Migration, Memory & Memorial

1908 Paris & London

Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to the British Newspaper Archive.

FRIDAY MAY 29, 1908

THE SCATTERED JEWS.

It is estimated that there are 11,059,987 Jews in the world. Europe claims more than any other section of the globe, seeing that out of the gross total over eight and three-quarter millions reside on the Continent. America comes next with a million and a half, and Asia, curiously enough, nearly last with only 377,400. In London the Jews are estimated at 142,000, eight times as many as in the whole of Australasia. Russia shelters five millions.

WEDNESDAY december 23, 1908

AEROPLANE RECORDS.

Mr. Wilbur Wright at Paris on Friday established a fresh world’s record with his aeroplane. Ascending from the Camp d’Anvours, near Les Mans, he remained in the air one hour fifty-three minutes fifty-nine seconds. The officials of the Aero Club who watched the flight credited him with ninety-nine kilometres (nearly sixty-one and a half miles), but the actual distance flown is about 121 kilometres (seventy-fire miles). In a second flight of ten minutes he rose to a height of 100 metres (about 328 ft.). thus winning the “Prix de Hauteur” offered by the Aero Club. The previous aeroplane records, held by Mr. Wilbur Wright. were in respect of time in the air hour 31 minutes 25 seconds, and in respect of height 292½ 1 feet

MONDAY DECEMBER 28, 1908

FINLAND EXPELS JEWS.

Thirty Families, Some Residents for Long Period, Ordered to Emigrate.

HELSINGFORS, Finland, Dec. 27 – One of the periodic expulsions of Hebrews is now going on in Finland. 30 families of this denomination, some of whom have resided in this country for a considerable period, have been ordered to emigrate at once. The Senate, on the basis of a narrow interpretation of the law, maintains the right to issue individual licenses entitling residents in Finland for six months, these being renewable only at the Senate’s discretion.

According to the finish statutes, Hebrews are forbidden to acquire and hold property, are denied the right of citizenship, and are permitted to reside in Finland only under close restrictions. An exception was made in the year 1850 in favour of 200 families. The late Diet declined to consider a proposition abolishing Jewish disabilities.

A bill has been introduced in the present Legislature at the initiative of Finnish societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals. This bill contains a clause forbidding the Hebrew method of slaughtering animals for kosher meat. Russian Hebrews are using their influence to defeat this measure in the fear that similar action might be taken in Russia.

Correspondence

8th June 1908, London

To Dora from Annie L. Written in English.

My dearest aunt,

You must excuse me not replying before but I have been away for a few weeks to the sea side at Hastings. So shall not be able to come to Paris this year. I thank you for wishing to give me great pleasure. I am very sorry I cannot come. Now dear Aunt let us know when you are coming to London. We shall be very pleased to see you and the children. My dear aunt, how are you getting on in health, also Abraham and the children? Has Abraham got work? Mother is a little better in her health, also Golda and I are quite well. We all kiss you from far and send our fondest love to all. If you have any news from home write and let mother know.

Your dear and loving niece,
Annie

Thank Bernard for Pcard, I have not got his address to reply. Best regards to him.

10th August 1908, Calais

To Dora and Abraham from Suzanne F.

I embrace you both. Suzanne

On 15th August 1908 Dora left Abraham to be with Bernard F. She took seven year old Elise with her but left ten year old Jacques with Abraham.

Elise and Dora circa 1908

Undated notes

Written by Dora for Abraham and Jacques. Written in French and Yiddish.

Abraham, It is better for us all that I’m gone. I wish you happiness and look after Jacques. It’s not his fault. Dora

My dear child, I am leaving you and I kiss you. Don’t cry over your mother. Dora

August 1908, London

To Abraham signed by Annie G. but dictated by her father, Davis G. also known as David. Written in English.

3 Blenhiem Cres.
Bayswater,
W.

My dear brother in law,

We received your letter today and we were all very upset at your news. As soon as I received your letter I went to your sister in law at once and I asked her whether Dora was there. She said she was not. According to her speech I thought that she knows something about her. I asked her twice but she said that we should not give time to such a man. She said that you should sell all your things and come here with Jacky. She said she is not here or in America. She is in Paris in a country and when you will come here Dora will come here too and you will both live together as before. She told us we should be quiet and not tell anybody. My dear brother in law, I am going to tell you about me. I would like to help you but I am not working a month, and did not earn a farthing. Please write an answer at once all about you and why Dora left you.

Best regards from your sister, brother in law and your mother,

From your niece

Annie G.

P.S. Mother was crying very much and said you should answer at once.

P.S. Thank Bernard for the postcard. I have not got his address to reply. Best regards to him.

On 22nd August 1908, Dora and Elise and Bernard F., all using Bernard's second name sailed on the SS Chicago, from le Havre, France to New York.

23rd August 1908

To Abraham from Annie G. Written in English.

47 Rothschild Bldgs.
Commercial Street,
London, E

Dear Uncle Abraham,

I feel very sorry for you and cannot find words enough to express how very much I feel for you in the great trouble you have. Dear Abraham, I was greatly upset when I read the contents of Davis letter I only hope I could help you in some way. I would never have thought it of Dora, to have left (you & Jack). She loved you both so dearly. I am sure she was not in her senses when she did it. I can hardly believe it to be the truth, but she must have been tempted greatly to have lowered herself to have done such a thing, otherwise she would never have done it of her own free will. Dear Abraham I think she will come back to you, because I know her heart is only for you and her children. She will ask you to forgive her for her wrongs. Write & let me know how you lived with Dora, did you have a row with her? Did you not notice anything wrong, during the time Bernard came into your house? You were always at home, & had a good chance to see everything was right. Dear Abraham, excuse me writing this but I must tell you that you are a little to blame to have allowed that cad and scamp to come into your house. You can read in his eyes what a villain he is and I think he could turn anybody to do wrong. Surely you have not known that man a day. To have been so blind in him. Were you on friendly terms with him? How did it all come about? Dear Abraham, I will do my utmost to find her, and as soon as I get any news I will write to you. I hope you will let me know if you hear from her. I advice you not to worry yourself because it will not help you in any way. Try and make the best of it. You will make yourself ill if you worry. I hope Jacky has giving over weeping. Cannot you tell him some excuse to stop him from crying. I think he must be a big boy now and ought not to give you so much trouble. Dear Abraham. I suppose you will come to London? I really have no news to write you, again and again I must write and tell you how sorry I am for you. Cheer up.

Write at once and let me know all the news. With best regards & good wishes to you and Jack

Yours sincerely,

Annie

P.S. Davis is writing you a letter.

1908, London

To Abraham from Davis G. and Abraham’s mother . Written in English.

63 Ledbury Road,
Bayswater, W

Dear Brother in law

I received your letter, and we are all very sorry. You made us all cry at your news, and I went immediately to Dora’s sister, and we looked all about us, and we can’t find her and they told me that she is not in London. You should not trouble very if she is gone. She is gone to America. If I was you I would be pleased that such a dishonest woman ran away from you, do not care about her, better take care of yourself, and your Jacky. I do not think she will ever send a letter to you as she knows what an untruthful trick she did to you. Try to forget about her. I made Mrs. J. write a letter to you and she wrote the same as l did. My Dear Brother in law now tell us all about what you are going to do, and whether you are going to sell your things.

Do not wait for Dora’s letter because she would not even think of sending you a letter. She has not been in London at all and even if she has passed by she was not by her sister. Please send me a letter at once as we have not any patience to wait two or three days longer. Your sister and your mother want to know answer at once. Please send answer at once and say what you are going to do. Best regards from our mother and from your niece.

Davis G. and from all.

Jacky sends separate regards.

My dear son, tell me why Dora ran away from you, I think that you are a little crippled. Is that the reason she ran away from you and whether you are in good health. Your nephew is going to leave Odessa Sunday and is going straight to London. Simmy and her husband are alright and he has work. She is expected to be confined Succus.

I was speaking to Annie L. and she told me that when he was here four years ago, Bernard told her that he had enjoyed himself very much with Dora day and night. If you did not give her a chance to speak to Bernard she would not make any business with him. Please give answer the same day. Annie L. and her mother told me that if Dora went away like this you will never get letter from her, you should not try to wait for any. Best regards from Simmy and her husband.

Dear Jackey do not be sorry that your mother went away. When you will come to London we will look after to you the same as your mother and better.

Best regards from your brother in law, sister and your mother and from your niece

Annie G. and from all.

25th August 1908, Paris

To Annie L. from Abraham. Written in English.

Dear Ms Anny,

I thought you will never write to me again but it seems you are a kind hearted girl, you have pity with me. I thank you very much. I have read your letter and have heard your questions to answer of you to all this that you could understand who is guilty I have to write pages and pages but I can’t do it now it makes me suffer much. I can only tell you and swear you by my most sacred things that always always I have don for her that the best husband in the world would not have done for his wife. She did not merit it I am sure but I could not help it. I have noticed her affection for Mr. Bernard already five years ago the first month he put his feet in our house. Directly I took notice of it and I have told her that she does not behave herself nicely.

It came once so fare that I wanted to put her out of the room. But soon I forgave her, thinking surely I have got a mistake. I could not believe that she has got any relations with him. Since that time he used always to come in our place nearly everyday or nighte. You will ask me why did not I chuck im out from our place. I must answer you I could not. He is not a man which is ashamed of anything and I am not a man which can use violence. Many times he used to come as he was cross with any thing but she brought im in again. I used to speak to her and to advise her not like a husband to his wife but as a father to his child. I told her Dora if you have not have yet any relations with him be careful you will have it sometimes. Don’t you let him go in do you go to him neither you will see in what trouble he will put you sometimes. She used to laugh at me and said don’t you trouble yourself about it. I am clever enough to understand it. He will put me in no trouble I know him very well. He is not a man that I could believe any thing. As we have no friends I am very glad he comes in our place we pass a couple of ours in talking. I thought the same therefore I said nothing. I could not have been jalouse over it. Very often they used to quarelle with each other when they used to speak about a thing. She used to tell him words very common. She used to call him “fool” or “swindler” that he is a man what tries only for himself it does not matter to him when the other will suffer or die even if only it will bring im in something. Many times I had to take his part (after that all how could I thing wrong about her.) And he used to call her ‘hurtful” “evil” that she is like her sister. She wants only money for nothing. Nights and nights passed away in quarrelling about your mother. That when he was in London she robed hime the money and that he has got good luck that he left you otherwise he would loose much money. After that all how could I thing wrong about her. On the contrary I thought rather that they hate each other. I know many cases that she has don great harm to Mr. Bernard, he does not know it, I used to quarell about it with her. Therefore I let him go in. I allowed her to go with him to the téater because we could not go together we could not let the children be themselves in the house. She went out for walk with him many times. I could not go because I was working and she did not work. Why shouldn’t she go have a walk when she is got nothing to do. I did not see any harm in it. I could not hinder her to have the pleasure in going out for walk or to the théater. This is perhaps the reason that she says I gave her a chance. If I would not give her a chance she would have no buseiness with him. No No you may believe me if I could think that I would never allowed her to go with him. Of course you are a girl I can’t speak with you in that way more frankly, but yet I must put her that question did I give her a chance the first time also when she went with him it is already five years then I did not believe now I am sure of it. No No she did not ask me and I did not ask her to become his wife. She has don it secretly the pirest of the women would not have done like this. I have never thought that she is with him in such a way and I did not think it till the day she went away.

Now I will tell you how she went away, what an unjust thing she had done and you will juge wether I have given her a chance for that too. The whole summer long she bothered me to go to London. I have had no money for that. But as I could not hinder her to do any thing, I have promised her the first money I will have she will go to London. She has prepaired her self many things like to a wedding. Nice shirt all new trousers, skirts and other things (I was very glad) also many things for my little Liza I was very glad I thought it was for ourselves. How it makes me suffer when I think of it. If I would know it will be for another one I would have burnd it. The last day before she went away she stol away a cover for 40 francs, two great pillows and many other things besides she took in a chop shoes for herself and for Liza for 50 francs which I will have to pay every week a little. I am getting mad when I think about it. I who has worked the hole life for her and nothing for myself. I who has never compeled her to do any thing she would not like to do. She paid me in such a way. On Saturday I gave her money about two o’ clock in the afternoon that she should go on the station to put her luggage in and take a ticket. She went away with Liza. She told me she will come back soon but never came back.

In the evening I received from her a postal card in which she told me that she left me. She whished me good luck. This is my recompense for 12 years struggling for her for 12 years of making all kinds of sacrifice for her. She did not give me a chance even to kiss my little Liza before she went away. It is me who brought her up it is me who used to give her to eat when she came from school it was me how used to carry her on my shoulders when she was little. Now she took her away like a gypsi woman. How I am longing to see her she became already a nice girl, No No I can’t believe even now that she has acted in such a maner. When I received the few words in which she tells me that she leaves me I have read it about 20 times I could not believe it. I thought it was a dream.

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