13 January 1921

Page 5, "From South America"

San Antonio, Argentina 
7 December 1920

Much Esteemed Editor Lorenz:

In Die Welt-Post of May 13 of this year, I saw that you were once again at the helm of Die Welt-Post. Last year I had the privilege to win over three new subscribers for Die Welt-Post. I must complain to you however, about the fact that the wrappers on the paper were too short and weak and the newspapers arrived here in poor condition; can that not be improved? (It will certainly be better from now on---Editor) Other newspapers come here from North America but I am always reminded of home by yours because I know that its editor is one of us. Because you are a countryman from the Volga colonies I believe you will endeavor to bring us more news from the old homeland. My name you will probably recall from the time you were editor of the Dakota Freie Presse. I come from Huck, which is about 12 versts distant from your Mother Colony Messer.

There is a man living here from your Mother Colony by the name of Meisinger. Before coming to Argentina, he lived with his father in Saratov. I hope that later he will also become a reader of your newspaper because he is always curious to know things from it. As far as I know, his father still lives in Saratov. (If friend Meisinger is a son of Heinrich Peter Meisinger, who lived in Saratov, then we are close relatives; the mother of Heinrich Peter and my father were siblings and were very close. When my brother Johannes was visiting Russia 18 years ago, Heinrich Peter traveled with him on the Volga to Schilling and then overland to Messer. My best greetings to friend Meisinger and you should immediately arrange for him to order Die Welt-Post, and also tell him that it is my plan to travel to Russia as soon as possible---Editor)

I remain hopeful that one will be able to safely receive news from the Volga colonies by way of Die Welt-Post, as well as other newspapers. We hope that Russia will soon begin Postal Service with America so that one can receive and read more information from the old homeland, because above all else, the people want to know how things are going and how they stand in the villages.

In the hope of hearing from you soon, I affectionately greet you, 
          your countryman, 
               G. Geier, Teacher

Sources

This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.