Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Title
Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Creator
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958
Identifier
WWP23042
Date
1919 May 25
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
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
13 Place de la Bourse
Paris, Sunday May 25
Dearest,
Herewith the usual cheque with £ 3.3. included for Bill’s specs. The girls tell me he really doesn’t look so bad in them, which I am glad to hear. Please thank them for their letters and poetry, I will write them a letter soon, but I just want to get this off to you as I shall be very busy this coming week.
I am sorry you are kept waiting so long for the house to be got ready, but you need not be surprised, because it is the same everywhere; it is just the aftermath of the war; workmen cannot be got to do anything nowadays; it is hard lines on those who are really pressed for time, and it must be a real loss to the landlord in our case.
I discovered a notice about a concert of Vincent d’Indy’s on a hoarding, and I suddenly decided to go there, and am glad I did – it was charming. Look at the programme and tell me why we don’t have concerts like that in London? Imagine an old, old monastery in one of the back streets of the Latin Quarter; a hall, vaulted and beamed, that would have possibly been a refectory; in the centre of an old world courtyard with bees and flowers – such was the setting. Not too many people but certainly all music lovers. It was a great treat, and the ticket only cost me 2 francs 25. How I wished you had been with me; but I often wish that, because we would have enjoyed this, and many other things, so much better together.
A letter from Flowerdew’s just to hand enclosing a list of further questions about where I have lived and what I have done since my 20th year. Impossible to fill up until I get back to a fixed residence, so must let it slide for the time being. I am also required to advertise in two papers, costing some pound 2 or pound 3 but I cannot do that yet.
Strange I can never remember our wedding day; without looking for reference at our awful dining room clock with the little plate. I thought it was the 25th! Never mind, I love you all the same! Thine,
Jack
[Enclosure: Concert Program: Titled: Concert Sous la Presidence et avec le concours de M. Vincent d’Indy]
Paris, Sunday May 25
Dearest,
Herewith the usual cheque with £ 3.3. included for Bill’s specs. The girls tell me he really doesn’t look so bad in them, which I am glad to hear. Please thank them for their letters and poetry, I will write them a letter soon, but I just want to get this off to you as I shall be very busy this coming week.
I am sorry you are kept waiting so long for the house to be got ready, but you need not be surprised, because it is the same everywhere; it is just the aftermath of the war; workmen cannot be got to do anything nowadays; it is hard lines on those who are really pressed for time, and it must be a real loss to the landlord in our case.
I discovered a notice about a concert of Vincent d’Indy’s on a hoarding, and I suddenly decided to go there, and am glad I did – it was charming. Look at the programme and tell me why we don’t have concerts like that in London? Imagine an old, old monastery in one of the back streets of the Latin Quarter; a hall, vaulted and beamed, that would have possibly been a refectory; in the centre of an old world courtyard with bees and flowers – such was the setting. Not too many people but certainly all music lovers. It was a great treat, and the ticket only cost me 2 francs 25. How I wished you had been with me; but I often wish that, because we would have enjoyed this, and many other things, so much better together.
A letter from Flowerdew’s just to hand enclosing a list of further questions about where I have lived and what I have done since my 20th year. Impossible to fill up until I get back to a fixed residence, so must let it slide for the time being. I am also required to advertise in two papers, costing some pound 2 or pound 3 but I cannot do that yet.
Strange I can never remember our wedding day; without looking for reference at our awful dining room clock with the little plate. I thought it was the 25th! Never mind, I love you all the same! Thine,
Jack
[Enclosure: Concert Program: Titled: Concert Sous la Presidence et avec le concours de M. Vincent d’Indy]
Original Format
Letter
To
Bouman Family
Files
Collection
Citation
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958, “Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family,” 1919 May 25, WWP23042, Jon Anthony Bouman Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.