Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Jon Bouman to the Bouman Family

Bouman, Jon Anthony, 1873-1958

WWP23132

1928 January 7

Letter from Jon Bouman to his family.

Gift of William C. and Evelina Suhler

Germany--History--1918-1933

Correspondence

Berlin, Germany

Rachel Dark

Denise Montgomery

English

PROOFREADING

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.

28 Zimmerstr. Berlin SW 68
Jan. 7, 1928

Dearest;

Through Fraulein Hirsch of the Akademischer Students Exchange I became acquainted with a young married couple named Schurholz who would like a young English girl similar to the Schubrat. He is Dr. Franz L. in an official positon, to do with industrial training; his wife has lived in the Isle of Wight for a year; I met them in town and am to see their home on Tuesday. They live near the end of a tube station comparable to Hampstead; extremely healthy position, in one of the small one-family houses they are building now out in the suburbs. They have one little boy aged 3 but here again the place wouldn’t be free until April 1. They both want to speak English daily. They are a nice young couple, unpretentious, and might suit very well, especially because there’s only one child instead of Niemann’s 3. I have also been thinking that if Mrs. Niemann is averse in principle to taking an English girl (you remember my previous letter to Mary) the thing might not work very well there. Let Mary have her photo taken. I will report further, meanwhile keeping an eye out on earlier opportunities.

I have now also written to Smith asking for a definite assurance about your fare and the removal being paid; I must report the casual way the office is dealing with my case but what can one do? All the offices have been told to keep down expenses in view of the coming Pan American Congress in Havana which is supposed to be a very costly business for us. We have also been informed that it had been found that the sickness and pension schemes had been calculated on too liberal a basis, necessitating severe restrictions. Thus the period of service has been raised from 20 to 25 years which in my case makes pensionable age 67 ½ years instead of 62 ½. After all if my health remains good, that might not make a very great difference, also by that time I would get 50% of my former salary instead of only 40% under the 20 years scheme.
But I imagine there may be hard cases among the older men whose expectation of life may be less good.

One New Year’s Eve I worked till 10 pm and then went by invitation to the Lochners where there was a big party. He or his wife must have money of their own, for it was quite an entertainment, over 20 people, young and old, and all merry; I didn’t get home until about 4:30 a.m. when the streets were still brilliantly lit, lots of people about and trams and trains running all night. I was much interested in the “lead-cashing” game. A bag full of little lead objects – a doll, a beer mug, a little mill &c. – is handed round, each picks one at random. They are hollow and a motto (like in our crackers) is inside. That’s the beginning of the fun. Then each little object is melted over a spirit flame in a special spoon and cast into a bowl of cold water, making all sorts of weird forms. Then you cast dice and they had a very ancient book from which your fate is read. Old ma-in-law draped herself as a soothsayer and read out the fate. My lead came out in the shape of a little ship (with the help of a little imagination) and four points sticking out, and this was explained that my wife and family would be sailing soon to join me. This gave satisfaction all around, and the whole thing was great fun. The children also dressed up and gave a little sketch, and there was music, singing, and dancing (parquet floor!) until the early hours. Berliners certainly did enjoy themselves; they all gather on balconies, burnt Bengal lights and shouted “Prosit” to each other.

I suppose Mary is meanwhile going on with her German. Don’t let her forget this. Just the other day I heard of a job with the Paramount Film people (who are allied with us) who wanted a stenographer able to do English and German shorthand, easy hours, 250 marks (pound 12.10.-) a month. Quite allright to begin with. They asked us if we knew of anybody. So you see there are chances, and I regretted that none of my own were available – as yet.

Thanks to Bill for his letter. I should like him to have some office experience in England before he comes here. German youths are very much alive, and he would need some practical knowledge before entering into competition with them. How is Betty’s exam going on? Watch your bank account, for you must keep the pound 100 clear for the big expenses we shall have. What awful weather you have had in England. Here it started with a heavy fall of wet snow yesterday, then wind which dried it all up again and today it’s bright and balmy.

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Kept this until I got to the office to see if there was any news from you. I found the two enclosed ads in the Berlin Tageblatt which are just intended for your information. Other ads are for experienced typists, (lady) with knowledge of Spanish & English.

Just read about floods in Westminster. Wonder whether Grundy house would be flooded; our offices probably too. Did you see Daily Telegraph has been sold to the Berry Brothers? Edwin W. told me the other day he had only heard from what he read in the papers. Possibly it will make no change to him. He says he gets no pension and will just have to go on working to the bitter end.

Am going to see the Petrii tomorrow. Maybe they’ll know something for Mary or about housing. My earlier proposed visit was cut short by my trip to Poland. Will report later.

Much love,
Dad

Letter

Bouman Family