ENGELS TO ELISABETH ENGELS” 

London, 21 October 1871 

Dear Mother, 

If I have not written to you for so very long, it was because I 
wanted to answer your latest comments on my political activity in a 
way that would not give you offence. And again and again, 
whenever I read the despicable lies in the Kélnische Zeitung, above 
all the monstrous fabrications of that swine Wachenhusen, when I 
saw how the very same people who, during the war, had seen 
nothing but lies in the whole of the French press, now trumpet 
forth in Germany as gospel every police invention and every piece 
of slander about the Commune by the most venal Paris 
gossipmonger, I kept falling into a mood that little inclined me to 
my task. In the case of the few hostages who were shot in the 
Prussian manner, the few palaces burned down on Prussian 
precedent, a great hue and cry is raised—for all the rest was 
nothing but lies—, but when it comes to the 40,000 men, women 
and children whom the Versailles troops massacred with machin- 
ery after people had been disarmed—no one murmurs a single 
word! However, you can know nothing of all that, because you 
have to depend on the Kélner and Elberfelder Zeitung, and the lies 
are really drummed into you. And yet you have in the course of 
your lifetime heard quite a few people denounced as veritable 
cannibals—the members of the Tugendbund** under the first 
Napoleon, the demagogues of 1817 and 1831,"° the men of 
1848—and subsequently it always turned out that they were not so 
bad after all, and that the horror-stories initially put into 
circulation about them by interested parties, subsequently dis- 
solved into thin air. I hope, dear mother, that you will recall this and 
give the men of 1871 the benefit of the doubt when you read of 
these imaginary atrocities in the newspaper. 

You knew that I had not modified my opinions, opinions which 
I shall soon have held for 30 years, and it could not come as a 
surprise to you that, as soon as events compelled me to do so, I 
should not only speak up for them but would do my duty in other 
respects too. You would have to be ashamed of me if I failed to do 
so. If Marx were not here, or did not even exist, it would make 

absolutely no difference at all. It is therefore quite wrong to put 
the blame on him. Incidentally, I can also remember the time 
when Marx’s relations maintained that J had been the ruin of 
him. 

But enough of that. The situation cannot be changed now and it 
just has to be accepted. If things are quiet for a while, the fuss will 
die down anyway and you yourself will take a calmer view of the 
situation. 

I spent some time in Ramsgate during September,*” a small, or 
rather fairly large, seaside resort on the East coast, somewhat to 
the north of Dover. It is the most amusing resort I know, 
extremely informal, very pretty firm beach immediately beneath 
the steep chalk cliffs; the beach is full of fake Negro-minstrels, 
conjurers, fire-eaters, Punch-and-Judy shows and nonsense of that 
sort. The place is not very fashionable, but cheap and éasy-going. 
The bathing is very good, and since it was cold it did me twice as 
much good, my appetite became truly insatiable and I slept fully 
10 hours a day. Although I live in one of the most healthy districts 
of London, where the air is as good as in the country, or so a 
doctor assures me, I nevertheless perceived what a difference such 
a change of air makes. You really ought to think of enjoying the 
sea air for 3-4 weeks next summer which makes even the 
healthiest more healthy. 

My interesting neighbour has for some time now left me in 
peace with her piano, she must be away. To make up for it, 
however, I have now acquired a musician on the other side, where 
some new houses have been built. There is a tailor’s shop there 
and, above it, rooms are being let. Up to now, however, it is not 
too bad and I cannot complain. 

It has been raining abysmally, which comes very unexpectedly 
after the splendid autumn days we have had, and I am having to 
make a fire, whereas even 3 days ago it was so sultry that I could 
not bear to be in a room without open windows. In general, 
however, the weather here is much better than in Manchester, it 
hardly ever rains all day long, whereas in Manchester at this 
season it often rains without a break for 2-3 days on end. 

From what Hermann and Emil* are saying it appeared to me 
that it will probably take some time before their relations with 
Adolf have got back on an even keel. If they do not see each 
other for a time, that will make it easier. At all events, it is good 
that the disagreement has been resolved, at least on the main 

a Engels’ brothers. See this volume, pp. 155-56. - » Adolf von Griesheim 

points. Once the financial side has been sorted out, at least there 
can be no further occasion for dispute. I hope that all will resolve 
itself with time. 

For the rest, I am well and cheerful and have returned to my 
first love, namely my long pipe, having finally managed to 
discover a reasonable tobacco here. This evening I have put aside 
a special pleasure for myself: despite the rain I am going to the 
Viennese beerhall in the Strand, where for once I shall be able to 
drink my fill; Emil Blank junior called in for a moment a few 
days ago, otherwise I never get to see the young madcap, since I 
hardly ever go to the Crry. 

Good-bye for now, give my cordial greetings to all my brothers 
and sisters, and do not be cross with me for my long silence. 

With all my heart, 

Your 
Frederick 

You can tell Emil Blank that Marx does not need any money 
from me. But I should like to see the expression on the face of 
that same Emil Blank if I were to advise him about how to spend 
his money. ;