Correspondence, notes, expense lists, and invoices for objects obtained by Gen. Munthe and shipped to Gertrude Bass Warner in Eugene [039]

Item

Title

Correspondence, notes, expense lists, and invoices for objects obtained by Gen. Munthe and shipped to Gertrude Bass Warner in Eugene [039]

Author

Munthe, Johan Wilhelm Normann

Recipient

Warner, Gertrude Bass, 1863-1951

Date

1933-05-10

Identifier

UA022_b005_f006_149_152

Description

Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and General Normann Munthe

Transcript:
Peking, 10 May, 1933.

My dear, good Friend,

Yesterday I went to the Bank to receive the money that you so kindly had sent me. I sent you a telegram, in order to thank you and to show you that I fully understand the situation, and deeply appreciate your willingness and readiness to help me. I again sincerely thank you.

As I explained to you in my letter, the situation is a peculiar one. I have plenty of valuable assets, but it is impossible to turn them into ready cash at present or in the immediate future, as there are no buyers—all are sellers. The Government owes me plenty, admits it, promises to pay and then simply declares it has no money. I had tried before I wrote to you to get them to pay me at least enough to live upon, month for month, but they could not manage it. All the money they can lay their hands on goes to and for the war. The Banks (foreign) will only advance limited loans on property, and as foreigners, outside of missionary bodies, cannot boy or hold property in Peking, the Banks cannot legally hold or loan anything on Chinese title-deeds/ As you can readily imagine, it has not bee, is not a pleasant position in which I find myself placed., and added to my other worries, I should like to look [] cheerfully upon the immediate future than what I do. On the other hand, I do not wish you to think for a moment that I feel demoralized or do not thank for all His Goodness to me, for I do. I know, that come what may, He will, in the future, as in the past, find a way out for me, however dark the outlook my appear to human senses. But you know how it is, and [] morbid, human self, likes to look ahead a little, and to feel that there is enough for daily needs. I am so glad for Chri. Sc. and for the blessed understanding of God, that it has brought into my life. But for this knowledge, where should I have been by this time? We are all so apt to feel worried at times, instead of contenting and friendship, and go over our past life with its many experiences, and then see and realize how God time and again, all the time, has kept His hand over us. When I think of all that He has done for me, and how little, if anything, that I have done in return for His Goodness, then I feel ashamed, and I can only say: God be merciful to me, a sinner!

This winter I passed 2 months in my bedroom, but this last week, I have been able to go down in the Garden, and to-day I went to the office; yesterday was the first day outside my gate when I went to the Bank.

I am so grateful for your friendship, I feel I can speak to you as to nobody else. I always feel you are such a fine, loyal friend. All kind and true thoughts and wishes to you, my good friend,

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

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