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An Old Friend of Labour
| Author(s) | Frederick Engels |
|---|---|
| Written | 22 November 1890 |
Reproduced from the newspaper
Source : Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 27
This is a transcript of Engels' speech at the funeral of Helene Demuth who died on November 4, 1890.
By the death during the past week [1] of Helena Demuth the Socialist party has lost a remarkable member. Born on New Yearâs Day, 1823, [2] of peasant parents, at St. Wendel, she came, at the age of 14, into the family of the Von Westphalens of Trier. Jenny von Westphalen in 1843 became the wife of Karl Marx. From 1837 to the death of Mrs. Marx in 1881, with the exception of the first few months of the married life, the two women were constant companions. After the death of Mrs. Marx in December 1881, and of Marx on March 14th, 1883, Helen a Demuth went to keep house for Frederick Engels. The leaders of the Socialist movement bore testimony to âher strong common-sense, her absolute rectitude of character, her ceaseless thoughtfulness for others, her reliability, and the essential truthfulness of her natureâ. Engels at her funeral declared that Marx took counsel of Helen a Demuth, not only in difficult and intricate party matters, but even in respect of his economical writings. âAs for me, âhe said, âwhat work I have been able to do since the death of Marx has been largely due to the sunshine and support of her presence in the house.â Helen a is buried at Highgate in the same grave as Marx and his wife.