1874.01.30 English

Letter from Rasmus Malling Hansen to his brother[1]

 

 

 

                                                           C O P E N H A G E N  JANUARY 30, 1874

 

 

 

 

                                   MY DEAR BROTHER!

 

 

 

FIRST OF ALL,  OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO DEAR SWEET MOTHER FROM MY DEAR CÄTHE AND FROM ME – FOR HER LOVING LETTER. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH ALSO TO YOU AND DEAR BROTHER JOHN FOR YOUR MOST WELCOME DOUBLE LETTER, HOPING THAT THE TWO OF YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE. WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT THE THREE OF YOU APPRECIATED OUR LITTLE CHRISTMAS PARCEL. THE PROGRESS CONCERNING THE RAILWAY OVER THERE IS VERY GOOD NEWS; BUT WHETHER WE FROM OUR END WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF UTILISING IT THIS SUMMER IS STILL RATHER DOUBTFUL.

 

 

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF WE CAN REALISE THE SALE OF MY PATENTS TO A PLANNED COMPANY, THAT SEEMINGLY HAS BEEN HATCHING LATELY, INCUBATED BY THE ABLE MR HOLTEN IN LONDON.

 

 

- THANKS GOD WE ARE ARE WELL; IMAGINE: CÄTHE AND I HAVE BEEN TO THE THEATRE TOGETHER, SHORTLY AFTER THAT TO AN EVENING PARTY, AND PRESENTLY WE WILL VISIT ETATSRAADINDE[2]  VOGT, WHO HAS INVITED US FOR DINNER.

 

 

ALL LOCAL FAMILY MEMBERS WERE GATHERED HERE YESTERDAY TO CELEBRATE OUR LITTLE ENGELKE’S BIRTHDAY, AND I HAVE FONDEST GREETINGS FROM ALL OF THEM TO THE THREE OF YOU.

 

 

BROTHER JOHN IS ASKING WHETHER KELLER’S TRAINING COURSE FOR STAMMERS AND STUTTERS WILL BE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR TRAINING; INDEED NO, WE COOPERATE BEAUTIFULLY. AND BESIDES, I HAVE DELEGATED THE ENTIRE FIELD OF STAMMERING AND STUTTERING TO OUR TEACHERS UNDER SUPERVISION OF MR SÖRENSEN AND MYSELF; WE BENEFIT A LOT FROM THIS ARRANGEMENT, AND THEY HAVE GENERATED  MUCH INCOME.

 

 

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE INVENTIONS ARE PROGRESSING EXTREMELY WELL; THEY ARE BEING PUT TO GOOD USE IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES, AND SEVERAL MACHINES ARE AT THIS MOMENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION, HOWEVER FINANCIAL RETURNS WILL ONLY BE GENERATED IN THE EVENT OF CONSIDERABLE SALES OF PATENTS.

 

 

KINDEST REGARDS FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU DEAR PEOPLE, YOUR DEEPLY  D E V O T E D  BROTHER R. MALLING HANSEN.

 

 

[1] This letter is (once more) for his brother Jørgen – and yet the letter is also for his mother – indicating that she is staying with him or very close by – possibly still at the childhood home in Hunseby on the island of Lolland. But he is also thanking for the letter from the other brother, John – christened Johan Frederik – who consequently must be staying either with his brother Jørgen or – both of them? – with their mother in the childhood home.

Sverre adds the following: Both brothers started their career as teachers at the school of Skelstrup, close to Maribo, and it is likely that they stayed in a teacher’s house adjacent. Johan Frederik was married in 1878 and in quick succession had two children. Jørgen did not marry until 1886. I believe hte mother and Jørgen shared household until her death in 1885.

 

[2] RMH is using an obsolete title which literally means “the wife of the Head of Department”, in other words someone rather high on the social ladder