Marx and Engels at New Year
Both Marx and Engels were regular senders of new year greetings (at least in the 1870s)but their actual New Years differed somewhat.
For example Marx spent New Year’s Day 1866 starting to transcribe a clean copy of Capital Volume 1 the MS of which he had completed at the end of 1865.
In the 1850s Engels the Manchester businessman was to be found joining a hunt at New Year which he claimed was good for his health (if not the foxes).
Retired and living in North London Engels ventured out to friends for New Year’s Eve 1888. A Thick fog prevented him from returning home and he told Laura Lafargue that he spent all night and after a few hours sleep much of New Year’s Day drinking (pilsner and claret)
Otherwise both beard wearers were frequent senders of New Year greetings and wishes suggesting a hope for the future.
Marx to Wilhelm Liebknecht 7th Jan 1875
Happy New Year!
Engels to Wilhelm Liebknecht 9th January 1877
D’abord,” a Happy New Year to you and family and all our friends
Marx to Thomas Allsopp 1st Jan 1878
I hope one good thing the new year will do—act beneficently upon your health… The whole family send you their new year wishes and you know that they come from the heart
Engels to Johann Becker 11th Jan 1878
Avant tout, a Happy New Year to you, and may it bring you less in the way of troubles and burdens than the previous one!
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