Cooper, Ethel – May 1915

1.5.15
My dear Emmie,

… We had another excitement this week – I was a little outside the town and we met … Herr Emil Pinks… He was very amicable for a while, but later realised that I was English, and became simply insulting. Finally when he said that the English were a ‘Hundsgemeine Schweinbande’, I rose and said that it must be clear to him that my opinion was in every respect opposed to his… Herr Pinks came back to Leipzig and reported me to the police as being outside the town, and being also ‘inimically disposed’ to Germany. Fortunately two Germans were there who could witness that the entire aggression was on his side, and the matter has blown over with a warning against being outside the town again…

Housekeeping is getting difficult. Fortunately I spent a couple of pounds, some time ago, on macaroni, dried peas and beans, tea and cocoa – but the other things are only allowed to be sold in small quantities, and bread, flour and potatoes are very strictly controlled.

… I see that this is my 40th letter that is waiting for you on the writing table! It is just as well that we did not know how long things could go on in this way. Here the people talk of ‘peace before the autumn’ as if it were not possible that the war could last much longer, but who knows?

9.5.15
My dear Emmie,

… I don’t know whether Australia is still fit to live in – if it is, it is probably the one spot – Europe certainly isn’t. Nine months of an atmosphere of hate and war and murder is enough to disillusion one with life altogether.

16.5.15
My dear Emmie,

I have had two busy days and have more before me. For a long time past Sandor has had many discomforts in his lodging, and on Friday his landlady reached the stage of scenes and hysterics. So … we packed and moved all this things here, and now he is installed in the two end rooms… I think we shall both live much more economically and comfortably…

Hold your breath now and wait for Italy to declare herself – she must mean to come in with England, but nobody can explain to me why she has waited so long… And if the scandal of the ‘Lusitania’ does not also bring America down upon them, it will be a wonder. But I must say that even the most ranting patriots here look a trifle ashamed when the ‘Lusitania’ chances to be mentioned.

23.5.15
My dear Emmie,

… an excited neighbour rushed by and told me through the window that Italy had declared war. Well, if it had happened ten months ago, it would have been somewhat more honourable, but better late than never… Certainly we have seen the last of oranges, lemons, macaroni and so on – but a few extra ships in the Dardanelles mean more to one now than even the necessities of life, let alone the luxuries.

30.5.15
My dear Emmie,

I have had a great pleasure this week – a visit from an American, a Mrs Raiola… It was very good of her to come four hours out of her way, just to see me and bring me 10 pounds that Mrs Harmer had sent me…