Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family
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c/co A.P 50 days after Easter
Berlin, Whitsunday
Afternoon.
1926.
Dearest,
Yours with enclosed from Aunt L. arrived O.K, many thanks. What a fight. I suppose there was no means to communicate she could think of, but she should try to phone NO 21 in cases of being held up unaccountably or unreasonably long. To get home wet doesn’t matter so long as one changes immediately.
Well, I am pursuing my even course of luxurious living. Last Sunday was fine, and in the afternoon Enderis and I went to the Zoo and had a grand dinner on the terrace, with the band playing, and everything (including the animals) gorging and guzzling. Then we went to a theatre where 3 playlets of Franz Molner the Hungarian, were given, most amusing. Likewise the sight of sandwich-wolfing audience during the intervals.
Then on Monday I went to a big luncheon at the City Hall where the Lord Mayor welcomed the members of the P.E.N. Club on their Congress here. Highbrows of all nations (14 to be correct) were gathered here. I had a chat with Galsworthy, also met an old acquaintance, Pierard, a Belgian, formerly correspondent at The Hague, and friend of late Feibelman! He is now a deputy and an author of note. The man I happened to sit next to was a Dutch poet. On the other side was a Lithuanian from Kowno, a very charming man. Karen Michaelis was there (who wrote The Dangerous Age). She looked very intelligent, but dressed in flowing heliotrope garments which accentuated her embonpoint, a very thick touseled head of hair, shingled, and on top of it an American pork pie hat! You never saw such a sight! You certainly would have enjoyed all these types, all of whom were persons of note in the literary world. And a brass band!!
On Tuesday there was another feed at the Foreign Correspondents Meeting place where I was the guest of Bodker, of Reuters. Dancing afterwards, and the afternoon was gone, and nobody seemed to be doing any work.
To my surprise I met here Ruffle who used to be with Esther Grundy in Arundel Street. He is now the Exchange Telegraph Cos’ correspondent in Berlin. Also met other old acquaintances again, and their wives.
On Friday I went to a tea at the Foreign Office which is a weekly function. It was fine, and so they had it in the garden. All Foreign correspondents go there, and one or two cabinet members attend, and you can ask them anything in reason. There was Shesemann, the foreign minister, sitting down jovially among us. Tea & cream, cakes, sandwiches, whiskies and soda, cigars, &c. I must suggest something like that to Downing St. when I get back.
This (Sunday) morning E. and I went out to the east end to look at a great communist demonstration. It certainly was a big affair, 3000 to 5000 people, all marching in orderly fashion arrayed in red, with banners and bands &c. It took quite an hour to pass any given point. A lot of police, mounted and afoot, but no disorder – when we left at any rate.
I am much struck with the comfortable taxis here. They have sixpenny fares, going up by 1 d. at the time, extremely well appointed, and you ride a long way for a shilling. By some ingenious contraption you pull 2 extra seats (with backs) out of the bottom of the car. Also signaling (instead of the clumsy method by hand) is done mechanically ; at night a brilliant red beam shoots out at the side when making a turn, quite fascinating to watch.
On Wednesday I went to see an interesting demonstration for rejuvenating old cinematograph films which was also very interesting. Tell you about it later.
Don’t think there is another Locerno Conference on –it’s just paper we are using up; it’s nice and thin.
Love to all, cheerio!
Thine Jack.
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