1874.11.12 English

Letter from Rasmus Malling Hansen to his brother Jörgen, dated November 12, 1874

 

 

 

 

                                                                       COPENHAGEN NOVEMBER 12, 1874

 

 

 

                        MY DEAR BROTHER JÖRGEN

 

 

YOUR CONCLUSION IS QUITE CORRECT, IT IS MY OLD FRIEND JACOBSEN, WHO FIRST  BECAME A VICAR AND AFTER THAT WAS BETROTHED TO OUR SISTER-IN-LAW ELISABETH; THE LATTER EVENT WAS RATHER A SURPRISE TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY BUT A HAPPY ONE. HE DOES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AS MANY AS 3 CHURCHES, BUT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO PREACH IN 2 OF THEM ON THE SAME DAY. HIS INCOME IS QUITE CONSIDERABLE, REACHING 2278 RD[1] PER YEAR DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS; ALL THE BUILDINGS ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL AND NEW; THE ESTATE INCLUDES MORE THAN 136 ACRES OF EXCELLENT LAND, BUT AS YET POORLY CULTIVATED. JACOBSEN DESCRIBES THE AREA AS ENCHANTINGLY BEAUTIFUL WITH MANY AND VAST VIEWPOINTS. JACOBSEN AS WELL AS HIS FIANCÉE HAVE BECOME REMARKABLY YOUTHFULL LATELY. I SHALL CONVEY YOUR KIND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE YOUNG COUPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

 

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LOVELY LETTERS FROM ALL OF YOU, IN PARTICULAR MY SWEET CÄTHE SENDS HER THANK YOU TO DEAR MOTHER FOR THE LETTER AND FOR THE CONGRATULATIONS FROM HER AND ALL OF YOU. ALL OF OUR DAUGHTERS ARE IN EXCELLENT HEALTH, MY DEAR CÄTHE’S STATE OF HEALTH REMAINS AS IT WAS WHEN WE WERE IN LÅLAND[2], BUT AT LEAST NOT DETERIORATING; SHE HOPES TO BE ABLE VERY SOON TO SEND A COUPLE OF LINES TO DEAR MOTHER.

 

 

HAVE YOU MET OUR DEAR COUNTESS KNUTH, OR HAVE YOU MAYBE WRITTEN TO HER ON ACCOUNT OF HER BEREAVEMENT? I UNDERSTAND SHE IS IN TOWN AT THE MOMENT, AND I INTEND TO PAY HER MY REGARDS SHORTLY. WHEN YOU ARE CONVENIENT, PLEASE DO TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE COUNT’S[3] FUNERAL AND ABOUT THE NEW COUNT.

 

 

YOU WILL REMEMBER MY LATEST IDEAS CONCERNING THE WRITING BALL, NOW DRAWN UP ON PAPER AND IN THE COURSE OF BEING CARRIED OUT. MY MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN IS VERY KEENLY INTERESTED IN THIS NEW MACHINE; HE HAS PROMISED THAT THE FIRST SPECIMEN WILL BE READY BY THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH – I AM CONVINCED OF HAVING ACHIEVED MY GOAL: A HANDY, FUNCTIONING AND CHEAP MACHINE FOR HIGH-SPEED TYPEWRITING. I TRUST THAT NOW, FINALLY, IT WILL HAVE A VIABLE FUTURE.

 

 

OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE “GARDEN CREATURES[4]” WHICH WOULD BE MOST WELCOME. LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL THREE OF YOU FROM ALL OF US.

 

 

YOUR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER, R. MALLING HANSEN.

 

 

LET ME ADD TO THE LETTER THE REQUEST THAT YOU MIGHT PROVIDE ME IN YOUR NEXT LETTER WITH A DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SALARY SUPPLEMENT FROM THE PARISH, ABOUT THE MODE OF PAYMENT ETC. I HAVE A GOOD MIND TO USE SUCH INFORMATION, BUT EVIDENTLY NOT FOR ANY NEGATIVE PURPOSE, DEAR BROTHER.

 

 

 

 

[1] The monetary unit at that time was denominated “rigsdaler” (from 1854). The Scandinavian currency reform in 1873 established the value of one rigsdaler as equal to two kroner.

[2] RMH is referring to the island of Lolland, where he and the brother’s were born and raised, and where the mother and one or two of the brothers are still living

[3] The count who financed Rasmus Malling-Hansens education died a few years after doing that. The count who has died now, is then his son. Both of  them died very young- under 40 I thing. Sverre Avnskov, vicepresicent of our Socieyt, has the complete list of all the counts of Knuthenborg up to the present count.

[4] The brother has sent them a package with fruits and vegetables from his garden

Malling-Hansen's sister-in-law, Elisabeth Heiberg, who worked at the Institute for many years. Photo: Døvehisorisk Selskab
Elisabeth's husband, Nicolai Jacobsen, who RMH calls "my old friend". Unfortunately we don't have any information about him. Photo from the book, "Heiberg familien" published by Gjert Heiberg
Countess Karen Knuth, born Rothe, 1815-1877, the wife of the count (Frederik Marcus Knuth) that supported Malling-Hansen financially so he could finish his education
It was the older one of the countess' sons, Eggert Knuth, 1838-1874, who had passed away. He died without leaving behind him wife or children. The painting which is from 1869, is owned by the former count, Adam Knuth
The younger brother, Adam Knuth, 1854-1888, became the new count. As so meny of the counts, he did not become very old. The picture is photographed in the home of the former count. Photo: Dieter Eberwein
Photo from the 1880's showing the count Adam Knuth together with his wife and children