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LETTERS from NANY to his son JEAN HAUSERMANN,1934, excerpts, addressed to Rosario,
For memory: 1 franc of 1934 was worth about 3,9 F or 0,6 Euro from 2004 - there is deflation of - 4%
ParisFriday, 5 January 1934
....I came back here on Tuesday, with Phil who was supposed to take his classes the next day, it's really convenient this neighborhood! I was surprised by my world when I arrived in Vierville without shouting at the station, it wasn't very cold there....The 2 convalescents were enjoying their holidays, and they were doing good games in the woods, everything is fun. The Club was found superb with the window that looks out on the greenhouse and where the least of the sun rays shines. Brigitte had already found the roses of her cheeks, but JP was still quite pale. It came the day of my departure and attributed this temporary failure of the JP to a growth thrust, this small has grown 5cm indeed since September. So it must be strengthened with great blows, what Suzon had to do immediately with serum – the great success – of young bovid !! and hemoglobin bulbs.
......So we finished and started the year well in the old house....a long chatter filled with expensive memories, while the three weary of their day was sleeping like happy.
......The next day was very busy with visits of some kind from Viervillais.......Leterrier has to write, my Jean, to tell you about the municipal elections, which are excellent. It is true that we had worked the population, ..... it is Father Dubois with his small coffee strokes to whom he returns the success of the list. I rejoice for our little village. The mayor is not elected but it will undoubtedly be Laterrier.
....On returning to Paris, the train was passing through a white snow campaign.....Since our return time has been very smooth, it is almost springtime, so yesterday I was on a good walk with my pensioner, leaving by car (there are some from all sides now leaving Paris for all the surroundings) on Vaucresson and La Celle St-Cloud, back on foot by Bougival, La Malmaison, the banks of the Seine where we caught up with a train that we friends at the Porte Maillot. It is a delicious walk to be repeated in the spring.
.......(our apartments) They are comfortable, and moreover the administrator of the society who stays upstairs is as kind as Father Pourcheroux was little; making himself a pleasure to be pleasant and informing if it is satisfied. This changes me.
....The newspapers are now full of the Stavisky scandal, the latter has fled, no doubt he was warned by any of his high-ranking friends.
....You finally found a name for the No.2 Suzon had to offer you some ideas, they are original, but I doubt that you would benefit from them.....
Paris19January1934Friday
...JP has been reduced, but it has also grown a lot and all of a sudden. The fever that came back from qq tenths every night and for both, disappears degree by degree, we are 37° for JP, 37°3 or 4 for the girl. Dr sss anchor more and more in the idea that they had in the blood, communicating it from one to the other abort bad microbe impossible to identify by its very content and that they gradually rid it of; perhaps even the microbe of the paratyphoid from which was infested qq weeks ago Paris.
....I received your letter plane of January 4th... ..to me of the beautiful gratification that the good great John got for you. It's a very nice reward... ..you'll have made a fruitful campaign, but I was only expecting it to be so brilliant. ....... It looks like talking about it will happen; at the moment a phone call from Courcelles warns that 50 big tickets have been credited to you, so I just passed your order to buy 25 good ones, that will make you 28. and without order of your brother-in-law I thought it was good to have him take it too....This loan – by 5 and 10 years' worth of money – was very popular, despite the discredit that the government now enjoys.
This Stavisky affair is a shame that adds to all the discontents; you will see that Robert Collard has just founded a group whose exact program I do not know yet, but which is the one of honest people who can no longer.I would like to proselytize him. In Vierville during the time I was there I preached for the good election obtained, the triumph of the brave people is true. ....Leterrier is mayor and Dubois deputy, sends a word of congratulations, remember.
...I had a lot of visits this week (this is the privilege of the ancestors) while Suzon was driving around all over Paris. : Roger Busson, the Dessus – she is really charming, smart and simple, their daughter is a big good woman and Gaby is crazy about it - then all the Collards with Claude and her husband, the latter very beautiful in the dark of her uncle's mourning (G. Pichorel probably) ; Robert (Collar) very tired and tormented – like so many others – of the look that things take.
The charming Yvonne de Brichambault delegated by her mother (Mrs. Jean Hersent) I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Tantine's in Choisy near Martha. (Pichorel, her daughter), they must leave shortly for a month in the afternoon, at Vence or Grasse ; the old uncle counts the days that separate him from the 1ir He had lunch at Suzon's yesterday and we trained him in the cinema where we played a new adaptation of Claude Farrère's Battle with Charles Boyer and Annabella as main roles....It was very beautiful...... but the old uncle finds that we always choose subjects without joy, he likes something funny (sic). Happy age! Let's say.
...the weather is still mild, even when sunny, so I think I can go and spend a few days in February for the anniversary of your dear Father's death... ..Mr. Leterrier is married on February 5 to a young farmer. (Mr. Jacquet) I can go to the church and congratulate them, I just sent them a drink service as a gift....
Paris2February1934
...the longer the time goes by and the more intense I think of you who will soon have the joy of holding in your arms the dear little one we are waiting for with so much happiness...
...I don't think I can go to Vierville....time has gone cold again, it's freezing and it's blowing a strong north wind...
JP is back in bed with an angina...Phil works well and gives skating on Sundays and Thursdays... it's a good sport that he can practice outdoors at the Molitor pool and that makes him less regret the equestrian joys of the necks! ....
...Georges writes long letters every day, he struggles in parlottes full of stalkers, but the French minister capitulated by the dock d'Orsay seems interested in the solution of the affair. I would like it for your greats whose separation does not seem to end...
We went, Suzon and I, to ask for lights from Mr Dessus – father – to make the new tax declaration, a real Chinese headache. He put the best of the complacency in it and here we are, it is only about paying, and this will certainly mean an increase in our charges. We are all reduced to the same sign and that explains the growing discontent of all honest people. The Parisian demonstrations were very noisy this week, without distinction of opinion all the discontented formed many, much marching to the chant of the Marseillaise, crowds who were growing by passers-by who took the step; one came from all corners of Paris with the will to scatter the police forces on the teeth, but when it was about approaching the Ch. The local police and mobile guard (national gendarmerie, which had been organized for only a few years to replace the troops, formerly called in case of riots) are also responsible for the interior gardens of the House, its presidency and ministries. It is said that the deputies do not carry out large numbers of them, it is agreed that they have bad presses. And here is the Chautemps ministry on the floor and replaced by another Daladier, which everyone considers to be unsustainable. Stavisky scandals are far from being extinguished, on the contrary they spread every day with new accused. It is a shameful and shameful one. Robert Collard follows closely the whole movement, he is not the only one, and I know many dishonest people who, by duty, descend into the street, every night, by protest. Will we get to what? He does not reveal himself any true will to drive the merchants out of the temple and put order in the house. The trade and industry are in the grip; I have just made a sad and new experiment with the Credit Union of which I have for 100,000 F of bonds and which has just suspended its payments, that is 6000f of rent less. Bousquet hopes that the past crisis (because it is not bankruptcy) I will not lose everything, but this is what makes a famous hole to my already tight budget. The President of the Council of Adm of this case which was considered very serious is called Louis de Rosière, is this one of your cousins, little Maine?
The collapses are no longer counted, the Squanian sees its crates invaded by subscribers who claim their payments still payable at their request. Suzon who soon finished the payments of a title of 10,000Fa was at the central headquarters, but the street was filled with people, several thousand, it is said, who passed only by knuckles; the large gate of the hall was closed and guarded by the police. The Sequanian protested through the newspapers, it was heavily wasted by buildings, but if all the nationals demanded it would be impossible to repay them and it would be the collapse. The buildings have fallen by more than half.. when they find buyers. No one cares about buying houses, shops and apartments no longer renting. It is in great history of the Caisse Hypoth. quoted above, and whose smaller reserves did not allow to resist so long....
Telegram 6 February 1934(Born by Jean-Louis Hausermann, February 4, 34)
"PROFOUNDATIONHEUREUSESVOUSEMCRASSINDRENINGNANYSUZON"
Saturday, February 10, 1934
....the girl who's a big man "is the guinea pig, and what am I going to become with all this band?" She lost some of her illusions with my brother Yves, whom she imagined, as a little boy, to be able to walk and puppy at her ease. What a fall! She soon had to see that the man would not let himself be made!
Your dispatch arrived as I was preparing to go to Mass with Suzon; it was February 6!I leave you to think of our emotion....I telegraphed you immediately, as well as to Uncle Georges and even to Uncle Emile! I did not want to write, it leads too far, a dispatch announced the birth of a Jean-Louis Hausermann to the head of the family, it's good, I do not know the address of the aunts in Orleans, but they will not be able to say that they are not being told the events. And then I called, wrote to friends and relatives: Robert, Tantine, Robert Collard, Hébert, Hersent, Batifol, Cordelle, Bousquet, Flondrois, de Mons, our parish priest of Vierville...I immediately warned the Prange by tire, and I will see Mrs. this afternoon in a charity sale where I will go to buy her if these gentlemen of the Bastille allow the transports to walk. (the general strike was announced by the CGT on February 12, popular response to the riots of February 6th)
You will have read in the newspapers that our week has been full of various emotions. I sent you a large pack of newspapers. The All Paris of honest people who had come down the street (yet know lots of them and Robert in the east) without weapons to protest against this chamber of unscrupulous politicians, was shot with revolvers and batons. The authors of the disorder have almost disappeared. Armand Massart as municipal councillor claims that we are currently moving away from the mobile guard and even the Republican guard. They've been like bullies, and I know perfect honest people who don't contain themselves anymore.nd And last son killed by a bullet, (the two elders died in the war) He said loudly that he would have the skin of Frot, this sinister socialist author of all evil, the Fouché of the situation, who maintained Daladier – a chiffon! – of bloodthirsty measures to take without hesitation. Some are looking for him to make him a bad party, he disappeared.
Suzon and I have not seen any fighting. There are still, but they no longer have the same aspect, but the appearance of the Concorde, of the Rue Royale, of the Madeleine district, with its traces of bullets, blood on the floor, broken marbles, fallen reverberas, was abominable to see. It was time for Doumergue to come and bring qq appeasement. Lebrun was below his task – it is said sick, others say he trembles with fear, yet he is kept close by the troop; for they called the troupe and I recognized the N° of your regiment on the hood dartillers on horseback. It must be said that our soldiers were all wretched, the officers concerned; this is not their task, no one accused them of having fired first, or even of having fired; all is because of the fault of this mobile guard, formed of former sub-offers. Recruited. It is prudent to put them in shelter at this moment, the innocent would pay for the culprits. Will the measures decompressing government that we have just taken last? Is it afraid that there is a lot of profiters in the Chamber that we can not make heard. It will therefore be the dissolution and above all the revision of the constitution, our regime is well-founded. Above all those concerns that burden the good French, the coming of our dear throws a blue glow...
Paris17Feb.1934samedimatin
.....I'm very excited to have some details about this birth...era I'll be late for a flight, but I'm leaving tomorrow for Vierville, where I'm going to spend a few days and it'll delay my joy to read you. Suzon will open the blessed missive and will follow her immediately...
...I had telegraphed the birth to...l'oncle Emile...j'ignore l'addresse d'Orléans, and moreover Emile is the leader now, so I sent: "Jean-Louis Hausermann born yesterday Rosario - all good - affections" I didn't get an answer, maybe you will be happier. Besides, but it doesn't matter that we should say that we live apart, after the semblance of reconciliation that took place between us, and I didn't care to write.
I had good letters with us, our parish priest always dithyrambic sends you all his affectionate congratulations, and also Mad. de Mons, and Artault, and Flondrois, and...
...We're having tea at the Collards this afternoon, we're going to talk about you and the situation in our France, always very anxious, because none of the violent parties has made a truce. Honest people are rebiffant, the truce is only apparent and if the Doumergue cabinet manages to put a little bit of order in the house. Robert Collard is in contact with a lot of people who are very honest about the resistance, and he also participates with all his will. It was time for the parties of the order to take stock, we know now who to count on and the number is impressive. You will see the Illustration full of details, and I have sent you a large package of newspapers that will bring you back to life the feverish hours of February 6 and 7. I will also send you Gringoire which contains a remarkable article by Béraud and which tells beautifully point for all the history of these sad evenings.
...I hope the little things will come well, I have another from Mrs. Jean Hersent to send you and a love of apron bought at a sale of charity that the Duchess of Vendôme presided over, please.The young Cherisian vogue with the medal of Suzon and the chain of Nany, I knit with a hardness for the 3nd age and aunt Suzon is a very elegant taffeta coat for our 7nd She gave up with regret the many dresses she had planned for Marie-Catherine....
Paris3March1934-Saturday
....everytime I slide a letter plane to one of you, I like to think of the valiants who are trying to give us a little happiness. I'm afraid this time my concern was not worth it, because the newspaper tells us that the South American mail landed - with damage, halas! - in unsubmissive territory before Dakar. The mechanic killed, the other four wounded, the plane burned so as not to leave him to the Moors, the wounded rescued by a Cisneros plane, but the mail ?? It's little of a torment next to what happened....
....I had your letter flight of 16/2 this week, little Maine and am all surprised to see so quickly returned home and so valiant...
...Jean-Pierre came home last night with a headache and a little fever. It becomes so common that there is much to bet that he makes tonsil infection and that a small operation will be necessary. Dr. will inform us about it this afternoon, but already I am about to leave qq 8 days earlier in Vierville, c d on Passion Sunday, with him, it will give him a week more than the brothers and sisters who will come on Palm Day, with their mom....
...Tantine returns tomorrow at noon, the old uncle stays there until the end of March, he spoiled us with a magnificent sending of flowers so bright that it seems they have illuminated our apartments – what a lucky one! ....
ParisFriday, March 161934
....I was still in bed this morning, and Suzon came here like every day saying hello when the mailman brought us – arrived by Massilia – your good letter, little Maine, that accompanied dear pictures... and it seemed that this day started under brilliant auspices could only be happy. Why should the Morning I opened then taught us the unannounced death of our friend M.L. Stevenin inviting to a service for next Tuesday in St Etienne du Mont. What could he possibly arrive? ...
...I would just go this afternoon to Mrs. Jean Hersent and I think I will see Flondrois on Tuesday at the church, maybe they will have some details to give us. ....In the meantime, ......think only of Mary Louise charming and simple, so affectionately coming to Vierville to comfort a secluded Nany.. May God take into account the happiness that she me has so kindly brought to her those days.
.......There is no day here where I hear complaints. The political situation despite the truce of union is worrying, the financial and economic situation seems to be even more so, because we do not see the end of it. The best farms are in trouble, the bankruptcies are legion, the shops are closed, the stores are empty of buyers, even the department stores whose sellers have been singularly rared... and for this reason. ; and during this time the scandal of Stavisky continues to cause flow of ink and blood. This week you will have learned of the attempted suicide of Mr. Hurlaux and Mr. Duthuillet de la Mothe in a health home; the dismissal of Pressard the Attorney General. The judiciary is heavily involved in all this, almost as much as the parliamentarians; it is a bit sad, one can say that one does not open the newspaper in the morning without apprehension, and the last word is not said. Really all the French worthy of this name participate in all this with deep anguish. ...
.....we count the days that separate us from the exodus to Vierville. I think we will leave on the eve of the Palms, in order to enjoy the only bus of the week which leaves at 1h from Bayeux. The bus service is very diminished, and the postal parcels go only to Bayeux or Molay station. Not very convenient, but traffic was almost non-existent, it had to be abolished; and so everything goes in France at the moment. ...
We had the visit of Tantine and Martha Pichorel on Sunday, this last saddened, but without her grief appearing to those who take a lifetime.
Tuesday Ms Cordelle and Yvonne came to take tea; our tongues and hands were as active as each other; Suzon is launched in the making of very chic sweaters for her 2 boys, whose tile now requires a number of knitting points, it's by the meter....
....Ms. Dessus is in Lyon with his dying father, Gaby has trodden his knee exaggerating the gymnastics that he must do to make him recover all his elasticity following his car accident this summer. But it is by phone with him that we know this, it does not prevent him from watching with good mood the 3 children in his care – a real scourge of humanity: he says by laughing (his 2 daughters and a 9-year-old nephew whose parents are in the midday)
...Ah, I forgot, Jean-Louis' godfather did things very kindly by sending us to Suzon and to me exquisite dredged in two pretty boxes. It's a madness in the time running, I wrote it to them and will tell them Wednesday on the day of your friend Prange....
ViervilleMarch 29, 1934Thursday
...it is from Vierville that I write to you, my dear children, I am installed in Father's office, well heated by the padlock stove; it allows us to stand there when time or hour does not allow us to be outside; we have pulled out carpets and cushions, we have re-made bouquets composed of daffodils and primevaries; The sun is flooding us on the wood side, but the shutters and curtains remain closed on the sea side where a small sour wind comes, it was necessary to arrange us so that the 3 small rooms contain the beds needed for our smalah, the meals are taken in the small dining room, the small wood stoves snort, making the atmosphere pleasant; it is cold in the rest of the large house.
....We did not get there as I wrote you last Saturday, our little Bison having had a gastric embarrassment with a little fever, she had been dragging this for a few days after a very heavy lunch at the Chedal grandparents (I don't count the times that happened to us!)Finally she was sufficiently well-off to take all the way to Normandy on Monday.
...the garden is full of promises of fruit, the greenhouse is full of cuttings, the buds are piercing....The grass is a beautiful green, and the lawn is enamelled with daffodils and primevaries.
The boys have recovered the Club where they saw and file with rage, they have installed shelves, an established, a real bazaar of the Town Hall; they are working on building a hut near the tennis cypresses; we wait for the friends Collièrescet after noon...
.....Good news of Georges who has to go to Mount Athos during his Easter holiday. It is a beautiful and interesting journey of several days, but rather laborious to prepare because we must bring everything from his camp bed to the food.... .....Georges sees nevertheless his efforts crowned with success and he hopes to be able to return to France in June. What then will one do about him, That is the question? Beaujon......m your friend Delasagade. Hersent are interested in it, they are much more bankers than entrepreneurs, which is a little worrying.
......the old uncle is on his way back; he comes back in small steps; a map of Toulon tells me that he saw all your little Maine and that he was going well; he was leaving for Arles, Lyon, Macon and must be in Paris on Saturday.
In Paris, we stay nervous, we read 2 or 3 newspapers a day, the Stavisky affair with all its consequences does not advance, and Gastounet (Gaston Doumergue, President of the Council)In the mystery, we are developing a recovery in our finances. I wonder if it will succeed. Here, even in this beautiful Normandy, it is the most complete marasm; the price of cattle has fallen in a frightening way, butter is sold half-priced eggs are worth 2F50 the douz. Unemployment is on the rise, even among farmers who want to do everything by themselves. It is a lot of misery in perspective. The chapter "charity" is one of those that is not in decline, and for reasons.
...the little word of the great John who was talking about a trip to Brazil where the younger man might follow.
Vierville5April1934
...I will not write you much this week, for Suzon wrote a true newspaper to Simon, who has to leave by this mail.
... Poor little Marie-Louise! so quickly taken but poor Stévenin even more! ...I guess her distress and ask me if he will continue his task in Rosario? ..but what would he do in France?....I understand your pain, my dear (Nany addresses Simon) , losing the good friend that Marie-Louise had been for you ... Her death reminded us of our good Jeanne Quaintaine, who died also from the aftermath of an operation, as you were, we were waiting with your dear Father for death that came very soon, and our good girlfriend also left, forever, leaving a great void around her!
.....The sun shines and we have resumed our work in the garden. Suzon turns on after new plantations of flowers and I have put permanently the sundial, placed... waiting! by your dear Father in the place he occupies for 12 years! ...I have been wanting to do this for several years.
....the neck huts keep them from sleeping, our boys make large reinforcements of bricks of earth, and I let you think the hands that result.
Paris19April1934
...I had news from Simon's good letter of 26 March, arrived by a (chuckles) Italian...
... so I came back here Friday... I found all my dear neighbours in good health, but the boys were overwhelmed with heat. It was all of a sudden necessary to abandon the knitting, the temperature having suddenly risen to 30°, which is quite rare at this moment... a good storm has cleared us, it finally pleased!
I would like to be sure that the same is true in Vierville, where there is a pressing need, the grass does not grow to the great dam of all the farmers whose hay attices were emptied to feed the animals during the severe winter we suffered. The wells are dry; I had to make a strong repair to the pumps near the stable and in the laundry because the water is very low. If this continues, it could be a disaster for all those people who are already experiencing an abnormal drop in the prices of their products. The eggs are worth 3F a dozen in Treviers, and the meat is worth 5F a pound (it is sold by producer 2F50 live weight).
Here the middlemen have passed and we pay still 8 to 12F the average meat. If we really want to lower the wages we also need that life decrease accordingly. You will read in The Morning the resistance of our good officials, but our Gastounet (Gaston Doumergue)And his ministers seem determined not to admit the protests. There is no one who was forced to bow to the circumstances. sometimes total, certain values and also by the significant decrease in my pensions. All my people are there, so the officials will have to accept the measures that we have just taken. It is mainly customs officers, postmasters, teachers and contributions who protest, but the government has already ratified certain revocations that will make those unhappy think.
Since I came back, we've been busy with shopping, we have to be renegade for the changes in season, and it's easier for the girl than for the mother. In Paris all women are supposed to stay young, we don't think at all about old nannies; which explains that to buy a coat that suits my age and my pretensions, I made with Suzon all the department stores without finding anything. I do not despair however! For Suzon and the girl there are plenty of pretty fabrics, the dresses too, even 50F for the mother!!!!..The hats are extremely low.... but you see this on my head?
.... Then I went to see the Héberts on Sunday, it was hot! .... Hebert said he had a lot of work at the study office where there were lots of projects, but unfortunately not much success. The Batignolles take away all that there is work ..and engineers......Chalon has, he says, good hope for a job of 40 millions in Brest. We have taken over the Hebert project already done for three years. Iraq is also on the carpet, and it's curious to see Chalon and Benezeth claiming priority of study at the office,ir Saying, not without reason, that the English will never let us implant there. And then it's a dirty bled. Brest is much better, but there as elsewhere, we must now water some hands that until now were incorruptible; I mean the bodies of engineers, Pts and Chées or Maritimes!!! It had to be Hébert who told me so that I believed, and he is absolutely sure (n't talk about it), remains to know whether the Hersent will be generous enough, everything is there.
We're going this afternoon, Suzon and I, to St Sulpice, with our old aunt – more charming than ever – at the Wider Festival. There must be a magnificent organ concert in honor of the great Widor who is retiring from St Sulpice....
Tonton is fine, but he grunts on everything, and I'm teasing him; it's a bad habit to take....
The great George returned from Mount Athos enthralled with what he had seen.... Georges was able to enjoy a Passover to the Russian convent whose songs are renowned. This convent, like all those of Serbian, Bulgarian rites, etc., remained Russian land, but the unfortunate monks, very much supported by Tsarism, are completely abandoned by the Cheka, and live from their past wealth...that they sell....
Tio Mio will take us to Rambouillet by car, with the children who are delighted. We will go through Orsay (where I will descend to the cemetery) and the Chevreuse valley, back by the vaous of Cernay and Versailles, it is a magnificent walk in these spring times...the most beautiful moment of year in my mind.
As you, my John, whom Tantine met at the Family Circle one of your dear Father's cousins, Jeanne Hausermann – who has a nice apartment and has retired after her widowhood. It is she who presented herself to Tantine. She judges very severely your grandfather and in terms I do not want to use here. The inheritance of Mr Closier, whose niece is still owned by gd father who had to pass it to your aunts, because I see nothing coming from the accounts of Orleans and really there is nothing to regret. Tantine had taken care to say that you had not touched anything of this heritage. It seems that as soon as Feuilrebois retires, they will all leave immediately for Morocco where they will settle... without comments and great good done to them.
.....it's likely that at this moment Mr. (Jean Cordelle) and its Special Secretary (Jean Hausermann) Are in Brazil, lucky! I know one who must be very happy. (this reconnaissance trip remains in the Torrès area of many verascope photos)
....Philou now has long pants, and JP becomes pretty boy, slender, as big as her eldest. The girl always chats with me for her observations....she has adoration for the dolls that she owns a whole regiment that she buffs and dresses with the greatest seriousness Daily . It does not look like certain Yeyenne (name given by Bison to her aunt and godmother Simone Cordelle) of my knowledge that never liked anything but a doll, which required no care, since she was black and in underwear! That did not prevent her from becoming a perfect mother....
Paris5May1934Saturday
...I'm already aware of the statement (in Spanish, the signature, in a way an official approval) The old Flondrois taught me, he was coming out of the Council. Good news! since she maintains an atmosphere of hope and work for you. I rejoice well...and I know that it is the same for you, even more so, whose desire would be to stay in Argentina for a few years. They are more fruitful than in France, there is no doubt about it.
......letter from the little Maine confirming your departure for Brazil. You must be back or almost, maybe a snail....It's a big responsibility to take that work to do in one of these countries with difficult payments, to say no more. Brazil has proved its worth on this side, and at this very moment our government has broken the moorings.
The great Georges has returned from these promising good ones, and for the port of Salonique that Hersent stubbornly pursues, he will not accept for nothing the direction. ....I'm afraid it's difficult to find a new Port of Rosario....
....I saw your uncle Marc Saillard and his lovely wife these days. I made a long visit to them, it was a Saturday afternoon we chatted like pies. They confirmed me – what a joy – the good news of Paulette's health that must have returned to Toulon....Finally, thanks to your uncle, I am enrolled in the feminist group of the Fire Cross and the League Anti- This one had to bite and before the good propaganda...
Vierville-Friday, May 18, 1934
...I am writing to you from Vierville where I have been since Tuesday, I have just written to your elders by plane about a small farm that could interest them and has been busy since I was here.
...I left my dear neighbours healthy in Paris and sorry that the holiday of Pentecost (3d only) did not allow the little trip that for 2 years they had taken accustomed to do. So I come back tomorrow without waiting for the 2 days of party.
....I have received your good letter... wishing me my party and I am looking forward to seeing the tumbler that the Cherry trees will bring...If Cherry tree does not come to Paris, I intend to go with Suzon... and Pépita (still loyal to the post fortunately though a little
But this is not the time to think about replacing her!) so with Pépita re-launch them in Cherbourg. They may announce that you are coming....
...Finally great news, Marthe Pichorel is set d She is blessed, she has only what she deserves and her mother herself congratulates. She has a rest of what she has to live for, the Society where her husband has been making an annuity of 6000F who has added to what she has, but she is very angry, being convinced, like the Duke of Guise, that they would dare not. Only he was murdered anyway, and she is decomposed. It is a lesson and advice for the recalcitrant, it then shows that our rulers react... at last! The monster parade of Jeanne d'Arc proves enough that all honest people count, and they have enough. We attended it in the Place de la Concorde, it was grandiose, I applauded so much that I had a hard time in my hands.
Good news from Georges, he must be with Marcel. (Hersent)Maybe the business will be a little less bad than it was feared.
Paris8June1934Saturday
...Good news of Georges who had the visit of his boss who only stayed 4 days and was Nice It is the first time that this happens to him. He came from Egypt (?) and spoke about Iraq to Georges. It is possible that Sagne is sent there, and it is thought that there is an interesting staff in Greece. Greeks are able to please themselves in a country without much resources and lack of work in their country would probably encourage them to accept non-Fabulous wages. I am not sure that despite the current crisis, French people are in such a hurry to expatriate. Georges' business follows up and down, he is in a shower... Scottish, passing from the enchanting hope of a settlement to the refusal of any agreement. Finally, he intends to be back in three months, so you will see him again here.
....I had the Bousquet at lunch on Wednesday... we talked about the situation he thinks is if not serious, at least bad in time than industrial business, and it's pretty worrying that the continuation of this struggle against the worst.
....Suzon had the Dessus, Mestrant and Fabre to take tea; cross My corridor to spend a while with this young man who welcomed my gray hair. It was very cheerful; but Gaby has a terrible mine... and he must take 3 months off, he lost weight, 5 k in 3 weeks. He didn't get anything but must rest and watch....
...I forgot the singing session at the Old Colombian d'Annette Godard, varied by that of a friend of hers, also daughter of a chief engineer of the Bridges. Annette very beautiful, and all in black, has sung pleasantly, but friend danced – if you can say! – Without music with such incoherence that Suzon ended up pulsingly in her handkerchief after biting her lips with blood thinking she could avoid the catastrophe. 4-legged introduced us. The head is turned towards the bottom of the stage. The dark and draped blue velvet was illuminated only by a projector who was violently enlightening the artist. I'll be happy to tell you that one day. ...
...I had to seriously occupy Adolphe Gervais' estate this week. (L'Assistance publique, legatee de A.G., qui pour une rente vieure à Robert Gervais) I have seen my notary and I have been awarded to Mr Latte – Henry Batifol's brother-in-law – both said that Robert should have been concerned with getting this settled as soon as possible. It is conceived and I have been telling Robert for months and years, who replied "Provided that they will pay me...". The estate's assets fell to 4 or 500,000F instead of 2,000,000F (following the stock market crash) If assistance refuses, then the rights will have to be paid on the value of 4 years ago, 20% at least. Robert would have advantage in refusing it, but as this is his main resource, you see the situation, it would fall on my back. I shook it very much, it did only 6,000F of savings since those 4 years when it touched 120,000F. Finally, hopefully my notary said that Assistance will not dare, after having been so long away from his duties, but do we know with these state administrations. I had Robert's money sent for payment by pointing out the loss suffered as a result of the assistance which had allowed such capital to be lost.
....Nobody could give me information about the Pommier and Co. bank you have received, but it exists but I am told that you have had to do it.
...Boys are enjoying the idea of a TSF post, they were very envious of necks. New bicycles will be purchased before the holidays.
I must have Mrs Cordelle and Yvonne on Monday, she was very tired, but she's better.
Saturday, June 16, 1934Paris
...the Cherry tree came to me on Wednesday...it seems like a long time to wait until next Friday to come and thank you, my dear children, for the beautiful Bolivian silverware they have given me from you. It's way too good for a mom, and it's not at all reasonable to do such madness, but you have done a great pleasure, I can admit.nd I am very happy, and I am about to carry your lovely gift to Vierville, with the same style as your elders brought me on their last trip. This does not imply that they will stay there, because I like not to separate from certain things that affect me particularly in my heart....
...I leave after tomorrow for our Normandy, and here it is for almost the end of September, it will be the return to Paris, in order to make our apartment beautiful to receive you, that it is good to write all this and to think. My dear neighbours are fine, I count on them on July 7 or 8 as soon as the operation of the tonsils will be completed....
ViervilleThursday, June 21, 1934
....It's from Vierville this time that I wrote to you, I left Paris – with Martha – on Monday in a stifling heat, .....and I found here an exquisite temperature, a beautiful temperate sun with a pleasant breeze. It hadn't rained for 4 weeks, but our good people had been armed with courage and watered widely, so I found a splendid garden...
....I've settled in Mr. Ant's little apartments. (Marie-Antoinette), my windows wide open let the scent of roses and that of the hay of the large lawn not yet cut in. It is the great calm,......my only exit – daily – is for the little cemetery....I go there by the wood tufted and so green where the birds keep singing and where I have found my friends the squirrels who barely fled by seeing me.....
...the tennis is very clear, the work of Tio Jean has not been lost, I am watching and have made put soda chlorate several times; finally in the house I have the painters who repaint the kitchen, the office, the service staircase and the entrance, and will put paper in the small living room. That's all my means will allow me to do this year and I will still have good for 12 to 1400F? If I won the big lot at Lottery Nle (but I don't have a ticket!) I would put the stucco in the stairs and refresh many things... it will be for another time.
I received this morning the letter of 8 June from the great John; about the farm; I will call the notary one day to come and talk to me, but I do not think that I should be rushed. I will stick to the instructions received which in fact sum up my personal opinion.
.......you were a little overt of all the emotions of these successive deli of your little colony (This is Mrs Stevenin and Mr Martin's father) I'm sorry, my poor friend, Angèle. (Martin)And nothing will replace the one who has left, but she has the tenderness of her children.... Poor Mr. Stévenin is more to complain about in his loneliness where nothing ties him anymore to the life that continues! (back to France) with the funeral package that follows him...
I left the whole house well-being in Paris, but it is necessary to operate JP and the Bison around June 28 and we must wait a little longer. Georges gives us hope that it will not be on holiday but completely. God hears it! ....Therefore we do not rely on him until September, so he will be there to welcome you, we all rejoice. Suzon is closing his worldly obligations without regret. We were invited to take tea at the Interallied by Miss de Pierres. She does not want to make it alone and will apologize.
.....L.A. (Lepinay) He's got his eldest daughter with fever for 8 days, provided it's not typhoid fever, there's a lot of them in Paris right now. Little Christian from Brichambaud is reproducing a new f. typh. It's been 39 to 40° of fever for 35 days, and there's nothing in the blood that's been missing. (from Brichambaud) She's at the end, because she doesn't leave her son for a minute and Mrs. Jean Hersent. (Mother d'Yvonne) I'm very concerned.
Tantine will go to Menton with Micheline, Robert will go with his wife qq to Serbia, Spain, he does not know yet, in the superb Citroën that replaces her that which was stolen from him. L'assurance gave him one of the last model for 7800F that Robert has 18 months to settle. It is a matter. Our brave Pepita is more assured than for 3250F also I think I told you that I only insured it for damage to third parties and against theft, and it is only to me at 320F. It will be the welcome again this year it always works admirably and, well waxed, well maintained, it has not so bad air. The times are hard.. the crisis ! known and very well carried in France. Yet we cannot say that our guild does not seek to distract the French, Paris shines at this moment in the "grrande week of elegance", you will read the program in the newspapers. The Chemins de Fer make tempting offers, travel to Paris payable only, free return, qq is distance. In hotels, 5 days at reduced prices, the 6th freeHere we say that not all hotels are retained; the boys will have at the Casino two of their friends in Kayser (including Merchant) , nice and well-bred, of their age, j-en is happy for them, Collières are very young, and this is not worth anything to our big boys for Philou....
...2 days before our arrival here, 2 English couples in a sumptuous limo and claiming to be Smiley de Vierville de Crespigny came to see me... and especially to see the old house, they would have been for their own expense. I'm afraid we're being attacked by a whole horde every year, because there are many descendants of Marie de Vierville, I know.
I had better hope for the lifetime rent of tonton. I was told that she was selling money to pay for it (he said, doing an act of heirship and that it indicates that we can have hope that the estate will be accepted."I would like to be a month older to be sure and we can say that I was warm, because my arm fell back on him. He seemed much less worried than I did about the rest.
...I brought my beauties with me.. know: your lovely silver box and the delicious tea service of my Simon, I am very pleased to look at them.
You know that Cherry was received by Gilbert Hersent to whom he complained about the decline of the piaster.. Of course the young boss did not answer. I pointed out to Cherryer that you were still among the happy at the moment....
Let's go here's post time, and I don't want to miss the boat that leaves Boulogne on Saturday.
...the good morning of our people who I make believe you will be here in September, and who put a blow to it... if I dare say!
Vierville, 12 July 1934
....Suzon arrived without any trouble on Saturday with the 2 cadets and his two maids. They left a burning Paris, without air, which was not worth much to my two operations...
. .we celebrated this morning its 38th birthday (Suzon, born 1896) She seems 30 by her big sons, and although she claims to be very old, don't believe it. We have emphasized this of a few surprises naturally ..... and drunk at your health with a bottle of this Barsac that my Simon knows well, and another of clogged cider – from the closed Vignet – who jumped like a firecracker. I am much more proud of this cider than the best wine in my cellar.... you will taste my dear children and you will tell some news....
......Good news of Georges who gives no hope of coming soon. He is able to be in Marseilles at the same time as you! Business demands his presence, I suppose he has the hope of weaning out these good Greeks in order to force them to pay for being rid of him. It's a way of seeing that he has studied for 10 years that he is there...
......The painters have finished, the small living room rejuvenated by its yellow paper, is completely changed, the armchairs of the study room of Rosario (In 1912, I think it's the American-born armchairs, Massachusetts, with a canned seat, and the matching table, which are now in my house's stay downstairs, bd. of Cauvigny) The chair has been moved to the upper rooms, which will be my 4 boys; and now there are comfortable armchairs covered with a beautiful wool velvet in rusty shades, there is even a small couch in the back garden window, which we have covered with linen velvet – absolutely intact, after cleaning – from the window of the dining room of Longchamp Street. Good cushions make it soft, and the moriss armchair has made new skin with cushions of the same velvet. The piano did not move, some paintings were worth it, the portraits of my grandparents and the "Athony Lemon" (o what a shame!) throw their dark note on the yellow paper, your portraits are still near my armchair, and your dear Father's pen drawing did not leave the place where he had laid himself! I am sure that your dear Father would have enjoyed the comfort of the seats whose little American armchairs were missing completely....
....I've been planning to leave the old house in its summer setting, but I think we'll have to take refuge in Mr. Antoinette's app. Where the kids won't be cold and where we can make a good atmosphere if the weather starts in autumn.
....The Collières arrive tomorrow to the great joy of the comrades; who however this year have a pupil from their class at Kayser, charming and well-bred, came with his mother to Piprel to get closer to our boys....Ms. Marchand is a Chabannes-La Pallice, but she is a very simple woman although of good education. Her husband runs an Cie Immobilière du Crédit Lyonnais, he is even very connected with the Etienne de Bughas.
So here's the whole Club, we climbed there a few old rattan chairs, a drawer table, it seems that it's a comfortable one! I'd rather not go there and I'd be able to find it badly tidy, better not! I ask François and Michou for his opinion.
.........the boys have been in possession of 2 superb bicycles bought with their purse, supplemented by dad and mom, but in part bought with their savings of several years, change of speed, chromed steels, finally it seems that it is the end. They will write to the 2 comrades for whom they prepare the two bikes of the mother and aunt so that they find them finished (there is still time, alas!) (I remember these two bicycles, solid but without changing speed, which I used throughout the years 39 to 44, and even after that, in Vierville)
We are waiting for Mrs Cordelle, Yvonne and the Dupuis family to have lunch next week, they will come by car from Coutainville where they are all located. Tantine is at Mrs Massart's in Ouistreham where we are invited to lunch, we will bring her back here, then she will return to Paris where she will go for Brittany with her children Collard.
The case of tonton is getting worse and worse, he's only beginning to believe in his gravity, so far he was full of illusions, he's young! With the state nothing to do! Public Assistance just stole it! It's another scandal to add to others.
Vierville this Friday, July 27, 1934
......we always have a splendid time, our lawns, for example, are dry and our flowers aspire to a good watering that we only distribute to them sparingly to clean the water of our wells which has fallen in a worrying way. Many people here are without water, the pump of the village is dry and our people are refuelling all over. This has never been seen in Normandy, and therefore poor cows are weighting and giving a rarer milk. I speak only by passing the famine prices that all agricultural products reach at the fairs, it is misery. A good shower two days ago, relaxed the atmosphere and spirits, we were almost winning, but despite the wind of SO rain announcer however usually that indicates that the only rounded stem that remains to our girouette (see the result of the shots with the rifle !) the sky is again pure blue and the sun suffocating.
.......We saw the Heudrie at home where they are surrounded by all their children, but the young husbands Tenaille are not there, one in Morocco where he is looking for oil, the other in Tunisia in the Controls, have no leave, both happy to have a situation. Jacques and Jean de La Heudrie are at home, having no situation and having had to abandon and because of the apartment they paid them in Paris. Mr de La Heudrie complained bitterly that his farmers did not pay him. J
......we are waiting for the Batifols who must arrive on 1ir August in St Honorine. If what is said is true, the place of administrator of the library of Arsenal would be deleted, so it would be the retirement of Batifol, but she does not speak about it in the little word received yesterday.
The case of Tonton Robert is decidedly settled. L'Assistance publique refuses the leg, it would be too long to tell you everything, but if the interested had done what was necessary, he would have avoided this fall. It's a pity and I wonder what will remain.
But I was interrupted by the visit of Paul Cusinberche and his wife, then by the visit of the Merchants....
...I will therefore pick you up in Marseilles, my dears, but I thank you a thousand times, Jean, for your offer for the journey, I intend to be able to pay it, but I am no less grateful to you both....
You are full of ideas for your stay in France, but your joy makes you a little bit of a head, and that does not always match. Is it in January or November that you will come to Vierville, I need to know for my organization, it will not be the same for for example for car and insurance if you need it at any time....even for a good one for Jean-Louis, I would have the idea of entrusting the little ones to Marthe who knows how to care for the children...I would be too happy to accompany you here, it will be easier in November than in January when I fear it will be very wet in the old house......For this same reason the trip from Paris Vierville in car will be well frozen, I think it is better to do it in the train and use the car here only, but you will do what you want... so I ask for more details...
(letter addressed to Simone)Vierville3 August 1934Friday
My little Simon – for fear of being disturbed this afternoon as it happens often here, it is in my bed that I start my letter. It is 6h1/2 and the whole house still sleeps. The sun is already high however... it will continue to grill the fields that are quite like those of the Riachuelo, never had I seen that.......we water less possible to clean the water of the wells......a lot of people here are without water and it is an almost uninterrupted procession of barrels going to replenish themselves at drinking and then drinking the animals.... That is not done to bring prosperity here and I am pleased that the circumstances did not allow you to close your farm quickly...
... Apple I saw these days for the purchase of the small train station in Viervilie, offered me a 70,000 F mortgage on...................
……………..
....to finish with the Pommier business, we searched together with him for the traces of Mr Lefrançois's donation for the construction of the station, without success first, and it is only after long searches in the cadastre that we found the transfer of 4 ares on the room of the Wood. This gives me the right of preemption for the purchase of the station (all former owners of licensed land claim like me to return) It is time to occupy it, since the station is no longer occupied and for reasons, ...... and after Pommier will not have to be expensive. I'll put it in condition and then rent it until I move there later Leon and Jeanne when they retire.. if they stay with me until then.
(last flight letter, 27 July) ...this letter was well cut short... but it must have arrived early because the plane crossed the Atlantic like a real seagull... for us no doubt. Brave people that those! and their courage is admirable (letter probably carried by one of their aircraft that crossed the ocean between Dakar and Recife, the Cousinet "Arc-en-Ciel" piloted by Mermoz)...
Our boys are like moricauds, they enjoy their vacation, with their comrade Marchand, the Collières and a young Englishman – from the Embruns – (one of the beach villas) They form a joyous band that makes it fun to see, baths, tennis, .... Beading rides, cabin constructions, etc, etc., not counting the meetings of the Club! ...almost everyone now wears long trousers of blue canvas or flannel... ....the girl is a little lost in this male gente, fortunately that there is Gillone and also François-Bernard too small to join the big ones.
......Suzon is fine, always in a devouring activity, she has taken the direction of the kitchen where her cook sits... which makes old Nany rest – that it is a real shame!-
Good news from Georges who is moving from the most allowed hope to the deepest discouragement for a not too late or disadvantageous settlement of his case.
....our good aunt left us before yesterday, Suzon was with Phil to drive her to Avranches early in the morning to get a train from Brittany that put him in Quimperlé the evening where he was waiting for his son. This one after a car tour in the noon with his wife and Micheline will finish his holiday in Kerfany at the brave Fine...I doubt it is very comfortable but Robert's purse must be quite flat after the hike he has just made with wealthy friends (including Martet the secretary of Clemenceau) who, they, have to go down in palaces. We were very happy to have our aunt, always smiling, sweet and happy. The girl did not leave her, she has the gift of attracting children....... She remains extraordinary for her 82 years; spending part of her afternoon paddling in the water to the knees. What a beautiful and charming old age.
Tonton remained in Paris, he had not received a penny since April and the PA did not seem willing to pay the penny that she owed him. The notary of Adolphe whom I sent him did not want to believe that the bequest was refused, he has given back all the values and papers to the PA since well-known and did not hide from the interested party that the affair was very bad for him. It is he who will be given possession of the well-deserved inheritance, and who will be responsible for sharing it, but there are chances that Robert will not reap a penny, and he will be careful to accept it under the benefit of inventory. The rights to be paid are those of 1930, the strongest that ever existed... ..it is obvious that Robert's negligence is the only culprit, since the PA had no time to accept the inheritance and Robert had absolutely nothing to understand about what had been meant to him. However, it is not for lack of warning, and for having recommended to him to advise himself near the notary, but he claimed to be sufficient! I am really angry after him, there is something; and I wonder, in case of a definitive deficit what I will do with it then, I confess that I have no desire to keep him at home! We have so little to do with living, seeing, understanding!
...we had been taking news of the Batifol, arrived from the night before in Ste Honorine where they occupied the castle of Mme. de Niverlais...
......we had visited the old Than mansion with Mrs. Marchand who was thinking of renting it. It's a nice house, very habitable, with much more housing than I thought, rather pretty LXV woodwork in the living room, LXVI in the library and dining room. We could make a nice profit from all this but there would be a lot to do. The commons are vast, and there is in a corner a lovely stone staircase house, which smells its caulianry at a league with its curved doors. The garden and park are in waste. She would rent this for 3500F the season, but the furniture is of all styles, poorly maintained, dirty hangings; to really settle there it would take at least a long time to make the necessary repairs. I saw the abbé's hiding place that I decidedly felt was easy to find, the revolutionaries who searched for him were not to be quite convinced.
I had the Franciscan nuns this week, they too complain about the crisis, it does not fill their scarlet.
I told you that the boys from Vierville had taken over the organization of the employers' party, they seem to want to do something unusual. The "Queen of Bayeux" and her bridesmaids will visit us!!! and JP is being asked to offer them the welcome flowers. The Philou must seek at ‘church with a daughter of the village. I expressed to the delegation all my regret that I could not decorate our old house, I am too old and still bereaved. They understood, very nicely, but I also told them that your boys are growing up and that in just two years they will put the lampposts on the windows, as is necessary.
I hope my darling that my wishes arrived in time for your birthday....I still see the wait on a chaise longue in the garden of Abdallah, on a beautiful blue Tunisian night, of the arrival of my dear mother who had been looking for at Bizerte and who came on a tug crossing the lake.. The next day you were there, my darling. It was time! and then it was the bottle with goat's milk from Malta, these capricious and ravenous animals. I always said that they had left some of their imagination in your taste for painting and drawing that is very personal.
......yes I have painted the kitchen and stairs in Van Dyck brown, and in cream, as before, I have sent you the model of the paper of the living room. This one is very successful, we have disturbed a little order of the paintings and for cause, because I brought back from Paris, and I have put the beautiful portraits of my grandparents on each side of the fireplace. The Touny will see this soon.... What a joy!
......... Phil learns to drive with Suzon and also the driver of the Merchants whom they have put at his disposal. He already takes it very well, it will be an ace when he will be able to drive.
Congratulations to music lovers, you are always the same with "your useless noise", and I would have liked to enjoy the joy of our little ones at the circus.
Vierville9 August 1934Thursday
....I wrote to you...... on Friday, July 28th, by plane, and I think this letter must have taken the Arc-en-Ciel, so you will be able to read it very quickly, and it was asking for explanations about what you want for your arrival: car, good, etc., because in your joy – as I understand it – you have tangled the dates, and it is impossible to know whether you are going back to Paris and Vierville in November as soon as you arrive or in January?
....... Here everything is going well, it has finally rained abundantly and the meadows are already reverential ... our holidays are going smoothly, with the visit and the frequenting of our usual friends, with works of knitting, sewing, or even painting there; arrangements, repairs, this never misses in a house like this, and I essentially want to maintain it in the least corner so as not to find myself in front of disasters one day or the other. Little by little we re-do the paintings of the rooms that begin to tarnish. Suzon has passed master in matter, and it costs us only qq paint jars, j-hope you will find this good when you arrive.. Boys are going to go to the carbonyl barrier of Leterrier, next week they will help Leon and Jeanne to put the carbide on the reinforced cement smoothes. They are not clumsy for all this, and they do it in good mood. However, we do not abandon the beach sessions with baths and parts of perishory (this clean as a sous). They are especially admirable in JP, who with this already dives well from the top of the diver, but still high for their age....It's a shame, I rather like too much audacity, and she does not look like her mother who at her age would go back to all the boys around her.
...we were taking tea at Grandcamp at the Duchemin and in car with them was to recognize the beach of Gefosses-Fontenay 2km from Grandcamp, where fishing for the hulls with handles. It will be the subject of a fishing party one of these days. . The beach is very lonely there, and by stirring the pebbles from the end of my cane I thought of all those who crossed the Veys, coming from the Cotentin since an immemorial time, it was the only passage of the Vire, Guillaume the Conq. He was saved from Valognes one day, he crossed by heading towards Vierville and Ste Honorine..and so many others after him, the story is full of it, and I there the diary of the Sir of Gouberville (1620) who speaks about it all the time.
...Revu les de Mons and the Batifol, then the Bournonvilles (Mlle de Rampan). The Stones are not there yet, the Heudrie are at Mount St Pierre, without means to get out of it and as they are 7, plus the 3 little ones, no question to go and get them with Pépita. Jacques de Mons has left with his sweet half ......... the household seems very united, and this is the main one.
The notary of Orleans wrote to Suzon for the settlement of your grandfather's estate; I have received nothing yet, and I hope you have not asked for the reasons for this sum of 4000F allocated to your aunts. It matters little and moreover it is likely that these are fees of doctor, burial, etc.
ViervilleFriday, August 24, 1934
...in a month you will only have to spend a few days before your departure. I am eagerly waiting for addresses that will allow me to meet you on the way, waiting for the great joy of arrival in Marseille. I smiled!....
.........all our smalah is fine and we are waiting for Georges in the first days of September – for 1 month – because he will not be able to leave any longer, but he hopes, and we with him, to be definitely back by January ....
. . .the old uncle m--he's better, his anthrax is in decline, but the many shots of vaccine that we had to make him suffer a lot, he writes! He admits the rest with candour "it's true that I am very cozy"
...we were yesterday in Cherbourg as every year to go to the winery to bring our flowers; we had a great lunch at the Hotel de l'Etoile, then visit the Sauze......After this visit, on our way to Landemer where we found old memories......Finally Nacqueville, its beautiful avenue, its green and flowered park, the drawbridge, the castle, its terrace with grey balusters. Likely welcome the Brichambaud and surprised to find Mrs Jean Hersent, Mr. Jean was at the sea fishing with the elders of his little children. The sick little man has taken over his whole mine, and beyond, but Yvonne is thin as a hundred nails, and there is something with all the worries that caused him to get through his two typhoids.At 5 o'clock, after a bakery station to buy a bread from Cherbourg, we climbed the road to Valognes; at 7 o'clock minus 1⁄4 we were going to the gate to open it after a journey back without any stories. The Pépta deserves congratulations, and it does not look bad with the bodywork absolutely intact, which made Brichambaut sextasier. A good wax stroke from time to time is enough to keep his chandelier and Suzon is an ace, who has driven so far without a hit. The line is obviously not that of the last car show, and it runs like another and maybe even better...(It's true that the grapes are too green, just wait for me to win the big prize!)
We had the village festival on Sunday, a crazy world like I never saw in the fairground, very lively, cavalcade with the queen of Bayeux and her bridesmaids, games, fireworks in the herbage du Bois; the Bengal lights were on demand placed in our trees, it produced a nice effect of diffuse light. I had a visit from all our neighbours, we had a good taste in the pool room that was very popular, the small door near the Abbé tower allowed easy aisles and arrivals, the children were delighted, the boys very excited and our villagers very gay. At 5 am only the flons of the dance orchestra that stood at the crossroads were quiet......Many little ones slept in the small cars, but the biggest opened eyes like lanterns (but probably to stay better awake) to see the fireworks, a treat for all those people in the countryside. For me, I love it as much as it's done.
...... I hope that all of you, big and small, are well without colds. I know that we can hardly escape in these difficult-to-heat houses. Be careful not to embark the suffering little ones, especially the Jean-Louis. Did Jean-Paul pack his suitcase, I see here the great chambard of the journey....
Thursday, 6 September 1934(trusted to Cherbourg's Cherry trees who are going back to Rosario and who should cross the Hausermanns in Buenos Aires)
.........I hope you're all 4 healthy, ready to face our cold Siberian and armed with warm skins. Perhaps your elders are there, and then it's your dear family band that I kiss tenderly; then, I board you on Mendoza, I am in your comfortable cabins......you will find me in Marseille with our dear Toulonnais...
...Georges arrives in Paris on Tuesday, where Suzon will join him. They come back here in car with the old friend Flondrois, and Georges hopes to see you before he returns to Piraeus, I would like to...
ViervilleFriday, Sept. 14, 1934 (by air)
....I wonder if this is not the last time I can write to you, because we don't have every week the joy of falling on a South Cross or an Arc-en-Ciel (names of aircraft crossing the South Atlantic)
........ Georges has been here since the day before yesterday, Suzon was looking for him in Paris, and they arrived with the Tio Mio who kindly waited to bring them back in car – Vore! As we say here!- the beautiful Voisin did hers, she stayed in Lisieux with a very bad engine, qq 8 to 10,000F of repairs – a straw! They came more prosaically in rental car, without relucency! if it can be said, around 91/2 in the evening, after leaving in the morning at 9 am. The good Tio Mio is sorry to have stayed on his way, and planned to take us all to Stang Ar Lin, but it's a missed project, because there are many for 8 days of work for his car.
...... I want to return to Paris in the first days of October, to restore the appt. to condition, and also to take care of Robert Gervais's case, which is disastrous and of which he is unable to take care. It is rather sad and very worrying, because he will stay about nothing...and by his fault!
Yesterday we had Stevenin at lunch, he had come Sunday from Vimont where he is at his mother's, without shouting at the station, and he had travelled in detail our old house, and the park, and the gardens, to talk about it with you; yesterday he arrived at 9 a.m. for lunch!! but with a canvas and brushes to make a little sketch of the 3 rounds, which you will have to win, once dried, to your elders. Attention was very delicate, and we had a good time with the artist who was charming and kind...
...Georges rested from his Greeks whom he had seen too much, not to mention his departure, he hoped to be still in France to accompany him to Marseilles and see you all. ....
Vierville28 Sept. 1934(by plane, to the Rio de Janeiro stop)
......it's a shame to leave the countryside in such a time. I write you the window open, in the little blue room, because I took my winter quarters to allow the cleaning of my large room. J-seen the wood already tinted with yellow, the virgin vine that covers the wall of the greenhouse has gone to the most beautiful red, and the massif of dahlias is still covered with flowers...
....the 3 rooms will give us asylum (I say we, because I will be) , my Jean-Paul will lie in the small living room or Nany's room, at your choice, the Maria will cook us, assisted by Jeanne, the stoves will snort, ... and we will have left the little one to care for Aunt Suzon who will be delighted to help him. That is to say, my Jean, that I received your letter of September 14th. I did well with the instructions for Pépita, and even for your driving license, but I am afraid that you would have had to go back to the examination. I will do as best I can and will even inform me here near not , if he could give me a certificate that would simplify things. It is unlikely. ...
.....we took information from Bayeux for a car; we don't rent without a driver, but we can have car and driver for 75F a day – all inclusive less gas, oil, and the driver's pension he doesn't go back to Bayeux. The Pépita bet on hold will wait for your pleasure, it takes qqminutes to put it on his wheels, and in 10 minutes we are in Trevières to take the accuses that the duly notified garager will keep ready to take the road.
Your elders leave tomorrow because the children start classes on Monday.........Georges is happy to have found his own...... but still hopes to be patient with Marcel and to wait for you....
....You won't believe me if I tell you which Flondrois friend is leaving only a few days ago, his car has actually been broken for 15 days; he is fortunately always happy and easy to live; he has attacked the small wood and sluggishness and wrinkles all day long. This was necessary, but even if it continued, we would see it as a scum. I don't hate a little bit of sluggishness... in the woods!! hear! And nature does things too well to stop his whims.
.......we had lunch in Port-Bessin, a good lobster, but it's so good at us that apart from the necessary outings, we stayed here.
...Goodbye, darlings, I am sending this letter to Rio, where I hope it will catch up with you, I will follow you and meet you in Dakar, provided the sea is kind to you...
ParisSaturday, 13October 1934(by plane, addressed to Dakar)
...I told you I'd meet you in Dakar. I hope you received my letter plane to Rio.
....Already at the Alerted Blue Villa m-a made an appointment in Marseille where I will arrive the night before......Imagination trots and I see you all four on the bridge, as smiling, as excited as those who await you. Unfortunately the great Georges... will not be able to accompany. He leaves Tuesday with great regret.The divine Marcel or rather the dirty cow of Marcel having not considered useful to facilitate your re-visit. At the request of Georges who told him that he had not seen you for 5 years and that you would then leave for at least 3 years, he answered textually this "What do you have to say to Jean Hausermann?" then with a lot of bad grace "Do what you want" and Georges judged it better to leave, than if we missed it, we would be happy to throw into his legs his prolonged absence from Piraeus, but he has a big one on his heart and we add a tooth to the jaw that we have against the kind character. I will tell you more about it than Gaby and Malegaria have offered Georges a situation at CPDE and this with much insistence. Georges did not think he had to accept, because he is quite convinced that when he left the Hersent at this moment, he would not be paid any of his gratuity on the works. This one is greatly diminished, it is true, but there is still a minimum, and the latest deals with the Greek guvt have made more than could be hoped. Is it right or not to let this new opportunity pass? L-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-
...it'll be Casa where you'll find some friends... ...we'll also have to kiss Uncle Emile, if he's here, which I'd like....
George hopes to come back for Easter, I've heard so much about these returns that I'm skeptical, until the day we leave.
The boys have taken over the classes with courage, they are very busy, they leave in the morning at 7:1/2 and only return at 7:1/2 am with 1h1/2 for lunch (including a trip)...
....I've been home with Martha for 8 days. There the old house is ready and waiting for you, the beds are made, we only have to arrive.
The apartment is back to life and everything is beautiful for you; your room will please you, I hope.nd (near those of the good guys from Suzon who are two brave girls) for your sousette. There is hot water and cold water and a radiator. Your mom, little Maine, wrote that she had someone in sight. It will be better than a Parisian with her pretensions.
.....my Jean, I took the information for your driver's license, it will be easy to have, but you must be there to sign the duplicate application..Try to remember when you got this license, it would make it easier to search and you could have it in 24 hours. The Pepita on holds, and clean as a penny, waits for you....
Paris2nov.1934(addressed St. François Street, Toulon)
....a dispatch placed at your address had to reassure you about my fate. Excellent journey, but full wagon from Lyon. In Paris the good Suzon and the old uncle was waiting...
.....The boys who had no leave, crossed the small corridor on their return, to come and talk to you...,...the girl is very anxious to know if Jean-Louis will let her approach...
.....I'm determined to leave my liver in a closet on my next trip. What an idea of always embarrassing such a viscera!
Paris5nov.1934
My dear John, I received your good letter this morning, and we read it with great pleasure, since she announces your coming. Boys being free Thursday afternoon jump with joy.......They curse naturally Father Kayser who makes them make a compote every Thursday, probably to force them not to miss the class; but that prevents them from waiting for you at the station....
.......I am still a little "mareale" from time to time, which is very unpleasant, it's still a matter of days; it rains but it's not cold......I was frozen when I arrived in Paris; fortunately the house is well heated. L-Uniform and the lieutenant's kepi are at the tailor's house and the boys are delighted to walk with an officer on November 11th...
Letter addressed to the President of the5 November
My dear Toutuni,
You had a rough idea of wanting to arrive on Thursday and we'd like to be on Wednesday night, we're trying not to get stuck, but unfortunately we're only on Monday...
Paris-Sunday(about 23 December 1934, addressed to Toulon)
... so here you are about to spend a delicious Christmas without worries, and we are very happy...
......we will think about the coming arrival of the Touny – cake – and the happy journey to Vierville (boys do not contain) where we wish you a happy new year; then the return to Paris will bring Aunt Maine back....
...It's all right here, but we're all about the apartment vacuum; where are the gallopings across the small corridor? the farces of the great comrade Touny? the joyful screams of a small mouse with four legs in the hallway?...
Paris24 December 1934(to Toulon)
....I wrote to you yesterday, I don't know how, I was turned into a fountain with a carabine brain cold that finally gave way to the absorption of a box of kipsol, ...
....I see you all here, busy and happy, the little ones very excited ahead, Jean-Paul will have found the cousins of Reims and I imagine their joy and the good parts that we are going to do together. The Jean-Louis is well able to take his part with Yves and Georges;
....boys watchPepita (which is therefore in Paris)….
ParisTuesday
....I come back from lunch in the city...if I dare to express this... I just tasted with my close neighbours, a delicious turkey...
...I'm still planning on leaving for Vierville on Thursday morning, our people are being warned, Jean, and I'll be waiting for you Friday for dinner. I'm a little sorry, little Maine to take your Jean away from you, you're nice to lend him to us....
Vierville30 Xbre34(to Aunt Maine who stayed in Toulon)
...I had arrived here on Thursday, with the "girl" to prepare the quartering; the bulk of the troops coming by the road came here without breakdown, and we're as happy as we can be when all the places are not occupied....We are settled in the little apartment, Jean sleeps on the couch of the Father's office "where he is like a prinStop "She is a sourette, while Mary is in charge of the joys of the stomach....Measures of joy next to the menus of Lucullus, whose charms Jean has praised...
......Here we end the year in the most complete calm, the old house has opened some Persians, we see the sea quiet or the wood stripped, it is sweet. Boys do not leave the great and indulgent comrade, the girl has found her dolls and the good Suzon between times of "his writings" pull the needle for you.....