Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23023

1919 February 26

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;

    I got yours of the 23rd this morning just when I was beginning to fear there was something wrong, as your previous letter is dated the 15th and this was the first I had from Newcastle. I wonder if there was one in between that has gone astray.

    I hope you left the old folks in an improving state of health – it was a pity they were both laid up while you were there. Did you see the uncles and aunts? I suppose I shall hear about it later.

    Well dear, it is settled now that I shall go back to London after Peace, that is, probably July next. I was told today only that CW. Jones is going to be pensioned off soon; his health being unsatisfactory, and I am to succeed him at all events, such is Mr. Stones’ wish. It is true that what knowledge I possess is something above writing out vouchers for salaries &c, but I can perhaps turn it to account yet, (as indeed I do here) and it would be foolish to refuse a ready made berth, with a pension at the end of it, and good pay all the time. After the signing of Peace, the Paris office will of course be reorganized and the present very large staff reduced to its previous proportions or something like that. So I can look forward to being “something in the city” in future. Old Jewry is a dreadful hole, but then, nothing is perfect.

    You may be lucky in finding a house and I hope you will discover something suitable. In this I must rely on you. Now that the future seems more settled, I don’t mind a 3 years lease, but before I should have rather shied at it. Now that I know where my place of employment will be, it is easier to make a decision. I am sending you another crossed cheque herewith –this system seems to work as well as any – at all events until you have a really permanent address. I hope you will keep clear of the flue, which I read in the papers is raging in London especially. Here also it is pretty bad; fortunately I have escaped so far. I am much interested in what you tell me about the children. People must have been making tons of money in Newcastle.

    You will be back in London when you receive this, so I am addressing it in care of DCT.

    Now that President Wilson is on the other side, the volume of news has slackened somewhat so that we have time to turn to other subjects which we could not approach before. On Friday I am going to a big diplomatic dinner at a very swell place, and on Saturday there is something special on at that palatial clubhouse I wrote you about. The Prince of Wales was there the other day: unfortunately I wasn’t there to see what he is really like. He is quite popular here. They say the marriage with Princess Yolanda is not coming off, as her family strongly object to her changing her religion.

    After many days heavy rains we have had a fine Sunday, then more rain but today it was fine again, so that M. Clemenceau could go out in his automobile for the first time after the attempt on his life.

    I hear that this hotel (Q. Voltaire) is the place where Wagner composed his “Meistersinger”. In front of the hotel, along the embankment are those fascinating old bookstalls, where one may browse forever among the old and new. The Seine is a raging stream these days of heavy rains, and is very high. The other day, at a restaurant, I met another old acquaintance of the American Legation at The Hague and we had a little chat.

    Let me know dear what you made your third cheque out for, and whether I am to continue addressing c/o DCT. And I shall be looking forward to reading some details about your Newcastle trip.

    Best love to yourself and the babes with their “bobbed” hair. I don’t know what it means and am quite curious to see their pictures.

Letter

Bouman Family