Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Title
Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Creator
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958
Identifier
WWP23077
Date
1919 November 22
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
Language
English
Requires
PROOFREADING
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
Saturday morning
Nov. 22, 1919
My dearest;
Herewith the usual check for pound 40 as I don’t think it necessary for you to hold out till I come because I would have to change my francs into sterling anyhow and nobody is permitted to leave France with more than 1000 francs currency in his possession.
Besides the three weeks I spoke of don’t seem to be so sure now that I have received a letter from Collins which I enclose (you might return it when you acknowledge receipt of the cheque) he doesn’t seem so frightfully keen as Denny told me. Denny distinctly told me that Youatt in New York and Collins in London were quite anxious for me to go to London, and, with the circumstances he related about Jones, that didn’t seem to me to be unreasonable. But perhaps he exaggerated, and if so, I am very annoyed about it, as I don’t want to be humbugged about with no decision made any way. But perhaps it will work out as we want it after all, because the Paris Office has been spending a powerful lot of money during the Peace Conference and New York wants to bring the staff down to the pre-war level. Moreover it would cost the A.P. less to give me a war allowance than to go on paying my expenses here. Oh, if only one were independent, to be able to say at a definite time – without leaving them all in the lurch – “Good-bye, gents, this is the time it suits me to quit. And I am going to have my holiday now.” But this is bolshevism pure and simple, so I had better not insist.
Many thanks for the children’s letters. Bill I will excuse from writing more as his time will be fully taken up with lessons.
As for those smulpapen of girls, Betty wants to “lead me away” when I come home but from her letter it seems there are already plenty of people to “lead her away”. All the same I have a large block of chocolate that I won as a prize in a lottery, together with a tin of boiled beef! The latter I will give away, as I have no use for it, but the chocolate I will keep for the smulpapen.
Very interested in the advent of “Helen’s Baby”. I wonder if they will christen him Timothy. My congratulations and best wishes to the parents.
I have acknowledged the money to the Notary at Middelburg. Franso always seems to meet his obligations most punctually. I don’t know whether or not he owes me anything now; must look it up when I come home.
Yesterday and today wet and miserable, no inducements to go out. I shall keep this letter open in case I want to add anything from the office tonight.
With love to all, as ever
Thine,
Jack.
Nov. 22, 1919
My dearest;
Herewith the usual check for pound 40 as I don’t think it necessary for you to hold out till I come because I would have to change my francs into sterling anyhow and nobody is permitted to leave France with more than 1000 francs currency in his possession.
Besides the three weeks I spoke of don’t seem to be so sure now that I have received a letter from Collins which I enclose (you might return it when you acknowledge receipt of the cheque) he doesn’t seem so frightfully keen as Denny told me. Denny distinctly told me that Youatt in New York and Collins in London were quite anxious for me to go to London, and, with the circumstances he related about Jones, that didn’t seem to me to be unreasonable. But perhaps he exaggerated, and if so, I am very annoyed about it, as I don’t want to be humbugged about with no decision made any way. But perhaps it will work out as we want it after all, because the Paris Office has been spending a powerful lot of money during the Peace Conference and New York wants to bring the staff down to the pre-war level. Moreover it would cost the A.P. less to give me a war allowance than to go on paying my expenses here. Oh, if only one were independent, to be able to say at a definite time – without leaving them all in the lurch – “Good-bye, gents, this is the time it suits me to quit. And I am going to have my holiday now.” But this is bolshevism pure and simple, so I had better not insist.
Many thanks for the children’s letters. Bill I will excuse from writing more as his time will be fully taken up with lessons.
As for those smulpapen of girls, Betty wants to “lead me away” when I come home but from her letter it seems there are already plenty of people to “lead her away”. All the same I have a large block of chocolate that I won as a prize in a lottery, together with a tin of boiled beef! The latter I will give away, as I have no use for it, but the chocolate I will keep for the smulpapen.
Very interested in the advent of “Helen’s Baby”. I wonder if they will christen him Timothy. My congratulations and best wishes to the parents.
I have acknowledged the money to the Notary at Middelburg. Franso always seems to meet his obligations most punctually. I don’t know whether or not he owes me anything now; must look it up when I come home.
Yesterday and today wet and miserable, no inducements to go out. I shall keep this letter open in case I want to add anything from the office tonight.
With love to all, as ever
Thine,
Jack.
Original Format
Letter
To
Bouman Family
Files
Collection
Citation
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958, “Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family,” 1919 November 22, WWP23077, Jon Anthony Bouman Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.