December 24, 1961, Le Havre, France. I could not believe how it could be so cold! The wind and cold felt as though they were penetrating to my bones. I did not know that it could be so miserably cold! And gloomy! The sky and the wharf seemed to blend into a single non-descript depressive gray. No sunshine! Not even a distinguishable cloud. Its as though God had used a very broad brush to stroke across the landscape a drab gray to welcome us to civilization from Paraguay. There was not even snow! At least then we could have enjoyed a sight that we had never witnessed before. No! Only that miserable, cold, and damp drizzle.
A couple of weeks earlier we were engulfed in the summer warmth of South America. Sun shine and tranquility. We were living at a pace that never caused any anxiety or worry that we would not finish (whatever it was that we were doing) on time. For all my 19 years, or at least for my teen years, I had longed for that day. At last I was going to gain my freedom! Yet, I had imagined a more serene, yet exciting, picture of what my future held. But that abominable cold and dreary greeting, that first impression…was I making a huge mistake?
Papa and Mama did not want me to leave the community and their protection. They worried about how I would survive on my own without their being able to shelter me. Up until that moment there had been no question in my mind that I could handle anything that could possibly be thrust in my way. However, we had only just walked off the boat and already I was beginning to have doubts. I was freezing! My clothes were too thin! My shoes did not keep my feet dry, and that dreadful incessant drizzle just continued to penetrate to the depths of my being. Yet, I knew that this discomfort would be temporary, and that in the end my dreams of freedom from the “Bruderhof” would be fulfilled.
Freedom was my quest, and, as sure as I was standing there in Le Havre, I would reach my “Holy Grail”. But the contrasts I was experiencing made me wonder what exactly was lying ahead for me. Somewhere, I heard Christmas music, but even those refrains sounded foreign to me. They were different from the music I was used to in Paraguay. I had always been told that the world outside the “Bruderhof” ,and everyone in it, were going to hell! And ,to be sure, the music I heard could not compare with what I had been used to in Paraguay. But surely, at least hopefully, that would not be completely true. In any case, I was determined to leave.
Papa and Mama did not want me to go, but if there was to be any chance of escape from the community, it was then. At that time my entire family, and in fact, the entire community, had left Paraguay, for America and England.
Too long I had been told that I “was not mature enough“. I was invited by Uncle Ken and Aunt Maizy to attend art school. Everything was paid for and Uncle Ken had even sent clothes for me. Needless to say I was filled with excitement at the prospect of going to school. Then! At the last minute came the word! “I was not mature enough“. The “Bruderhof” decided that I could not leave! And, to rub salt into already sore wounds, I was not even allowed to keep the clothes that Uncle Ken had sent, but had to share them. Perhaps I should not have felt that way, but I was really hurt! And if that were the only incident of being “not mature enough”, I probably would not feel like I do, but…,
“Eeeeyoww “!! The grayness had been pierced by the screams of my youngest brother, Raphael! At six years of age, he was not able to reason why it was cold, but only that he could not escape it. In desperation, he had thrown himself to the pavement and howled in cold agony. In reality, the temperature was not really freezing. But, the incessant cold drizzle we felt, was going to take its toll on all of us if we did not get inside soon. Raphael only verbalized what, probably, the rest of us were feeling. Finally, the hotel came in sight. To be sure we were a sorry looking lot. Mama and Papa with seven children aged six to nineteen, (I was the oldest) all dressed for summer in Paraguay. We boarded the ship in South America in summer, and arrived in France in the middle of winter. What a bedraggled sight we must have been!
Though we had only just arrived in Le Havre, this was not our destination. We were to sail for England after only one day in France. Tonight we were going to meet Mama’s cousin, Alix, who was living in Le Havre. But all I wanted was to get warm, have some hot tea, and take a hot shower!
I have really enjoyed the wonderful hot showers that I had been taking! Before starting out to leave Paraguay, I had never had a hot shower. Our facilities, in the jungle consisted of four walls, a corrugated metal roof and a concrete floor. Our water source was a barrel on the roof with a shower head protruding from it. The water was able to get a little warm from the sun, but for the most part the showers were cold.
Actually, our family was fortunate because Papa was the community baker. There was always a fire for the oven , and we had a barrel of water attached to the outside of the house that kept water hot all the time. (Actually, there were three buildings that had access to hot water: the bakery, the laundry and the kitchen which had the same type of system.) But alas, we could not take showers there. But for “Katzen-waesche” (wash-up with a bowl of water), we were fortunate to have the furnace in order to have constant hot water available. But the blessing of hot water also came with the curse of excessive heat year round, even in the summer. After all, we were living in a humid jungle south of the Equator! We had no air-conditioning!
When the rest of the community took “Katzen-waesche” they also utilized those special “water” houses where both hot and cold water was available. However, they had to carry buckets of hot water from those places, to wherever their houses were. While we lived at the bakery, hot water was convenient for us. However, when we moved from the bakery, the closest building with hot water was about seventy yards away. Being the oldest, it was my “privilege” to carry the water buckets when they were needed.
I spent my first nineteen years without knowing the absolute bliss of a hot shower.But upon arrival of Letty and I to Asuncion, and after experiencing the hotel shower, I have taken every chance to make up for all those years of hot shower “deprivation“! Ah, the simple pleasures that are so inexpensive, but somehow so luxurious!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Leaving The Jungle
Letty was fifteen and I was nineteen when we all left Paraguay for Europe. Our house was located about three miles from the tiny air strip from where the small single engine plane was to take-off . One thing to realize, is that when I say air-strip, there should be no similarity in anyone’s mind to an airfield. Our air-strip was a long patch in a field that had been cleared for a small one engine plane to utilize . Actually, the field was a pasture with grazing cattle, that was occasionally used for planes to take off and land. Of course a pilot had to contend with numerous “cow patties” and very large ant hills. And, if one was to be a passenger then that person had to chase the cows from the air-strip to allow the plane to land. Of course, our family was no exception, and with the help of our pilot diving low above the cattle we were able to “persuade” the cattle to abandon their eating area. Personally, I thought it was a lot like herding cats. You would never know which direction the cows would run, or for that matter,if they would remain in the place where you shooed them. However, Letty and I where fortunate, because when we arrived at the air-strip the plane had been able to land without our help and the plane and pilot were ready for us to board.
Because there were nine in our family it would take four trips in the tiny plane to get all of us, with our luggage, to Asuncion. Once at the Capital ,we would eventually board a ship bound for Europe. Letty and I were to be the first of the Staengl family to leave, so Papa loaded us, along with our luggage , onto the wagon, “giddy-upped” the horses, and off we went. Following the cart path we traversed the few miles to the tiny air-strip . The plan was to do the same until all the family made it to the Paraguayan Capitol. For Letty and I, everything worked perfectly. The plane was waiting, and after boarding with our luggage, the pilot cranked up the plane. I mean that he literally “cranked” the propeller to get the plane started! The pilot skillfully avoided the ant hills, and soon we were flying high over the jungle. Although I anxiously anticipated the flight, I must admit that when I saw the jungle beneath us, I thought it looked like a huge cabbage patch. I could not help but wonder what would happen if we were to fall from the sky. But, in spite of my thoughts, there really was no fright. We merely relaxed and enjoyed the experience of soaring like birds. Everything went well, and we arrived safe and sound at the hotel. After our arrival, all we had to do was wait for the arrival of the rest of the family.
The plan had been for a trip to be made daily from the jungle on the little plane until all the family made it to Asuncion. Sometimes, or maybe even often, our plans do not go as smoothly as we expect. The weather turned bad and it became impossible for the little plane to land. However, Papa would load the wagon with the next group, hoping against hope that they would be able to board the plane for Asuncion. Each day they would have to load the wagon, hitch up the horses, travel the slow bumpy cart path to the air-strip, just to watch the plane unable to land. And, each day, they would leave the air-strip, return to the house, rewash the children’s clothes, make sure they were all bathed, reload the wagon, harness the horses, and once again travel to the air-strip. Just to watch the plane circling overhead, unable to land, because of all the water on the landing strip. You could shoo the cattle from the air-strip, and even avoid the ant hills and cow patties, but water on the landing area made it impossible for landing.
Papa and Mama were worried about Letty and I being alone in Asuncion. They were concerned for our safety. We however, were having the time of our lives enjoying a freedom that we had not been permitted to have up until then. It was several days before the rest of the Staengl family were able to arrive at the hotel. In the end, they were not able to take the plane, as the weather refused to accommodate them. Instead, they had to catch a “lancha” (shuttle boat) to bring them up the Paraguay river, to the Paraguayan Capitol.
Even though Letty and I were free to enjoy our unsupervised adventures, we never left the safety of our hotel. The streets were really unsafe for two young “women” alone in Asuncion. In fact, our hotel was surrounded by a high wall with barbed wire and broken bottles on the top, as a precaution to keep unwanted “guests” on the outside. The point was well taken, and in spite of feeling some relief of having shed the shackles of community life, our confidence was not great enough to shed our common sense, and general fear of the unknown. We stayed put inside the safety of the hotel walls.
During our time alone in Asuncion, Letty and I had to wash our clothes in the sink and hang them out of the window to dry. Bad choice! All our underwear was stolen! We were in the civilized world! We were even in the confines of a “safe zone” inside the hotel walls. Imagine that! Still,” all’s well that ends well”. Papa gave us money to buy new underwear. What an unexpected treat! We not only were allowed to buy new underwear, but were also able to buy our very first “new” blue-jeans. We felt, at last, that we were ready for the voyage to England.
Letty was fifteen and I was nineteen when we all left Paraguay for Europe. Our house was located about three miles from the tiny air strip from where the small single engine plane was to take-off . One thing to realize, is that when I say air-strip, there should be no similarity in anyone’s mind to an airfield. Our air-strip was a long patch in a field that had been cleared for a small one engine plane to utilize . Actually, the field was a pasture with grazing cattle, that was occasionally used for planes to take off and land. Of course a pilot had to contend with numerous “cow patties” and very large ant hills. And, if one was to be a passenger then that person had to chase the cows from the air-strip to allow the plane to land. Of course, our family was no exception, and with the help of our pilot diving low above the cattle we were able to “persuade” the cattle to abandon their eating area. Personally, I thought it was a lot like herding cats. You would never know which direction the cows would run, or for that matter,if they would remain in the place where you shooed them. However, Letty and I where fortunate, because when we arrived at the air-strip the plane had been able to land without our help and the plane and pilot were ready for us to board.
Because there were nine in our family it would take four trips in the tiny plane to get all of us, with our luggage, to Asuncion. Once at the Capital ,we would eventually board a ship bound for Europe. Letty and I were to be the first of the Staengl family to leave, so Papa loaded us, along with our luggage , onto the wagon, “giddy-upped” the horses, and off we went. Following the cart path we traversed the few miles to the tiny air-strip . The plan was to do the same until all the family made it to the Paraguayan Capitol. For Letty and I, everything worked perfectly. The plane was waiting, and after boarding with our luggage, the pilot cranked up the plane. I mean that he literally “cranked” the propeller to get the plane started! The pilot skillfully avoided the ant hills, and soon we were flying high over the jungle. Although I anxiously anticipated the flight, I must admit that when I saw the jungle beneath us, I thought it looked like a huge cabbage patch. I could not help but wonder what would happen if we were to fall from the sky. But, in spite of my thoughts, there really was no fright. We merely relaxed and enjoyed the experience of soaring like birds. Everything went well, and we arrived safe and sound at the hotel. After our arrival, all we had to do was wait for the arrival of the rest of the family.
The plan had been for a trip to be made daily from the jungle on the little plane until all the family made it to Asuncion. Sometimes, or maybe even often, our plans do not go as smoothly as we expect. The weather turned bad and it became impossible for the little plane to land. However, Papa would load the wagon with the next group, hoping against hope that they would be able to board the plane for Asuncion. Each day they would have to load the wagon, hitch up the horses, travel the slow bumpy cart path to the air-strip, just to watch the plane unable to land. And, each day, they would leave the air-strip, return to the house, rewash the children’s clothes, make sure they were all bathed, reload the wagon, harness the horses, and once again travel to the air-strip. Just to watch the plane circling overhead, unable to land, because of all the water on the landing strip. You could shoo the cattle from the air-strip, and even avoid the ant hills and cow patties, but water on the landing area made it impossible for landing.
Papa and Mama were worried about Letty and I being alone in Asuncion. They were concerned for our safety. We however, were having the time of our lives enjoying a freedom that we had not been permitted to have up until then. It was several days before the rest of the Staengl family were able to arrive at the hotel. In the end, they were not able to take the plane, as the weather refused to accommodate them. Instead, they had to catch a “lancha” (shuttle boat) to bring them up the Paraguay river, to the Paraguayan Capitol.
Even though Letty and I were free to enjoy our unsupervised adventures, we never left the safety of our hotel. The streets were really unsafe for two young “women” alone in Asuncion. In fact, our hotel was surrounded by a high wall with barbed wire and broken bottles on the top, as a precaution to keep unwanted “guests” on the outside. The point was well taken, and in spite of feeling some relief of having shed the shackles of community life, our confidence was not great enough to shed our common sense, and general fear of the unknown. We stayed put inside the safety of the hotel walls.
During our time alone in Asuncion, Letty and I had to wash our clothes in the sink and hang them out of the window to dry. Bad choice! All our underwear was stolen! We were in the civilized world! We were even in the confines of a “safe zone” inside the hotel walls. Imagine that! Still,” all’s well that ends well”. Papa gave us money to buy new underwear. What an unexpected treat! We not only were allowed to buy new underwear, but were also able to buy our very first “new” blue-jeans. We felt, at last, that we were ready for the voyage to England.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Mama
I really feel that Mama was a free spirited person, not only growing up, but actually, for all her life. True, that spirit was, perhaps, a little stifled by the austere life of the “Bruderhof”, or maybe because of how she suspected the “Bruderhof” wanted her to act. No matter which, most of the time she lived her life consistent with the life one would expect an adult in the Community would act. But, on those rare occasions when she was allowed a time away from the stern and confining atmosphere of the “Bruderhof”, Mama did spread her wings, AND SHE DID FLY!
I do not remember the date of Luke’s son Galen’s wedding (I hope to find out and include after editing this section), but I do know that she was in her eighties. The wedding was held outside on a beautiful, though cool, summer day. Joanna, the bride, was beautiful, the groom was anxious, Luke and Joanna’s father were nervous, the food was sumptuous, the ceremony was proper, BUT, and I really want to emphasize the but, MAMA WAS THE STAR!!
After the bride and groom had their moment in the sun, Mama, the exuberant octogenarian, took over! Oh, she did not mean to upstage the bride, she was merely in the moment. Transported back to France, to her former life when she danced with Charlie Chaplin and played tennis with the King of Sweden (we have a picture of her playing with the king), back to a time before wars, emigrations and years of hardships and suffering.
When the music began, so did Mama! Mama loved music and had an ear for it(you can see that in the musical abilities of her children ). She just reacted to the allure of the music and her spirit blithely flowed with it. Mama kept up with all the twenty-something men that had the nerve to dance with her. One young man dropped to his knees bowed with obeisance after dancing with her, paying homage to this eighty-something with the energy of a teenager. Before I continue this story, I want you to understand that alcohol played no part in this scene of joy and excitement. Only the simple act of opening the cage door and allowing the spirit freedom.
There was a conga line, (Mama was very near the front of it) and Mama dressed in the 17th century garb of the “Bruderhof, ankle-length, complete with a kerchief on her head, where she had to be stopped from jumping into the pool with all her clothes on. It happened every time the line snaked close to the pool. Though it was summer, it was quite chilly, and perhaps that was how we were able to prevent her from diving in. (We had other reunions where she did dive into pools.)
To be sure, the wedding was, indeed, beautiful, Galen’s in-laws were gracious, the atmosphere at the “Greek Wedding” was festive, but if you would ask any of the attendees what they remembered over all else, there would be a resounding reply. MAMA!!!!
I really feel that Mama was a free spirited person, not only growing up, but actually, for all her life. True, that spirit was, perhaps, a little stifled by the austere life of the “Bruderhof”, or maybe because of how she suspected the “Bruderhof” wanted her to act. No matter which, most of the time she lived her life consistent with the life one would expect an adult in the Community would act. But, on those rare occasions when she was allowed a time away from the stern and confining atmosphere of the “Bruderhof”, Mama did spread her wings, AND SHE DID FLY!
I do not remember the date of Luke’s son Galen’s wedding (I hope to find out and include after editing this section), but I do know that she was in her eighties. The wedding was held outside on a beautiful, though cool, summer day. Joanna, the bride, was beautiful, the groom was anxious, Luke and Joanna’s father were nervous, the food was sumptuous, the ceremony was proper, BUT, and I really want to emphasize the but, MAMA WAS THE STAR!!
After the bride and groom had their moment in the sun, Mama, the exuberant octogenarian, took over! Oh, she did not mean to upstage the bride, she was merely in the moment. Transported back to France, to her former life when she danced with Charlie Chaplin and played tennis with the King of Sweden (we have a picture of her playing with the king), back to a time before wars, emigrations and years of hardships and suffering.
When the music began, so did Mama! Mama loved music and had an ear for it(you can see that in the musical abilities of her children ). She just reacted to the allure of the music and her spirit blithely flowed with it. Mama kept up with all the twenty-something men that had the nerve to dance with her. One young man dropped to his knees bowed with obeisance after dancing with her, paying homage to this eighty-something with the energy of a teenager. Before I continue this story, I want you to understand that alcohol played no part in this scene of joy and excitement. Only the simple act of opening the cage door and allowing the spirit freedom.
There was a conga line, (Mama was very near the front of it) and Mama dressed in the 17th century garb of the “Bruderhof, ankle-length, complete with a kerchief on her head, where she had to be stopped from jumping into the pool with all her clothes on. It happened every time the line snaked close to the pool. Though it was summer, it was quite chilly, and perhaps that was how we were able to prevent her from diving in. (We had other reunions where she did dive into pools.)
To be sure, the wedding was, indeed, beautiful, Galen’s in-laws were gracious, the atmosphere at the “Greek Wedding” was festive, but if you would ask any of the attendees what they remembered over all else, there would be a resounding reply. MAMA!!!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Paraguay Passage
So far, we have traced Mama and Papa to the Cotswold Community. At last, they are in a safe, and compared to the German Community, a comfortable environment. However, and it always seems that after “comfortable” or “but” a “however” is inevitable. HITLER! His rise in power and iron fisted control over Germany, and the spread of Nazism over Europe, threatened the existence of freedoms of any country or people that stood in it’s way.
In 1939, the dire situation became even more pronounced , especially in England! Those in the Cotswold Community were being forced to make an extremely difficult decision. Either emigration to another country, or be placed in internment camps. Although the Bruderhof considered themselves as conscientious objectors , and only wanted to live in peace, the fact that there were so many Germans inter-married with other nationalities, made tensions between them and their neighbors untenable. Emigration tremendously difficult, but the thought of having to be interned, not knowing for how long, or even if families could be together, made it a relatively simple decision. Emigration!
Making the decision was the easy part, finding a country to accept them proved to be much harder. And the fact that the world was rapidly being drawn into WWII made any travel over the Atlantic a treacherous venture to say the least. There were approximately 350 people to be transported from England, 155 of which were children. But the decision to leave England, though very soul wrenching, was vigorously pursued.
Anyone that had any influence was encouraged to use it to enable the massive logistical endeavor to move ahead, and successfully complete the emigration process. To that end, Mama asked her father to write any of his friends, or acquaintances, to ask for help. My grandfather wrote, on their behalf, to Eleanor Roosevelt and to Louis Grieg. I have not yet received exact information on what the letters accomplished, but I do know that Louis Grieg was grandfather’s very close friend, and he, Louis Grieg, in turn, was a very close friend of King George VI. Louis Grieg was also the Fleet Admiral of the British Navy. Information that has been passed down from my mother suggests that the help received was instrumental in, not only finding a country that would allow them to emigrate, but also in cutting the legal red tape that inevitably would have slowed their departure.
Consequently, a Country, only one, was found that would allow the community to emigrate. Paraguay! There were already some Mennonite settlements in Paraguay and the dictator of Paraguay (Stressner) was aware of the many contributions the Mennonites had made to Paraguay. They were especially gifted at agriculture.
It was during this period of anxiety and desperation that my parents were married. On Nov. 22, 1940 in Swindon, England, they became husband and wife. (George and I were married in Cirencester, England about 20 miles away). Less than three months later on Feb. 8, 1941, The Avila Star sailed from England with Mama, Papa and 156 others on their way to South America.
Actually, there were several trips on different ships to get everyone to Paraguay. Mama and Papa were on the ship that had the most Community people, 158 men, women and children.
It was really miraculous that all the ships made the voyages safely and without incident. The reason the safe journeys are deemed miraculous is because of all the German U-boats that were prowling in the Atlantic waters. Many ships had been sunk, and in fact, the ship that transported Mama and Papa, “The Avila Star”, had been sunk traveling from South America back to Europe.
In 1939, the dire situation became even more pronounced , especially in England! Those in the Cotswold Community were being forced to make an extremely difficult decision. Either emigration to another country, or be placed in internment camps. Although the Bruderhof considered themselves as conscientious objectors , and only wanted to live in peace, the fact that there were so many Germans inter-married with other nationalities, made tensions between them and their neighbors untenable. Emigration tremendously difficult, but the thought of having to be interned, not knowing for how long, or even if families could be together, made it a relatively simple decision. Emigration!
Making the decision was the easy part, finding a country to accept them proved to be much harder. And the fact that the world was rapidly being drawn into WWII made any travel over the Atlantic a treacherous venture to say the least. There were approximately 350 people to be transported from England, 155 of which were children. But the decision to leave England, though very soul wrenching, was vigorously pursued.
Anyone that had any influence was encouraged to use it to enable the massive logistical endeavor to move ahead, and successfully complete the emigration process. To that end, Mama asked her father to write any of his friends, or acquaintances, to ask for help. My grandfather wrote, on their behalf, to Eleanor Roosevelt and to Louis Grieg. I have not yet received exact information on what the letters accomplished, but I do know that Louis Grieg was grandfather’s very close friend, and he, Louis Grieg, in turn, was a very close friend of King George VI. Louis Grieg was also the Fleet Admiral of the British Navy. Information that has been passed down from my mother suggests that the help received was instrumental in, not only finding a country that would allow them to emigrate, but also in cutting the legal red tape that inevitably would have slowed their departure.
Consequently, a Country, only one, was found that would allow the community to emigrate. Paraguay! There were already some Mennonite settlements in Paraguay and the dictator of Paraguay (Stressner) was aware of the many contributions the Mennonites had made to Paraguay. They were especially gifted at agriculture.
It was during this period of anxiety and desperation that my parents were married. On Nov. 22, 1940 in Swindon, England, they became husband and wife. (George and I were married in Cirencester, England about 20 miles away). Less than three months later on Feb. 8, 1941, The Avila Star sailed from England with Mama, Papa and 156 others on their way to South America.
Actually, there were several trips on different ships to get everyone to Paraguay. Mama and Papa were on the ship that had the most Community people, 158 men, women and children.
It was really miraculous that all the ships made the voyages safely and without incident. The reason the safe journeys are deemed miraculous is because of all the German U-boats that were prowling in the Atlantic waters. Many ships had been sunk, and in fact, the ship that transported Mama and Papa, “The Avila Star”, had been sunk traveling from South America back to Europe.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Mama in France
It is hard to imagine that two people with such vastly different backgrounds could ever be married to one another, but that is precisely what happened. A Clydesdale yoked together with a thoroughbred, is a more fitting picture than Mama and Papa as husband and wife. The differences between them were numerous.
Whereas Papa was born and raised under very harsh conditions in Munich, Germany, Mama was born in Paris, France with the proverbial silver spoon, not only in her mouth, but as a companion to her for most of her youth.
Papa’s parents were divorced early in his life, and since he was to be with his father, and since his father was a baker spending long hours working , Papa spent much of his time on the streets. Mama, on the other hand, had both of her parents with her. Her father was a doctor, and though he spent many hours with his practice, Her mother was right there for her.
The stark differences between Mama and Papa can go on and on, but I am sure that you can understand, there was little that they had in common. With that in mind, I will attempt to relate Mama’s life story and let you in on the circumstances that brought them to such an unlikely union.
Mama was born in Paris, France on Sept. 18, 1913. She was the youngest of four children the closest being Kaye, her brother, who was two years older. When she was six the two of them were sent to a boarding school by the seashore in France.
I guess the fact that both Mama and Papa were sent to boarding school, one could presume that their lives at that time were similar, but in all actuality, the similarities ended there. Their lives, in their respective boarding schools were very different. True, both schools were Catholic, and the teachers were very strict, but the atmosphere, the food, and even the gender of the teachers (Mama’s school had nuns while Papa’s had priests) made their respective experiences very different. Mama, also had Kaye for support when she needed him, and even had occasional visits from her father, which I am sure, made Mama’s life in the boarding school, more bearable, albeit lonely, compared to what Papa had to endure.
Mama was at the boarding school for only two years, but she said that she was very homesick and always looked forward to being home again with her mother and father. Happily, after those couple of years away, Mama did not have to return to the boarding school.
At about ten years of age Mama and her family moved to Cannes, France. My grandfather found out that he had a heart problem and felt that a change of climate would be of benefit for it. Mama tells about the mansion, three stories with many rooms. The third floor alone had eleven rooms. Mama said that it was perfect for playing “hide and seek”. It was there in Cannes that Mama excelled in school. So much so that she was moved up from grade to grade. In the end she was at least a head shorter than anyone else. Her class-mates nick-named her “bouchon” which means “cork.”
It was about this time that my grand-parents moved into a smaller house called the “Villa Serpolette” (I visited the “Villa Serpolette” with my German Grandfather and my uncle. The villa was located on the French Riviera about 50 or so yards from the beach). It was also at this time when Mama’s father started playing tennis with the entire family. He played, he said, “for reasons of his health“, but mainly because he envisioned Mama becoming an accomplished player, as was he. (I found out this past September that my grandfather, Archibald Adam Warden, was a bronze medalist, in Tennis, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris). During Mama’s early teen years they would travel every week to play in tennis tournaments, they toured all over Switzerland, and even Scotland, each week in a different town staying at luxurious hotels.
Then came the great depression! It hit Europe just as it hit America. Consequently, my grandfather, as did most other people, lost all of his money in the stock market. Mama said that they had to do without the maid, cook, and chauffer. But, in spite of having to live the “simple” life, my grandfather was still a very successful doctor. In fact, most of his patients were very rich and very famous. Among the patients that he treated were Eleanor Roosevelt, J.P.Morgan, Donald Campbell, Admiral Byrd et al.
Mama was very unsettled and was not at all satisfied with the way her life was going. So when she was eighteen she went to Germany to live with a Jewish family in order to learn German. Why, I do not know. But they helped Mama learn German while she taught their two girls to speak English and French. Then, at nineteen, she asked my grandfather to let her have 1,000 Francs along with permission to go to Paris to find a job. Her father was not too happy to let her go, but in the end he said alright. Grandfather arranged for her to ride in a Rolls Royce that belonged to the Pasha of Marakesh (prince of Morocco), who was also his patient. In Paris, she found a job as personal secretary to Rudyard Kipling’s wife. She also taught children to read. However, once again, she found herself unfulfilled, and again returned to Cannes. Mama had a difficult time finding out what direction she wanted her life to go. Then at 21 years of age, she thought that she wanted to be a nurse. Again, my grandfather was not happy with Mama’s desire to become a nurse, but again, he allowed her to try.
Mama went to London where arrangements had been made for her to stay with her mother’s cousin, Sir Henry Souttar. Sir Henry Sessions Souttar, was a very prominent physician in England, and the first surgeon to perform a successful open heart surgery. He did a heart valve operation on a young girl, which made it possible for the girl to live many years. It was not until 1948, 23 years later, that a similar operation was attempted. Dr. Souttar invented numerous surgical tools that are still being used today! In fact, medical students are still studying the heart valve surgery techniques that he performed. He was knighted for his surgical tool inventions.
(Just a side note: George and I were given our wedding reception at Dr Souttar’s home in London in 1964.)
Mama’s venture into nursing ended as all her other pursuits, being frustrated and unfulfilled. Actually, she felt that there had to be something more than the life of luxury that she had been living. Thus she found herself being drawn to more spiritual pursuits. In Paris, she was attracted to various religious groups, but it was a pamphlet she found that drew her to the place she would spend the rest of her life.
The article was about a community of Christians in England. In fact, from the explanation of the Bruderhof, and the pictures that accompanied it, it seemed like the answer to all the questions that had plagued her for so many years. Perhaps she would find some sense of accomplishment that all her other pursuits had been devoid of. And, not only could it be a good place for her, but could also be good for her brother as well. Her parents agreed. So it was that Mama and Uncle Kaye embarked on the journey to the Cotswold’s in England. Kaye’s visit was just that, a visit. He soon left England and returned to France. Mama, on the other hand had found what she had been looking for, and never returned home.
In the Bruderhof, the people wore the clothes that Hutterites (similar to the Amish)wore. Very conservative and very uniform in style. So, Mama packed all her clothes and sent them, along with trunks full of party dresses and other possessions, to her sister Charlotte, who, of course, expected Mama’s arrival at any moment. But, alas, she never came. Mama had forsaken all her earthly possessions , and gave up being able to see her family again, to join the Bruderhof.
Whereas Papa was born and raised under very harsh conditions in Munich, Germany, Mama was born in Paris, France with the proverbial silver spoon, not only in her mouth, but as a companion to her for most of her youth.
Papa’s parents were divorced early in his life, and since he was to be with his father, and since his father was a baker spending long hours working , Papa spent much of his time on the streets. Mama, on the other hand, had both of her parents with her. Her father was a doctor, and though he spent many hours with his practice, Her mother was right there for her.
The stark differences between Mama and Papa can go on and on, but I am sure that you can understand, there was little that they had in common. With that in mind, I will attempt to relate Mama’s life story and let you in on the circumstances that brought them to such an unlikely union.
Mama was born in Paris, France on Sept. 18, 1913. She was the youngest of four children the closest being Kaye, her brother, who was two years older. When she was six the two of them were sent to a boarding school by the seashore in France.
I guess the fact that both Mama and Papa were sent to boarding school, one could presume that their lives at that time were similar, but in all actuality, the similarities ended there. Their lives, in their respective boarding schools were very different. True, both schools were Catholic, and the teachers were very strict, but the atmosphere, the food, and even the gender of the teachers (Mama’s school had nuns while Papa’s had priests) made their respective experiences very different. Mama, also had Kaye for support when she needed him, and even had occasional visits from her father, which I am sure, made Mama’s life in the boarding school, more bearable, albeit lonely, compared to what Papa had to endure.
Mama was at the boarding school for only two years, but she said that she was very homesick and always looked forward to being home again with her mother and father. Happily, after those couple of years away, Mama did not have to return to the boarding school.
At about ten years of age Mama and her family moved to Cannes, France. My grandfather found out that he had a heart problem and felt that a change of climate would be of benefit for it. Mama tells about the mansion, three stories with many rooms. The third floor alone had eleven rooms. Mama said that it was perfect for playing “hide and seek”. It was there in Cannes that Mama excelled in school. So much so that she was moved up from grade to grade. In the end she was at least a head shorter than anyone else. Her class-mates nick-named her “bouchon” which means “cork.”
It was about this time that my grand-parents moved into a smaller house called the “Villa Serpolette” (I visited the “Villa Serpolette” with my German Grandfather and my uncle. The villa was located on the French Riviera about 50 or so yards from the beach). It was also at this time when Mama’s father started playing tennis with the entire family. He played, he said, “for reasons of his health“, but mainly because he envisioned Mama becoming an accomplished player, as was he. (I found out this past September that my grandfather, Archibald Adam Warden, was a bronze medalist, in Tennis, at the 1900 Olympics in Paris). During Mama’s early teen years they would travel every week to play in tennis tournaments, they toured all over Switzerland, and even Scotland, each week in a different town staying at luxurious hotels.
Then came the great depression! It hit Europe just as it hit America. Consequently, my grandfather, as did most other people, lost all of his money in the stock market. Mama said that they had to do without the maid, cook, and chauffer. But, in spite of having to live the “simple” life, my grandfather was still a very successful doctor. In fact, most of his patients were very rich and very famous. Among the patients that he treated were Eleanor Roosevelt, J.P.Morgan, Donald Campbell, Admiral Byrd et al.
Mama was very unsettled and was not at all satisfied with the way her life was going. So when she was eighteen she went to Germany to live with a Jewish family in order to learn German. Why, I do not know. But they helped Mama learn German while she taught their two girls to speak English and French. Then, at nineteen, she asked my grandfather to let her have 1,000 Francs along with permission to go to Paris to find a job. Her father was not too happy to let her go, but in the end he said alright. Grandfather arranged for her to ride in a Rolls Royce that belonged to the Pasha of Marakesh (prince of Morocco), who was also his patient. In Paris, she found a job as personal secretary to Rudyard Kipling’s wife. She also taught children to read. However, once again, she found herself unfulfilled, and again returned to Cannes. Mama had a difficult time finding out what direction she wanted her life to go. Then at 21 years of age, she thought that she wanted to be a nurse. Again, my grandfather was not happy with Mama’s desire to become a nurse, but again, he allowed her to try.
Mama went to London where arrangements had been made for her to stay with her mother’s cousin, Sir Henry Souttar. Sir Henry Sessions Souttar, was a very prominent physician in England, and the first surgeon to perform a successful open heart surgery. He did a heart valve operation on a young girl, which made it possible for the girl to live many years. It was not until 1948, 23 years later, that a similar operation was attempted. Dr. Souttar invented numerous surgical tools that are still being used today! In fact, medical students are still studying the heart valve surgery techniques that he performed. He was knighted for his surgical tool inventions.
(Just a side note: George and I were given our wedding reception at Dr Souttar’s home in London in 1964.)
Mama’s venture into nursing ended as all her other pursuits, being frustrated and unfulfilled. Actually, she felt that there had to be something more than the life of luxury that she had been living. Thus she found herself being drawn to more spiritual pursuits. In Paris, she was attracted to various religious groups, but it was a pamphlet she found that drew her to the place she would spend the rest of her life.
The article was about a community of Christians in England. In fact, from the explanation of the Bruderhof, and the pictures that accompanied it, it seemed like the answer to all the questions that had plagued her for so many years. Perhaps she would find some sense of accomplishment that all her other pursuits had been devoid of. And, not only could it be a good place for her, but could also be good for her brother as well. Her parents agreed. So it was that Mama and Uncle Kaye embarked on the journey to the Cotswold’s in England. Kaye’s visit was just that, a visit. He soon left England and returned to France. Mama, on the other hand had found what she had been looking for, and never returned home.
In the Bruderhof, the people wore the clothes that Hutterites (similar to the Amish)wore. Very conservative and very uniform in style. So, Mama packed all her clothes and sent them, along with trunks full of party dresses and other possessions, to her sister Charlotte, who, of course, expected Mama’s arrival at any moment. But, alas, she never came. Mama had forsaken all her earthly possessions , and gave up being able to see her family again, to join the Bruderhof.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
From Alm to the Cotswolds
Papa’s flight to the Alm Bruderhof afforded him some respite, but the safety that the Alm Bruderhoh afforded over the Rhoen Bruderhof, could not lessen the effects that the Nazi movement had over all of Europe. The control that Hitler exerted in Germany would spread over all of the European continent, and any opposition that presented itself to the Nazi way would be stifled, at best, but usually just crushed.
In April of 1937 the Rhoen community was informed by telephone that all their residents had twenty-four hours to leave the Bruderhof. The state had confiscated all books and keys and they were ordered out!
Before they left, the officials of the state wrote down names ages and any other pertinent information that could be useful to the Hitler regime. The community was forced from its home, and forced out without any of their household goods or anything connected with the community. Basically, with only the clothes on their backs.
It was obvious that it would not be long before the surrounding countries would be forced to succumb to the mounting pressure of the “Third Reich”.
Consequently, those that were in the Alm community in Liechtenstein knew that they had little time before they would be forced out of the country, and worse, that the military aged men would be forced to enter the German army. To refuse would most certainly be prison or, quite possibly, death.
Once again, Papa would have to flee. As his passport was getting close to expiration his escape would have to be soon. A friend had been chosen to escort him to the safety of England as there was a Bruderhof in the English area of the Cotswolds. Papa could only speak German and was able to travel by himself as far as Ostend, Belgium.
In order to obtain a visa to enter into England, it was necessary for Papa to have an invitation for work. His invitation, from a Mrs. Mason, was for the purpose of Papa helping her purchase horses (I suppose that the times he spent with the horses instead of being in kindergarten was preparing him for those times).
Ironically, the same agent that Papa met at customs was also the agent that received another man from the Bruderhof who also had an invitation from a Mrs. Mason, but his invitation was for the express purpose of assisting her in the purchase of “cattle“. Coincidence aside, Papa was able to enter England!
In April of 1937 the Rhoen community was informed by telephone that all their residents had twenty-four hours to leave the Bruderhof. The state had confiscated all books and keys and they were ordered out!
Before they left, the officials of the state wrote down names ages and any other pertinent information that could be useful to the Hitler regime. The community was forced from its home, and forced out without any of their household goods or anything connected with the community. Basically, with only the clothes on their backs.
It was obvious that it would not be long before the surrounding countries would be forced to succumb to the mounting pressure of the “Third Reich”.
Consequently, those that were in the Alm community in Liechtenstein knew that they had little time before they would be forced out of the country, and worse, that the military aged men would be forced to enter the German army. To refuse would most certainly be prison or, quite possibly, death.
Once again, Papa would have to flee. As his passport was getting close to expiration his escape would have to be soon. A friend had been chosen to escort him to the safety of England as there was a Bruderhof in the English area of the Cotswolds. Papa could only speak German and was able to travel by himself as far as Ostend, Belgium.
In order to obtain a visa to enter into England, it was necessary for Papa to have an invitation for work. His invitation, from a Mrs. Mason, was for the purpose of Papa helping her purchase horses (I suppose that the times he spent with the horses instead of being in kindergarten was preparing him for those times).
Ironically, the same agent that Papa met at customs was also the agent that received another man from the Bruderhof who also had an invitation from a Mrs. Mason, but his invitation was for the express purpose of assisting her in the purchase of “cattle“. Coincidence aside, Papa was able to enter England!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Papa's Plight
My children, as well as many friends, have asked me, “why were you in South America?” To answer that question, I will have to take you to Germany.
My father, ”Papa”, was born in Landau, Germany in 1911. His life, from the beginning, was quite harsh and frightening. He has told stories of airplanes shooting at their house and being afraid of going near the train station because the communists had taken it over and there was a lot of gunfire. The battles that were occurring and the general hardships of the time, made life difficult, especially for a five or six year old boy.
Papa’s parents had become divorced, and Papa was awarded to his father while his sister went with his mother. The situation was very difficult because of Papa’s father’s job. He was a baker and having to be at work at 2:30 A.M. left little time to watch after Papa.
Because Papa was not being attended to properly, he found himself on the streets of Munich rather that in kindergarten (he was very often found at the horse stables playing with the horses rather than attending school). I do not recall any stories Papa told about playing with other boys, or having toys, so perhaps the times he was with the horses were the only times that he could be happy as a child.
Papa tells us that when he was about eight years old, his father took him to a man at a train station, gave him a little bag with some cherries, and said good-bye. He had never seen the man before, but he was to become his guardian, as his father was not able to work and to take care of Papa. .
The man, his guardian, took Papa and two other boys, and placed them in a Catholic boarding school. Papa was not able to see his mother from that time for three or four years.
Life in the boarding school was very hard and very strict. The meals consisted of a half slice of bread, a potato and some barley coffee. The school lessons were also very strict and severe. Whenever Papa made mistakes, and they were more than a few, he would be whipped with a stick. When the whistle blew they were to respond quickly, and if they were not quick enough, they had to run up and down a rather long distance eight or ten times.
It was at that boarding house where his mother “rescued” him and took him in to her house. However, the stay with his mother was short lived, as his step-father was not in agreement with taking Papa into their home.
After leaving his mother’s home , Papa lived with other relatives, trying to find a vocation that suited him. He tried learning to be a tailor and he tried to learn to be a baker, but as a teen-ager of about sixteen years neither choice was easy. He ended up as a baker, and an excellent one at that.
For the next couple of years Papa wandered around the country working at whatever jobs he could find (mainly, Papa wanted to roam around Germany and was not really wanting to settle for a career). It was at that time, when Papa was eighteen, that he entered the Bruderhof. (The Bruderhof is a community of Christian believers very similar to Hutterians).
Papa thought that he had found, at last, what he had been searching for his entire life. Up to that time, the only “Christianity” he had ever witnessed was in the strict and severe Catholic boarding school. Papa was instantly drawn to the people that were to become his family for the rest of his life.
On January 14, 1930 Papa entered the Bruderhof In Rhoen, Germany, but it was not long before the political atmosphere in Germany became, not only difficult, but also dangerous for any person that did not follow the dictates of Adolph Hitler!
Pressures were being exerted on the small community to put Nazi teachers into their school. Of course, that could never be done by the community. On November 16, 1933, one hundred forty men all SS and Gestapo, surrounded the community, searched the entire compound, read many personal correspondences, and finally left, having taken many books, letters, and personal papers.
It became obvious that it would not be safe to stay in Germany, especially for the young men that were of military age. Also they became aware that if they were to have a school they would have to allow the Nazi’s to bring in their own teachers. The threat of that happening caused the Bruderhof to smuggle all their students out of Germany.
The Nazi teacher did come, but the students had all safely escaped to Switzerland.
As Hitler’s influence grew, the political situation in Germany became more serious, especially as the pressures grew toward the Bruderhof, it became evident that all the men of military age would have to flee the country.
Papa, along with two other men departed Germany riding bicycles. The three men began their flight at midnight, each with a loaf of bread and some sausage. They cycled all night hoping to find their way to Liechtenstein. In the morning they came to a village where the townspeople were all marching to a war memorial. Papa and his friends walked behind them several yards until the people turned a corner. Taking a deep breath the three men got back on their bicycles and continued their journey. The same thing occurred two more times. The fact that no one called out to them or bothered them at all was quite an amazing thing in the least.
The three men were very tired, but they were all determined to reach the safety of the Alm Bruderhof. After many more hours of “ how much farther” and “oh ,about twenty minutes” ,or “oh, about half an hour”, finally the light of Alm appeared in the valley! What a relief they felt! They coasted downhill to the railroad station and then on to their destination. Though they were exhausted from the arduous trek, and the many hours of strenuous pedaling, , they arrived . They were very tired, but they were safe.
My father, ”Papa”, was born in Landau, Germany in 1911. His life, from the beginning, was quite harsh and frightening. He has told stories of airplanes shooting at their house and being afraid of going near the train station because the communists had taken it over and there was a lot of gunfire. The battles that were occurring and the general hardships of the time, made life difficult, especially for a five or six year old boy.
Papa’s parents had become divorced, and Papa was awarded to his father while his sister went with his mother. The situation was very difficult because of Papa’s father’s job. He was a baker and having to be at work at 2:30 A.M. left little time to watch after Papa.
Because Papa was not being attended to properly, he found himself on the streets of Munich rather that in kindergarten (he was very often found at the horse stables playing with the horses rather than attending school). I do not recall any stories Papa told about playing with other boys, or having toys, so perhaps the times he was with the horses were the only times that he could be happy as a child.
Papa tells us that when he was about eight years old, his father took him to a man at a train station, gave him a little bag with some cherries, and said good-bye. He had never seen the man before, but he was to become his guardian, as his father was not able to work and to take care of Papa. .
The man, his guardian, took Papa and two other boys, and placed them in a Catholic boarding school. Papa was not able to see his mother from that time for three or four years.
Life in the boarding school was very hard and very strict. The meals consisted of a half slice of bread, a potato and some barley coffee. The school lessons were also very strict and severe. Whenever Papa made mistakes, and they were more than a few, he would be whipped with a stick. When the whistle blew they were to respond quickly, and if they were not quick enough, they had to run up and down a rather long distance eight or ten times.
It was at that boarding house where his mother “rescued” him and took him in to her house. However, the stay with his mother was short lived, as his step-father was not in agreement with taking Papa into their home.
After leaving his mother’s home , Papa lived with other relatives, trying to find a vocation that suited him. He tried learning to be a tailor and he tried to learn to be a baker, but as a teen-ager of about sixteen years neither choice was easy. He ended up as a baker, and an excellent one at that.
For the next couple of years Papa wandered around the country working at whatever jobs he could find (mainly, Papa wanted to roam around Germany and was not really wanting to settle for a career). It was at that time, when Papa was eighteen, that he entered the Bruderhof. (The Bruderhof is a community of Christian believers very similar to Hutterians).
Papa thought that he had found, at last, what he had been searching for his entire life. Up to that time, the only “Christianity” he had ever witnessed was in the strict and severe Catholic boarding school. Papa was instantly drawn to the people that were to become his family for the rest of his life.
On January 14, 1930 Papa entered the Bruderhof In Rhoen, Germany, but it was not long before the political atmosphere in Germany became, not only difficult, but also dangerous for any person that did not follow the dictates of Adolph Hitler!
Pressures were being exerted on the small community to put Nazi teachers into their school. Of course, that could never be done by the community. On November 16, 1933, one hundred forty men all SS and Gestapo, surrounded the community, searched the entire compound, read many personal correspondences, and finally left, having taken many books, letters, and personal papers.
It became obvious that it would not be safe to stay in Germany, especially for the young men that were of military age. Also they became aware that if they were to have a school they would have to allow the Nazi’s to bring in their own teachers. The threat of that happening caused the Bruderhof to smuggle all their students out of Germany.
The Nazi teacher did come, but the students had all safely escaped to Switzerland.
As Hitler’s influence grew, the political situation in Germany became more serious, especially as the pressures grew toward the Bruderhof, it became evident that all the men of military age would have to flee the country.
Papa, along with two other men departed Germany riding bicycles. The three men began their flight at midnight, each with a loaf of bread and some sausage. They cycled all night hoping to find their way to Liechtenstein. In the morning they came to a village where the townspeople were all marching to a war memorial. Papa and his friends walked behind them several yards until the people turned a corner. Taking a deep breath the three men got back on their bicycles and continued their journey. The same thing occurred two more times. The fact that no one called out to them or bothered them at all was quite an amazing thing in the least.
The three men were very tired, but they were all determined to reach the safety of the Alm Bruderhof. After many more hours of “ how much farther” and “oh ,about twenty minutes” ,or “oh, about half an hour”, finally the light of Alm appeared in the valley! What a relief they felt! They coasted downhill to the railroad station and then on to their destination. Though they were exhausted from the arduous trek, and the many hours of strenuous pedaling, , they arrived . They were very tired, but they were safe.
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