Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23031

1919 April 6

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.

My dearest;

    Herewith the agreement duly signed and initialled and witnessed by the faithful Frank. I have not filled up the date; it was signed by me today but I don’t know but that it should bear the date on which you paid Mr. Collins the pound £12.10.--. You will see which is right, won’t you? I don’t know anything about the final clause referring to the House Town Planning &c. Act, but perhaps it doesn’t apply in our case. I suppose you will get a duplicate from the landlord, who, I hope, is a reasonable man. I see he lives in the same road. So now you will soon be fixed up, and from what you write, very satisfactorily.

    I am sorry to hear about the death of Oliver Collins, he was rather a nice fellow. Fortunately for his wife that she has got an appointment. I knew you would get a hearty welcome from everyone, you popular person! You would enjoy seeing your old friends again.

    Today Frank Grundy and I went out to lunch at an artists’ tavern on the top of Montmartre where I had not been before. It was most interesting, those picturesque old streets. You go up by a funicular railway and we walked down. The tavern was the real thing, with paintings on the walls, excellent food and a full house of young roysterers. I enjoyed it first rate.

    Now comes the big news. Next week – from April 15th – I am to go to see the devastated regions on a three days tour, the guest of the French government, in recognition of an article I wrote after interviewing Prof Dubois, deputy for the Seine, of which I told you before. I am looking forward to it tremendously, and hope I shall have the chance of going up in an aeroplane. Won’t that be splendid?

    Now that the French exchange is so low, I think I will ask Jones in London to send you a cheque at the end of this month, and repay him afterwards. That will save me considerable money. I haven’t written yet, but will soon, and I am telling you now so that you may know about it. Of course I will write again before I go on my trip.

    With all my love, and hugs for the babes,

Letter

Bouman Family