Letter to David Abramson

Context for Edie’s Letter to David Abramson, October, 1991

The following letter was written by Edie Felson Shapiro to David Abramson in 1991. It seems to be a response to David’s request to have Edie document the activities of Louise on the home front, in response to Nazism in Europe. The historical period focused on in Edie’s letter was the late 1930s, around the time the Felson brothers were establishing themselves professionally. Edie was working for a physician in Cincinnati, Dr. Wigser (known as Wiggie), and Louise was working at the Jewish Center.

Edie’s letter describes her trip in 1936 to Germany and attending the Olympic Games and her teaching activities in 1938 and later, when she became involved in teaching English to German emigres fleeing nazism. (View emigration details) Her teaching took place at the Jewish Center, was organized by both Louise and Edie, and also involved the Felson brothers: Ben, Chippy, and Walter.

Ben was in medical school at the time, working toward his specialty in radiology. (He obtained his medical degree in 1935, spent one year as a resident, and another three years training as a radiologist.)

Chippy was a practicing physician in Cincinnati. He graduated from UC medical school in 1931.

Walter was establishing his medical practice in Greenfield, Ohio, 1 1/2 hours east of Cincinnati.. He had graduated from medical school a few years earlier (1934), left Cincinnati with Roslyn in 1937, and created his private medical practice in a section of his home at 357 South Street, Greenfield, Ohio.

January 21, 1991

Dear David:

Thank you for your letter of Dec. 28th. I was so pleased to hear that you have recovered from the side reactions of the radiation therapy.

I am feeling pretty well now, but every few days something happens to make me realize that my horrible drug is ‘at it’ again. These are minor incidents, but they are annoying.

I have to go back a bit. In August of 1936, I happened to be in Berlin for just one day on my way to Russia. I had left my group so I was alone. At the American Embassy (I stopped for mail) I heard that the Olympic Games were being played that afternoon. I bought an American flag, pinned it on, and sat down. I watched the torch ceremony, then our man, Jesse Owens, ran – and won. Hitler was there (I didn’t see him). I heard that he had a fit, literally, because not only an American had won, but also because it was a black American. That evening in a restaurant I was a few Jewish women. They didn’t have to tell me they were Jewish. My heart went out to them.

The next morning I heard and saw the Hitler youth movement from the hotel window. All I could think about was my little brother Leo and I was terrified.

From a strong dislike, I suddenly despised this Hitler.

David, you asked me about my teaching English to my German people (from Hitler). My first class was in 1938; and since Louise was responsible for my teaching, I’ll tell you a little about it. Some of this might seem repetitious because this was the type of my little talk at Louise’s memorial at the Jewish Center.

She lived on Glenwood Avenue at the time and Louise and I shared a room. What I really mean is that we shared a bed. Every night I waited up for her to come home to listen to her tell about her work in her beloved J.C. Sometimes it was 1:30 or 2:00 am. The happenings of the Center were at night. A few nights after the move to Dana and Reading Rd. Louise asked me to visit her one evening. Needless to say, I went the next night.

Louise’s office was on the second floor. The door was open and there was darling Louise at the desk much too big for her, and which I am sure was donated. Is was so proud of her!

She was on the phone several times. The door was closed, but I could hear the ring. Once when she came out, I asked for something to do, and she apologetically gave me some name cards to be alphabetized.

The phone rang again, and then there was silence. Louise came out ashen-faced and said, “That was the New York office. Thirty-eight German women are on their way to Cincinnati – It will probably take two days for them to arrive.” Louise said, “I must find living quarters for them” And I said, “Louise, what can I do to help?” and Louise said, “What would you like to do.” I said without hesitation, “I’ll teach English.” Louise was pleased. [See the essay on Louise’s biography for more information about her work.]

Before 8:00 am the next morning I was at the Board of Education on 9th St. I begged them to tell me how to teach English to foreigners. They suddenly realized this was the beginning of a whole new ballgame for them, too. They didn’t help much, but gave me the name of some books that might be helpful.

I went home and got out a book I loved – Jensen, Salinity & Hooman, a grammar we used in Freshman English. That book was the reason I loved the English language. I had never taken even one class in Teachers College, so a teacher I was not. When I told Louise I would teach English, I had no idea how I would go about it. But when I saw those 38 German women, transplanted from another country to ours, under my breather I said, “The hell you say, Mr. Hitler!”

During all this time I was working for Dr. Abe Wigser? during the daylight hours.

I made study plans mostly from my grammar book. I knew some German, but realized I shouldn’t depend on it. In fact, I could do more harm than good.

I fell in love with my darling ladies. Louise came in every evening, and I could tell she was pleased. I was in heaven! We were working on Friday nights, too. Louise said she thought we would be forgiven for having class on the Sabbath. Ours was the only department open. I couldn’t wait to leave my job at 5:30. Before, you couldn’t drag me away before 6:30.

During class one night one of my students mentioned with glee that her husband would be coming over soon. By the end of the week more of them had heard from Germany about this. I worried because I couldn’t continue to do a good job with so many. I had already divided the large classroom into small groups, so everything depended on how many new students would come.

Only 15 men came and Louise made arrangements for them to be with their wives. When I interviewed them, I found that 8 were physicians. My German was needed for these interviews. When I told Louise that we had 8 physicians, she said that she thought Ben would be glad to help. He was! Louise said she thought that Ben and I could take care of the existing situation.

As soon as Ben heard about these darling doctors he began to plan. Teaching them English wasn’t the important thing just yet. To practice medicine in this country we had to pass the State Board Examination, which was to be at a specified time. They had given an exam in Columbus just the week the doctors came, so we knew there wouldn’t be another for some months. Ben said that I should work on the English with all of them for about 3 months. Then he would take over the medical part.

In the meantime our brother, Chippy, was taking care of their social life. He contacted host families, who in turn, invited my people to dinner. Chippy did all the phoning and picked them up and took them home. After a sumptuous meal, they had an evening of conversation! This activity did more than anything to help them adjust to their new environment.

In about 3 1/2 months, according to plan, Ben called me. He was giving the orders, and he decided that we should hold two classes simultaneously in the big classroom of the Mont Reid Pavilion, and tunnel full of equipment for the hospital. He took four on the lower part of the auditorium and I was at the other side about 100 (?) steps up. I certainly couldn’t manage now. We started at 6 pm and everybody brought a bag with food. We worked until about 11:00 pm. We sometimes brought our classes together to talk things over. Ben decided that since I had had pre-med and had studied medical dictation – that I should know medical terminology, and my job was to help the students to mouth these words. Ben said to me “I’ll even get you a medical dictionary.” I said, “No thanks, I have one.”

After several months Ben said, “Bring your doctors down to my class. We have to discuss something.” The exams were to be given in Columbus in 3 weeks. They will take two days, requiring an overnight stay. All English. Of course, Ben would go with them. We started an hour earlier and worked until midnight until the Day.

On a Tuesday morning the wives and I was our men off at the train station. As Ben stepped up on the bottom step he leaned over and gave me a brotherly kiss and said, “I’m an atheist, but a few prayers wouldn’t hurt.”

In two days they all came back, not knowing anything, and we were ready for a long wait. It really wasn’t very long. Then, when I saw Ben’s grin, I knew that they had all passed the exam. But Ben said that really meant nothing until they were placed. He and I had the same thought. Our brother Walter in Greenfield, Ohio. He found niches for four in surrounding farmland. Ben found the rest, but kept the youngest doctor, a linguist, for himself. Ben probably thought he’d be a good radiologist.

Louise had a little (?) party for us at the Center. Even the mayor was there.

That wonderful time in my life happened over fifty years ago, but its as fresh to me as if it were yesterday.

Ben wasn’t finished with me yet. Over the years I noticed that when the phone rang, it had a different sound, and Ben would say, “Edie, I have eight Japanese doctors who need help. I told them you would be their teacher. O.K.? It was O.K. always for many years.

And Louise was so proud!

I’m sorry, David. Just be glad I stopped. But you asked for it!

Love,

Edie