1888.05.21 English

Copenhagen, May 21, 1888[1]

My dearly beloved Emma. Mother and all of us thank you so very much for your last letter. It is quite extraordinary how your handwriting is so very similar to that of uncle Jørgen; one would imagine that kinship plays a role in this. Here we have been thrown from winter right into summer, without any kind of intervening spring. On May 15 we had only 5 R[2] and in addition a strong wind; even in my winter coat I was freezing. 3 days later we had tropical heat and 19 R[3] that in one single day brought out the green color in trees and shrubs. The heat abated somewhat yesterday, but I am still sitting in front of an open window writing this to my dear Emse. Add to the picture that I have a long pipe in my mouth; I have reverted to the pipe habit of my youth and feel happy with that. It was my good friend Feilberg, who by presenting me with a well seasoned pipe (lovely)for my last birthday managed to convert me from the cigar to the pipe. And then the great and almost international exhibition was opened. Since I am not exhibiting -  and being too insignificant to be graced with an invitation -  I didn’t participate in the opening ceremony. I would have enjoyed very much hearing the magnificent cantata. --- and yet – I take up considerable exhibition space in the exhibit area of Mr Lyngbye, the mechanic, with no less than seven copies of the writing ball (with my permission), showing its various stages of development. It is very well done, looks excellent.

In addition, Mr Berg, the scale maker, shows a copy of the kind of scales (centner???) on which I weigh some 20 children simultaneously[4]. Both places ???? my name.

And yes – I myself am exhibited in Engelstedt’s excellent painting of the L’Hombre four game, actually it is somewhat exaggerated to call it an ongoing game; we played only once during last year, and I don’t think we have ever managed more than four times a year.

The picture and the writing balls (…..?) make an exceedingly good appearance, according to Engelke and Zarah[5], they went to the exhibition on Whit Monday together with Cecilie; for a full 5 hours they trudged around, working with their eyes, were satiated and returned home dog-tired and with empty stomachs. Cecilie is, as I write, in full swing at one of the tombolas;the raffle tickets are selling like hot cakes; with her is a miss Treibov (?) an 18 year old daughter of  my friend, since long time departed, a head teacher Tr. from Schleswig Town. It is quite a nice coincidence that has given me a lot of pleasure. Mrs Treikov – who I havn’t seen for some 20 years – is presently ill and bedridden. The tombola work can otherwise be quite tedious. The two young lasses are exposed to being cheekily accosted, but it appears that Cecilie is mature enough to cope with such things with the necessary tranquility and coldness. At both tombola stalls yesterday the top prize was won, I believe it was a cash prize of 1000 kroner. Today mother[6] and I will pay a visit and then once again during the week with the three small ones. Who incidentally are growing big. Karen is taller than Juliane and Johanne is as tall as Juliane[7].

Karen has developed into a very hard-working pupil at her school; if she continues this way, I guess she will surpass both her sisters[8]. However, with the success and the happiness around it, also a bit of jealousy has been aroused: It is as if Goodness cannot thrive without Evil also trying to gain momentum, the same way as good seed and weed is thriving best in well-prepared fertile soil, - and hence one must, of course, weed and clean.I have been appointed member of the board for Sunday schools for apprentices and hope to be able to be of some use there. In connection with that, and also because of the usual yearly celebration in the Cathedral of Copenhagen, I dined at Court with their Majesties the other evening, I was placed between the two painters Bloch[9] and Otto Bache[10] and had an interesting conversation with both of them. These days we are carrying out the usual whitewashing of the institute. This summer we will have 7 weeks of holiday because of the comprehensive refurbishment of the institute. 11.000 kroner has been allocated for this purpose. You will see great changes upon your return. Yes, dear beloved child, I am still hoping that Vicar Nielsen will be appointed to a post in Denmark, we are longing so much for our dear Emse.Very soon you will have been away from us for a full year. You have probably grown physically and mentally. It is evident to me that dear mother and I have been graying quite considerably during the last year, but thank God we have enjoyed good health (?).There are fond greetings from your loving mother and your dear sisters and foster daughter Cecilie. Engelke[11] is doing exceeding well in her position. However, it was a great disappointment and sorrow that Juliane[12], after two years of hard work with Miss Tiedemann, didn’t reach the point where she could do the final examination. What to do now?Mother is busy in the garden with old Jens Pedersen. Other folks have joined in (?). I am still very happy with my work concerning weighing and measuring, and I am at present involved in a major effort of having weighing stations established all over the world.

Fondest greetings and kisses for my dear Emse

                Your deeply devoted father

                        R. Malling-Hansen