Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23019

1919 February 4

Letter from Jon Bouman to his family.

Gift of William C. and Evelina Suhler

Correspondence

Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)

Rachel Dark

Denise Montgomery

Austin Shifflett

English

Evelina Suhler is the granddaughter of Jon Anthony Bouman and inherited the family collection of his letters from the years of World War I. She and her husband gave the letters to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum in 2013.

My dearest,

    Welcome back to your ain land! I hope the winding up business and the crossing are safely over, and you are sniffing once more the familiar airs of Charing X. I suppose Bill will be the one who, after yourself, will delight in being back in Cockneyland. I only hope your health has not suffered.

    Your letter of Jan. 26 I received yesterday (Monday Feb. 3) and I had just written to you on Sunday evening Feb. 2. Had I known, I would have sent it to Pomona. I hope, however you have got it in time. You would no doubt be enquiring to the last if there were any letters at 23 Emantsstr.

    Many thanks also to Mary and Betty for their letters that came with yours. I will send them some postcards soon. I like their letters very much indeed, bless them! 

    The snow that fell ten days ago has not yet melted and it keeps bitterly cold. Of fuel there doesn’t seem to be such a lack here, but butter is very scarce. After a few days when I was able to get some at the hotel, the supply has given out again. There is none to be had, and I confess that a breakfast without butter, just dry bread and jam, doesn’t seem to give me much backbone to start the day on. However what there is, is of good quality. There are all sorts of things you don’t have – bananas, nuts, figs, olive oil &c.

    One lives and learns, sometimes expensively. The other day I found plumpudding on the bill of fare, 1 ½ francs, so thought I’d try it. On a metal tray came four small slices, cut like Dutch cheese, so thin, with brandy sauce. They had managed to get somewhere near the taste of plumpudding, but when I got my bill, the charge was the charge was 3 ½ francs. On my protesting I was told that the 2 francs extra was for the brandy and the sugar! Never no more!!

    As for sugar, I carry my own now in a tin box made for the purpose which will serve as a keepsake afterwards. On it is painted “Sucrier mignon – petite ration.”

    I expect to move on Friday, that is if a promise to keep a room for me materializes. I am moving to the other side of the river – something like Battlesea. The little folks I suppose have taken a moving farewell of Doerje – poor beast – I hope he will have as good a home. Your telegram saying that you are sailing will take four days I suppose – like mine to the office.

    The painters have now gone, but the smell is left behind and as there are double windows, it takes some time to disappear. A mad idea, to start painting at this time.

    It seems strange to think of you in London when you aren’t here yet, and that we don’t know about each other’s coming and going until a week later. I might as well be in America!

    With the other people in the office I get on first rate, also with Chief Roberts. I sent Mrs. Berry a letter to which she replied thanking me for the news about her husband.

    I must revise my opinion about my colleagues – there is one whose French is perfect. He was ill when I came and I did his job, but he is back now. He has a French mother however, and his wife is Belgian so that makes the difference. His name is Topping –English, allright.

    Then we have some queer Yankee names like Guisenberry and Burge MacFall. We also have a French counterpart of the Battershell type, who keeps the Petty Cash. I run an account in my own name at one of the banks here for the office.

    When you see Estlin Grundy or anyone I know, I want to be kindly remembered to them. And of course to the old folks at your home. I guess I’d better write to c/o Eva next time.

    Goodbye, dearest, God bless you all. Hugs to the babies.

Letter

Bouman Family