Correspondence, notes, expense lists, and invoices for objects obtained by Gen. Munthe and shipped to Gertrude Bass Warner in Eugene [020]
Item
Title
Correspondence, notes, expense lists, and invoices for objects obtained by Gen. Munthe and shipped to Gertrude Bass Warner in Eugene [020]
Author
Munthe, Johan Wilhelm Normann
Recipient
Warner, Gertrude Bass, 1863-1951
Date
1930-06-25
Identifier
UA022_b005_f006_075_078
Description
Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and General Normann Munthe
Transcript:
Peking, 25 June 1930.
My dear, good Friend,
Thank you ever so much for your welcome, long-looked-for letters (3) written and sent during May. How I wish I could talk contents over with you instead of having to do so in writing! First of all, I feel very very sorry to hear you had had a claim of pneumonia [][][], I know what it means and I can only say: is it not believed to know that God has all pains and that it is always there, willing and ready help us? I rejoice to think that you had a quick and successful healing. I can honestly say that I am not self-righteous or think of myself as more or better than what I ought to, nor that I do not feel that God rewards me far beyond my deserts, but my dear Friend, at times, when I look around and see so many who do not try at all to please Him, being healthy and prosperous, I cannot see how it works out that both you and myself, who, without flattering ourselves unduly, surely can say that we try to please Him, how these [] from time to time. Is it, I wonder that we are paying up for our sins in former existences? I can find no other explanation.
I make what you say about your mother; yes, dear Friend, it is is very, very hard to be found fault with, when one tries one’s best to please, but bear in mind that she is nearly blind, as you as you say, and also bear in mind that we are never sorry for having been too kind and confiding, even if we are taken in from time to time. It is better to be too kind than the reverse. God is Love, and we must try to reflect it as much as we can, and I know no person who is keener alone to kindness than what you are, nor do I know of anyone, who shows in her acts that she is kind and thoughtful than what you do. I take my hat off for you and consider your friendship a gift from God—all sunshine and now shadows./
I note all you try about [] packing: I saw him pack your things in my dining-room, and we both fail to understand how the things got broken; probably the cotton, as you saw, was not suitable and became too hard, and lost its elasticity. He must use excelsior in the future. I am so sorry so many things were broken, and shall try to make up for your losses, when I send again. [] to me the egg-shell that was broken, I do not remember it. I have noted one aubergine, and the Poug-de-boeuf [?] broken.
Glad you liked the bell, I got it very cheap, and my good luck, it it had been pawned. I got your Mex 1741 for the crystal, it had alas been pawned for $1700 and it will come to about $1600, [] of customs and freight, it is the most beautiful you have seen, as you will realize when you get it. There is [] in the Customs at present, but it will be sent you as soon as permitted. I expect within a fortnight. I hear, and [][]this one, as regards quality was sold in Tientsin to a Chinese for $5.000. As you will have seen from the papers perhaps the Mexican dollar has gone down from one gold dollar=2.20 to 3.80 these last 6 months. Lots of people have come here to buy things while the Mex is down, but the customs is collecting on a gold basis, and I am afraid all will have to come to that.
I note all you say about coming to America; I cannot come till I get my second installment, and that will probably not be till next January to judge from this year’s experience. I have offered to make them a [] present value on G $200.000 if they will settle with me this year—the 2 installments in out, and Mr. Furman in trying for this!
I shall, when do come, let you know, and probably see you before I do anything else.
What a blessed, peaceful time we had, we 3, when you were here—is it excluded that you come out this way again! Before I come home! You know, you are much more a frequent of your movements than what I am. I am longing to see you again, and once in America, wecan see and discuss all under God’s Gods guidance, what is best to do.
I have had a very trying and tiring time, and it has taken longer than usual for me, this year, to feel any improvement. This last week, I seem to feel more in touch with God, as it were, and it is a feeling that both makes me feel happier and btetter from every point of view. Yes, the wife has taken one of the pavilions in the Summer Palace, and she and Godfrey live there. They go out Monday morning and come back Saturday morning, passing Saturday and Sunday in town so as to go to the cinema and attend other social functions. I have not been out there, but I hear it is very fine.
And now, my dear Friend, here I am sitting all alone in my garden. It is just 8 o’clock and the darkness is already dawn. All loving and true thoughts and wishes to you and to Mrs. Perkins; and again—whisper it not in Gath—some extra ones for yourself.
Ever your friend,
Normann Munthe
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
Transcript:
Peking, 25 June 1930.
My dear, good Friend,
Thank you ever so much for your welcome, long-looked-for letters (3) written and sent during May. How I wish I could talk contents over with you instead of having to do so in writing! First of all, I feel very very sorry to hear you had had a claim of pneumonia [][][], I know what it means and I can only say: is it not believed to know that God has all pains and that it is always there, willing and ready help us? I rejoice to think that you had a quick and successful healing. I can honestly say that I am not self-righteous or think of myself as more or better than what I ought to, nor that I do not feel that God rewards me far beyond my deserts, but my dear Friend, at times, when I look around and see so many who do not try at all to please Him, being healthy and prosperous, I cannot see how it works out that both you and myself, who, without flattering ourselves unduly, surely can say that we try to please Him, how these [] from time to time. Is it, I wonder that we are paying up for our sins in former existences? I can find no other explanation.
I make what you say about your mother; yes, dear Friend, it is is very, very hard to be found fault with, when one tries one’s best to please, but bear in mind that she is nearly blind, as you as you say, and also bear in mind that we are never sorry for having been too kind and confiding, even if we are taken in from time to time. It is better to be too kind than the reverse. God is Love, and we must try to reflect it as much as we can, and I know no person who is keener alone to kindness than what you are, nor do I know of anyone, who shows in her acts that she is kind and thoughtful than what you do. I take my hat off for you and consider your friendship a gift from God—all sunshine and now shadows./
I note all you try about [] packing: I saw him pack your things in my dining-room, and we both fail to understand how the things got broken; probably the cotton, as you saw, was not suitable and became too hard, and lost its elasticity. He must use excelsior in the future. I am so sorry so many things were broken, and shall try to make up for your losses, when I send again. [] to me the egg-shell that was broken, I do not remember it. I have noted one aubergine, and the Poug-de-boeuf [?] broken.
Glad you liked the bell, I got it very cheap, and my good luck, it it had been pawned. I got your Mex 1741 for the crystal, it had alas been pawned for $1700 and it will come to about $1600, [] of customs and freight, it is the most beautiful you have seen, as you will realize when you get it. There is [] in the Customs at present, but it will be sent you as soon as permitted. I expect within a fortnight. I hear, and [][]this one, as regards quality was sold in Tientsin to a Chinese for $5.000. As you will have seen from the papers perhaps the Mexican dollar has gone down from one gold dollar=2.20 to 3.80 these last 6 months. Lots of people have come here to buy things while the Mex is down, but the customs is collecting on a gold basis, and I am afraid all will have to come to that.
I note all you say about coming to America; I cannot come till I get my second installment, and that will probably not be till next January to judge from this year’s experience. I have offered to make them a [] present value on G $200.000 if they will settle with me this year—the 2 installments in out, and Mr. Furman in trying for this!
I shall, when do come, let you know, and probably see you before I do anything else.
What a blessed, peaceful time we had, we 3, when you were here—is it excluded that you come out this way again! Before I come home! You know, you are much more a frequent of your movements than what I am. I am longing to see you again, and once in America, wecan see and discuss all under God’s Gods guidance, what is best to do.
I have had a very trying and tiring time, and it has taken longer than usual for me, this year, to feel any improvement. This last week, I seem to feel more in touch with God, as it were, and it is a feeling that both makes me feel happier and btetter from every point of view. Yes, the wife has taken one of the pavilions in the Summer Palace, and she and Godfrey live there. They go out Monday morning and come back Saturday morning, passing Saturday and Sunday in town so as to go to the cinema and attend other social functions. I have not been out there, but I hear it is very fine.
And now, my dear Friend, here I am sitting all alone in my garden. It is just 8 o’clock and the darkness is already dawn. All loving and true thoughts and wishes to you and to Mrs. Perkins; and again—whisper it not in Gath—some extra ones for yourself.
Ever your friend,
Normann Munthe
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
Source
Gertrude Bass Warner Papers, 1879-1954
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
Institution
University of Oregon
Type
Text
Format
application/pdf
Rights
Rights Reserved - Free Access
Rights Holder
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives