Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23053

1919 July 7

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.

    Dearest,

    Ah, didn’t I feel it in my bones that you had got the reaction after the strain? I knew there was something wrong. But buck up, dearest. Thank God I am not a nervous war wreck, so be thankful for that and let me call your attention to what your wise son Bill writes me when regretting there isn’t an Eiffel tower in London: “still, one must be content with what there is.” What an odd boy, he went to the Hornsey gasworks and “was charmed with the place – tall chimneys &c.!” His letters show great improvement, barring the writing which is still rather careless.

    Another complication today – I see by a copy of a telegram from London to New York, that Collins has suggested I should be sent to The Hague to watch the extradition proceedings against the ex-Kaiser. I would rather go back to Paris, but if they want me at The Hague, I suppose I would have to go there, so long as I can get my little holiday first. I feel that will make all the difference to us all. I am not a bit anxious to go back to Holland, and I am certain Roberts doesn’t want me to go—it would put a spoke into his wheel. There is no answer from New York yet, so I don’t know what is going to happen, only I am making every effort to get over to you this week. I will telegraph you as soon as I know definitely. And for goodness sake, don’t lose your faith in humanity – one pessimist in the family is enough. Cheer up. The worst – I mean the best – is yet to be!! Don’t forget women ought to be the uplifting force in life. Be an optimist, don’t be like me.

    Thank Bill for his interesting description. I think I have found an interesting surprise for him. Hope to see you soon.

Letter

Bouman Family