Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-006#032

Aug. 18, 1918
Dearest Family,
We’ve had such a lovely gala day — a whole afternoon of surprise entertainment got up by the Lupand[?] farm boys to celebrate Mlle de Rose’s fête and as a tribute to les Americaines.
They acted play after play, song and recitation, on a stage made of dining room tables in our big refectoire with the American and French flags draped behind. The program [p. 2] began with “Sammy[?] s’en va-t-en guerre” (to the tune of Malbrough [Marlborough]) and ended with Tipperary, all in English, with lovely Americaine tributes scattered through the program.
We had invited special friends, but the whole of Lacaune strolled in, as they have a way of doing on Sundays; so we had a mob of at least 400 people. Mlle de Rose made a lovely speech, and I plunged into my first real French one, and everybody was [p. 3 marked 2] so sweet and friendly and kissed all round. Next week our own boys are giving a play, and tomorrow we’ve been offered a free séance at the nearby cinema, so you can see what exciting days these are.
The one real tragedy to darken the skies was the sudden death of our recently purchased cow, specially bought for [?] a large sum because of her bovine[?] [?] qualities for our [?]
We’ve had such [p. 4] hard luck with milk, the cows all working too hard, too dry a season for good pasturage, etc. etc. so that we were getting quite desperate when this sudden find was discovered ^came along.^ And 5 days later she died of acute colic! I had a veterinarian come (a military one driving up all the way from Castres in his “Service de Sauté” truck and refusing to take anything for his services) to make sure [p. 5 marked 3] that it wasn’t tuberculosis or some previously existing malady, but alas! He could find nothing upon which we could base a claim for reimboursement[sic], so that it was an out-and-out loss. That was a black day.
Various parents have been visiting their children, the doctors have been giving every kind of an examination, we’re getting ready for a tonsils’ operation orgy, and two fine kindergarteners have arrived on the [p. 6] scene. One of them, Miss Jean Hall, is my age, the other Miss Valentine, a little older. They are perfectly splendid, entering into this chaotic life with the finest possible spirit, taking the children to walk, teaching games and handwork to all ages, etc. etc — just the thing that I’ve been longing to be able to do or have done for them, but can’t in these busy days. They are going to be of invaluable help, and ^are^ such good companions. We’re so lucky to get them —
[p. 7 marked 4] Potatoes are ripe for “arrachering, and large squads work on pea-^gathering and^ shelling every day. We have just got them into a shipment of American overalls, which they love. The nice manufacturer sent over dozens upon dozens as a gift. Also, Waterman sent boxes of fountain pens, which are going to be given as gymnastic prizes. With the magic lantern and two Victors with all latest French ^& American^ military records, baseball mitts & [?] ^individual^ toothpastes [p. 8] galore, we are swamped with American richesse.
The food problem is always at hand, however, for more & more things get requisitioned and rationed and we can’t get large enough amounts. We are making coufitures of blueberries & raspberries and are [?] & the sugarless ones made with grapes.
I spend most of my days now telegraphing to the Prefect of Taru[?] for special dispensations for the children. [p. 9 marked 5] He has been awfully kind to us, and pulled us out of 2 flour-less holes. The whole country has been in a bad way for flour and there has been much going without bread. For the French that is the hardest deprivation of all.
We are probably going to send all our Sisters to the new colony at Bédarieux with the little children, and have a ent [?] change of personnel here, putting in more [p. 10] teachers & directors if possible, as they are so much better for the older boys. It’s no easy matter to find, however, and I foresee days of upheaval ahead. However, some of the older boys are fine leaders, and they all need more responsibility and less guarding. Oh, if you only could know them and see them develop —
We’ve had a little trouble with a rather wild Alsatian and one or two others, but you always can win them ^in the end^ by trust and affection! I’ve never known [p. 11 marked 6] such instinctive chivalry. Once you appeal to that side. It never fails.
As for some of them, their natural manners and consideration and solicitude for one’s comfort never fail to bouleverser me.
Oh, if one could give them every advantage — a real house and real education! I can’t come home without some of them, so begin to prepare your minds now. If[?] adopted sons — Pierre and Gilbert Noël!
A heartful of love and longing to have you know them.
Your Bun
/over
[p. 12] P.S. It turned out that our affair this P.M. was [?] an epoch-making one, it being the first “reunion” at Lacaune participated in by both Catholics & Protestants. Unfortunately, the Congregational Pastor couldn’t come [strikethrough unknown]. We had an armchair for him next [to] the curé, and all feuds were to be temporarily forgotten. It is the ancient battleground of religious wars, you know, and arms have not yet been laid down. Far from it! As for local politics —
[p. 1 margin:] This beautiful paper came from the Protestant Fair, at which I won a lavender silk cushion in a lottery! [Note: This letter was written on 4 sheets of official stationery, front and back. The header of the paper [pages 1, 3, 5, and 7] says: COMITÉ FRANCO-AMÉRICAIN POR LA PROTECTION DES ENFANTS DE LA FRONTIÈRE 77, RUE D’AMSTERDAM, PARIS Below that, on the left, is printed: “COLONIE FRANCO-AMÉRICAINE DE LACAUNE” LACAUNE-LES-BAINS (TARN)]

• Keywords: long archives; henry w. longfellow family papers (long 27930); erica (thorp) de berry; document; correspondence; war; world war i; health and illness; lacaune; france; europe; education; school; joseph gilbert thorp jr.; anne allegra (longfellow) thorp; events; animals; social life; death; friendship; pageant; religion; Erica Thorp deBerry Papers (1006/004.006); (LONG-SeriesName); Outgoing (1006/004.006.002); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1918 (1006/004.006.002-006); (LONG-FileUnitName)