Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
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Cologne
Sat. March 12, ‘28
Dearest,
I am writing from the Hotel “everlasting Lamp” -- a quaint title which attracted me, having gone to Cologne for the great Press Exhibition which opened yesterday for a press view and today’s official opening. We were taken there in style by special train via Frankfort and Mayence, and at the latter place, the pride of the German railways, the first Pullman train called “Rheingold” took us along the Rhine to Cologne. It was a beautiful day and the vineyards along the Rhine and the orchards and fields looked lovely. We passed all the historic places where the good wine comes from, also Coblenz and Bonn, and the Lorelei rock. It is certainly a beautiful river and I was pleased to have the chance of seeing it. As for Cologne, it is 36 years since I was there last, and I remembered little about it except the Dom and the bridge of boats across the Rhine which is now a modern bridge. Tonight I am going back to Berlin arriving Sunday 830 a.m. whereafter I will take Mary to see the Schurholtzes. My absence filled in just right so as my room has been upside down for running water to be installed, so there was a terrific mess. I found it on my arrival so nicely cleaned, with a vase of tulips on the table and the furniture newly painted and adorned with (painted ) garlands of blue cornflowers and yellow poppies on a pretty ground! A display that made me blink my eyes! Even the floor had been painted during my week’s absence.
We had a beautiful crossing, and everything went off well. Mary seems to like berlin, of which, of course, she has only seen the bright side so far. We saw Winnie Hogg at her place of business and I took Mary on Thursday to the school where there were gymnastic exercises going on she took the gym. Togs and did a few turns jumping over the horse &c. and compared very well with the other girls’ performances. It was a mixed boys and girls affair; that is, the two sexes were doing different stunts in one large hall, and I thought it was conducted very well indeed. So Mary enjoyed that and she has been out with Mrs. Hogg since to some of the museums. Mary is still somewhat shy of talking German but I think she will be coming on all right. She did not mind being left alone, as Fru Hauns speaks English anyway, and would take due care of her.
There was a change in the weather about the middle of the week and we have had a couple of cold and wet days. Today in cologne it was like that, much to the dismay of the bigwigs who turned out for the inauguration ceremony at the exhibition ceremony at the Exhibition in tall hats and frock coats of ancient and curious vintages. We had written a lot about it already so I didn’t have much work except look through in search of “features” which I duly found. It is certainly an interesting show; the U.S.A., England, Holland and 40 other states were exhibiting, also the League of Nations and all the ambassadors and ministers were here today, with Sir Eric Drummond of the L. of N.
Everything was done in great style with any amount of free feeds and drinks and all the journalistic fiends of the whole country refused nothing that was on offer. I had to buy an extra strap to carry all the literature and other stuff that was handed out wholesale including a large box of dainties and small bottles of eau de cologne, brandy, cigars, and cigarettes.
The “Rheingold” train is a veritable train de luxe, all brand new, it was its first trip and will run between the Hook of Holland and Lucerne beginning the 15th.
They gave us a slap-up feed on board and the seats are very comfortable; different upholstery to each car, costly wood paneling and a kitchen for every two cars. Gangway down the middle, plenty of room &c, all posh, and crowds collected at points on the way admiring the new coaches painted mauve halfway up and cream the op half, with a silvered roof with a new kind of ventilation on it.
So tonight I shall be dossing in the train again, leaving 10.13 pm and hope to find that Mary has been all right. Of course she has been out with me every day to see the sights, on which I have left it to her to report to you.
Lochner told me he had found a very excellent place that might have suited Mary; this was of course too late, but I think she will be quite happy with the Schnurholz family. As I said before, I am taking her there for a preliminary visit Sunday forenoon; the earliest time that could be arranged.
With much love to all
Thine,
Jack.
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