San Bernardino,
November 28, 1890
... This past 4 November, it was exactly one year since I left home. On 4 December I arrived in New York and on the 12th I reached San Bernadino. I can tell You for sure that I should have left home 15 years earlier. It would have been much better for me, a thousand times better because I am not able even to describe it to You, how I looked at first and how different I look now. I do not want to write about it because if I start I may never finish with it. I would like to ask the people at home just this one question: why is it forbidden for a young man to take a walk with a girl, to talk to her and to become acquainted with her. I do not consider it a sin, and I did not find it in the Gemora to be a sin either. Only You, the Polish people, are so backward and as a result when this type of young man arrives here, he is called a “greener,” and in Germany, “Polish” or “Russian pig.” This is the truth.
I do not mean to insult You, but it is especially true that in Your small towns within a half hour everything is known all over and becomes gossip. And so when a young man from there arrives here, what kind of an impression does he make? First, he cannot open his mouth because he does not know the language. Then, when he gets together with people, he does not know how to behave and how to have a good time. So people make fun of him. I can understand it because first, he is not able to talk, and then, he is not able to eat because he is not used to this kind of food . He also does not know how to hold a knife or a fork or a table napkin. And he does not know how to sing or raise a toast in company. At home we only used to say, “Lehayim.” At home we only sang zmires. And he does now know how to dance because I have never seen anyone dance or play at home because people would open their mouths in wonder. They would not go to the theater because this, too, was considered a sin. And as far as dress at home – one used to put on a shirt and a scarf around one’s neck and this was all. Here, however, one has to have different clothes for the summer and for the winter. The same is true for women.
In our store, we also sell women’s dresses and even underwear. And it may happen that a young man has to sell to some young girl some such things or whatever. We also sell, here, undershirts, shirts, collars, fine ties, pocket watches, top hats and overcoats. All this the young man was not acquainted with at home. So here he is shown everything like a small child. And people laugh at him. I am not telling this, God forbid, about myself. When I arrived here, I was already different. The only thing was that I could not speak English, but now this is all already behind me...
Explanation:Dearly Beloved Parents,
I take my pen to tell you the good news. I am safe and sound, thank God. I received your letter on the 24th of the month, in which I learned that my sister Marianna wants to come to me here. Well, it is good sailing time now. She should have at least 80 rubles. She will get a job here as a domestic for which she will be paid 8 dollars, 10 dollars, 17 dollars a month. If she will be able to understand everything that is said, she will be paid more. If she were here now, she would be getting the same pay as she does now working for the Germans. . . .
Dear Sister, do be careful on the streets [on the way]. When you arrive at Castle Garden telegraph me. Stay in Castle Garden until I come and fetch you. When you get here, you will not be digging for potatoes or pitching hay.
When you are ready to leave, travel to Bremen. There, buy yourself a steamship ticket. In Torun, sit only in the back [of the train]. You must have at least 25 marks to pay for the train and for the food. From Torun to Hamburg,, the train costs 13 marks 73 pfennig, but I do not know how much it will cost to Bremen. If sister does come here, I have made up my mind to stay here two more years.
Dear Parents, write me if Mary took my address, if she will come to me or not, and when my sister will depart. Write me a letter as soon as possible. You can give her some money and when she gets here, we will send it back to You. If the steamship tickets had not been sold out, I would have sent her one but that would have caused me a great deal of trouble.. If you do not have the money, then write and I will send a steamship ticket to Jacob for her. If she wants to, she can come now because it is warm and the trip would be pleasant.
Dear Sister take care of yourself and pay attention to what I have written.
Best regards to father and mother, to my sisters and brothers, to my friends and relatives, and to all acquaintances. I remain your faithful son until we meet again happily. Please send me a speedy reply because I want to know if she will come or not.
Johann Bonkowski
