Corrupt doctors and communism
Coolangatta, 9.6.50
My dearest Mammi!
It has yet again been more than 14 days since a wrote. I am one who so dreadfully easily gets off track and then I am useless, particularly at writing. First we got a message from Marie that she was ill again. She had spent a week in hospital with a sore ear just before her last holiday. And now it is the ear again. The principal (Miss Taylor) wrote to me and said it isn’t serious, but the results of the exams would nevertheless be affected by her illness.
Then the doctor wrote to me and told me he is unable to treat Marie’s illness. I need to take her to a specialist in Brisbane, and gave me the name of a specialist. It is unfortunately very common in Australia, that doctors send patients they think they are well off to each other. I have heard of several such cases, where frightened parents have sent their children to 3 or 4 specialists, one after the other, while nothing was wrong with them. I then talked to Florence Shallard about Marie and she didn’t know the recommended specialist, and advised me to first bring Marie to our local doctor her for an examination. He knows we are not millionaires. Florence, the wife of a doctor, also confirmed that doctors on occasion take advantage of their patients like that. “Unfortunately” she said, her husband does it too. – I was worried about Marie as her letters were very unfocused and stupid, and not as nice as usual.
On top of that, there was another unpleasant matter that upset me greatly. The government here is in the process of introducing a law that will outlaw the Communists. The Nationalists, who currently are at the helm in Parliament, are wanting it so that anyone can be declared a communist without any judicial review, and thereby lose their civil rights. The opposition, which has the majority in the Senate (Labor Party) will not let that happen, and so there is a big fight. People across the whole country are screaming at the communists, and communist has become the worst swear word.
With us it is so, the Russians were very admired during the war as they fought successfully and contributed so much to the victory, and many believed that it was thanks to communism that the Russians were capable of these feats. Sverre was also one of the admirers and he went so far that he became a member of the Communist Party. I kept my distance, not due to any political convictions (I am only a chicken) (half witted), but because I didn’t like the members personally. There were social evenings (like at the Gymnastics Club [Turnverein]) and discussion nights (what a waste of time to join where none of those present are more than half witted chicken!). Sverre however enjoyed it and went once a month for a whole year. But then came your instructive letter, which told us about the blessings of communism. Other things also came to light and then Sverre stopped going. That is now 3 years ago. But then on Sunday I was visiting Florence while Sverre was fishing, and she made a little speech: before she would have anything more to do with me, she wanted to know if there was any truth to the rumour that we were communists. She said she had heard this from several sources and as Sverre was without work some time ago, she thought he was being boycotted because of his political beliefs. I carefully explained the source of the rumour and asked her to tell people if they talked about us again. This matter upset us greatly and I couldn’t even sleep because of it. I also went to the police to ask for advice. The officer there told me that the activities of the communists had been observed for a long time and that they know that Sverre has stayed away for years. We haven’t noticed any boycott or even unfriendliness. Sverre is very popular and respected everywhere. Only one person has suddenly left our lives and without reason, and that is Mrs Spencer. But she has already done that twice in the 12 years that I have known her, both without once given me a good reason. Both times I stayed friendly and pretended not to notice because I didn't want to break the friendship over something stupid. It was mainly for Marie [Edit note: Marie was friends with her daughters]. I last met Mrs Spencer on the street. I asked why she doesn’t visit me. She said the hill is too steep. This time it will probably remain too steep. I don’t believe the communism rumour is the reason for the estrangement. But what it is, that I cannot fathom. Now as our girls are maturing, they are going in different directions - Marie – striving for spiritual development and enjoying it, the other two despising and bored by it. And so they are bored when they are together. This is then the end of a chapter of life. Takk for det - it was and enjoyable chapter.
I already typed Marie’s letters a week ago. You can see I still make a terrible lot of mistakes. but just a few less this week. You will be able to see the improvement yourself in the future as I type more letters. I notice that there are still one or 2 missing. They will come next. I still can’t type in German because I have to pay too much attention to my fingers and am unable to think. Oh sadly, my German is declining slowly. Don’t you also think it is better to say “auf die Tapete” and to know what you are talking about, than to say “aufs Tapet” in an educated manner and not know it? (Except for Leo, the truly educated). How many ridiculous expressions might there be in my letters? I herewith generously give you permission to laugh at the top of your lungs if you fell like it! It is good for your health!
How happy I was about the wonderful mail that came yesterday. I have read the many letters only once and therefore haven’t digested them yet. And so much joy we have of the truly beautiful pictures of Anni. Tusen tusen takk, dear Leo! Can I keep them? I will keep them for a while in any case. Marie must see them, and Pflügers and Florence Shallard too, who is very interested in you and in Anni. Has Mucker made the coat shorter? Or is Anni that big? Was a beautiful, lovely girl she is. Marie would like to have her here as a sister. It gives me great joy to see Marie’s clothes on Anni. It is as if it brings her closer. Dear Leo, congratulation on the doll’s pram. It looks fabulous with its elegant wheels. – And as I am just talking to you – I completely agree with everything you have to say about moving to Australia and I admire, as always, your gift for describing your thoughts and feelings so clearly, as well as your as your ability to assess the people and conditions here. It is precisely how you write. – I never thought of a permanent move, but rather a temporary one, to start up a local industry of some sort. Then Mucker and Anni could have a long holiday with us under the banana trees. It was only a dream. And one more thing, the Franz von Rappenstein, if the report you write about hasn’t survived, was definitely not my Franz [Edit: Franz von Rappenstein is an imaginary perfect man invented by Edith]. You haven’t seen enough American films. Otherwise, you would know that such things don’t happen to a perfect man. I was quite shocked by Mamas sarcastic remark, that 2 such different people would be unable to live happily together for long. After this, Sverre longs even more for the day you move into our house. He sees you as an understanding ally.
The loving letters that arrived yesterday are Mamas No 25 of 14/4, and 26 from 23/4, Leos 30 from 28/3, 31 from 6/4, 33 from 11/4, 33 from 20/4., Annis from 10/4 with Muckers notes. – Dearest Mammi, it was such a surprise that the “MG” tablecloths were from the Matron. The whole time I had thought of the Gärtners when I looked at them. Somehow I like them even more now than before. Oh yes, Marie recognised the pencil sharpener immediately. She has had some before, but not so beautiful. And she was particularly familiar with the tape measure as Sverre has an inch steel tape of this type, which she has played with on several cases without permission. The tiny tin has been subject to a bit of guess work as to what it is for. Mrs Pflüger believes it is for small for the theatre, like those we had in Kronstadt. I have a tine like this our of silver and keep a lock of Marie’s hair in it, from when she was a newborn. It is so light and soft (her hair is much darker now). By the way, I would like to know if the lace around the small round blanket embroidered with brown, machine made or handmade. Everyone asks me about it and I don’t know. –
I am just looking at the clock and – oh terror – it is time to COOK. But I must finish the letter first, otherwise it will might just be left there and that must not be.
I will only quickly say, that it now looks like our planned trip to Warwick and Toowoomba won’t happen after all. We are now trying to make it so we travel to Pflügers on 23/6 and overnight there, and then leave for Warwick at 7.30 on Saturday morning. Perhaps it will still work out – I would be disappointed otherwise.
The Pflügers plantation still has not been sold, but it could happen any day and then they would come straight to us.
Last Saturday we took Mr Elfsborg on a car trip into the mountains. It was so wonderful, and we all enjoyed it a lot. I was just a bit squashed between the two big men. The new car is not as wide as the old one.
Our garage construction is progressing slowly. The 9 poles will stand on, are in teh ground. One can’t always tell how much sweat and effort the required.
Oh, dearest Mammi, I wish I could keep writing without disruptions! I still have sooo much to write!
Adjó så længe, my dearest, I hope to write again quite soon. Loving greetings from Sverre.
With true love
Your Edusa
Headless Liseth picture enclosed. I hope I will take better pictures in Toowoomba.