not 2 mark to show
there was ever house there. Two
80 ~ <o1,r Il
stroyed. There would be lots of PEG
pie starving here now if it were not
for the people in America. One yeaI
ago there was nothing to be had, hun
ger prevailed for everybody, but now
it is different, Everything is plentiful
but no way to make money with which
to buy. Many people get money from
relatives in America. They also get
packages of clothing and there are
many being saved that way. Even the
ones that are working and doing what
Won would call a good business are
thanking God to make enough money
to buy bread. AS for clothing it takes
thous ands of marks to buy even, the
simplest and we have no way to make
anything so we are living the best
way We can.
Your niece, who is now on hel
way to you in America. will tell you
how I lived before the war, and I viii
try to tell you how I lived during the
war. I do not wish to remember the
way | lived before the war. as | as
sure you it is all very different now
We lived through big dangers, hunger
and cold, but thank God, we lived, and
We are satisfied. Before the war
had a seven room house, beautifully
furnished with a shoe factory built
by the side of it: now We are living In
one room with my husbands parents
making shoes in the same room. I
seems like things never will be settled
again. We are in danger all the time
and we are not sure that we can stay
here.
I want to write you of my family
have been married II years and have
three children, the youngest being 81.
years old. My husband was a yer,