50 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean 5 letters “Petit Jean” (one “Jean”), Paris 1917–1918, to his grandparents, the GILLETs; 12 pages, in-8 (edges frayed on the 4th page). In Paris, under the threat of German bombardments. October 6, 1917, he recounts his first day at Lycée Voltaire: “We are fed as well as could be expected […] I had to come back to the high school to eat leg of lamb, sausage, and cream. […] After the promotion exams, I moved up to a class that the principal had just created, called Seconde Arts et Métiers. […] We have 7 hours of math and 9 hours of manual labor. I really enjoy all of this.” He is settled in well with his mother on Rue de la Boétie… 1918. – February 18: visit to Les Invalides: “The Emperor’s tomb is completely walled off with sandbags to protect it from the Gothas. The July Column is also being walled off.” Account of an air raid alert: “Last night I saw the red beacons of the planes”; we take refuge in the metro… – April 8: he recounts his return from Aurillac to Paris, a bike ride from the Cité to Montparnasse… – April 14: “We’re used to everything that’s happening now. Paris is truly dead now, though spring has nature in full bloom—except for the Parisians. It’s not really that bad, I assure you: a bomb now and then breaks the silence of the streets”… – May 20, a nostalgic recollection of Pentecost in Mainbressy. “The cannon has been thundering all day and is still thundering; but it’s not on our side; the sound is muffled […] Bertha is waking up”… He passed his English essay and reveals the topic of his French essay. His bicycle is being repaired… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down within the family