Paris-Manchester 1918
Conservatoires in time of war
Letter from Olga Picard to Adolph Brodsky
Olga Picard née Skadovsky writes to Adolph Brodsky in 1918. The war is making communication difficult and Olga has not heard from the Brodskys or her son Léon for over a year. It has not been an easy time; some members of her household were killed by the Bolsheviks.
Transcription
18.5/3
Cher Adolphe,
Dans trois jour sera ton anniversaire et je t’envoie mes sincere et chaleureux souhaits, ainsi qu’àme très chère Anna. Comment allez vous? Je n’ai pas de vos nouvelles depuis 14 mois. Je vous ai écris bien des fois. Je ne sais aussi rien de mon Léon depuis 14 mois. Je profite du départ de mes amies pour t’envoyer cette lettre.
Je me porte bien et je travaille comme par le passé, mais plus fort en[c]ore, il le faut la chereté de la vie. Notre famille a été bien éprouvée nous avons eu de très grands malheurs. Marie, Georges et Hepiek [?] ont été dernièrement tués par les Bolsheviks, ils sont morts comme les héro-martyrs. Nana faiblit ma se porte bien, je n’ai pas de ses nouvelles depuis 1 mois.
Cher Adolphe, je t’enverrai bientôt l’adresse de M. Gabriel Picard, écris lui, demande lui de s’informer si Léon est arrivé en France. Vu que sa dernière carte a été écrit en Finlande ou près de Finlande (en route pour la guerre) à Petrozavodsk…
Translation
18.5/3
Dear Adolphe,
Your birthday is in three days from now, and I would like to send my sincere best wishes to you and my dear Anna. How are you? I have had no news from you for 14 months. I wrote to you quite a few times. I have heard nothing from Léon either for 14 months. Now that my friends have gone, I have time to send you this letter.
I am well and am working just as before, but even harder – I have to, with the cost of living. Our family has suffered a lot and we have had some great misfortunes. Marie, Georges and Hepiek [?] were killed by the Bolsheviks not long ago. They died as heroes and martyrs. Nana is getting weaker, but is well. I have had no news of her for a month.
Dear Adolphe, I will send Mr Gabriel Picard’s address soon. Write to him and ask him to find out if Léon has arrived in France. I am wondering because his last card was written in Finland or not far from there (on the way to the front) in Petrozavodsk . . .
