Letter from Dora Ohlfsen to Gother Mann

Dear Mr Mann, you do not seem to get any of my letters as you do not reply to any of them. I get very few letters from Australia and none at all from England at this moment. How are you? Well, I hope. These are such anxious times and
as the theatre of war draws nearer here (where I am) so the anxiety grows greater. I have been working 6 hours each day in the Italian military hospital which is almost opposite my studio for several months. There is a great need of nurses and now a branch of the English Red Cross Society has come to Rome and English women are asked to go through a voluntary aid course. Great preparations are being made for bringing English wounded to this country and one sees crowds of English, French and Serbian officers and soldiers about. I am taking a rest at present-an entire rest. I began ten days ago and am working hard in my studio at the panel and some other work besides. I don't know how things are going later on. A few days ago there was no gesso in the whole of Rome to cast a bust with; the ships don't arrive you see. I told you of the staggering price I was asked in Paris for the casting in bronze of the panel 12000 francs. But it would be dearer now as the price of metal is rising all the time. I also told you that when I got to Paris I found my founder was dead and reducers for metals - all killed. The number of artists killed too is appalling. The prices are so high that one cannot heat and life is a misery. To give you an idea, ? which used to cast at Genoa 6 francs to the tone has gone up to 120 francs and so on. The medallion of Mr Holman is cast in bronze and waiting for expedition. It is at Monsieur Siot-Decauville, Boulevard des capucins 24 Paris. The agencies are afraid to send anything but it will leave t the first opportunity. I made many studies for the panel and I am sure you will be pleased with it when it is finished. It is in my own interest to make a success of it. I shall write to you again. I have a photograph to send you of something else-it is just being done. Once more my best and warmest wishes for the New Year. Yours ever sincerely, Dora Ohlfsen.