Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Title
Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
Creator
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958
Identifier
WWP23067
Date
1919 September 24
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 Sept 24, 1919
Dearest,
I am glad to hear that relations with the neighbors have started in under favourable auspices, and hope this will continue. I wonder what they think of the garden, and if they will take any interest in it.
What a shocking holiday experience for the Thomsons! I am very sorry for Alice. Has anything leaked out I wonder as to the motives for the deed?
After a few days very cold weather it is milder again today. Last Friday was the first one spoilt for me by the weather, so I cannot grumble. I have always had such excellent weather. I hope Bill had a jolly birthday, and Mary’s soon to come off. She had asked for a bible; if she still wants one, by all means get her one. I wrote Aunt Zena and she was of course tremendously pleased with Mary’s wish. She has a little bible with a gold clasp which belonged to my mother; I remember it quite well, Father gave it to Aunt Z. when mother died, as a keepsake, but the lettering has become too small for Aunt Z. and she is very enthusiastic about presenting this bible to Mary and wanted to know if it could be sent by parcel post. I will however dissuade her from doing that and let her keep it until later. We have a Dutch Bible in the house anyway.
Delighted to notice by the papers that prices are really coming down in London; I noticed both men’s and women’s clothes were reduced in price; I hope it’s true. That shows the amount of dirty profiteering that’s been going on. It is the same everywhere – a dirty lousy lot of scoundrels. Forgive my language. Oh yes there are plenty of complications in the political world; all kinds of friction everywhere; the people of this world are just crazy, and every opportunity for the blatant self-seeking agitator, if he is clever. The situation between Belgium and Holland isn’t so bad as the lying papers make out; I know the inside of that, and I also know what makes certain press organs print news that isn’t true. Damn them, the dirty liars.
Evans the new man is quite pleasant, looks like another edition of Hockwell, with large shell-rimmed spectacles without which no American journalist is complete, but not quite such a sobersides as old Hockwell. He will be allright.
I sent Father a postcard to reach him on his birthday or soon after. I hope you sent him the usual little gift. Any news from the old folks?
I was much amused by Bill’s account of the run you had through the rain. I suppose Bill beat you by about half a mile? I guess he might nearly beat me too.
Moroney, who just bought a secondhand motorcar, managed to smash it up the first time he was out; fortunately no bones broken, but he has gone off to La Rochelle for the rest of his holiday, in disgust. With his wife, whose mother, an American lady, is taking charge of the children. That is of course an ideal arrangement. I notice you wishing that the Mackenzies also have the invaluable mother “who does the work!"
Any news of Miss Campbell having returned? And how is Aunty Pell? Ever see her?
I will soon write Mary’s birthday letter now. Tell me about your arm, how is it getting on.
With love, dearest.
Thine,
Jack.
[Enclosed: Undated newspaper clipping about Lady de Bathe (Lilly Langtry) and Gertie Millar of the Gaiety giving a dinner party for 12 at the Ritz.]
So all’s well in this best of worlds!!!
Paris Sept 24, 1919
Dearest,
I am glad to hear that relations with the neighbors have started in under favourable auspices, and hope this will continue. I wonder what they think of the garden, and if they will take any interest in it.
What a shocking holiday experience for the Thomsons! I am very sorry for Alice. Has anything leaked out I wonder as to the motives for the deed?
After a few days very cold weather it is milder again today. Last Friday was the first one spoilt for me by the weather, so I cannot grumble. I have always had such excellent weather. I hope Bill had a jolly birthday, and Mary’s soon to come off. She had asked for a bible; if she still wants one, by all means get her one. I wrote Aunt Zena and she was of course tremendously pleased with Mary’s wish. She has a little bible with a gold clasp which belonged to my mother; I remember it quite well, Father gave it to Aunt Z. when mother died, as a keepsake, but the lettering has become too small for Aunt Z. and she is very enthusiastic about presenting this bible to Mary and wanted to know if it could be sent by parcel post. I will however dissuade her from doing that and let her keep it until later. We have a Dutch Bible in the house anyway.
Delighted to notice by the papers that prices are really coming down in London; I noticed both men’s and women’s clothes were reduced in price; I hope it’s true. That shows the amount of dirty profiteering that’s been going on. It is the same everywhere – a dirty lousy lot of scoundrels. Forgive my language. Oh yes there are plenty of complications in the political world; all kinds of friction everywhere; the people of this world are just crazy, and every opportunity for the blatant self-seeking agitator, if he is clever. The situation between Belgium and Holland isn’t so bad as the lying papers make out; I know the inside of that, and I also know what makes certain press organs print news that isn’t true. Damn them, the dirty liars.
Evans the new man is quite pleasant, looks like another edition of Hockwell, with large shell-rimmed spectacles without which no American journalist is complete, but not quite such a sobersides as old Hockwell. He will be allright.
I sent Father a postcard to reach him on his birthday or soon after. I hope you sent him the usual little gift. Any news from the old folks?
I was much amused by Bill’s account of the run you had through the rain. I suppose Bill beat you by about half a mile? I guess he might nearly beat me too.
Moroney, who just bought a secondhand motorcar, managed to smash it up the first time he was out; fortunately no bones broken, but he has gone off to La Rochelle for the rest of his holiday, in disgust. With his wife, whose mother, an American lady, is taking charge of the children. That is of course an ideal arrangement. I notice you wishing that the Mackenzies also have the invaluable mother “who does the work!"
Any news of Miss Campbell having returned? And how is Aunty Pell? Ever see her?
I will soon write Mary’s birthday letter now. Tell me about your arm, how is it getting on.
With love, dearest.
Thine,
Jack.
[Enclosed: Undated newspaper clipping about Lady de Bathe (Lilly Langtry) and Gertie Millar of the Gaiety giving a dinner party for 12 at the Ritz.]
So all’s well in this best of worlds!!!
Original Format
Letter
To
Bouman Family
Files
Collection
Citation
Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958, “Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family,” 1919 September 24, WWP23067, Jon Anthony Bouman Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.