Letter from RMH to brother Jørgen on ready printed writing paper
In the upper left corner: A drawing of the Writing Ball
At the center:
R. MALLING HANSEN’s
WRITING BALL
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
COPENHAGEN 2ND OF JANUARY 1877
MY DEAR BROTHER J Ö R G E N ! THIS IS NOW THE LATEST WRITING BALL WRITING, TYPED BY THE REVISED WRITING BALL, WHICH AMONG OTHER FEATURES DOESN’T NEED CARBON PAPER, AND INSTEAD USES A RIBBON. LAST SUNDAY WE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED YOUR CHRISTMAS BOX. OUR WARMEST AND MOST HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU “BOTH THREE OF YOU”, YOU DEAR PEOPLE[1] [2]. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN US UNPACKING THE BOX, ALL THE TODDLERS AROUND THE BOX AND THE FATHER UNRAVELLING EVERYTHING WITH SUITABLE PROTRACTED SLOWNESS TO MAKE IT THE MORE EXCITING. THERE WAS GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND REJOICE OVER THE DOLLS, THE CLOCK, THE HANDBAGS AND NOT THE LEAST OVER DEAR SWEET MOTHER’S WORK, THE LOVELY STOCKINGS. LITTLE MARIE WAS STRUTTING AROUND, DOLL IN ONE ARM AND HER STOCKINGS IN THE OTHER, YELLING: “LOOK, DUK, LOOK TÖM”![3]
WE HAVE STARTED READING ALOUD IN THE EVENINGS FROM THE BIG BOOK YOU SENT ME. OUR MOST SINCERE THANKS, YOU DEAR PEOPLE. I HAVE ALSO RECEIVED YOUR TELEGRAM AND YOUR LETTER; I HOPE THAT BY NOW, DEAR BROTHER, YOU HAVE ALSO RECEIVED MY LETTER AND THE BOX.
WARMEST GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FROM YOUR DEEPLY DEVOTED BROTHER
R. MALLING HANSEN
(at the bottom of the letter are two inverted lines – they seem to be parts of a completely different letter:)NOTHING TO THANK FOR IN REGARDS TO THE POSTING, I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU WON THE COMPETITION
[1] JMC: This is an odd expression, used in a number of RMH’s letters. It might be something funny that one of the children has once said, and subsequently it has become part of the family tradition to use this expression
[2] CB: Still in 1877 – when RMH is 42 years old and the brothers are 40 and 38, as far as we know, - he writes to the brothers and the mother in the same letter. This shows that they are still living together – or at least very close by each other – on the island of Lolland. SA: Both brothers are teachers at the Skelstrup School outside Maribo and most probably have a residence at the school, such as was customary at the time. However, the youngest, Johan Fredrik, is to marry soon and have children. After that, the mother remains with Jørgen who doesn’t marry until after the mother’s death in 1885.
[3]JMC: Baby language for “dukke” (doll) and “strømper” (stockings)
