Ted Leo and Letters From My Great Grandmother's Brother...
In the opening line of one of my favorite Ted Leo songs ("Shake the Sheets"), he sings, "I said, "I wonder how it is I'm standing here, while war is raging everywhere under the sky?" ". I was reading a letter from my great grandmother's brother Bass van Elderen dated February 14, 1915. He was one of the first of my relatives to immigrate to California because in Holland at the time people were starving because there was no money to be made. He talks about his farming and life in California, how "...there is such a large difference between the climate here and in Holland that I can hardly believe it. I did never imagine that. So it is generally believed that there is no better climate on earth than that which we have here in California. Well, you will reply to me that where it is always summer there is always work to do too and indeed that's true...." He goes on about his work on the farm and eventually diverts to the war which is the part that interests me (a primary source of opinion from WWI). Below is an excerpt from his letter to my great grandmother Pietertje (the dutch version of my mother's name Patricia) which has been translated by my grandfather's cousin who still lives in Holland:
"...So far about the livestock; now something about the war. It is sad what happens in Europa at the moment. People are murdering one another and cities and countries are destroyed.
On the other hand diseases can be fought better and better with success, using every effort and knowledge.
And doctors now can carry out surgery to a large extent to keep mankind alive.
How many people are killed already; also women and children. And whose fault is it? I don't know but I am embittered against England, although it might be no good to state that it is the fault of a country alone. May God give that peace returns quickly, because people are not created to murder each other. It is said here that there will be no conqueror and that they will fight until the bitter end. I would feel sorry if England would become the victor, because this would be harmful for Holland, because England will rule the seas in that case....Here we have to pay now 2.20 dollar for 50 pounds of wheatflour as a result of the murderousness in Europe and 7 cent per pound of sugar. Those prices were 1.75 and 5 cents last year. Also, the chicken feed became more expensive. Corn now costs 2 cents per pound; (last year 1.5 cent). Barley now 1.5 cent and 1 cent last year...."
I suppose it's neat to get an opinion that is not from an "allied" standpoint. I wish I knew what it was really like to live back then-in Holland especially- but I suppose this is the closest I shall get for some time.