DLA015-0029  Translation

Starnberg

9th February 1923^[1]

Dear Brother,

I have been here for the past few days at Princess Eulenburg’s about whom I have already told you. She knows you; her father was ambassador in Vienna in your time.^[2] She visited me in Munich and invited me to her beautiful Starnberg estate so that I should strengthen my nerves in the wonderful snow here! She has four lovely children who are charming to me, and I feel as though I belonged to the family here. I am so happy when I am surrounded by children. I can always listen to them as if they were a beloved sister, we understand each other so well. She has an angelic nature like my beloved Lügerl^[3] On Monday I am returning home in order to deal with my affairs in Munich again. They very much wish that I should go with them to Florence for two or three months where she has many good friends, as she lived there for the first ten years of her marriage. The four children and [illegible] are going with her. As I have problems with my throat and suffer from weak lungs, I am sure that Italy will be very good for me, as here it is very cold at present, and there is high snow – and my home is ice cold. She invited me to go with her to her house as her guest. In spirit I am still with you – and every little good deed directed towards me and every kind thought and your touching concern move me. I shall never forget the effect on both of us simultaneously of the melody of Schubert’s music … in “Drei Mäderl Haus”,^[4] and the wonderful concert with Beethoven’s Pastoral and the wonderful film with the Indians. How happy I was to have your recognition as I sang Schubert’s Lieder, and I was very pleased that your nice friends the Baldry’s^[5] joined in the singing. The Princess was also very sad that at the time I did not go [to train] in the Opera – and she meant that I would certainly have become a famous singer. I always felt the inclination for it and felt that I had the ability for it; it is a pity that I had to bury all this.

[part missing]

I have with me the beautiful travelling case and the sky blue hot water bottle, the warm high boots, the warm high gloves, the woolen jacket – shawl – God’s blessing on you for giving me these warm things, and the combinations – because I cannot remember ever having had as hard a winter as this one.

On the day that I travelled here I received a little parcel from you – a wonderful token of your love and your goodness towards me – it moved me to tears – as I unpacked at home after the journey – I found that I missed my toothbrush, my little Pebecco spoon and my black necklace – then behold, an Angel from London sent it after me – in multiplied form! It grew up in your blessed house – what a touching idea – two new white little brushes, four new toothpastes, and – I could hardly believe it – two new bottles – bottles of milk of magnesia – the bottle that the Lucy Angel gave me there and which I would not have trusted myself to take with me – she saw the bottle there, and sent me two new ones! Two people like you do not exist any more – in a house like that God’s blessing must be present for everything to succeed so wonderfully well! How I was looking everywhere here for the milk of magnesia, and I again suffered from heartburn, and [illegible] helped me to [illegible] this milk of magnesia. How happy I was over this parcel – Oh, today I could kiss both your hands for it! My only joy and consolation is London! I will yearn for a long, long time after everything I saw there – grateful thanks for this great attentiveness which you showed me with the recent parcel – I also greeted my black pearl necklace with joy.

My wonderful portrait [2817] is at Dury’s for framing, and the one of the boys is a feast for the eyes! A thousand, thousand thanks! How are you and the lovable, good boys, whom I have taken to my heart – the sweet little Jonny [sic]^[6] with his shiny eyes and his golden heart! I send my greetings and kisses to all of them, and I remain yours with the warmest and most grateful love,

Your Pauline

Heartfelt greetings please to dear Eva and her charming friend.

Editorial Note:

Paula Laub, later Frau Carl Valentin (1873-1924) [2817], the artist’s youngest sister, known as Pauline, was the fifth of the six surviving children of Adolf and Johanna Laub

Pd’O

08/12/2006