99 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean 2 letters (L.A.S.) titled “Jean” and “Mermoz,” Casablanca, March 8 and April 10, 1926, to his grandparents, the GILLETs; 4 and 6 pages, small in-4 format. On his stopover in Casablanca, and plans for a road trip. March 8. He has been in Casablanca for six days: “It’s exactly like life in France, and the weather is always beautiful except for the morning fog […] Right now I’m doing Casa-Rabat-Tangier-Malaga and back in a single day; then, on Thursdays and Sundays, I go to Fez; and soon I’ll also be making trips to Dakar. Anyway, I like Casa. Life here is intense, superficial, and uncomplicated. Most of the people who live here are spirited individuals who work hard and play hard. Everyone knows each other, and there’s no need to overanalyze things. No one is unaware of what the others are up to, and vice versa. I’ve rarely seen a city with so little prejudice and so much candor. "It’s really charming." He’s staying at a hotel but is going to rent a room in town: "I’ll rent some inexpensive Moroccan furniture and set up a comfortable—albeit temporary—‘home’ there." He hopes to find a better job this year: “I think I’ll have to give up on the raid I’d planned. This year, three major companies—with their pilots, of course—will be vying for my attention. My friend and I had found one, but the single-engine aircraft, which hadn’t proven itself, didn’t inspire confidence in us. There’s no point in undertaking it without a good chance of success. It would serve absolutely no purpose, and risking one’s life for the sole sake of pleasure is not a goal”…. April 10. “We had 10 days of bad weather from March 20 to 30, the spring equinox. Hard work, of course, and crossing the strait wasn’t very pleasant, though rarely impossible despite everything. Now the sky is wonderful and the trips are a breeze. I haven’t stopped. I’ve made 21 trips since March 20—one per day (since two friends left home). […] I’m doing great despite the fatigue of the last few days. My work comes before my pleasures because I love it more, and when it’s intense, I establish a regular routine for myself, which allows me to maintain a steady effort without burning out—and to achieve a level of endurance that almost all other pilots on the line have never been able to match. It’s simply a matter of willpower. Grandma can rest assured. I’m no regular at the dance hall and get bored to death when I do happen to go. I go to the beach morning and evening; I ride horses, fence, and do a little track and field. I’ve rented a room in town that I’ve decorated with Moroccan rugs. I like it there and prefer to spend my evenings there; I entertain male friends there, and sometimes… female ones! Or I read; in short, I’m not bored. […] Casablanca is a chic city. There are some very pretty spots and lovely walks in Morocco. I’ll probably buy a car (if I spend the summer here, that is) and go visit Marrakech, Agadir, Meknes, and Fez (which I already know, since I go there twice a week on courier runs). I went once to Rio de Oro on the Dakar route. […] The Aero Club informed me that I would receive a silver medal for 1925 […] My nomination for the red ribbon still stands, but I don’t think I’ll receive it this year since I’m one of the youngest airline pilots—though I’m sure I’ll get it next year”… Correspondence, Nos. 80 and 84. Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Later passed down within the family