One anonymous (or at least, I haven't found a name yet) family friend writes very chatty letters in the 1770s, catching one of the Knyphausen sisters up on family news.
We get daily life tidbits from her. For example, remember when we found in the Berlin address book that Karl and his mother had moved house in the early 1770s? We have a description of their new place!
Google-translated for speed and only touched up slightly.
I hope, my dear friend, that you have less rain than we have here, because besides walking, one of the great pleasures of the countryside, the harvest, an even more essential object, could suffer from this abundance of humidity, even rain, is a daily occurrence here and 20 times a day, an ordinary occurrence, one is too happy when one can catch a little walk in the park in the intervals.
Yesterday I met Mr. de Keith under the trees of the new town, who had made his decision, and counted the rain for nothing. It is true that it was not heavy--so he would not accelerate his pace--always rather slow, as you notice. He continues to do well, the hubbub of the move has passed and I saw Madam your sister all arranged in her apartment.
I will tell you naturally how I find it. Quite convenient for the place, and the layout. The view of the water pretty and smiling. What overlooks the courtyard is sad, the staircase neither better nor worse than that of the English. And all in all, the greatest fault in our regard is the distance, for I find the house further away than I imagined, and it is only the idea that Madame de Keith could have come to lodge at the end of the town that makes me want to call her a neighbor. I must not forget to tell you that the bedroom is one of those that I esteem the most. The small alcove is very good, but that is only good by means of the free door that opens into the vestibule, and that you wanted to close. It is much better that it remains open; without this clearance, the room would not be any less long, and would not be as convenient to live in. You will approve of this arrangement.
Btw, I see I referred to the letter writer as "her". I don't actually have data on this, but the letter-writer seems to socialize more with women than with men, and I get a slightly "female gender role" vibe from the letters. But I haven't read them closely, so take that with a grain of salt.
so he would not accelerate his pace--always rather slow, as you notice.
I'm reminded of the description of him by someone else as "rather phlegmatic." I bet Tido wasn't a slow walker!
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Minor Peter and Karl Keith findings
Date: 2025-01-16 02:44 pm (UTC)We get daily life tidbits from her. For example, remember when we found in the Berlin address book that Karl and his mother had moved house in the early 1770s? We have a description of their new place!
Google-translated for speed and only touched up slightly.
I hope, my dear friend, that you have less rain than we have here, because besides walking, one of the great pleasures of the countryside, the harvest, an even more essential object, could suffer from this abundance of humidity, even rain, is a daily occurrence here and 20 times a day, an ordinary occurrence, one is too happy when one can catch a little walk in the park in the intervals.
Yesterday I met Mr. de Keith under the trees of the new town, who had made his decision, and counted the rain for nothing. It is true that it was not heavy--so he would not accelerate his pace--always rather slow, as you notice. He continues to do well, the hubbub of the move has passed and I saw Madam your sister all arranged in her apartment.
I will tell you naturally how I find it. Quite convenient for the place, and the layout. The view of the water pretty and smiling. What overlooks the courtyard is sad, the staircase neither better nor worse than that of the English. And all in all, the greatest fault in our regard is the distance, for I find the house further away than I imagined, and it is only the idea that Madame de Keith could have come to lodge at the end of the town that makes me want to call her a neighbor. I must not forget to tell you that the bedroom is one of those that I esteem the most. The small alcove is very good, but that is only good by means of the free door that opens into the vestibule, and that you wanted to close. It is much better that it remains open; without this clearance, the room would not be any less long, and would not be as convenient to live in. You will approve of this arrangement.
Re: Minor Peter and Karl Keith findings
Date: 2025-01-20 05:36 am (UTC)Re: Minor Peter and Karl Keith findings
Date: 2025-01-20 05:18 pm (UTC)so he would not accelerate his pace--always rather slow, as you notice.
I'm reminded of the description of him by someone else as "rather phlegmatic." I bet Tido wasn't a slow walker!