The Journey to America by Henry P. Kramer

        After several weeks in Antwerp the family received its American visas allowing it to enter the United States. The money that Father and Mother had smuggled out of Germany helped. It ensured the United States Government that none of us would become public charges. I must explain that Germany under the Nazis had a law that restricted the amount of money that any person could take out of Germany to ten marks, the equivalent of two and a half dollars. This made smuggling necessary. Even though we violated the law we didn't feel too bad about it. It was a matter of life and death and, after all, it was our money. Even so, I was told by Mother that the price of smuggling was roughly fifty cents on the dollar. There were some other hitches. We all were supposed to be of sound mind. The consul in Antwerp interviewed all three of us children and posed arithmetic problems for us to solve. My brother and sister gave the right answers immediately. However, I chewed the matter over, and after minutes of mental mastication, came up with the answer. The consul let us pass even though he considered me marginal.
        Father left for America first. He took the Cunard liner, the SS Berengaria from Cherbourg to New York. He was to reconnoiter the territory, stake out a position for the family, and then we were to follow a month later. We three children in Mother's charge left Antwerp by train for Paris. Paris was fantastic. We stayed at a little hotel that had a glass encased elevator. We went out to dinner at a restaurant. Without even asking, the waiter placed a carafe of wine on the table and each of us children had a glass. I must have drunk some of the wine because I remember being tipsy. Afterwards, we all went on a taxi ride down the Champs Elysees through the City of Lights that were multiplied by reflection on the wet pavements. Next day we took another train to Cherbourg and boarded the SS Berengaria for the trip across the North Atlantic in a stormy November. I was sure I was leaving civilization behind.
        It was great fun on the boat. We went second class which allowed us considerable comfort without the renown and expense of first class nor the deprivations of third class. As soon as we got out of the English Channel and hit the open Atlantic, the ship, gigantic though it was, became a toy of the waves. As a consequence, Mother and Sister had to keep to the cabin in a sorry state of sickness. Brother and I were not burdened by this at all. As a consequence we were left to our own devices.
        In the morning, a very tall and thin Englishman knocked at the cabin door and asked if Master would like to have his bath drawn. Indeed, Master would. When the bath was ready Master got into the tub, luxuriated for a bit, then got out and got dressed. Master would then meet with the other Master to have breakfast at the mess. Another very tall and thin Englishman, presented the Masters with the card and after a suitable interval of time asked us what we would like. What a choice: different sorts of eggs, bacon, ham, cheese, all sorts of rolls and breads, jam, preserves and marmalade, and fruit to finish or for that matter start the proceedings. The Masters were exceedingly pleased and chose much and well.
        What to do after breakfast? It was possible to sit in the lounge and read. One could go out on deck and investigate the life boats. And after a proper pause for digestion to occur, one could go to the swimming pool for a dip. The water in the pool was by no means stationary. It sloshed from one end to the other, or so it seemed. Later analysis has shown that the water was in fact stationary and it was the ship that moved in such an exaggerated manner. Swimming in those circumstances was great fun. Sometimes, however, the motion was so severe that the pool was closed down.
        Of course, the time for elevenses came quickly. It was necessary to refresh oneself with a little finger sandwich and perhaps some tea to forestall starvation until lunch time. At lunch we sat down again in a large hall and were served by a tall Englishman. The number of choices exceeded that at breakfast. But we always made good selections. Some choices didn't sit well. For example, up to that time I had never tried corn on the cob, and I didn't like its taste. Also, I was not acquainted with squash in its infinite American variety. I had never had egg plant or bell peppers. I later learned to enjoy all of these vegetables.
        In the afternoon, there was tea with crumpets or cakes. And, of course, in the evening there was another wonderful feed. Because the weather was rough, Mother and Sister were not the only ones who kept to their cabins.         Consequently, the two Masters, my brother and 1, enjoyed the attentions of a large staff of tall Englishmen who lavished their attention on the few of us who were available. It was a very enjoyable boat trip.
        After a few days, we were nearing America. The weather got a little better and the ladies were able to emerge. The last day was exciting. For hours we cruised along what someone said was Long Island. There were lovely white houses visible on the coast. I felt that the people who lived in them must all be extremely happy. Little did I know at that time that people are always able to find reasons for being unhappy. Finally, we stopped in New York harbor, and the immigration people boarded and looked at everyone's papers. By the time that was done, the winter sun was setting and creating the most memorable sight. It illuminated the spires of down town like a gigantic fairy castle, with glittering golden reflections from the windows, and a sky of orange and purple. After sunset we pulled up at a pier in the Hudson.
        Father was waiting for us. He put us in a taxi to our hotel apartment on the upper West side. The noises of New York were unlike those I had ever heard before. The taxi drivers shouted at the top of their lungs, soliciting fares. They honked their horns. There were sirens. New York was full of sound and fury and energy. Nothing so orderly as the places we had come from. We had left "civilization" and come to a New World.