A letter to Perl and to persons unknown by their surname, with whom he was apparently staying in Paris at the time, with the name Mieczysław in its diminutive form appearing throughout some of the letters. The letter was typed on both sides of a single card, a so-called clean card. Handwritten corrections in some places, some words crossed out using a series of x's. At the bottom of the second side, handwritten signature of the sender, Seweryn Tross. There is no dating of the letter; it was written – according to the content (conference approving the incorporation of part of Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich, occupation of Zaolzie by Polish troops) – at the beginning of October 1938.
Content (spelling and punctuation have been partly updated):
Dear Tadzio, Mietek and Marrrysia.
Well, the heat is gone. It seemed as if it was going to happen any minute now, but in the meantime it's all over. Hitler triumphed, fascism triumphed in full... and all thanks to dear, democratic France. Mr Deladier and Mr Bonnet can now confidently repeat after Mr Fredro: “Mr Benet said, beatus, qui tenet” [a reference to the beginning of Aleksander Fredro's play “Pan Benet” (Mr Benet): ,,Beatus qui tenet...'', Latin for happy he, who possesses] And at the moment the tenet is possessed by Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and, graciously accepted, France. “Finis Democratiae” – was exclaimed in Warsaw at a meeting of the Democratic Party upon learning of the outcome of the Munich conference. The next day, turbulent times began. Crowds marched in the streets, Jews were beaten, and finally – Zaolzie was occupied. Understandably, of course, no one objected. “Nowa Rzeczpospolita” (the “New Polish Republic”), which broke from the general attitude of the nation by posting articles expressing its sympathies for Czechoslovakia, was closed. A similar fate now awaits all other newspapers that dare to take a similar stance. Anyway, they won't do so. Even the bodies of the Polish Socialist Party, such as “Robotnik” (the “Worker”) and “Dziennik Ludowy” (the “People's Daily”), sympathised with the “will of the nation”, pointing to the participation of Polish socialists living in Czechoslovakia in the struggle for the liberation of Zaolzie. (and now for Tadzio) Obviously “Głos Gospodarczy” (the “Economic Voice”), the leib [i.e. body] body of the Association of Trade Representatives and Commission Trade, couldn't take a different stance and therefore, despite the truncation of an otherwise really good article by Mr T.P. [i.e. Tadeusz Perl] to half by the undersigned, it couldn't include the Political Review. (Unless Mr T.P. agreed to subject Głos to the fate of “Nowa Rzeczpospolita”). However, since we know that Mr T.P. needs money to survive in exile, therefore, at the request of Mr L.P. [i.e. Leon Perl], despite some minor objections from Mr S.T. [i.e. Tross], the article was removed from the issue, which even had to be split. (And lose some money).
Therefore, in short, the mood feels like there's nothing to do but shout: “Let's love each other”, as our great-grandparents did, and pour some Węgrzyn [wine]. Admittedly, that's indeed happening (except it's pure vodka, not Węgrzyn). Bibrowski, Schürer, Bossak, Bachrachy [persons belonging to the close circle of friends of the correspondents, also mentioned in other letters], etc., the Jews have lately been getting as drunk, either at Wróbel's or privately, as they can. Understandable. Occasionally, members of the ONR [National Radical Camp] get in the way, clogging the road from Bielanska Street to Mazowiecka Street, beating up non-Aryan-type passers-by. (Poor s.t. [i.e. Tross] is in all sorts of trouble as a result). Apparently, according to rumour (for what it's worth), there are even dead. In a nutshell, the mood is somewhat different from when, T.P. went to the “democratic” Medina [allusive, by evoking one of the most important cities for Muslims, term for Paris]. Now, Muhammad's followers no longer believe in Medina but instead preach the worship of another holy place, Mecca – the United States. There's, after all, freedom, democracy, etc.
Nevertheless, despite these daily sorrows and joys, one must also think about the nasty, disgusting mammon. This is for Tadzio. (Short reckonings make long friends – especially since one has stepped into their life. In view of this, I suggest that Tadzio should immediately write to Mr L.P. to ask him to be kind enough to pay Mr S.T. not 75 zlotys but 100 zlotys, because there is much more work at the “GG” (double G) than Mr S.T. imagined at the beginning, and, moreover, because Mr T.P. does not keep his promises, he writes less than promised. Mr S.T. is a friend of tepex, but ultimately this is still no reason for him to let Tadzio benefit too much from his work. Anyway, as far as I can see, the senior Mr P. agrees with Tross. And that's why I'm waiting for an immediate reply on this matter, as I haven't collected the money yet). No more about the money. What else? Girls, I guess. No. It's difficult to think of them, too, in these grim times.
The Bar Council has proposed to the Ministry to set c.y. [current year?] quotas of 20 for advocates and 5 for trainee advocates. This message is probably enough to understand its vital meaning. Therefore, referring to my conversation with Tadzio before his departure, I'm sending him a declaration which he should send either to me or to his father, completed by the 10th of this month. At the same time, he should enclose a consular copy of his passport and citizenship certificate. We'll organise copies of other documents in Warsaw. Szwalbe will issue a certificate of cooperation with “Nasz Przegląd” (the “Our Review”). This matter is V. important and should not be underestimated. Persons not entered in the register won't be authorised to write articles in the daily newspapers. The last date for entering the register is 15th this month. If Tadzio isn't going to be an advocate, at least he should have the right to write articles. In addition, he should write to the Union of Economic Journalists (Polish: Związek Dziennikarzy Gospodarczych) to support his application or to issue a certificate. I must have it by the 10th.
That's it.
Now I kiss your mugs. Guta twice, although not in the mug but in the face. May Tadzi[o] testify that I constantly inquired about her health. There was a truly mournful mood in Warsaw when we learned of her illness. Olek and Wanda were crying, Pola the same. And it wasn't pleasant for me either. The deceased, however, has risen from the dead and everything's perfectly fine. May the deceased write to us, it's probably very interesting to receive letters from the other world. I'd love to read something from Mietek. How's Janek doing? I know about his mother's death.
Now for real: TROSS
