Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Title
Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Creator
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958
Identifier
WWP23052
Date
1919 July 6
Description
Letter from Jon Bouman to his family.
Source
Gift of William C. and Evelina Suhler
Subject
Correspondence
Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920)
Contributor
Rachel Dark
Denise Montgomery
Austin Shifflett
Language
English
Provenance
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.
Text
13 Place de la Bourse
Paris Saturday night
July 6
Dearest,
What do you say to me coming over for ten days on your birthday? Only whether it will come off, I know not. I began by making a general advance last Thursday to the British Consulate. A horde of several score there, my number was 50 and they were at 20. Finally I ascertained I had to go to another office in another street. Same horde there, impossible to get through before closing time.
Went back next morning, Friday. After long wait was informed I would have to get Dutch consulate’s visa first. Off to Dutch Consulate at other end of town; found a notice up that it had removed to center of town. Back to center. Not so long to wait – franc 7.50 to pay for visa.
Next step to Prefecture of Police. I have special letter of introduction from Commissariat of Franco-American Affairs, hope to get through quickly. But remember that it is the American Independence Day. Office closed.
Saturday morning, bright and early. Passport office besieged by hundreds, get number 729. Stand an hour in malodorous crowd, atmosphere like hothouse, only more smelly. My number is called. I exhibit passport. All right, I will be called again. Hope is growing. Another 1 ½ hour in the crowd. Number called again, hurrah, now it’s coming off.
Have you your identity card?
Never had one, never been asked for one, thought it was unnecessary after Armistice.
Nothing doing without identity card.
Go to another building. Find it occupied by drove of people sitting quietly on benches like schoolchildren. Identity Card? First you must have your legalized certificate of domicile, and five photos. (Ah you devils, you can’t get me on that – I’ve got about twenty photos and you can have the bally lot)
Where do I get my certificate of domicile?
At your Hotel.
Back I trudges to hotel; whole morning – nothing done. Get certificate. Have to take it to the nearest police office where it appears they want my signature. What for, the Lord only knows. The police commissary isn’t here. I am to get it Monday morning.
Then to identity card office, then to Prefecture, then to British passport office, then to train, then to boat, then to train, then to underground, then to tram, then to Stanhope Rd No. 10.
“It is a Calvary”, as Battershell used to say. But now I know the way, which is something. Wonder what snags I shall strike in progress. Dogged does it, however. After all now is the time that thousands of people want to go not only to England, but to Switzerland, Italy, all sorts of places, and they all have to pass through the Prefecture, where there is no semblance of order. It is not uninteresting if one has the time; not like the Englishman met there who said he wanted to get away at once and he had to make half a dozen calls before leaving, this very Saturday morning. His fumings were listened to with indulgent smiles by those whose numbers were those of several days before!!
Well, here is that cheque for £10. Let me know its safe receipt and that of the other one for £20 which I sent you the other day. And if I don’t succeed, it won’t be for want of trying.
With all love,
Thine,
Jack.
Original Format
Letter
To
Bouman Family
Files
Collection
Citation
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958, “Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family,” 1919 July 6, WWP23052, Jon Anthony Bouman Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.