Ruth Danson

Yes. I had to open [the door to her father's dental surgery in Breslau]- I was given the job of opening the doors later on when there was- when the Germans didn’t allow Jewish... assistants. Actually he called me to help him at the- at the... place you know when, when, when he was working on a patient. And let them in and then take them- take over certain duties like cleaning the instruments and so on. And that was- I felt very grown-up by then.

helping father

Jews were not allowed to have... fork and knife and anything made of silver that fitted into a basket - huge basket that was. And we both carried that to the police station. It was very bad. We felt dreadful. But no we didn't have any nasty remarks on the way. So we were without the silver. So what? And one can do with- you know, one can eat... as long as one gets one's life.

giving up silver cutlery

I have gained so many new impressions on the ship that I don't know what to describe. On the way we met a very nice lady travelling with the 'Manhattan' to America. We took a taxi with her to the United States Lines, where we spent over an hour. We had to get tickets, clear suitcases through customs, & unfortunately pay extra money for Mum. Then we had lunch. At 6.30 we had to report back to the U.S.L. We waited there again for some time until a bus finally pulled up, carrying the blue-coated & jacketed guide & information provider. We were given our cabin number, B35 & took the elevator up to deck B. We were shown the room. Unfortunately it's an inside cabin & it's very hot, day & night. I leave the fan running but it makes a big noise. Today I don't remember the details exactly, but everything I hear & see here is sadly difficult to write. On the first evening we went to the cinema. First Mickey Mouse, then Ice Follies with Joan Crawford - English of course. The last part - over half an hour - was an incredibly good colour film. I've already visited the gym, swimming pool, tennis court, children's room, shops, smoking room, dance hall - with jazz band. There are all sorts of hiding places. We have a telephone in the room. Elli Fein is also on board & is also going to Southampton. The doorbell rang this morning. I answered: “Hello? Good Morning! How do you do? Yes, at a quarter to ten let's meet in the dining room. Goodbye! I was almost seasick yesterday, but I went on deck. The air worked wonders. I did recover, but I went all the way to the top & there was a huge storm. When I came down I had a big headache. So I took some Pyramidon & it also went away. So today we are in the port of Le Havre. I'll get off the ship with Mum if it doesn't cost anything. We have a 12 hour layover. Now it's 10 o'clock. The ship doesn't set off again until 10 o'clock in the evening. I'll drop this letter off in Le Havre before noon. I'm at the post office in Le Havre right now. Kisses.

Ruth Danson's letter to her father written on the SS Manhattan

I had a very good English teacher. ...We were made to write essays gradually... and I became actually very good in that. So he remarked- On my first- On my reports it came out that I was very good. Because I actually started with my father wanting to know what I write about this week. He was terribly nice and being very involved with all this sort of thing. He had given me before I left a very- fairly big list of typed out books that I ought to know about and- or to read. That’s English as well as German, but mostly German. And of course at that age you don't take much notice of that. But I’ve still got that, or until recently I still- I don't know quite where but I still think I know where it is, that list. Anyway, so when I said that ‘Wormy’ had – ‘Wormy’ we called him... the... English teacher. Wormleighton was his name. ‘Wormy’ we called him. And... he gave me more and more and better and better results. And did my... finishing test... and finishing a report- When I had finished the exams, he remarked on every... every... title I chose was very, very good. So I was pleased and he was pleased.

'Wormy'

I just did what I was told there and joined in the fun. And we had morning- early morning exercises in the streets outside. And... a lot of music was again- we had- We cleaned our own house. We didn’t have staff. That was a very good arrangement. She had two sisters, Anna Essinger, and they all worked there… When it comes to breakfast or any meal we sat around the tables. We had our hands where we touched each other. And that meant that that is now the beginning you know of the week- of the, of the meal. And there was a saying: And what was it - [Kinder liebt euch...?] Is that right? It’s near enough right. I've got it at home somewhere printed in... so many places….

Fun at Bunce Court