Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23050

1919 June 29

Letter from Jon Bouman to his family, mentions signing of the Peace Treaty.

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,

    Last night was the night! I see by telegrams there were celebrations in London also. Right in front of the Office, on the Place de la Bourse, they had an impromptu ball. I saw little of the rejoicings, as I had to be on duty all night Saturday – Sunday, but heard a fearful din going on until well into the night.

    This signing business has been put off so long that it threatens to interfere with my homecoming. Roberts wants me to stay until the holidays are over, but I objected as that would mean me sticking here until October or so, and six months is a long enough separation. I have asked him to let me go home on a short leave between now and when he goes to America and I hope that can be arranged. The difficulty of course is still the passport. Even if the formalities are discontinued for allied subjects, the neutrals will still have to go through it and I would have to be sure that there would be no delay in London for getting back to Paris. I don’t mind filling in for others during the holiday period because some had no holiday at all last year, but I want to see you all soon. I had made up my mind that I would go to London soon after peace and I shall be very much disappointed if I have to remain util the autumn. A little time in between would make all the difference.

    Kicking wouldn’t make much difference, because Berry is away from his family indefinitely, so is Conger, and several others. The other day arrived a postcard from Powers’ wife, who is in America, for her husband who is in Berlin, signed “Rummikins” you remember her? She was having the usual gay time somewhere at a bathing resort. Enclosed letter I guess is from Dora Janssen. Young Maloney reforwarded it to me from Amsterdam so it has gone a long way round to get to you. A postcard from G. Janssen on my birthday mentioned that Dora was going to Holland for a holiday in July.

    Your last letter is dated the 22nd. I hope you are all keeping well. About the piano, old Estlin ought to have it moved to you at his expense, as he had the use of it so long, gratis. If he didn’t make an offer to do so, I think it rather mean of him, don’t you?

    Yes, the profiteering – some of it unavoidable because everybody else is doing it – is something awful. The hotel laundries a week or so ago raised their prices without warning 50 to 75%! A former chambermaid of the hotel now washes for me at the old prices, because really it is too ridiculous. The advantage people take. I simply could not, and would not, live here if I did not get my expenses paid. The Moroneys have to clear out of their house because it has been sold over their heads, and they are in despair what to do. Our lady stenographer who lives in a flat, has her rent suddenly raised by 100 francs a month and “if she didn’t like it she could clear out”. What a beastly world!

    I have just bought a suit of summer underwear, but the weather has turned so cold that I have not worn it yet.

    I am trying all I can to get a respite but have little hope, because Roberts doesn’t like to be inconvenienced, which he would be if I went, even for a fortnight. I am sorry to disappoint you too; I am anxious to get home for awhile.

    Will write again soon if anything happens. My only hope is that Jones feels he must retire at once.

Letter

Bouman Family