Marriage to Moritz Tramer

W. Mrs. Dr. Róża Baumgarten
in Warsaw
Koszykowa 35 m.16

Dr. F. Baumgarten
Berlin W, Landshuler Str.36.

March 10, 1924.

My dear, I am writing to you under the impression of the letter I received from Fran. and I want to tell you one thing: congratulate yourself that you did not marry this man years ago, that you did not have any special dealings with him - because I think that you would be deeply, deeply unhappy.

I am convinced once again that I have [?????] an instinct for people and that my "reasoning" will only lead me to ruin. Tr. is showing itself from an increasingly unpleasant side and I assure you that if it were not for the "secret" spreading of this as if by my family left and right, I would gladly withdraw from this engagement today.

Can I describe everything to you? No. But do you remember Dad and his attitude towards Mom? People like Dad and Tr., the moment they know someone is close to them, subordinate, they murder him. Tr.'s letters give me a foretaste of what will happen. People like him shouldn't get married either. If I showed you those letters someday, you would understand the torment I endure. No fiancée has ever had such stupid, such vile letters. You supposedly held a grudge against me for judging that scoundrel Wiener too weakly; I think Tr. may be just as scoundrelly in this "emotional" respect. He didn't do the exact same thing as W., but in his own way he did something that is just as worthy of spitting at me. I repeat to you once again - congratulate yourself for never getting close to that man, he would have torn you up to no good. I admit that I feel cold at the thought of this experiment and my only wish is that I come out of it healthy and whole. I cannot imagine our idyll lasting long. I would have to have good conditions for scientific work – the only comforter for all the wounds of the soul.

Rózia, while you are still free and can dream that you will find a man, it is not so bad for you. The worst thing is when what you find is nothing.

Everything I am going through now is the result of this desire to "marry" that destroyed Hilf. Now he has married that Thernigowa, he who assured me that he did not want to fall for a second time. He was with his cynicism far more noble in his untruth: I do not want to promise you anything, do not count on it better than others who start with marriage proposals and give unnecessary efforts of body and heart. Spit, Róziu, about Tran., if you ever felt sorry for him, don't think tragically of me, because I have secured myself with contracts of employment that I will have a lot to do and this will allow me to do even more academically, but don't convince yourself for a moment that I have found a man who can give something of true feeling. Tr. calculates how much I can be useful to him there as a psychologist in the same way as [???] counts pennies. And believe me, if he knew that I am unknown or acquainted, he would not reach for me. A materialist is not only someone who counts in jingling coins. He needs me as a rock for his mind uwutiskeits gefühl and that is all. I think I have had enough. Maybe tomorrow I will calm down. Today's letter from him shook me as much as Wiener once did to you. Tomorrow I will once again control myself and the situation - but at this moment I bring myself to write this letter to inform you that this man cannot give a woman happiness, at least not of the kind that we do. You were deluding yourself about his abilities: a certain gentleness and kindness in dealing with people does not at all qualify you for emotional happiness. The worst scoundrel and social rascal, he can be the nicest lover.

Farewell. Write to me at last. Kisses

[???] Fr.

Berlin, April 1, 1924.

Sir,

You do not "desire" a certain association... You fear that repeating a word will lead to such an association... Oh, Mr. Psychiatrist, constant contact with a psychologist would not have made you so anxious! Because the psychologists recently proved in no uncertain terms that even a hundredfold repetition of two of the same terms cannot form an “association”, that it has no influence on our will. This is how Ach and Curt Levin learn and have thus reconquered mankind's free will. Well, sir, the "terrible Solothurn" should no longer scare you as an association. Well, you know... -

But in what an imperative tone you expressed your wish! And that against a weak, shy, defenseless woman! No, there are no more men, there are only tyrants! – –

So. After I've given myself some air through this sermon, I'll come to the more economic content of your last letter. As for the "deadline," it will probably be most convenient if we set it to May 3rd. It's a Saturday, the end of your work week. I hope it suits you. It won't be possible for me to leave here sooner. I really liked your request about the letter to mom.

I even wanted to write to you about it once, but since I know your "peculiarity", I didn't want to force such a "task" on you. If you came up with this idea yourself, I am very pleased and that, of course, makes it easier to carry it out. Mama's address is: Berlin-Grunewald, Wincklerstr. 24, Sanatorium Quisisana.

As for the furniture, we'll leave it until I come. When I wrote to you about Solothurn, which was "unarranged", it was to win you over for a short trip. Since you went into this, the "unfurnished" thing doesn't bother me or make me uncomfortable - furniture has to be adapted to the apartment and just like a picture has to hang in a place that is most suitable for it, a piece of furniture also has to be in the right place and suitable. I would now like to choose things together with you. If you want, you can send me the offer for earlier orientation, but be so kind and don't commit yourself to anything and don't buy anything. It will give me pleasure to choose everything accordingly later.

The chocolate arrived correctly and is said to have tasted good to the lady. Thank you very much.

I have already resigned both the apartment and my jobs. Alea jacta est ["The die is cast."].

How are you otherwise? Have you already "automated" yourself a bit and relieved yourself? I would like to make a lazybones out of you

(God, I'll get a "thunderstorm" from you for that!). Well, don't be too thunderous - I'll bid you a quick salute.

Franka.

Didn't I put too many commas in this letter? I was reading a French treatise on commas (from a psychological point of view) last night and got quite confused -

Google translate from German transcription. This appears to have been a draft letter, and transcriber left in deletions, but I have tried to remove those.

Solothurn, April 7, 1924.

Dear Mrs. Baumgarten,

You will kindly forgive me from writing a long introduction, which prompts me to write today's letter, since you have been informed about everything by Franka. After enjoying the usual rules, I'm probably a bit late in asking you today to give your consent for Franka and I to marry each other. Despite all the love and attachment to you that Franka has repeatedly expressed to me, she is still free in her decisions. It speaks so much, dear Mrs. Baumgarten, for your motherly wisdom that you have left the path open to her that she wants to go.

Since I'm asking you to agree to Franka becoming my wife, of what should I assure you? Shall I make you usual promises? I hope you will understand me if I don't. It's against my character to use a lot of words. Franka has known me for many years, knows what life situations I was in, knows what I have achieved or not achieved and what my current prospects are like. Materially, I am currently in a secure position. I don't know what the future will bring. As far as possible, I have created backups. Besides, until now I have proved, in all modesty, that I can fight with life if necessary.

Do you want me to tell you about the love I feel for Franke? I can not do this. We spoke to Franka, know each other and know what to expect from each other. We have been mentally bound to each other for a long time, and I see that we will remain so.

My dear parents sadly passed away years ago. I am far from my siblings, so, Mrs. Baumgarten, we cannot ask to come here. So we will quietly celebrate the marriage, as it suits our character, looking forward to what the future may bring.

Begging you to take my letter with benevolent kindness, I remain with warmest regards

M Tramer

German Reich Miss Dr. Mrs. Baumgarten Berlin W Landshuterstr. 36 paragraph: Dr M. Tramer, Rosegg, Solothurn

Solothurn May 12, 1924.

Dear Franka,

This card is probably the last that I will write to you in Berlin. Maybe she won't even see you there anymore. Since I agreed with your suggestion to stay in Berlin until the 14th, I did not write to you any further. I wish you a safe journey and look forward to your coming.

As soon as you have arrived in Bern, give me a call. If at all possible, I'll come there on the next train to discuss further matters with you.

Happy trip!

With heartfelt

Greetings Tramer

Dr. M. Tramer Solothurn, June 25, 1924.

Dear Franka, many thanks for your two cards. Your personal visit to Danzas & Co. has already had very welcome consequences. This morning I received a letter from the company saying the box had been found and just now the porter told me it had arrived. It's already in the hallway of our apartment.

Various postal items have arrived, including letters for you, so far there hasn't been a letter from Madzia, but one from the mother, at least this can be concluded from the sender's address.

I am very pleased that everything has gone well for you so far. I also think of you every free minute and feel more clearly than ever what you are to me. Otherwise I'm fine. In Zurich on Monday I wasn't doing as well as the time before last, but still okay. I told Dr. Hanselmann, who gave me recommendations for you – I had told him a little about your work – that it was quite possible that I could return to Zurich in the foreseeable future. A relief then visibly went through him. Of course I asked him for discretion.

I spoke to Mrs. Forster, who was recommended to us, but we both soon found that she wasn't right for us. I await your return before taking any further steps in this matter.

Warm greetings from your Tramer

Czechoslovak Republic
M'me Dr Baumgarten-Tramer
Secretariat du Congress[1]
Prague Jindřišská 13

From: Dr. M. Tramer,
Rosegg,
Solothurn Switzerland. 

July 21, 1924

Dear Franka,

I received your two cards, thank you very much. The first card didn't come until Saturday evening, so I can't send Lina into town until Monday to buy the pillowcases. The round table and the pedestal for the Valais furniture have arrived, I'm sending the square one back to Zurich today. I sent the manuscript for insurance science.

A few letters have arrived for you, also from your mother, as I can gather from the sender's address.

I wrote to the mother today. I received a report from my sister that the pillows will soon be sold to us.

Nothing new has happened to me other than that I long for you very much. Nonetheless, I am patiently waiting for you to come. Today I have my free Monday and use it extensively to do some receptive work.

How are you? 

Sincerely yours Tramer

I just received the news of the missed travel plan. you pity me

Czechoslovak Republic Ms Dr Baumgarten-Tramer Sécrétariat du Congres Prague I Hotel Pariz 

From: Dr. M. Tramer, Rosegg, Soloth. Solothurn, 

July 24, 1924

Dear Franka,

Judging from your last card, the hardships of your travels have been amply compensated for by your stay in Prague, since you like it so much and you can have such wonderful conversations. I was very happy to hear the news.

Yesterday we had a meeting of the supervisory commission from 14 ½ to 20 ½. At least the main thing could be discussed and I can make some improvements. The restriction of visiting and consultation hours has been accepted, but is still subject to the approval of the government council.

I received alpine flowers from a former patient, which now adorn our rooms. Edelweiss are also included.

When are you coming back?

With warm regards, your Tramer.

Hotel Pennsylvania, New York

April 28, 1930

Dear Franka!

If you receive this letter, a good part of my stay in America[2] will be over. I think of you often, sometimes I'm very sorry that you're not here, sometimes I think it's better the way it turned out. I will then explain it to you.

So far I've been to Dr Lewy's for dinner. The impression was very mixed. She gives the impression of an unhappy woman and he of a very content person who knows what he means. There was a distant relative there, a Mrs. Thorner from California, the type of a very rich, beautiful American woman who is swimming in money and wants to be happy with all her might and gets nervous about it.

Yesterday I was with Herr Perl. He is a simple but very nice person.

Today is the start of our pre-convention tour[3], for which I had to spend $102. We want to see how it turns out.

I fell in with my coat. Nothing like that is worn here, only overcoats. I'm still debating whether to buy one. They cost from about $22 upwards, a better one is about $40. You were right about the coat.

The crossing was good. Seasickness started only on the first day, with Vassana it got better. We mostly had stormy weather.

With warmest regards, your D.

I hope that you are healthy and that you were happy in Barcelona.