Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Title
Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Creator
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958
Identifier
WWP23098
Date
1920 June 6
Description
Letter from Jon Bouman to his family.
Source
Gift of William C. and Evelina Suhler
Subject
Germany--History--1918-1933
Correspondence
Berlin, Germany
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
Sunday morning
June 6, 1920
Dearest:
I was glad to get your letter last night, as it was somewhat longer in coming than usual. I am now writing at the unusual hour of 11 A.M. because I have taken Saturday night off instead of Sunday night, as the elections make the coming night more important. This is election day and presently we are going to charter a car and drive around the various polling places. Unfortunately it is raining but it may clear up soon.
Well dear, I have every hope of being back among you very soon; the new man hasn’t arrived yet, but soon after he gets here I think I shall be authorized to return home. I chuckled to read that so much money was coming in that we couldn’t keep it in the house, but wait till we get our income tax papers; that will make a hole in our revenue!
Yes, I wrote to the Aliens Officer on May 16th that being 2 months from my departure, in accordance with their regulations. I wonder if they said anything else about it? I mean what would have happened if I hadn’t written? I don’t suppose anything further was said as you would surely have told me. What an ordeal to have to stand in that queue, I am sorry you had to undergo that again! I thought you were through with queues.
Your letter paper isn’t so bad, and will do at a pinch; but I can’t say I admire the printing, and being without the number and N8 instead of N6, it looks rather bad; I wonder what sort of job lot that was.
This letter was opened by the German censor again, they are looking for attempts, or instructions, to convey money out of the country.
What an amusing story about the Mackenzie’s outing; well I suppose they were happy though perspiring, some people like that. I am curious to see the garden, and glad it seems to be a success.
Poor Aunty Pell, let me know how she is getting on the next time you write. I suppose that she may be almost the last time. I hope all goes well here and there are no more upheavals in the country so that I can be released soon. I shall get the office to wire you when I quit.
We have just heard from New York that we are to (?) our service from here sharply owing to the Conventions for the elections in the United States which take up all the newspaper space there, but of course we have always to be on the watch for big things.
I hope nothing serious has happened to Walter. That would be a calamity. I cannot understand why his wife should not have not have written.
If I have time, I think I will go via Rotterdam and pay a brief visit to Aunt L. but I shall expect to return via Flushing; I should like to see the old house once more. I may have time to do that.
With all my love, dearest, and hugs for the dubs, and hoping to see all you hearties very, very soon.
Always Thine,
Jack.
June 6, 1920
Dearest:
I was glad to get your letter last night, as it was somewhat longer in coming than usual. I am now writing at the unusual hour of 11 A.M. because I have taken Saturday night off instead of Sunday night, as the elections make the coming night more important. This is election day and presently we are going to charter a car and drive around the various polling places. Unfortunately it is raining but it may clear up soon.
Well dear, I have every hope of being back among you very soon; the new man hasn’t arrived yet, but soon after he gets here I think I shall be authorized to return home. I chuckled to read that so much money was coming in that we couldn’t keep it in the house, but wait till we get our income tax papers; that will make a hole in our revenue!
Yes, I wrote to the Aliens Officer on May 16th that being 2 months from my departure, in accordance with their regulations. I wonder if they said anything else about it? I mean what would have happened if I hadn’t written? I don’t suppose anything further was said as you would surely have told me. What an ordeal to have to stand in that queue, I am sorry you had to undergo that again! I thought you were through with queues.
Your letter paper isn’t so bad, and will do at a pinch; but I can’t say I admire the printing, and being without the number and N8 instead of N6, it looks rather bad; I wonder what sort of job lot that was.
This letter was opened by the German censor again, they are looking for attempts, or instructions, to convey money out of the country.
What an amusing story about the Mackenzie’s outing; well I suppose they were happy though perspiring, some people like that. I am curious to see the garden, and glad it seems to be a success.
Poor Aunty Pell, let me know how she is getting on the next time you write. I suppose that she may be almost the last time. I hope all goes well here and there are no more upheavals in the country so that I can be released soon. I shall get the office to wire you when I quit.
We have just heard from New York that we are to (?) our service from here sharply owing to the Conventions for the elections in the United States which take up all the newspaper space there, but of course we have always to be on the watch for big things.
I hope nothing serious has happened to Walter. That would be a calamity. I cannot understand why his wife should not have not have written.
If I have time, I think I will go via Rotterdam and pay a brief visit to Aunt L. but I shall expect to return via Flushing; I should like to see the old house once more. I may have time to do that.
With all my love, dearest, and hugs for the dubs, and hoping to see all you hearties very, very soon.
Always Thine,
Jack.
Original Format
Letter
To
Bouman Family
Files
Collection
Citation
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958, “Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family,” 1920 June 6, WWP23098, Jon Anthony Bouman Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.