Storytellers that weave a tale of human drama and historic events, creating a sense of place for those of us who can identify with the participants, cannot be forgotten. And when their story flows from the pages of a book, shared and discussed, praised and criticized, reprinted over and over, until thousands have taken it up, perhaps it shouldn’t be forgotten. When that book spins a dream, for a new beginning, in a land far away, causing thousands to become immigrants, it can’t be forgotten. That book, that dream, causing them to give up all their belongings, and say a final farewell to all of their loved ones, and immigrate, was not taken lightly. The decision to immigrate, to a whole new land, where the language and the customs is foreign, is so emotional, and difficult, it is never an easy one.
But when the country has been stripped of its beauty by wars, and is governed by rulers that have no concern for its people, what choice does one have? When people are starving, and all hope for change is lost, and our only choice is to give up and die or try for a new beginning – is there really any choice?
Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America
At just such a point, in 1829, Gottfried Duden penned “A Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America and a stay of several years, in 1824, 25, 26 & 27″ and became “the dreamspinner.”
He wove stories of how abundant game was, and could be shot freely, in a land where you were forbidden and jailed for hunting. He told of lush forests, to readers who could not cut a tree to build a house to shelter their families, without permission granted from their landlord. And best of all, he talked about a land where everyone was free, free to live the life they wanted, to travel where they wanted, and best of all, free to raise their families with that freedom. The land where the sun of freedom shone, was the dream for a new beginning, for thousands of German emigrants who read his book.
