[IN COPENHAGEN] 

[London, 3 May 1892] 

Dear Mr Petersen, 

I understand that it is possible even in prison for you to receive let- 
ters, and so I could not refrain from expressing to you my genuine 

* 26 April in the ms. 

sympathy on your conviction and imprisonment. Things are now 
much the same in Denmark as in other countries: where others are 
acquitted, a socialist is found guilty, and where others are given 
a month in prison, a socialist gets a year or several years, and hard la- 
bour into the bargain. This is proof that they fear us more and more, 
but it makes it no less unfortunate for those who are the victims of re- 
action. 

Many thanks also for sending me Arbejderen. As I only rarely see So- 
cial-Demokraten, your paper has been my sole source of information 
as far as the situation in Denmark is concerned, and that has made it 
even more welcome to me. 

The May Day festival went off well. I wish that you had been able 
to see the 600,000 people who were in Hyde Park the day before yes- 
terday.*7' Every year the May Day parade becomes more im- 
pressive, showing that the time is fast approaching when we shall be 
strong enough to let things come to a decisive battle. 

And now farewell. I hope that you are no worse off than German 
comrades usually are on similar occasions, so that it is at least bear- 
able. It can scarcely be as bad as in England and America, or as good 
as in Paris in Sainte Pélagie. In any case we all hope that you will 
leave prison with your health unimpaired and that you will be fit 
enough to be with us on the next May Day. 

With best wishes from Mrs Kautsky and me myself, 

Yours, as ever, 
F. Engels