3 letters BISPERODE (Coppenbrügge) 1858-63, Dr. medical August ALDENHOVEN

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You bid three lengthy letters from 1858-1863 out of bisperode (Coppenbrugge) in Niedersachsen.

Written by the doctor there dr medical August Aldenhoven; addressed to an unnamed "Frau Doctor", apparently a sister of his wife, since she is said to be his children's aunt. -- The grave monument of Dr. Aldenhoven is now in the Coppenbrügge Cemetery / Lange Straße.

1.) 4-page letter (27.5 x 22.5 cm), dated Bisperode, 2. January 1858, 2 a.m.

Excerpts: "[...] you certainly found some compensation in your father's house for the long, bitter pain you had, for the torturous hours of fear and anxiety you experienced! [...] A happily spent youth exerts a powerful influence on later, eventful life; It is the memory of her that gives our soul its emotional direction, that does not let the unshakable confidence in the inscrutable decree of Providence and the true love of humanity in us sink, even if in the course of time circumstances arise that are well suited for this are to make his beautiful faith falter for a moment and to tone down the love for our fellow human beings.

Unfortunately, I don't have the blissful feeling of having experienced a happy youth, of being cared for physically and mentally by caring parents, of being by faithful siblings, because my parents died young and I didn't have siblings to whom I had already died in the event of severe blows of fate met early, my sorrow could have lamented and found consolation and reassurance with them.. So I went through life, driven up by the eternal storm, without a compass, no faithful advice, no consolation, and even now I have remained a stranger among strangers. [...]

How infinitely many joys you have given me and my children! The little ones are overjoyed to have their dolls, boxes, etc. and inexhaustible is their conversation about their dear, good aunt, whom they intend to make happy in all the cold. [...] It is with the greatest respect that Aldenhoven commends you and your esteemed family.

2.) 4-page letter (27.5 x 22.5 cm), dated Bisperode, 5. August 1858.

Excerpts: "If I'm not mistaken, the humorous content of your letter points to a cheerful mood and a tolerable physical condition. They praised humor and its aesthetic effect, the tragicomic. If sweet poetry is added, the earthly imperfections are easily compensated for, because everything has to submit to the free play of a creative imagination."

Then at length about toothache suffered by the recipient; Aldenhoven thinks "of the horrifying dental instruments that the Spanish Inquisition could not have invented more terribly." Aldenhoven reports that he had a terrible toothache of his own, so that he had to pull his front tooth himself. "I have a gap in my mouth that I have never dreamed of, a gap that does not allow me to go through the world with a smiling mouth, following Frau von Staël's good advice; a gap that shows me only too clearly that I will soon have passed not only the summer but also the autumn of life."

He's only happy about his swollen lip, which "reasonably" hides the gap.

Then about the recipient's plan to visit a seaside resort (i.e. a cure); Aldenhoven praises the advantages of such and gives hints.

"Privy Counselor Rudorff has honored me with a letter [...]. Unfortunately, the letter only came into my hands a few days ago due to the negligence of my domestic staff, and as a result of my late reply, the Privy Councilor may not have the best opinion of me. May I dare to ask you one more thing, it is to commend me most obediently to the highly esteemed Mr. Papa and Miss Sister. [...] Respectfully and obediently, Aldenhoven."

Note: With the Judicial Council Rudorff is probably the jurist Adolf August Friedrich Rudorff (1803-1873), father of the composer Ernst Rudorff (1840-1916).

3.) 2 ½ page letter (20.4 x 13.3 cm), dated 8th Nov. 1863.

With blind embossed letterhead "Dr. med. A. Aldenhoven, Bisperode."

About the ill health of a patient named Altmann ("a slowly progressive muscle wasting"); he asks if the Henrietten pen could take him, as normal hospitals are unlikely to cure him.

"It commends you respectfully and obediently Aldenhoven."

Note: The Henriettenstiftung hospital (founded in 1859) is one of the oldest hospitals in Hanover. -- The recipient may have worked there as a sister or had other connections there.

Each without an envelope.

Condition: Paper browned, stained and creased; the second letter waterstained. BPlease also note the pictures at the end of the item description!

Internal note: corn22-2 autograph autograph medicine