The Bea Blog consists primarily of excerpts from the
diaries my grandmother Bea Cohen (1899-1985) kept for 38 years, starting in
1913. For more background, see Part I -- Intro and 1913 (under Blog Archive).
Letter
from Paris 1953
My parents, Ande and
Byron, on their wedding day, en route to Paris, October 1958
Bea’s youngest daughter, my mother Ande Rubin, was
happiest when she was traveling in France and Italy. She traveled regularly to Europe: from the age of five
(1931), throughout her childhood and young adulthood, with my father on
their honeymoon (1958), and for a couple of years until I was born (1961).
I’ve been reading letters Ande wrote home from Europe during the 1950s, when she traveled alone by ship on several occasions. What stands out for me in particular is her confidence traveling on her own, her ability to make friends, and her ebullience and sense of humor. She comes across as smart, fashionable, elegant and charming – accustomed to comfort, but open to adventure (relatively speaking, that is).
Though Ande only hints at unhappiness in this letter, she was emotionally and physically fragile from a young age. After college, she grew increasingly dependent on prescription pain killers, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Overmedicated, she died in her sleep in 1967.
Ande’s letter from Paris, on Ile de
France letterhead, August 1953
In August 1953, Ande travels to France on the Ile de France and finds herself in the midst of a general strike. In Paris she stays at the Hotel Continental. Typical of her
letters from France, this one is peppered with French phrases and brimming with enthusiasm.
She addresses the letter to her older sister, Jean, but asks Jean to share
it with their parents, Bea and Milton.
August 13-14
I
can’t imagine what the NY papers are making out of this situation and I have
visions of Daddy calling Eisenhower on the hour, but in spite of the tie-up of everything,
Paris est encore Paris et je l’adore!
Pas de trains, mails, gas, electricity (they have auxiliary systems however so no candles so far) etc. C’est vraiment formidable! Anyway as to me:
Shortly before we disembarked at Le Havre we were told that the boat trains weren’t running so we would go by bus to Paris avec un petit paquet de lunch et une boteille de vin pour chacun. WELL, Le Havre was a MADHOUSE! Fortunately I got a porter who took pity on me and decided in ringing tones that “La petite fille n’est pas solide” so gave me a hand with les bagages. I sat next to a man in the bus – Jewish textile man from New York – married twice, 3 children, with a carton of Milium, Orlon, Nylon, etc. which he plans to take orders for all thru Europe. I wish you could have seen him struggling with this 300 lb carton, FANTASTIC. Anyway, we finally took off and rugged as the ride was, the Normandy countryside is so unbelievably beautiful that it was completely worth la difficulté. We finally got dropped off at La Gare des Invalides – I went off to the Hotel while my textile friend stayed at the station to try to make arrangements to get out of Paris avec carton somehow by the next AM [. . .] In the meantime I was to make a reservation for him [at the Continental], since all the evening flights out of Paris had been cancelled (Air France had walked out of the control towers). Well, don’t you think the management decided to give him the room next to mine avec un connecting door and when he finally arrived told him they had “fixed everything”! So then I knew I was in Paris. […]
Had
lunch yesterday with the textile man (who still hadn’t been able to get out via
plane, train or bus) at The Rond Point […] Finally, the textile man got himself
to Zurich – Thank GOD (for me, as well as for him and the future of Milium).
Like the rest of her family, Ande is very alert to (and not shy
about commenting on) social status and background – particularly who is Jewish
and who is not – and, because her father Milton was in the textile business, she shares
details of fabrics (e.g. Milium, Orlon, Nylon) and, later in the letter, the
fashion houses she hopes to visit (e.g. Fath, Dior, Lanvin, Carven).
Last night had dinner with some girls from the boat at La Reine Pedaque (Chateaubriant avec Bernaise, Vin Rosay, etc.) and went to the folies. Not BAD. The girls are Navy wives who are planning to meet their husbands – jet fliers – in Cannes. We met a Naval Commander at the folies who gave us a big speech about getting out of Paris as soon as possible, etc. etc but I feel quite sure he was a typical Naval alarmist and anyway there’s no way to get out. The trains aren’t running, the busses are completely jammed, half the planes aren’t flying and those that are, are so overloaded I’d rather put my life in the hands of a striking Frenchman on the ground. […]
Am
not in the least lonely and wish I felt this way chez New York. […]
I
went over to the St. James et D’Albany ce matin because I thought I would have
a chat with the vendeuse there and see if I couldn’t get into some of the collections.
Fath and Dior are open only for buyers now, but she gave me cards for Lanvin
and Carven so that should be pleasant.
Paris
seems extremely uncrowded and I suppose even the people scheduled to come are
staying away until all this gets settled. […] Ce soir j’ai mangée avec mes
amies du bateau à un très bon restaurant sur la rive gauche.
I’m
going to take a chance on mailing this. Maybe you will get it by next January!
Love,
Moi
Lanvin dress 1953 ( https://www.pinterest.com/volfi/lanvin/)
Carven
dress 1953 (https://www.pinterest.com/eastoo1133/1950s-cocktail-and-evening-dresses/)
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