5 4 V O L U M E 8 , D O C U M E N T 3 4 9 a
In French, Mr. Hardtmann is showing us more about how French can be derived
from
Latin.[8]
In German, we have to memorize something occasionally, otherwise it’s quite
boring. Once we came to talking about nonsensical phrases. He then gave the ex-
ample of “a hairy bald-head” [e harigi
Glatze].[9]
Such a thing is often said without
thinking about what it actually means. We all laughed then, but every one of us had
certainly said it at least once before, even though we wouldn’t want to think so now.
When you think about it, you can find countless such examples, especially in dia-
lect. When we had to write essays, he always assigned us topics, but usually such
silly ones that we almost haven’t a clue what to write & have to make something up.
I don’t know what to say about the other subjects.
How are you doing with your
illness?[10]
In case you come here, I would like to
inform you that, as far as I know, I have vacation from mid-July
onward.[11]
I also tried to read that little book you had written & sent to Prof.
Zangger.[12]
I
understood the first half fairly well; but the snag came where the equations started.
You’ll have to explain it to me when we’re together. I’m very eager to hear about
what it means. Now I’m getting piano lessons again, at the music school, that
is.[13]I
[like] it much better now than before, probably because the teacher I now have is a
very nice lady.
Here at the Zanggers’ there’s a big
garden[14]
& Mrs. Zangger & I tend it. All the
things that have to be done in it are fun. This is what has been planted: lettuce, spin-
ach, beans, peas, rhubarb, carrots, etc. Then it also has gooseberries, currants, etc.
Many greetings from your sauerkraut-Latinist,
Albert.
Vol. 8, 349a. To Heinrich Zangger
[Berlin,] 2 June 1917
Dear friend Zangger,
Your last letter makes me worry anew because I see that the upkeep of my sick
family has acquired a ruinous quality. My net income (after deduction of taxes, etc.)
has been reduced to 13,000 marks (this case has now in fact come to
pass).[1]
From
that I need for myself, in order to make at least an appearance of maintaining the
kind of lifestyle rightfully expected of me, 5,000 marks. If I don’t want to save up
a single penny, what’s left is 8,000 marks = 6,150 francs. More I cannot and will
not give; and ways and means have to be found to make do with that. If there is a
small overrun, the savings could be used. But that should only happen in case of
emergency. For I don’t know whether these small savings are going to have to cover