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Missouri版 - Milada Horáková's letter to her daughter before her death
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M****7
发帖数: 13407
1
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/09/i-shall-always-be-with-you
On June 8th of 1950, nine months after being arrested by the Czech secret
police on suspicion of leading a plot to overthrow the Communist regime, 48-
year-old socialist politician Milada Horáková was found guilty of "high
treason" following a show trial that was broadcast on national radio, and in
which she remained defiant. On the 27th of that month, despite
international outcry and a petition signed by, amongst others, Albert
Einstein and Winston Churchill, Milada Horáková was executed at Prague's
Pankrác Prison.
The night before her death, she wrote the following letter to her 16-year-
old daughter.
In 1991, President Václav Havel posthumously awarded Horáková the Order
of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
(Source: George Mason University, via Mark Edwards; Image: Milada Horáková
on trial, via YouTube.)
My only little girl Jana,
God blessed my life as a woman with you. As your father wrote in the poem
from a German prison, God gave you to us because he loved us. Apart from
your father's magic, amazing love you were the greatest gift I received from
fate. However, Providence planned my life in such a way that I could not
give you nearly all that my mind and my heart had prepared for you. The
reason was not that I loved you little; I love you just as purely and
fervently as other mothers love their children. But I understood that my
task here in the world was to do you good by seeing to it that life becomes
better, and that all children can live well. And therefore, we often had to
be apart for a long time. It is now already for the second time that Fate
has torn us apart. Don't be frightened and sad because I am not coming back
any more. Learn, my child, to look at life early as a serious matter. Life
is hard, it does not pamper anybody, and for every time it strokes you it
gives you ten blows. Become accustomed to that soon, but don't let it defeat
you. Decide to fight. Have courage and clear goals and you will win over
life. Much is still unclear to your young mind, and I don't have time left
to explain to you things you would still like to ask me. One day, when you
grow up, you will wonder and wonder, why your mother who loved you and whose
greatest gift you were, managed her life so strangely. Perhaps then you
will find the right solution to this problem, perhaps a better one than I
could give you today myself. Of course, you will only be able to solve it
correctly and truthfully by knowing very, very much. Not only from books,
but from people; learn from everybody, no matter how unimportant! Go through
the world with open eyes, and listen not only to your own pains and
interests, but also to the pains, interests and longings of others. Don't
ever think of anything as none of your business. No, everything must
interest you, and you should reflect about everything, compare, compose
individual phenomena. Man doesn't live in the world alone; in that there is
great happiness, but also a tremendous responsibility. That obligation is
first of all in not being and not acting exclusive, but rather merging with
the needs and the goals of others. This does not mean to be lost in the
multitude, but it is to know that I am part of all, and to bring one's best
into that community. If you do that, you will succeed in contributing to the
common goals of human society. Be more aware of one principle than I have
been: approach everything in life constructively—beware of unnecessary
negation—I am not saying all negation, because I believe that one should
resist evil. But in order to be a truly positive person in all circumstances
, one has to learn how to distinguish real gold from tinsel. It is hard,
because tinsel sometimes glitters so dazzlingly. I confess, my child, that
often in my life I was dazzled by glitter. And sometimes it even shone so
falsely, that one dropped pure gold from one's hand and reached for, or ran
after, false gold. You know that to organize one's scale of values well
means to know not only oneself well, to be firm in the analysis of one's
character, but mainly to know the others, to know as much of the world as
possible, its past, present, and future development. Well, in short, to know
, to understand. Not to close one's ears before anything and for no reason—
not even to shut out the thoughts and opinions of anybody who stepped on my
toes, or even wounded me deeply. Examine, think, criticize, yes, mainly
criticize yourself don't be ashamed to admit a truth you have come to
realize, even if you proclaimed the opposite a little while ago; don't
become obstinate about your opinions, but when you come to consider
something right, then be so definite that you can fight and die for it. As
Wolker said, death is not bad. Just avoid gradual dying which is what
happens when one suddenly finds oneself apart from the real life of the
others. You have to put down your roots where fate determined for you to
live. You have to find your own way. Look for it independently, don't let
anything turn you away from it, not even the memory of your mother and
father. If you really love them, you won't hurt them by seeing them
critically—just don't go on a road which is wrong, dishonest and does not
harmonize with life. I have changed my mind many times, rearranged many
values, but, what was left as an essential value, without which I cannot
imagine my life, is the freedom of my conscience. I would like you, my
little girl, to think about whether I was right.
Another value is work. I don't know which to assign the first place and
which the second. Learn to love work! Any work, but one you have to know
really and thoroughly. Then don't be afraid of any thing, and things will
turn out well for you.
And don't forget about love in your life. I am not only thinking of the red
blossom which one day will bloom in your heart, and you, if fate favors you,
will find a similar one in the heart of another person with whose road
yours will merge. I am thinking of love without which one cannot live
happily. And don't ever crumble love—learn to give it whole and really. And
learn to love precisely those who encourage love so little—then you won't
usually make a mistake. My little girl Jana, when you will be choosing for
whom your maiden heart shall burn and to whom to really give yourself
remember your father.
I don't know if you will meet with such luck as I, I don't know if you will
meet such a beautiful human being, but choose your ideal close to him.
Perhaps you, my little one, have already begun to understand, and now
perhaps you understand to the point of pain what we have lost in him. What I
find hardest to bear is that I am also guilty of that loss.
Be conscious of the great love and sacrifice Pepik and Veruska are bringing
you. You not only have to be grateful to them...you must help them build
your common happiness positively, constructively. Always want to give them
more for the good they do for you. Then perhaps you will be able to come to
terms with their gentle goodness.
I heard from my legal representative that you are doing well in school, and
that you want to continue...I was very pleased. But even if you would one
day have to leave school and to work for your livelihood, don't stop
learning and studying. If you really want to, you will reach your goal. I
would have liked for you to become a medical doctor—you remember that we
talked about it. Of course you will decide yourself and circumstances will,
too. But if you stand one day in the traditional alma mater and carry home
from graduation not only your doctor's diploma, but also the real ability to
bring people relief as a doctor—then, my little girl...your mother will be
immensely pleased...But your mother would only be...truly happy, no matter
where you stand, whether at the operating table, at the...lathe, at your
child's cradle or at the work table in your household, if you will do your
work skillfully, honestly, happily and with your whole being. Then you will
be successful in it. Don't be demanding in life, but have high goals. They
are not exclusive of each other, for what I call demanding are those selfish
notions and needs. Restrict them yourself. Realize that in view of the
disaster and sorrow which happened to you, Vera, Pepicek, grandmother and
grandfather...and many others will try to give you what they have and what
they cannot afford. You should not only not ask them for it, but learn to be
modest. If you become used to it, you will not be unhappy because of
material things you don't have. You don't know how free one feels if one
trains oneself in modesty...how he/she gets a head start over against the
feeble and by how much one is safer and stronger. I really tried this out on
myself And, if you can thus double your strength, you can set yourself
courageous, high goals...Read much, and study languages. You will thereby
broaden your life and multiply its content. There was a time in my life when
I read voraciously, and then again times when work did not permit me to
take a single book in my hand, apart from professional literature. That was
a shame. Here in recent months I have been reading a lot, even books which
probably would not interest me outside, but it is a big and important task
to read everything valuable, or at least much that is. I shall write down
for you at the end of this letter what I have read in recent months. I am
sure you will think of me when you will be reading it.
And now also something for your body. I am glad that you are engaged in
sports. Just do it systematically. I think that there should be rhythmic
exercises, and if you have time, also some good, systematic gymnastics. And
those quarter hours every morning! Believe me finally that it would save you
a lot of annoyance about unfavorable proportions of your waist, if you
could really do it. It is also good for the training of your will and
perseverance. Also take care of your complexion regularly—I do not mean
makeup, God forbid, but healthy daily care. And love your neck and feet as
you do your face and lips. A brush has to be your good friend, every day,
and not only for your hands and feet; use it on every little bit of your
skin. Salicyl alcohol and Fennydin, that is enough for beauty, and then air
and sun. But about that you will find better advisors than I am.
Your photograph showed me your new hairdo; it looks good, but isn't it a
shame to hide your nice forehead? And that lady in the ball gown! Really,
you looked lovely, but your mother's eye noticed one fault, which may be due
to the way you were placed on the photograph—wasn't the neck opening a
little deep for your sixteen years? I am sorry I did not see the photo of
your new winter coat. Did you use the muff from your aunt as a fur collar?
Don't primp, but whenever possible, dress carefully and neatly. And don't
wear shoes until they arc run down at the heel! Are you wearing innersoles?
And how is your thyroid gland? These questions don't, of course, require an
answer, they are only meant as your mother's reminders.
In Leipzig in prison I read a book—the letters of Maria Theresa to her
daughter Marie Antoinette. I was very much impressed with how this ruler
showed herself to be practical and feminine in her advice to her daughter.
It was a German original, and I don't remember the name of the author. If
you ever see that book, remember that I made up my mind at that time that I
would also write you such letters about my experiences and advice.
Unfortunately I did not get beyond good intentions.
Janinko, please take good care of Grandfather Kral and Grandmother Horakova.
Their old hearts now need the most consolation. Visit them often and let
them tell you about your father's and mother's youth, so that you can
preserve it in your mind for your children. In that way an individual
becomes immortal, and we shall continue in you and in the others of your
blood.
And one more thing—music. I believe that you will show your gratitude to
Grandfather Horak for the piano which he gave you by practicing honestly,
and that you will succeed in what Pepik wants so much, in accompanying him
when he plays the violin or the viola. Please, do him that favor. I know
that it would mean a lot to him, and it would be beautiful. And when you can
play well together, play me the aria from Martha: "My rose, you bloom alone
there on the hillside," and then: "Sleep my little prince" by Mozart, and
then your father's favourite largo: " Under your window" by Chopin. You will
play it for me, won't you? I shall always be listening to you.
Just one more thing: Choose your friends carefully. Among other things one
is also very much determined by the people with whom one associates.
Therefore choose very carefully. Be careful in everything and listen to the
opinions of others about your girlfriends without being told. I shall never
forget your charming letter (today I can tell you) which you once in the
evening pinned to my pillow, to apologize when I caught you for the first
time at the gate in the company of a girl and a boy. You explained to me at
that time why it is necessary to have a gang. Have your gang, little girl,
but of good and clean young people. And compete with each other in
everything good. Only please don't confuse young people's springtime
infatuation with real love. Do you understand me? If you don't, aunt Vera
will help you explain what I meant. And so, my only young daughter, little
girl Jana, new life, my hope, my future forgiveness, live! Grasp life with
both hands! Until my last breath I shall pray for your happiness, my dear
child!
I kiss your hair, eyes and mouth, I stroke you and hold you in my arms (I
really held you so little.) I shall always be with you. I am concluding by
copying from memory the poem which your father composed for you in jail in
1940...
[There followed a poem written by her husband about the birth of their
daughter, and a reading list.]
1 (共1页)
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