The letters following were written by Dorothy Cox Matlick during the years 1949 through 1952 when she was the wife of Major Ben Matlick, Assistant Air Attaché to the American Embassy in Paris.
And now, as Dottie so frequently wondered,
She wrote them variously to "Mommie" (Mable "Pete" Peterson Cox) and "Pops" (Harry Stearns, her stepfather) and "Sis" (Geraldine Cox Godbey, her sister) all of Los Angeles, California. The letters were returned to Dorothy at the time of her mother's death in 1975 along with the ones to her sister who had the foresight to save them.
Dorothy was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1923 to Mel and Mable Cox. In the late twenties they gravitated to Southern California where Dorothy and her sister grew up in and around Hollywood. The highlights of their childhood were summer vacations she and Geri spent at their maternal grandparents' (Peterson) farm in Northern Idaho.
Her teenage years were exciting and exhilarating. Times were good and Los Angeles was a good place to be during a depression. There were no freeways, smog or urban sprawl. Instead were orange groves, glorious sunshine over the foothills and the glamour of Hollywood. And the beach was a streetcar ride away. She developed a zest for life that she never lost.
Dottie, as she came to be known, met her husband, Ben, at her eighteenth birthday party which he ingloriously crashed. It took him six weeks to get a date with her afterwards. The war broke out in the meantime and Ben signed up as an Aviation Cadet. Fortuitously he was sent to Santa Anna where they were married on his first overnight pass from training in September of 1942.
Ben earned his wings in April of '43 and in June he departed for the war in Europe. Dottie stayed in Idaho for the duration. Ben returned to the States in October of '44 after flying 55 combat missions in a B-17 out of North Africa. After qualifying as an instrument pilot instructor in Bryan, Texas he spent a brief stint instructing in Palm Springs, California. It was during this time that Ben and Dottie's son, Richard, was born in October of '45.
In April of '46 Ben was assigned to the Pentagon where he went to work for General Monro MacCloskey his Wing Commander during the war. General Mac was charged by his old roommate from West Point, (General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, second Chief of Staff of the Air Force) with organizing the Air Force Reserves and National Guard.
Ben was a junior captain in a sea of junior officers floating around after the war waiting to discover what a world at peace held in store for them. The assignment was Dottie's first experience as a "military wife" and it was in a heady, post-war Washington that could be intimidating to a provincial from the West. General Mac's wife, Betty befriended her from the outset. She was educated as a librarian and the wife of a West Pointer. Dottie was a high school graduate and the wife of a recruit. Nevertheless, Betty took Dottie under wing and helped her penetrate the illusive disposition of military life in the Washington labyrinth.
Dottie was twenty-six when she, Ben and their four year old son flew across the North Atlantic, strapped in the bucket seats of a C-54. It was (as I can still remember--no matter what mom told the folks back home) a clamorous, turbulent, gloomy and (for a four year) AWEsome flight. Compared to the plush flights of today it was, it seems now, downright primitive.
We landed in a post-war Europe that was full of unknown promise. The United States was emerging as the world's greatest power. Ike was about to return to France and establish NATO. The Marshall Plan was installed and in spite of French recalcitrance was to make a profound impact on Europe. The next four years were just as momentous for the Matlicks.
General Mac was appointed Air Attaché to France in the summer of '49 and requested Ben for his Assistant. The MacCloskeys arrived in Paris a few months before the Matlicks and the first letter was written to Dottie from Betty MacCloskey describing the wonders and mysteries of Paris.
The images are copies of post cards that Dottie sent home from their many trips.
Asterisks appear where parts of a letter were lost. Indented portions are memories of mine..
"Can you imagine? . . . "
July 6, 1949
Paris is simply wonderful! I am still pinching myself. It's like I thought it would be, only more beautiful and very strange. I think I am in a dream or at least a movie set. The traffic is wild. I'll never drive and am scared to death to cross a street, but have ventured out several times by myself and nothing has happened yet.
Some of the French children look darling, little boys in long socks and very short shorts but some (even 5 or 6) in bloomer rompers. Everyone from age 2 up wears gloves . I've seen priests in bérets and old men in wooden shoes. I went to Church of the Madeleine Sunday (while Mac flew) and was so fascinated I stayed for two masses. You pay for everything your seat, for the poor, beggars and the regular collection but it's worth it. In the afternoon we walked up the Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe, along the park where the children take donkey and goat cart rides. Everywhere are children and dogs and everyone speaks some sort of English. The shops are full of everything you can think of.
BUT here comes the bad news things are terribly expensive at least as much, if not more than in the States, but so much prettier. My first advice is to bring everything old you have, but don't buy anything till you get here and save every penny on you can. I've never seen such beautiful blouses anywhere, at any price, as are in every shop, the most gorgeous handwork. I'm ashamed of our American ones and would much rather have one of these even at $15 to $30 more than ours. The shoes everyone are so terrible are beautiful and about $13 to $30. I haven't tried any on but they look as though they would fit, certainly in your size. Slips ($10 to $25 are like nothing I ever saw. All the clothes are expensive in the windows (naturally I don't know the "little dressmakers" yet) and prettier than ours, even the sport things. I'm so glad I bought as little as I did and wish even that had been less. Don't give away any of your old stuff, but don't buy anything new. I saw a grey coat just like your green one with the hood. Purses are lovely too, and the accessories, (gloves, etc.) are divine.
Food is very high in the swanky places our first lunch was $12, the second $6 and last night we had an excellent dinner for a little over $2 for both of us. There is a lot to knowing your way around. It's delicious any place.
The Hôtel Castiglione is a great disappointment very modern, could be anyplace at all. Small room and nice bath $7. There are much nicer ones for the same price a little farther out and we are undecided whether to move to another or wait for a permanent place. About the prices, everyone says they are extra high for tourists this summer and will drop in the fall.
Make yourself a large canvas shopping bag. Everyone goes along carrying bare bread, fruit, artichokes, etc. Nothing is wrapped. How about making me one too? I could use it already and like a dope, sent the only one I had to storage. Bring a couple of bars of soap, kleenex, T.P. and wash cloths in your luggage. Also some cheap stationery (the good stuff is beautiful here). I'm telling you this very disconnectedly but thought you might start making lists and sort it out while my impressions are fresh.
Study French as hard as you can. It will at least help you to understand their English, read signs, etc. and wold make it all more fun. Also see if you can borrow maps and guide books from the library to study. The one I had, France and the Provinces is excellent but unfortunately packed in the trunk. Anything you already know about customs, busses, Metro, etc is all to the good. We walk our legs off. There is so much to see. Be sure to include flat, comfortable shoes in your hand luggage. There are so many cobblestones. They complain of the heat, but we think the weather is wonderful. Not drippy like Washington and always brilliant sun and a breeze.
Mac thinks the office will be interesting. He has plunged right in. I think I'll be brave and go see Napoleon's Tomb at Hôtel des Invalides this afternoon. The trip was very smooth and dull except for overnight in Bermuda where we got to drive around an hour. It's a darling place. Do write and ask me lots of questions.
Love,
Betty
Tell Ben the figures are beautiful! Much bosom, tiny waistlines, hip and skirts unbuttoned up the back.
Mickey's reservations got tied up and he won't be here until next Sunday. Poor puppy.
Don't by a wallet, the money won't fit.
40 Faubourgh Sainte-Honoré
Paris, France
December 14, 1949
Dear Sis and Family,
I believe I have time for a short note before Ben arrives. He has put in his first full day at the Embassy and Rickie and I are waiting for him in the "salon de correspondence" of the hotel. You never do anything except in the proper room!
French hotels are wonderful. Such service you'd never find at home. On each floor there is a maid, butler and a waiter (who is always a young boy, 14 to 17 years old). In each room there are three little buttons, one for each person. For food you ring the waiter; for cleaning the room or towels you ring the maid; for pressing, laundry or cleaning you ring the butler. They are all on duty from early morning to late at night and do many small services for the gueststoo many to mention here. At night when you go in to retire you find robes on your bed and they can always find these things no matter where you hide them.
The sheets are real linen (too rough for comfort). The pillows are square and just huge. Each bed has a bolster at the top folded into the sheetvery comfortable to read or write in bed, but hard to sleep with. The windows are huge. They have shutter-like things of wood on the outside (in place of blinds) and dark drapes to pull on the inside. For Rickie's naps I can make it dark as night in the room by using both.
The bathroom has two rooms; one for the douche bowl which is quite a fancy affair that looks like a low water fountain. I understand they have them in every house or hotel in France. The bathtub is about the same size but much deeper.
Nearly as soon as you push the waiter's bell in the morning he is there with coffee and breakfast rolls. If you want more, you just order more. This is included in the price of your room (3065 francs or $8.90 per day).
Tonight we make our first formal call on Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce. I must close now, Ben is here. I will write more tomorrow.
Love,
Dottie
December 27, 1949
Did you have a nice Christmas? I sure did think about you lots! Our box will be quite late I know, but don't give up hope. Even the toys for the kids were purchased here in France, so you will have another Christmas in January.
Let me thank you again for the nice Christmas gift you gave Ben and I. We will surely make use of the spoons here. Since we arrived in Paris we have gone to many parties, large and small, and I've never seen coffee served in anything except demi-tasse cups.
Rickie sure loves his station and when we told him you'd sent it "all the way over the moon" from California, he was even more thrilled! We bought a wind-up train for him (his electric one didn't arrive), castle with soldiers, a blackboard and lots of junk. We couldn't get a bike because of being in a hotel but as soon as the house is ready he can pick one out. I decorated a small tree in our room and we put his things around it and in front of his bed.
The French don't celebrate Christmas as we do at home. There are no street decorations, no stores decorated. None of the houses have trees lit, either inside or out. The few trees here that are decorated are small and lit with candles. Only children get gifts as a rule, and very few at that. All the French go to midnight mass and afterwards have a big dinner at 2am. Their big holiday is New Year's Eve. They make a big thing out of that.
We spent Christmas at the MacCloskey's. They had a big "American" tree and about 20 gifts for Rick (little, inexpensive, cute toys). We had turkey and all the trimmings, so it was almost like Christmas but not quite.
We are "in" having been to our first reception at the Ambassador's. It can best be described as a huge New York cocktail party. It was held in three huge rooms on the first floor of the Residence. The receiving line consisted of Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce and their two dogs (but they didn't shake hands). In each room (all opened into the hall through big, double French doors) was a long table with three butlers waiting to serve you your choice of champagne, martinis or whiskey and tray after tray of every kind of canape and sweet cakes. We met a million people and had a fine time.
A set of dishes in France must have a thousand pieces. In one place setting there are three cups and saucers (one large for morning coffee, one mid-size for lunch or tea and one demi-tasse for dinner), three service plates (one for each course) a salad plate, soup bowl, a soup cup and a dessert dish. This is not just for the elite either. Our landlady brought just such a set to furnish our apartment. I sure am glad I don't have to wash the dishes.
Today I'm going to Betty's for lunch and to interview a cook and permanent nurse. They are friends of Betty's cook. The nurse speaks three languages; French, German and English. Her wages are 6000 francs ($22) a month and she lives in. The cook gets 9000 francs ($25) and lives out but stays late for parties and arrives in time to fix breakfast.
* * * * * * *
January 3, 1950
Dear Mommie, Sis and family,
We had good luck last night. We were able to get the Rose Bowl game via Armed Services Radio. We sat up until two in the morning listening to it [Ohio State beat California]. Thought about you, your television, a ham, egg nog and all the fun you were having.
New Years Eve proved to be quite a thing in Paris. We went (in cocktail clothes) to three parties then home at eleven to dress formal for a big party at Commander Thornburn's (yes, the navy! the Naval Attaché). They have a beautiful home (it makes the Roaches' look sick) and had an orchestra and all the trimmings. We had a glorious time! Bacon and eggs were served at 5am and we got home at dawn. Just in time because the phone was ringing and it was Washington. Mitt and Jeanette Diehl wanted to wish us a happy new year. Also to tell us they have plane reservations in August to come to Paris. I'm so thrilled. Then an hour later, of all things, Shirley and Mac Hemphil called. Both were drunk as fools and Shirley was on a crying jag. The connections were both very clear, just like they were next door. There was a special holiday rate of $12. I wish I had known. Ben's glad I didn't.
We sure see a lot of the Navy and Marines, also the British and Canadian Air Attachés. It seems to be one big happy family, over here at least. I'm very anxious about the reception MacCloskeys are giving in our honor. The date has been set for January 12th. The invitations have been engraved and sent out. I'm saving copies to put in my scrap book. All of the Ambassadors have been invited, from every country represented in France. Of course, Mac is glad for an opportunity to have such an affair and we just happened to be the first real chance he's had. But I'm overwhelmed by it all. Can you imagine me in a receiving line with Ambassadors moving by? Can you? I'll trip one I'm sure.
Did I tell you we are going to Rome this month? Ben, Mac and Betty, and Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce.
We go to Brussels in the morning for 2 days. It's only 4 hours by train. Then Ben and I will go on to Germany to pick up the car which we will drive back.
I can't write anymore today this pen is a hotel "thing" and is AWFUL.
Love you,
Dottie
(in flight over Belgium)
Dear Mommie and Pops,
We are flying over Brussels now at about 5000 feet on our way to Bremen, Germany! The car has arrived and we will drive back through Holland and Belgium. Can you imagine? I'm so excited!
This is really a beautiful airplane, so plush! Complete with curtains, seats like a Greyhound bus, thick rug, desk, couch and hot coffee. We have two E.C.A. pilots on board to fly the ship back.
The reception in our honor was a huge success. Three hundred people attended. The highest ranking were Ambassador Bruce and Ambassador-at-Large Harriman. Nearly every country was represented by either their Air, Naval or Military Attaché. The Ambassadors were invited but didn't come. A junior officer stood at the head of the receiving line to get the guests names, he then introduced them to Colonel MacCloskey who then introduced them to Betty. She then introduced them to Ben and he introduced me ("tail end Charley"). We stood on our feet, smiling, nodding and shaking hands from 6:30 until 8:45. We did not say goodbye to the guests but rushed to the bar and, with a glass in each hand, sat down until the room cleared. Afterward Mac, Betty, Ben and I went to Café Roma for dinner.
Friday night we went, for the second time, to the Embassy for cocktails. This time I got a better look at the house because it was a small party, about 40 people. The crystal chandeliers are just beautiful and the dining room is all paneled, rugs all oriental and lots of silver on every table.
There is a loud speaker in front of me, from the cockpit and every time I get a thought the damn things goes on and some French tower operator yells some figures.
To go on about the party, I didn't see a single familiar face, not one. Ben and I were having a hard time mixing with the older crowd when over in the corner I spied a fat man. I was sure I'd seen him before so I marched right over and said, "Hi, I'm Mrs. Matlick. Didn't we meet at Group Captain Carling-Kelly's party?" When the old fool answered, "No, I don't believe we did but my name is Orson Wells and I'm happy to meet you now," I nearly died! He was with Norma Sheaer and her young daughter. They were all very nice and seemed to think it was very funny that I should not have recognized Orson Wells. I sure felt silly. I was quite sure he was just someone we'd met at a cocktail party. He had a long beard left over from his picture "The Third Man."
I won't go into our apartment now because it would take too long. However, it's not finished and we are living with wet paint and damp plaster.
We are letting down now. I can see the ground and my ears are really popping. I will try to keep a running account of our trip back. The red "Fasten Seat Belt" and "No Smoking" sign just came on. Honestly, this little old C-47 is just like a luxury liner!
Bremerhaven, Germany - 4PM
Well here we are in Bremerhaven! From the looks of my writing above it must have been a rough flight. There was a funny little German car waiting when we landed with a quaint driver who spoke a little English. We drove the 30 miles between Bremen Airbase and Bremerhaven in about an hour and fifteen minutes! I'm sitting in an office while Ben stands in a great long line signing papers. We hope to get out of here and back to Bremen before dark.
The officer here tells me that German people are mean and don't seem to realize they've lost the war. Some of them refuse to even answer questions when asked on the streets by Americans. I am amazed at the evidence of war and wonder how long it will take to rebuild this country. The people really do live in cellars of bombed out buildings, often with no electricity and usually no plumbing at all!
Here comes Ben. The car is ready and I'm anxious to see it.
Saxony, Germany
Tuesday January 17, 1950 - 11 AM
I'm sure you can't read this. We are in the car just passing through Hannover. We decided to drive back to Paris by way of Frankfurt because of better roads and the European Exchange Service gas stations. the weather is awful rain, fog and cold. Holland and Belgium will have to wait until "tulip time."
We had good luck with our car. It arrived in pretty good shape. Just one minor item my door doesn't open from the outside.
Last night we stayed at the Hotel Bremen. It had been requisitioned and was very nice. The bar and dining rooms double as the Officers Club in the area. Spent the evening with a navy commander and his wife who are stationed there. He is a liaison officer for the navy.
The German countryside is just as I had pictured it, very quaint, clean and lots of white geese in the barnyards. The farmhouses are darling. House and barn are one building with a roof that seems to be made of hay or straw. The house half has a fenced yard and neat garden plots. The barn half has a very clean yard full of geese, chickens and dogs. I feel quite sure that inside are clean, jolly people and that you could enter the barn by opening a door off the kitchen. The roads are lined on both sides by tall, old poplar trees.
Ben just asked me to read back what I've written so far and it seems I forgot to mention that all the French Generals were at our reception. A General Hartman (isn't this a coincidence?) who decorated Ben with the Crois de Guerre was there! Also General Lecheres who is Chief of Staff of the French Air Force.
Hesse, Germany - 3 PM
We are on the Reich Autobahn. It's a beautiful, four lane highway. They were built by Hitler and all lead to Berlin from every corner of Germany, by-passing all the cities and villages. We will be on this particular autobahn until we reach Saarbruken on the French border. We picked it up just south of Hannover.
We had Wienerschnitzel for dinner, breaded veal cutlet that tastes wonderful. It has a strange flavor that I can't identify and was garnished with hard boiled eggs and pickles. Mommie, we had real beer German beer. I couldn't help but remember meeting those German boats when Sis and I were kids. Remember?
While I'm on the subject of food, let me tell you what I had for breakfast Sunday morning in Paris. On the menu of a cute little place on the Champs-Elysées, I saw Toast au Chef. Thinking it was French toast, I ordered it. Just picture this, a piece of oil soaked toast covered with sour mushrooms (champignons in French) over which were two strips of bacon and on top of that sat an egg that had been dropped into hot fat just long enough to set the white part (like we would poach one in hot water) and over the whole mess was tomato sauce. I did NOT eat it! Ben laughed and laughed.
Marne, France
Wednesday January 18, 1950
We spent the night in Metz, France. Visited the old cathedral which was built in 800. Can you imagine? Oh Mommie, it is so very beautiful and as good today as it was over one thousand years ago.
The minute we hit the French border there was such a change. The towns are dirty and the people are too. I can sure see the difference between Scandinavian and Romantic people. (As you know, Romantic includes French, Spanish and Italian people.)
We'll reach Paris about four this afternoon. Rickie stayed with some friends. His nurse did not work out well at all. He hated her. However, we have hired a Swedish woman who seems to be wonderful. She will cook for and take care of Rickie until the apartment is really finished and we hire a real governess. English speaking, I hope because the language is what seems to upset him the most. The Swede will continue on as our cook. And oh, but she sure can cook! We didn't leave Rickie with her this trip because we haven't had her but one week and he might have been lonely. We fired the French nurse.
Paris, France
January 27, 1950
Mommie, I have copied this over as you might have guessed. The real notes were awful. I could hardly read them myself.
I will write Sis a description of our visit to Luxembourg, the smallest country in Europe. The Grand Duchess is the ruler and they produce lots of fine steel in the little country. It is bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. We went to a Ball at the Royal Palace and were, in a small way, in a small country, presented at court. Can you imagine? Mrs. Pearl Mesta, our Minister to Luxembourg had a reception while we were there which we attended. You've read about Pearl, I'm sure.
I'll write Sis at once.
Love you,
Dottie
February 22, 1950
Good old George Washington's Birthday today. Bay did I need this holiday. This business of working and being busy all the time makes the time go fast but that is about all I can say for-it. Today, we slept fairly late, took Rick to the park and other wise just loafed around. I feel like a new man.
We've enjoyed your letters Pete, and IRickie enjoys his little cards from you. Every night when I come home from work, Rick asks about his mail. He picked it up from his mother but now he is sincerely disappointed if he doesn't have any mail. If your in town and see some little cards, be sure and send them along to Rickie-doodle. He thinks and talks about his relatives in California a lot. He is already talking about when we'll see you all again.
Suppose you received our card from Rome. We flew the Ambassador down there for a four day vacation. The weather was perfect all the time. It was nice to see the sun again, since we've only had good weather here one or two days since we hit France. Prices are certainly cheap in Italy. Dottie picked up a couple of little pieces of silver for practically nothing (which is about all we have) and I got a nice silver lighter, Outside of our shopping we did some sightseeing and ate good all the time we were there. Some of those places we saw are really old and one of the churches there, the Pantheon I believe, was built a hundred or so years before Christ. It is still in perfect condition.
We are off again to Algeria and Tunisia the first of March. I'm quite anxious to show Dottie my old stamping grounds down there in Africa. The only bad thing about our travelling is the fact that we can't take Rick with us. He doesn't mind too much staying with his nurse but I'd still like to have him along sometimes. Speaking of nurses, we have practically a new staff of servants. I suppose Dottie has written you about the Scandinavian nurse so I'll tell about the cook. She just started today. very clean and her meals are very good. She likes Rick quite well and is quiet and reserved. As a matter of fact, she looks a lot like my boss' wife. 'Won't she have a fit the next time she comes over.
Harry, the drinkin' here is pretty good. Lots of cognac, wine and apperitifs. I'll send you some cognac as soon as I get caught up a little, I've been drinking a brand of cognac called Remy Martin which I believe you can get in the States. It's pretty cheap over here. Just to make you feel bad I'll tell you what I pay for whiskey through the Embassy - $1.60 for a fifth of Canadian Club or V.0. - $2.40 for Old Grand Dad or similar bonded bourbon and $2.25 for assorted liquors. How about that? Don't let it fool you though, lots of things over here are twice as expensive as in the States.
My French is improving steadily. Rick and I went to the coiffeur today anct had haircuts. I got in a long discussion with the barber, a communist of the first water. The reds pulled a two hour general strike today, protesting the acceptance of the French government of aid from the U. S. You can imagine how I felt about that. Anyway the barber was trying to give me this business about France being able to help herself and not needing,outside help. I almost blew my top -- these people are really a bunch of eggheads. They hire ten people to do the work of one good American and then the ten people take twice as long to do the job Just to keep the work going longer. Everything they do is like that. They don' t like machines because they put people out of work, Oh well, guess there's not much I or anyone else can do about it. Both Dottie and I liked the Italians much better than the French. Guess the other side of the fence always looks better.
Dottie is going to add something to this while I put the car away. I park in a garage about two blocks away. That is not too bad, but I have to park on the gth floor of the damn place and it was built for these little tiny Renaults. MY Mercury will just make it up the ramps. If I ever go in there looped, the M6rc will come out looking like a Citro@in. Speaking of the car, Dottie had a run in with a French taxi and came out second best. She opened the door to get out and the taxi fairly-well lowered the boom on the door. It took a week and 26,000 francs for the Frenchmen to fix it but, I must say, they did a good Job since they didn't have a new door,
Well, its the garage and then the sack for me, That office is Just about to get me down. The work is not too hard but the pressure on everything tires me out more than if I was digging ditches. Write again soon, and I'll get some cognac off to you A plut6t.
Bien A vous
Ben
Dear Mommie and Pops,
Ben said I'd say something so I shall! Did you get my letter of a week ago? I will write a letter in the morning.
Love,
Dottie
February 23, 1950
Dear Mommie and Pops,
Received your two letters this week - the last one came through in three days! That's pretty good, Huh?
Our trip to Rome was wonderful. It is only five hours by air and we had beautiful weather all the way. Saw Corisca from the-air, such a beautiful, rugged isle! The Italian people are so nice and seem to suffer less from war damage than either France or Germany. They are nicer to Americans too. I think Rome is much prettier than Paris and the food sure is good. We had something different to eat each meal. Cannelloni was my favorite. The Fiza was very, very good and their,, red wine is wonderful. The Vatican City was a little over my head, however the art and buildings were magnificent. We climbed over 400 steps to the very top of St. Peter I s dome. The view was beautiful and J'ust as we reached the top all the.bells began to ring. The Colliseum impressed me so much, I think, because I'd seen so many picures of it in my history books at school. However the Pantheon is much older (built a hundred years before Christ) and all the kings of Italy are buried there. There are little shrines on every street corner (Catholic, of course) always with flowers and candles. You see the people stop and kneel to pray before them all over the city. This being Holy year, there were priests and sisters of every order from all over the world.
There are so many flowers in Italy. Flower stands all over the city have carnations, tulips, roses, lillies, fruit blossoms and lots of little bunches of violets (they smell too - Just like violet perfume, ours at home don't, you know). We took a horse carriage wherever we went.' There are millions of them and very few auto taxis. The thing that amused us so much about riding in those quaint old carriages was they had meters - Just like a New York cab. They are very cheap - about 60 cents an hour for the carriage and any number can ride at no extra charge. The Ambassador was so impressed by the flowers, he bought four camellia plants to take back to Paris. Mrs. Bruce hopes they will bloom all year in the house.
I forgot to mention the Swiss Guards at the Vatican. They are in ancient dress - so colorful! I bought little miniture dolls dressed just like them for Candy and Sharon Lee. Also bought some in the costumes of old Rome.
We leave again the first of March - this time for North Africa, Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce will be on this trip too. It will be a six day tour and inspection of our bases there. Look f or me in the Newsreels (laugh here) ! Our whole party will be house guests of the American Consul in Tunisia for one night which is a villa on the Mediterranean Sea. I' m real excited about the whole thins! Hope to have time to go through the Casbab in Algiers too.
Mommie, Rickie has a hoop. You know the kind you roll along with a stick? He loves it and races through the park at Trocad6ro for hours. He is really good at it. They were popular among the kids in America years ago. He loves the mail from home. We have to read everything,out loud to him. Send him a card whenever you see one. Any dime toy would thrill him to pieces - cars in particular. But he especially needs color crayons and colorbooks. , The French colors are awful and the books not much better. He sure talks a lot about his family in California and is so disappointed when there is no mail. He does love this nurse, Erna Christinson, and also the cook (but she doesn't speak English). Erna spends at least two hours a day- in the park with him and another hour on lessons. They read for hours and seem to have lots of fun, He has all his meals with us and is in our rooms everynight we are home. His mornings are spent with me but afternoons I'm nearly always out and he goes to the park, has lessons and reads. We aren' t sending him to school now. He didn't like it too well. with such a competent governess it isn't really necessary. She teaches him so much at home. His table manners are nearly perf ect now - he has tea every afternoon with Erna. He loves it! Marie brings it into their room on a little tray and they drink tea and eat cakes for 45 minutes. There is a fire place in every room in the house so he always has a f ire going in there.
Mommie, these servants are a riot. It takes two of them all day to do what I could do in one morning. Erna takes care of Rickie's room, toys, clothes and Rickie. Marie cooks and cleans the rest of the house and does the shopping.
You know how I love to polish silver. Well the other morning I gathered all the silver in the kitchen and sat down to polish. Marie came in and was horrified! "What is Madame doing'? Your hands Madame!" she yelled and chased me out of the kitchen and did it herself. BUt - it took her nearly all day. They are so used to the caste system here that they really believe Madame is a fragile thing and must be taken care of. No real lady in France turns her lily-white hand at housework. Servants are so cheap and Jobs so hard to get, they will do anything. Working for Americans is the very best kind of domestic job. In a French house they have no heat in their rooms and cannot e-at what the family does and live on horse- meat, There are horse-meat shops all over Paris. They have a shiny horse head above the door so no one will mistake it for a regular butcher shop. Americans are nearly always considerate of servants and feed them well and provide some kind of heat for their rooms. The servants are always grateful.
Ben and I are planning a big cocktail party at the Plaza Athena next month. Our apartment is too small for more than 40 people for cocktails. We are so far behind on our entertaining. The trips don't leave much time to plan and give parties. However we do go to a lot and are obligated to everone in Paris by now. We will have about 125 people for cocktails and repay all our obligations in one big deal. The government pays for it so it's no problem.
Must close now and write sis.
Love,
Dottie
March 3, 1950
Dear Family,
I didn't have time to write while in Algiers. We are now enroute to Biskra [Algeria] where we will spend one day and one night. I will be glad to see the desert as the weather was bad in Algiers.
Algiers is a beautiful city - so "old world". All the natives (arabs) wear sheet like things wrapped around their middle, with either a Fez or a turban on their head and bare feet. At sundown they all (no matter where they are) kneel and face the east to pray. The architecture is all Moorish and French. We only saw three camels but lots of donkeys and horses. Our hotel was just beautiful with gardens I can't describe. It was the building General Eisenhower requisitioned for his headquarters during the war. Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce occupied the "Eisenhower Suite". We had a lovely room with a balcony overlooking the garden and a view of the bay.
As soon as we checked in and changed clothes, the Ambassador asked us to Join his party on a t@ur of the Casbah. The Consulate provided a very good guide who really knew his history and the natives. I cannot begin to describe it. There is a high wall all around the section. The streets are very narrow (if you stand in the middle and extend both arms you can touch either wall). The people are all barefooted. All the women wear veils. We saw blind beggars, people with caste marks, prostitutes (nearly nude sitting on their door stoops), and little children so dirty and old looking you wanted to cry. They hate white people, dislike being stared at and are all mean looking. We were scared to death the whole time. Colonel Mac and Ben both carried guns, to protect the Ambassador, while thousands of arabs stood in doorways with nasty looking knives. They say during the day and with a well known guide you are safe. However, after sundown no white men venture into the Casbah. Remember the movie with Heddy Lanarr and Charles Boyer - Casbab?
After we got out we all went to the Alleti Hotel for a good stiff drink. You've heard Ben speak of the Alleti, I'm sure. The Ambassador had a dinner engagement that night so Mac, Betty, Ben and I were free to find Ben's old war time hangouts and Mac's old apartment. We had dinner, walked down Rue Michelet looking into shop windows and staring at the arabs. Went to bed early as the boys were tired after the long flight in bad weather.
Thursday was a big day in the life of Mesdames MacCloskey and Matlick! We drove to Blida where Ben spent over a year during the war and Colonel Mac was the C. 0. The French Air Force has taken over their field, but it was just the same, so the boys told us. We saw where Ben parked the "Shady Lady", his old B-17. I went into an abandoned building that had been their Officers Mess. The B.O.Q. is still being used, but the French General let me go in and see Ben's old room. Colonel Mac never lived there - he had an apartment in Algiers. I also saw their old club, long since closed, where Ben played poker so many times. His initials are still carved over the bar. We had lunch in a restaurant where Ben ate quite often in 1943 and 1944. After aL five course lunch (hors-d'oeuvre, fish, steak and vegetables, salad, dessert, fruit and coffee) we drove to Sidi Ferrouche where their outfit had a rest camp in the form of a villa on the Mediterranean. You've heard Ben talk about the beach house I'm sure. Ben and Mac both acted like kids when they saw the old place again. Betty and I loved seeing all the things they've talked so much about.
The American Consul General,, Mr. Tait, was kind enough to put his car at our disposal and we sure appreciated it. We get lots of attention when we have our Ambassador. Had we been alone we'd have had to walk I'm sure. Last night we went to a cocktail party at Mr. Tait's house in honor of the Bruce's and later to a dinner in the private dinning room at our hotel given by Mr. Hanigan (our E.C.A) representative in North Africa). We were tired people after all that.
We are all eager to see Biskra, The French Governor General has made some fancy plans for y and night there. Lunch arab style (we hope in a tent). Couscous is one dish we know of but the rest of the menu will be a complete surprise. In case you aren't familiar with Biskra, it is an oasis in the dessert and the "Garden of Allah" is there. Lots of camels and even a sheik-or two. Mommie do you remember Rudolph Valentino in The Shiek? Well this is the oasis they tried to portray in that film many years ago. They say it is very beautiful and pictoresque. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
Love,
Dottie
March 4 1950
We sighted Biskra easily, a small oasis on the Sahara Desert, and an equally tiny airport with dirt runways. We had to cirlce the field while the arabs chased some camels off the runway.It was thrilling! The plane was met by the Mayor, representatives of the French Government and dozens of arabs. The lunch I mentioned in the previous ' letter was a disappointment - very French - just like Paris.
Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce, MacCloskeys and Ben and I went on a caravan twenty miles out in the Sahara to visit a much smaller oasis - Tolga. It is ALL arab. We saw their date groves, and houses made of straw. Went to tea at the home of the Sheik - a very wealthy arab with many wives. His house was just beautiful., All the rooms opened on a lovely garden with many fountains, and an aviary with love birds of all colors. The open end of the rooms had marble pillars and if necessary as protection from the sun or wind (it never rains) they hung rugs. We had mint tea and kush-kush, wonderful arab pastries dipped in pure honey. We sat on low, soft couches that lined the three walls and admired the garden. There were many servants but the Sheik served us himself as a token of his friendship. The sun went down while we were there and the most adorable oil-lamps were brought in. Our Sheik spoke very good French and conversed mostly with the Ambassador about Arab- French relations. I was in a complete trance by that time and didn't try to talk to anyone. Just stared and stared.
The arabs in Biskra and Tolga are more friendly than in Algiers. Perha s because there are fewer French around the desert. The French are very mean to the arabs.
Last night after dinner we went to the native section and watched the dancing girls. It was a dingy one room place with a low ceiling and crude, benches around a square stage against the back wall where the musicians sat and the girls danced. They played a weird horn, drums and a mandolin. We were the only white women in the place. The girls wore lovely native costumes.
The arab women still wear veils on the street and walk behind their men.
I will write about Tunis when I get home.
Love,
Dottie
March 10, 1950
Tunis was quite an experience. The Consulate there got carried away with the idea of an Ambassador's visit and really planned a big deal for our whole party. When we landed the reception committee handed each of us a schedule for the next three days. There were invitations to lunch, tea, cocktails and dinner everyday. We had a car and driver of our own and saw a lot of the town during the mornings. Visited the Sucre (the local casbah) and bought a Fe-- (arab hat) for Rickie. Also bought him a little banjo, dart game, wallet and a ring.
Two of the dinners were formal. The one Monday night at Resident General Jean Mons was the biggest sit-down dinner I've ever been to in all my life. There were 60 people, all seated at one long table, in the most beautiful dining room in the world. The servants were men - arabs - in long black bloomers, red ties at their waist, black jackets and red Fezzes on their heads. They would march into the dining room in a long line with silver trays of food balanced on one hand above their heads. My dinner partner was a Turk who spoke good French. it was a wonderful experience for us.
When we got home - 8: 30 Tuesday night - Rickie was in bed but we woke him up. He was so thrilled with all his toys, but loves the banjo most of all. He had been good and his nurse said they got along fine. He had a luncheon for some boys he knows one day and went to the park and zoo. Erna is going to write you a letter (in Swedish - can you read it?) and tell you all about Rickie when we are away. She sure is a jewel. Ben and I have made it a point -to spend every spare minute with Rick when we are home. He has all his mieals with us and I take him to the park nearly every day. I think it has done him some good to be disciplined by Erna, though, He loves her and she sure made a little gentleman out of him In a short time. I forgot to tell you about our lunch on the way home from Tunis. We landed on Corsica and the Prefet (mayor) had a lunch at the Field. It was out of this world. Soup, fish, chicken, asparagus, peas, cheese, fruit, and ice cream. It took two hours to eat - served in courses with white wine, red wines and champagne with dessert. Mr. Turner Cameron, the Ambassador's confidential secretary, sat next to me and we couldn't begin to eat it all. Corsica is a beautiful island. The weather was simply perfect and the Mediterranean was so blue it matched the sky.
Love,
Dottie
March 18, 1950
We had Kottebuller for dinner tonight - you know, the tiny Swedish meatballs Grandmother used to make. Gee. but they are good! Can you still make them? Better cook a few for Harry.
We leave in the morning for Florence, Italy. Just for three days this time - it's a meeting of foreign Ambassadors. April first we leave f or an eight day tour of Spanish and French Morocco. It's so hard to believe that I am actually seeing the world.
Rickie sure is growing up in a hurry. He has nearly outgrown all of his new clothes. Even the cowboy suit is too short. And how he loves that outfit. Everyone on the Champs- Elys6es stops to admire him! He wears it nearly everyday unless we snatch it from him to wash. The other day I gave Erna a note to deliver to the R6sidence (Ambassador's House), We only live about a block away and she and Rick pass it everyday on their way to the park. Well, Rickie insisted on carrying the note. You know how he is. When they reached the gate he wouldn't give it up! So, they showed him and his nurse into the house and got as far as Miss Balbridge (Mrs. Bruce's social secretary) with the damn thing. He had a nice chat with her and came home with a fist full of candy, How about him? The little social climber!
Rickie got such a thrill out of the Valentines you all sent. He asks three and four times a day for MAIL! He will not forget his family in California. Talks everyday about Sharon Lee and Candy. He tells people they are'soooo silly.
Today we are going to the park to take pictures of Rickie to send home. He and Ben are at the coiffeur- getting their haircut. When they come back we will go. Our house is running smoothly now. Rick is still crazy about Erna and the cook is very good. Between the two of them, Rick has the situation well in hand. He gives orders like he'd had people waiting on him all of his life! However, Erna doesn't take any stuff from him. She really knows how to handle the boy. He never enters a room without first knocking. He always shakes hands when he meets people. Says thank you and you're welcome without fail. He says "ya" instead of yes, due to Erna, and otherwise his French is pretty good now.
Well here come my boys, so I better get ready to go. I'll write from Florence.
Love & kisses.
Dottie and the boys
May 7, 1950
Did you read the last letter I wrote to Sis? We are now bien installe in our big house in the country and ever so pleased with it. The garden is so beautiful. The lilacs are in bloom along the fence and the quince trees are blossoming. The veranda is covered with fragrant, climbing wisteria., the window boxes are full of tulips and the formal garden is bordered with blue and pink forget-me-nots. We have breakfast served on the veranda every morning and sometimes lunch too. Dinner is usually too late and it is still a bit cool in the evenings. I hope to take pictures of the house and gardens this afternoon.
Mommie, we have a cook, butler, governess, and gardener. I can hardly believe it! Of course the governess is the same Erna, but the others are new. Clovis is the butler, Margueritte is the cook and Fred is the gardener.
We did not make the trip to Morocco. The Ambassador couldn't get away at this time. So we spent the past two weeks getting settled.
Rickie loves it out here. He has all his toys now and the whole garden to play in. We set up the electric train in his play room, We left the big trucks and wagons and bikes in the tool shed by the kitchen garden and he has a fine time. Thursday is his day. All the schools here close on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. So every Thursday I plan a lunch for the Embassy women who have children his age, They seem to love the idea and Rickie is thrilled with the idea of being a host. Last Thursday we had our first lunch and it was too cold to eat in the garden. So the kids - Rickie, Mark Mckeller, son of the Navy Attach6, "Beanie" Rich, daughter of the Chief of MDAT and "Tiger" Bailey, son of the Assist Air Attachch6, ate in the library with Erna. We gals ate in the dinning room. The kids spent the afternoon in the garden playing cowboys and indians, American style. They had a wonderful time. It was the first time so many American children have been together to Just yell and act like American Indians.
We have had a house guest for a week now - Colonel MacKenzie. Sis met them in Monterey. He is the man who brought Ben a sack of peanut brittle when he had his tonsils removed! He's enroute to Afghanistan, alone. His wife and little boy won't be able to go until July or August. Last Tuesday, Major Stoop and his family came throug Paris on their way to India. Sis met them in Monterey too, at the base, sitting in a green cadillac. She had her hair done in beautiful braids across the top of her head. Sis thought she was beautiful. We kept their son while they spent two days touring Paris. Rick enjoyed having so many Americans around. Rickie really speaks good French. His accent is nearly perfect. I'm doing much better now. I HAVE to. The servants don't speak English.
We went to the annual Attache banquet last week, It was very Formal. Ate, drank wine, then champagne and listened to long winded, after dinner speeches for two and a half hours. After which, we danced for four hours. I danced in every language including Russian! My dinner partner was Mr. Hjlm from Sweden (he spoke good English). On my left was an Attach6 from Norway. They had me pegged, huh?
The Russians came without wives and insulted everyone there. There are only two Attaches from Moscow - a General and a young Major, who followed me around all evening (he was very nice and spoke fine French) bef ore the General took him home. The General spent his time insulting the British and Americans and didn' t dance with anyone. This tour of duty is really wonderful. But, believe me, there is no place on earth like the good old USA. I now feel qualified to say so - with authority! I'd rather scrub floors in America anyday than have people do it for me in any other country. Another thing, if all the royalty are like the sample I've met, I'm glad I'm a peasant.
Must close now. Time to put Rickie in for his nap. Sunday is Erna's day out and our day in.
Love you and miss you all very much.
As ever,
Dottie
Major and Mrs. Ben Matlick
8 Allee des Belles Vues Garches (Seine et Oise)
France 36
May 24, 1950
Dear Mommie and Pops,
Received a letter from you last week, even got one from sis! From now on be sure to use our new address.
We had our first big reception last Friday. There were 140 people and all in all it proved to be a huge success! I used a caterer, of course. They arrived at five in the afternoon with glasses - champagne glasses, high ball glasses, martini glasses and fruit juice glasses! They also provided all the canap6s and little French cakes (for the people who drink champagne or juice) all on silver trays and plates. They even had a chafing dish for the wonderful hot cocktail sausages. Earlier that day I had arranged flowers for the buffet and put roses all over the house. But that was all I did. The first guest arrived at 6:30 and the last one left at 10:45 (the invitations read 6:30 to 8:30). 1 had them set up the buffet in the dinning room with the champagne and juice. The real bar was on the veranda with f ish canap6s and the cocktail sausages, The tables looked beautiful, as only a French Chef from Potel et Chabot could have done them. Colonel MacCloskey was very pleased. Said Ben and I had done our job well. Rickie was so excited. We let him stand in the receiving line the first half hour. Held say "Bon Solill to the French and "Good Evening" to the Americans and British. How he knew the difference, I'll never know. Then he went into the dining room, had a glass of fruit Juice, probably 25 little cakes and went to bed at 8 o'clock. He was the hit of the evening. Everyone got such a kick out of his grown up ways.
Fred, our gardner, has become Rick's best pal. he follows old Fred around all day and helps pull weeds, haul dirt and saves all the worms to go f ishing. Last week Rick and I started a little garden down below the formal flower beds. It is to be his and he must take all the care. We'll see how long it lasts. Fred gave us geranium plants and we planted seeds for carnations and sweet peas. Wait until he finds out how long it takes to grow! Every morning at breakfast he says, "well, do you think my flowers are up yet?",
They had to dig a new well at the big chateau on the hill and they hit sand - a whole big truck load of beautiful sand. We bought all of it for 1000 francs ($2.80). Fred built the biggest sandbox you've ever seen and a nice swing. Now Rick has a real nice play yard down under the apple trees at the bottom of the garden.
We have a lovely baby grand piano in the salon and Rick starts lessons next week (a French teacher). He is thrilled over the idea. I Just hope he doesn't tire of it. Well, we'll see.
The funniest thing happened yesterday. We heard Rick screaming but couldn't find him. Finally, Fred located the little devil up in the cherry tree. He couldn't get down. We had to get a ladder and climb up after him. Just like a silly cat!
We are taking two weeks leave in June. Ben is working so hard and being out every night is hard too. He is quite tired. We plan to drive, first to Belgium, through part of Germany, all through Switzerland and back to Paris. Should be a nice trip.
I sent you some Shalimar perfume. Did you get it yet? I remember you used to love it. The bottle is still shaped the same.
I enclosed a map we had made up to put in with the invitations to the party. The pictures you sent were really wonderful. Thanks so much.
Love,
Dottie
PS Did I tell you we have two Siberian Wolf Hounds, two black cats and a white mouse?
We also have a billiard table in the library and I'm getting pretty good at it.
We put a croquet set at the bottom of the yard and ping pong on the terrace. All this stuff came with the house. The billiard table is really beautiful. It's made of the same wood as the panelling. The owner had new felt installed so we are all set!
Plan to have lots of garden parties. The French just love them! Our reception cost the government $350. Can you Imagine? My French is getting better all the time. Went to luncheon with only French ladies present and did damn good!
August 9, 1950
In answer to your letter of August first, I hope you got my last letter by now, Je m'excuse et je suis desole!
We were sorry to hear about Bill being called up [for Korea] but were sure he would be among the first to go, Bet he really does hate to lose the money. Ben doesn't think this will affect Chuck unless we have all out war. I hope he is right because I bought a sweet pair of wooden shoes to send to Geri for the hearth in her new kitchen. They have been worn and are the cutest things I've ever seen. They are trimmed with a bit of copper.
As for what we think of the world situation - I think as little as possible' For the most part, however, people here are optimistic. Ben is too busy to think right now. No one has gone home or expects to and everyone in the diplomatic corps seem to be making plans for next summer here in France. The Baileys have paid 50,000 franc ($140) down on a beach house at Deauville for next season.
I'm glad to hear you received the perfume - the other packages should arrive soon, I'm really anxious to hear how sis likes the "Coo Coo Clock". It has a deer's head on the top. I was thinking of Chuck's den at the time.
You sure have a nerve mentioning traffic to me! Did you know in France not only does the car on your right have the right of way, but he also gets over there to make a left hand turn. This is no Joke. There are more bicycles than cars and what's more they have the same privileges. The cars only come up to my navel. The gendarmes don't know whether to s- or go blind most of the time and no two of them have the same rule book. They ride bicycles and there isn't a patrol car in all of France. I can't imagine what would happen if they had to chase a real crook.
I'm sitting on the veranda and it's getting cold and dark out here. So Je suis fini maintenant.
Love,
Dottie, Rick and Ben
PS Rick sure can climb trees, There isn't one in the yard he hasn't fallen out of. I'm waiting for him to break an arm.
Our French poodle - Aunt Geri - i 's the smartest, cutest, nicest dog we have ever had. She won't answer to just Geri. We have to say AUNT Geri! It's a riot!
September 8, 1950
Ben and I are just crazy about London. It is so much cleaner than Paris. And the people are really very nice.
We came over on the Fleche D'Or (Golden Arrow). Left Paris at about noon and arrived in London at 8:30pm. The train is the most luxurious one I've seen. One table between two big comfortable chairs make up one section. There are four sections to a car. Every car has a kitchen and wine cart. The minute we left Gare du Nord (the train station in Paris) a waiter served martinis and the seven course luncheon took nearly two and a half hours. After coffee and liqueur we had only a short time to wait before we reached Calais where a boat waited to take us across the Channel. We had a beer in the bar and saw the white cliffs of Dover, We no sooner got on the English train (just as luxurious as the French) when a "limey" began to serve tea. We had hot tea, buttered toast, ginger cakes, scones and fruit cake.
Piccadilly Circus looks Just like Times Square except the cars race along on the wrong side of the road. Buckingham Palace looks just like a story book picture, with toy soldiers all around in bright red coats and tall beaver hats,
We had lunch at "Ye Olde Chesire Cheese", a very old restaurant just off Fleet Street that boasts of having been built in 1660. And it looks it! A building over here must be five or six hundred years old before the'British are impressed.
Tonight we have tickets for the theater to see "Mr. Roberts" with Tyrone Power and Jackie Cooper (a stage play from New York). Tomorrow we plan a trip down the Thames River and a tour of the London Tower (built 900 years ago by William the Conqueror).
We bought some beautiful old Sheffield silver but will tell you about that in another letter. silver is very cheap here - for Americans with dollars. The English need them badly. It is less than half what It would be at home. Sure hope I have a letter from you when I get home.
Love,
Dottie and Ben
September 13, 1950
There was a letter here waiting for me when we got back from England. By now you must have mine, the one I wrote from London. My medical spelling is as bad as yours but I'll try. .Rickie has impetigo, the skin disease that is so hard to get rid of. He picked it up at the beach I guess. It's all under one arm pit. Everyday I take him to the doctor for a treatment and penicillin salve. Hope to have it cleared up before school starts. I'm so glad we caught it before it could spread to his face. By the way, he has curly hair now! Can you imagine that? School doesn't start over here until the first of October. He is going to a private school here in Garches. The American School is too far and the public school in Garches is good but he'd have to go from 8am to 5pm with an hour off for lunch. I think that's too much school for a little boy. Don't you? At the private school I can take him home at 1:30 for the day. Do you know that the French kids start algebra in the 3rd and 4th grade? He sure will be a smart lad if he can keep up.
We went to Deauville last month with Colonel and Mrs. Chick and their six year old daughter. Took Rick too. The kids had a wonderful time, even though we stayed only two days.
The Casino is sure a glamor spot of the continent. Only people in full evening dress are admitted and I've never seen such beautiful dresses, so many diamonds and furs. I was quite impressed. Everybody who is any body was there. The clippings from Newsweek are enclosed. Please save my card and send it right back. Thought you might get a kick out of it.
Met Barbara Stanwyck at a cocktail party in Paris last night. She is really a beautiful woman and has lovely grey hair (wouldn't Daddy have a fit?). Errol Flynn was there too but so drunk they had to escort him out before he met anyone.
Winter has set in. I'm about to have the big furnace started. We've had fires in the fireplaces the last couple of weeks.
I'm planning a big party for Rick's birthday. He sure is excited and can hardly wait! Don't know whether I'll be able to use the garden or not. Maybe the weather will change for the better. Had planned a "circus" party outside with balloons tied to all the bushes and a real magician to keep them amused, but now I don't have any ideas for inside.
One of the biggest things in our life here is the new Sears & Roebuck Catalog! Everybody buys everything for house and kids from them because they ship overseas and are so good about rushing things for Embassy people, I always think of Grandmother Cox when I send in an order.
Love,
Dottie
As Rickie used to say, "give me a cookie, I almost got killed!". Yep, I too fell out of a car, Right on the Champs- Elys6es at one in the morning! Wasn' t hurt a bit. Aren' t I lucky? Ben let go of the wheel, Jumped right out my door after me and the car hit a parked car! The Abbotts were in the back seat, scared to death. Didn't hurt either car much because we were going so slow - making a u-turn actually. Got right back in and went to Brick Taps for another drink!
Winter is here for sure. It's dark by 5: 30 in the evening, rainy and cold everyday. But its rather nice to have a fire going and be so cozy inside.
The winter season is in full swing - luncheons, teas, cocktail parties and dinners at least five days out of the week. After Thanksgiving it will be even worse. Could you believe I would ever tire of such a life? Well, I sure have. At least with some of these so-called diplomats.
I received a telegram from Rosemary and Bud for our 8th anniversary.
One real blessing about our lovely home in the country is we do have a good furnace. That is rare in Europe, you know. However it costs $125 a month just to buy coal for the thing! Isn't that awful? Every morning now, Ben, Rickie and I have our breakfast before the fireplace in our bedroom. It's sure nice. Ben leaves for work about a half hour before Rick leaves for school and we use the time to do his homework. He can write his name and all the letters and numbers too. Over here they do not start with printing but write from the first day. I've forgotten the big news - Rick has skipped the first grade. Can you imagine, at the ripe old age of five he is in the second grade. If his grades drop I'll make them put him right back where he belongs! We get a report card every week and are able to keep close tabs on his progress.
You'd die to see Rick play the "heavy host" at our cocktail parties! We usually have 100 to 150 people for cocktails at least twice a month and spend the whole time standing in the hall in the receiving line. First greeting, then saying goodbye, Ben is first in line, then me and at the end of the line Rick, shaking hands, speaking French when neccessary and smiling like a "chessy cat". Boy does he think he is a Big Wheel. He never gets in on the dinner parties because they are too late, but he sure lives for his cocktail parties.
We have been invited to attend a reception at the President of France's Palace (along with all the other diplomats in Paris). He does it every year so it's not very exclusive. The palace once belonged to Madame Pompador when she was a mistress to one of the kings of France, Louis XV, I think. I'm really looking forward to seeing it more than anything else. I'm wearing a white silk evening dress with white kid gloves (elbow length) and silver slippers. The dress is one my little French dressmaker did for me out of material from Sears & Roebuck. It's the smartest thing I've ever owned, real Frenchie! I'm real excited over this even though there will be over 400 people there.
Bet I never told you about our other car. The Embassy requisitioned a 1940 Tatra sedan during the liberation of Paris and it has belonged to an assistant attache ever since. Colonel Bailey passed it on to Ben for a case of scotch. So now I have the convertible all to myself and Ben drives the old Tatra to work. It's Czechoslavakian and looks like it. I'll send you a picture. It's really pretty awful looking - not a smooth fender on it. But it runs. I'm enclosing some pictures of our house and gardens. The views you see of the house are the garden side. I don't have any of the f ront. Over here the houses all face the gardens and the street side is usually the least attractive. That way in your own garden, all walled in, you have real privacy. Do write soon.
Love,
Dottie, Ben and Rick
November 26, 1950
Dear Mommie and Pops,
I am sorry I haven't written sooner about Rickie's birthday box. It arrived on the 8th and in perfect condition, We all send our thanks.
The big trip to Spain, Tangiers and Morocco that was cancelled last spring is finally on. We leave December 8th, fly to Madrid for a day and a half, then to Tangiers, Rabat, Cassablanca, Marrakech, Fez and back to Madrid. It will take twelve days and we'll get back Just in time to rush around and get ready for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to this trip and hope it isn't cancelled again. Mrs. Bruce (the Ambassador's wife) is pregnant so this will be her last trip for awhile. Everyone is getting pregnant - must be all the good red wine.
Last week we went to opening night at the American Ballet as guests of Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce. After the Ballet we all went back to the Residence for a midnight reception. Everyone was dressed to the teeth, in tails, evening dresses bare to the waist, diamonds and furs. Ben wore his full dress Air Force uniform with medals pinned all over his chest and the gold ai87ullIette of the Diplomatic Corps. I wore black nylon net, strapless. It was quite an affair - with all the ballerinas attending the reception, all the State Department and Military Attaches as well. Haven't seen as many beautiful dresses since we went to Deauville.
After I get the house decorated for Christmas I intend to have one of the Embassy photographers come out and take in-side pictures of the tree, salon, Rick and Aunt Geri and all the other things in our house I want you folks at home to see,
Thanksgiving we planned a dinner party for Rick. We invited Colonel and Mrs. Abbott, their three children, Colonel and Mrs. Chick and their two children. With us that made six kids and six adults. Of all things, Rick broke out with Chicken Pox early that morning, However, he didn't feel sick and all the other kids had had them so we went right on with the party. After dinner the kids were playing in the nursery and one of them turned the light out. Rick threw a gun in the dark and hit Peter Abbott, 'We called a doctor and he put a stitch in Peter's head (Rick hit a vein). It was an accident but exciting for a little while
Dad's [Ben Matlick, Sr.] new wife is going back to him now to give it another try. She went to get her six year old son and then met him In Kahoka, Missouri for Thanksgiving. Hope it works out this time. Write when you have time and.tell us all about Harry's new job.
Love,
Dottie
January 5. 1951
Dear Family,
Settle back for a "long winter's night" of reading and I shall write of the wonders we have seen.
Our first night was spent in Tangiers, the international section of Morocco. The city, and I'm not sure how much land around it, along the Bay of Tangiers were taken over after World War I by the League of Nations. They set up a complicated system by which all the great nations of the world help to govern there. However because of the expense involved in maintaining a Legation only nine countries are represented at this time. Naturally ours is the largest, but the Spanish is the most beautiful. Everything from every country is tax free in Tangiers! , It is a nest of smugglers of every nationality who freely discuss their activities in all the bars. Their only worry is being caught at the destination of their activities. Anything is legal in Tangiers! You can find money changers with currency from any country in the world and get a good rate for dollars or travellers checks. For instance, in Tangiers you get 57 pesetas to the dollar, while the official rate in Spain is 37 to the dollar. There are three post offices to chose from - American, Spanish and French. We only spent one night there. Had dinner with the American Minister at our Legation.
Took off the next day for Rabat where we spent only about four hours. The famous French General Juin invited our whole group to lunch at his official residence. THE most beautiful place I've ever seen. Fifty rooms and as many arab servants. I'm enclosing my menu to give you an idea how we ate. We were all very impressed with the house and- the service at lunch. All the waiters were dark arabs wearing knives (for convenient back stabbing,.I think).
Before I go further let me tell you who was in our party; Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce, Mr. and Mrs, Woody Walner (First Secretary of Political Affairs), Mr. John Utter (Secretary of French African Affairs), General and Mrs. MacCloskey, and Ben and I.
We took off right after lunch for Marrakech deep in the heart of French Morocco. I hope you are looking all this up in an atlas. We stayed in an old arab palace. The French government took it over and it is now General Juin's residence in Marrakech. It was used in making the movie "The Black Rose" and is very beautiful with hand decorated doors thirty feet high. The ceilings in every room are hard to describe. They are covered with hand carved designs and equally beautiful painted designs. The walls are all either arab tiles or mosaic work. There are two small courts full of orange and grapefruit trees, lovely flowers and banana trees. There's one huge tile court with a fountain in the center that was at one time where the Sheik kept his wives. The last son of the great family who owned the palace died only fifty years ago, He had 250 wives in the court (Harry divide 250 wives into 365 nights! He must have had help ---- or worked himself to death!). The rooms all open into one of the three courts or the huge gardens that surround the palace. All around the court of wives we saw guard posts where the Enucks (I can't spell that - but it's the men who were "clipped" and used to guard the woman) sat. We saw the rooms of the favorite and were told that he changed favorites as often as he changed handkerchiefs.
We watched three ancient arabs who work every day to keep the palace in repair. They paint the doors,- never changing the designs, going over the original paintings that were done hundreds of years ago by their ancestors. They replace worn tiles and mosaics with fresh pieces they make with a huge hammer and a sharp tool and ancient firing methods. I've never seen anything like it before. When these three die there will be no one to replace them. None of the young have cared to learn their ancient arts. Our guess at the age of the oldest was at least nintey-five.
Staying there was fantastic but we did miss the modern conveniences, like hot water, central heating and toilets.
During dinner the first night at the Mamounia Hotel, Winston Churchill, his wife and some friends walked into the dinning room. She is a lovely woman and he looks like all his pictures. Our Amabassador knew him real well but Mrs. Bruce had only met him once before. We had lunch as his guests the next day. He talked about all the things we wanted most to hear. I felt history was being made right before me. He is so brilliant! Never saw an old man drink like he does - martinis before lunch, wine with lunch and yelling for whiskey when the courses were delayed. And he finished up with two cognacs with his coffee! He ate like "Diamond Jim Brady".
The next day we split up to go sightseeing. We went with the MacCloskeys to the arab marketplace where we saw things you will never believe. The people still use methods and tools of hundreds of years ago. We saw a "dentist" clean a patient's teeth with his dirty thumb nail and a hot poker which was first tested on the dentist's own tongue - presumably to see if it was the right temperature for scraping teeth. We saw young boys and old donkeys drinking out of the same mud puddle. we saw a camel bite a man. We saw five and six year old boys working in brass shops doing beautiful engraving. All the women wore veils over their faces. All the children and most adults were barefoot. All the arabs still wear old robes and turbans that haven't changed in style since the beginning of time. Nine out of ten people have an eye infection. * * * * *
After dinner the men came back with soap and water again and this time we needed it. Then we went into another room off knother court and drank mint tea - hot. The Pasha's own lancing girls performed for us for about an hour. They were saw in Morocco without veils ,he only women we but they were lot pretty. There were young dancing boys also and a flock of musicians playing things none of us recognized. The Ambassador .ater told us the arab instruments have remained the same for nearly a thousand years! The evevning was wonderful even if ,he food did make me sick all night. The last night in Marrakech we had dinner with a French General at his home and , the last day we spent seeing more of the town.
Spent New Year's Eve with the British Consul. He had our whole party for dinner at his home. Took off for Fez the next day. Arrived in time for lunch with General Laparra and then toured the town. It is a walled city and only the Europeans live outside the walls. The gates close at sunset. Don't think I mentioned that at sunset you hear the call to prayer. All the arabs face Mecca, kneel and pray, bowing their heads to touch the ground every so often. It is the most strict religion in the world. They must go to the Mosque to pray five times a day and wash their feet in holy water each time. They do not drink at all, not even wine. Most of them are very religious too. No Christian has ever been allowed inside their Mosques so I have no idea what goes on in there. My poor hand is so tired. Can't write another line. Hope you can make out what I've written so far. Will write my Christmas letter tomorrow.
Love,
Dottie
January 26, 1951
Dear Mommie and Pops,
We'll call this chapter "the private life of the Matlicks". And here I've thought all along you'd be more interested in all the things we've seen and the places we've been. As you've no doubt guessed I got your letter this morning.
I want to thank you all so. much for the nice Christmas box. However, I have no Idea who sent what. The customs men unwrapped everything and just threw the tags back in. First time that's happened. Our tree was huge. It took seven strings of lights and that was barely enough. Most of the decorations came from Germany and were the most beautiful and unusual things you've ever seen. We put it in the grand salon and had the train going around it while Christmas carols played on the record player. We left for Morocco the day after Christmas.
Rick became ill while we were gone, two days after we left in fact. The measles were harder on him than the chicken pox. He recovered nicely though. Five days after he returned to school he came down with a bad case of bronchitus, After four days in bed with that he had to go and get an ear infection. It sure is wonderful having a real nurse in the house all the time. She gives him shots herself and it's a good thing, the Doctor is very busy. All of Paris has come down with the flu. I can't say enough for the Danish nurses. They are the best in the world. Our Swedish nurse left to get married and I must admit it was about time - she was four months pregnant. Our new nurse is from Copenhagen and very nice. Her name is Kirsten.
Our gardener is out of jail now and we are glad to have him back. Especially Rick. They are such good pals.
We painted the first floor half bath with some navy hull paint that Ben stole in Germany. We are getting the house ready for spring. I sure hope it comes early this year. I'm sick and tired of winter! Our gardens should be even nicer this year than last because I've planned them myself. Last year they were already planted when we moved in. By April we will be a "riot" of colorful tulips. I had a hundred bulbs put in last October. We bought them in Holland.
I haven't seen Ike as yet. He hasn't spent much time in Paris, We will meet him in February when everyone starts giving the welcome parties for his return. I hope he brings his wife this time, The one I'm anxious to meet is Arthur Godfrey. He is supposesd to be attached to SHAPE (Ike's headquarters).
We've done a lot of entertaining this winter. Nothing big, just small dinners for ten or twelve people, and one small cocktail party on Ben's birthday for fifty of our closest friends. Did Ben's mother tell you about the silver we bought. It was my Christmas gift, and badly needed too. Now I have of everything (dinner knives and forks, luncheon knive.-- and forks (which I use for the fish course), salad forks, soup spoons, tea spoons, butter spreaders and dessert spoons. Makes quite an impressive table. I had been borrowing silver from Betty everytime we had a party. Ben bought two of the most beautiful old Sheffield vegetable dishes in London with covers and hot water warmers. They are over a hundred years old. He also brought back two big silver meat platters, a revolving dish on pretty legs, a pair of tall three branch Sheffield candleabra, a matching pair of gravy boats and a sugar shaker. I'm about through with silver now. But Ben has such a bug for the stuff. He says we'll never have another chance to buy old English silver at these prices.
I got myself involved in a communist riot at the Hotel Astoria last week. Never saw so many wild looking men! Ike's temporary headquarters are on the top floor and the American APO, magazine stand, snackbar and Officers Club are located in the hotel. The communusists were demonstrating against NATO, and Americans in general, I go there often but got a surprise this time.
Rick leads quite a social life of his own. He is invited to all the foreign Embassy children's parties for birthdays and national holidays. He is fond of Byron Carling-Kelly, son of the Canadian Air Attach6 and they play together often. It's hard to believe when I hear him talking to Chinese, Indian, Dutch, Swiss, etc, children. They all speak the "diplomatic language" (French). Do you think he will remember it all when he grows up?
Must close now. Give my love to everyone.
Love
Dottie
April 22, 1951
Dearest Mommie and Pops,
Has it really been six whole weeks since I've written home? I received your letter yesterday and I certainly didn't realize it had been such a long time. I AM sorry.
The Easter box arrived a full week before Easter. We saved the things for Rick and he "found" them with the other things the Easter Bunny left. We bought a real live white rabbit with pink eyes and put him behind a drape in the main salon. When Rick got downstairs the bunny was hopping all around the room. I DO wish you could have seen the expression on that kid's face. He really thought we'd caught the Easter Bunny. Now he lives in the dog house (the dog outgrew it sometime ago> and Rick takes care of him. He named him Andre, its a French bunny you see.
Both you and sis have asked about my condition and now you will have to listen. I feel Just wonderful and people say I look fine (for a careless gal, that is). We've received reports on two blood tests so far and they were both good - no anti-bodies showing. I'm due for another one tomorrow. Hope the results are the same. The doctor says they often show up later in pregnancy, but the chances are in my favor that they won't. Sis can explain it better than I and it won't take as long. If everything goes well I will have the baby at the Amercian Hospital here in Paris. They finally got the Army medics here but they aren't too well set up yet. If I show any anti-bodies they will ship me to the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany.
Spring has returned to Paris! Our cherry tree is in full bloom. The pear trees are just starting and the apple blossoms should start soon. The gardener is working like mad, landscaping, planting, and cutting so the garden will be beautiful again very soon. We are planning to build a "bar-b-que" that ought to really shock the French. But we can have some good old American Sunday afternoons this summer, This place is so beautiful, I pinch myself often. I'm sure I'll never again have it so good. Imagine, me running three servants, a gardener and this great big house. I laugh every time the butler announces lunch or dinner. He stands very erect and shouts, "Madame est serve!". A friend who was just passing through said that everytime she heard a butler use that phrase she felt she should leave quick because madame was going to be "serviced".
We will make one trip before the baby comes, to Naples and the Isle of Capri. The Ambassador is anxious to go before it gets too hot. Mrs. Bruce travelled two months before her baby came so I got invited inspite of my condition. General MacCloskey's sister is coming from Chicago for a months visit and will go along too.
Rick really looks good now. He is getting so tall and is a real boy. There are two little French kids about his age who live on the adjoining property. He taught them to play cowboys and indians. It's a riot to hear them racing all over the garden shooting at each other and shouting, "BANG BANG! Vous etes mort!" (you are dead! ).
Rick has graduated over to our wing of the house. He has a huge room overlooking the garden and has the guest bathroom all to himself. (We still have two guest rooms and a bath on the third floor if you decide to come over) We made the move early. I didn't want Rick to feel thrown out of his room for the little newcomer. He feels very grown up with a big double bed (a French four poster that's simply huge) and a big private bathroom. I think he likes the idea of being so far from the nurse. He doesn't even see her until he goes down for breakf ast now. He says the baby can have the nurse. He doesn't need her, he's too big. So HE says. And maybe he is. Kirsten will be glad when the baby comes. She has so little to do for Rick - just take care of his clothes and room. We do need her for trips though.
I'm on the terrace writing this letter. It is a beautiful day, couldn't be prettier. Oh, how I will miss having a garden when we have to go home. A yard Just won't be the same anymore. There isn't a house in sight. We have so many trees it's like living in the mountains.
If Carl really goes to French Morocco and it looks like they will need him to build all those airbases, we will surely see him. Ben, as the Assistant Air Attache to France, is accredited to French North Africa (which includes Morocco), Belgium and Luxembourg. We've been to North Africa twice this last year and Ben has been many times. In fact there is a good chance we might spend our last eight months of this tour in Algiers. Our government is increasing its interests in that part of the world and General Xac says they will need an Assistant Attach6 there permanently. We I ve asked f or the J ob and may get to set up the new office. Look at your map and see how close Morocco is to Algiers.
Gee it's 11:30 already - I must finish up and dress.
Love,
Dottie
July 4, 1951
Today I'm thinking of all the Fourth of July parties at home. Bet a million you are all at the lake. Remember, John, the Fourth in 1946 when we went to Skyline Drive in Virgina? Wish I were home now.
There is a chance we could come home a year from September. The University of Maryland started courses in Paris last December. They were set up first in Germany for the boys who due to the occupation were unable to take advantage of the G.I. Bill. When SHAPE was created here in France the University of Maryland opened classes in Paris last December to accomadate the boys in France, So Ben started night school. He had his credits evaluated and with cadet training, the language school and other Air Force schools he needed three courses to qualify for a program that would allow him to get his degree at a university. He completed Business Adminstration, then took Psychology. He has one more course to go, Political Science, and he is pretty sure the Air Force will let him finish with a six month residence at, we hope, California in Berkley. General MacCloskey has promised to.help if Ben get's straight A's. So far he has and were hoping that we can make it back next September. Wouldn't that be something? We'd be close enough to come down or you could come up on week-ends.
This has been the most hectic three month period of my life! April through July is the official social season at our Embassy. There are two to four parties everyday. This year has been worse than before because of all the visiting dignitaries. General Vandenberg, 14 Congressmen, Senators, Margaret Truman and Pearl Mesta have all made official visits. I've never seen anything like it. The week the Joint Chiefs of Staff were here, I was on my feet running from 8am to 3 the next morning every day. Betty MacCloskey was in England so I was "It" to take of the care of the wives of the "bratas". I saw more of Paris then I'd ever seen before. Helped Glad Vandenberg pick out a Christian Dior gown that cost $350 and more hats than I could count. There was an official reception every night and numerous little cocktail parties before dinner and naked women for dessert at the Paris nightclubs. You KNOW how much fun I had - pregnant and nothing to drink. Ben had to go out of town this week. I stayed home for obvious reasons and have written little notes to everyone saying "Major and Mrs. Matlick regret". I'm not going out until I go to the hospital! I've been in bed since Monday - not sick, just tired.
We thought about having Rick's tonsils out last winter but didn' t do it. Now you tell me sis was brave enough to have both her kids operated on' Poor little Candy, she must have thought no one loved her for sure.
I had my last blood test last week and every thing looks just fine. The doctor said we can expect our daughter the latter part of next week. Boy I'm ready! Oh, to be alone again with no one to kick me everytime I turn around!
The nursery looks simply darling. It's ready and waiting. I ordered everything from Mr. Sears and Roebuck. It arrived and Kirsten has boiled it all and put It away. Rickie loves to go in and look at all the little things. He seems interested in everything now, You'd be surprised at the fine quality of Sears products. I'm amazed. Their things are really quite nice. They do such a big APO and FPO business we get special service - even a special catalogue.
The elections here were really something. Paris went 30% communist and the rest of France went even more. There are signs all over to the effect "America is for Americans and France is for the French".
Margaret Truman is a real pretty girl - sweet and natural as can be. She stayed with Ambassodor and Mrs. Bruce. They had a huge reception for her and couple of small parties. Her pictures Just don't do her justice.
Rick has a new French racing bike. It's quite wicked looking and he rides it like the wind. He can't go outside of our fence, ever, but our grounds are so big and sprawling he has more than enough space.
Doe Chick' s cat had kittens a couple of months ago and we took two of them. Kittens are, without a doubt, the cutest little things on earth. Both Ben and Rick love them to death. Even the dog loves them! It's a riot on Saturday and Sunday mornings when we ring for breakfast. Rick and the two cats come with it. The dog sleeps in our room anyway. So we have the whole family on the bed - two cute kittens, one huge dog and Rickie, plus toast and coffee!
We entertained a California couple last week. Mr. and Mrs. Hiller from San Fancisco, They are the parents of the kid who designed a heliocopter in 1941 and turned it into Hiller Heliocopters, Inc. He makes millions I understand. You've read about him I know. He was just nineteen when he designed and built one in his garage. Mr. and Mrs. Hiller were here for the big Paris Air Show and are going all the way around the world on a six month vacation. They are real nice people, an old farmer type couple, enjoying their sudden fame and fortune. Ben had quite a bit to do with organizing the American portion of the air show and we met them through that. The French gave a luncheon for the Corps Diplamatique and other distinguished guests just before the show. Almost three thousand people! Can you imagine that? It was beautifully done too. They used a hangar decorated with flags and flowers. There were small tables for ten people each. All the food was sent out in trucks from Potel et Chabot in Paris. The President of France, General Norstad, Air Vice-Marshall George and a flock of French Air Force Generals sat at the official table and gave speeches. It was something to remember alright. Three of our B-36s came all the way from Texas. They flew non-stop. The Hiller heliocopter from California was here but did not fly.
I must go now - time for lunch! Be careful and remember we love you.
Love,
Dottie
July 31, 1951
Dear Momie and Family,
Our daughter finally decided to put in her appearance today - at five this morning. She is quite dark, has lots of nice black hair and those blue eyes. The great big ox weighs nearly 8 pounds! CaLn you imagine? I'm embarrasssed. Too many French fries, I guess. Her full name is Denise Lorraine Matlick.
I had a very easy time. Entered the hospital at about three In the morning but the really hard pains didn't come until four, The water broke at f our thirty and they took me into delivery. One stitch was all I had. Of 'course ether still makes me drunk. So I talked my fool head off. Gave the doctor hell because held never been to Texas - of all places!?!
Today has been so hot. But outside of that I've been quite comfortable. Slept most of the day. Ben hasn't been back since about six this morning. He had to take the Ambassador to Vienna. He should be back by eight this evening.
I have so many beautiful, beautiful flowers. Mother, my room looks like a florist. Red roses came from Ben this morning, two dozen gladiolas from General MacCloskey, one dozen from a friend (those tiny red, sweetheart roses) and a big bunch of carnations. And we haven't had time to notify most of our friends because Ben left so early this morning.
It's uncomfortable writing this so I'll quit now and write again tomorrow.
Just wanted you to know I miss you and Denise misses her Grandmother!
Lots of Love,
Dottie
August 9, 1951
Dear Sis and Family,
Well we have our woman child at home now. I've been home a week tomorrow in fact. Yes, we did rush things a bit by leaving the hospital on the fourth day but things have worked out perf ect. Actually I've had far more rest at home than I ever could have had in the hospital. I was up Just twenty-four hours after Denise was born and had full charge of her. Absolutely everything was done by me. A nurse never touched that baby after she was a day old, day or night. You get aL very special feeling much sooner when you have them from the very beginning. The only bad part is at night. I've never been so tired and could only sleep two or three hours at a time before it was time to feed, change or bathe the little girl. There was so much I was totally unprepared for. The naval cord for example. Rick's dropped off long before we took him home so I'd never seen one before. Such an awful sight it is! We are both rested and feel quite gay now. This is the life! What a way to have a baby. Nurse washes diapers, makes formula and cleans the nursery. In other words, she does all the work and I have all the fun. I feed (except for the night bottle) and bathe her.
Sort of let this slip. Will try to finish today though. Denise has started to gain weight. She looks bigger every day. She is such a dark little one with all that black hair and olive skin. Oh, I hope she keeps those blue eyes. She is a real good girl. Eats, sleeps and makes dirty pants. That's all, she never cries. I sure wish you could see her. She is a real sweetie pie.
We've had to be so carful of Rick. He has been the one and only for so long now. The f irst night Denise was home he asked for his big, brown bear (the one mother made) and now he sleeps with it. He hasn't done that for years. Rick seems to love her. He goes into the nursery first thing every morning and brags to the kids about his sister. But he does such funny things! For instance, he asked Kirsten to sterilize his clothes like she does for Denise. We try hard to give him extra attention. We' ve decided to take one week of our vacation and take him to Garmisch where he can swim and ride boats to his hearts content. School will start right after we get back and that should help. He is going to General Ike's dependent children's school this year where he will meet American boys and girls fresh from the States. I'm anxious that he get the American influence and not turn into a French "Frog".
Our leave starts September 17th and all our plans have changed. By taking a week for Rick we feel Scandinavia is too much especially in bad weather. Everyone says Denmark and Sweden are pretty bad in October and Norway is awful. So we will go in the spring. We'll drive back to Paris after Garmisch, drop Rick off, check on Denise and then go to Spain for three weeks. It will still be summer there and it is by far the cheapest country in Europe to travel in. I got so many f owers, there wasn't room in the room! Denise got lots of nice gifts. The wife of the Mexican Air Attachd came over yesterday with the most beautiful pink satin coat. She has something from nearly every country that's represented here in Paris. Rick came in a minute ago. He wants a story so I'll quit now.
Honestly - I keep filling up the pages of this tablet and soon I'll have to mail it express. I REALLY will mail this today. Ben is in Africa this week-end. He went to pick up the new colonel in our office and to buy pesatas for our trip to Spain. The rate is nearly double for dollars in Tangiers. He will be back about five this afternoon,
Rick has a house guest. You remember me telling you about a cute little girl - Linda Abbott - that gave Ben the idea for Denise. Well Jeri and Nate Abbott went to Naples for a few weeks and we are keeping Linda. He loves having her and it has really taken his mind off Denise. But three kids in the house where there used to be one is quite a change.
Denise is still sweet and happy. She is gaining right along. Our scale is in kilos and grams so I can't tell you how many pounds she weighs but Kirsten assures me it's Just fine. We put her out on the balcony of my room for hours everyday. The Danish nurses are nuts on the subject of fresh air. Even in the winter they put their babies out four hours a day no matter how cold it is. You just cover them up and keep then dry. What do you think of that? Kirsten says Denise will never have a cold. We'll see,
I'm so pleased, sis. Mrs. Bruce sent me fifty-six (yep, I counted them) pink roses and a personal note. They came to the house this week. She said she wanted me to enj oy them when I felt better and when all the other flowers were gone. I pressed one and I'm saving it and the note for Denise. Imagine, the Ambassador's wife writing me a personal note. The roses were simply beautiful. we had some in every room. Even Ben was impressed.
I bought Sharon a lovely Bavarian china, coffee set (coffee pot, sugar, creamer and six cups with saucers) in the after dinner size. That's a little larger than demi-tassse, It's white with gold border, very formal. You can almost see through the china. No more toys for the girls. I've decided to buy things for their future. I want them both to have a few things from Europe in their Hope chests. Hope to get some linen in Spain for them. Well I've finished and will mail it for sure this time!
August 20, 1951 PS - Ben made LT. COLONEL this morning. We are so excited - How can we be so lucky?! Isn't it wonderful! I'm a COLONEL'S wife now!!!!
Lots of love,
Dottie
August 31, 1952
Dearest Mommie and Pops,
Well I hope you received our postcards from Sweden. It was a wonderful trip. Stockholm is the most beautiful city in Europe. It has so many canals you can go anywhere in the city by boat. Did you know Sweden is full of waterways? I was also surprised to learn they drive on the wrong side of the road like the British. I think they are quite a bit like the British in many ways. The food was out of this world. In fact I bought a Swedish cook book for you. It@s in English and has the traditional Christmas party dishes, smorgasbord, and even the kx-oppkakor that I used to love so much, not to mention the sma k&ttbullar you always raved about. I hope you like it. I'm also sending a picture book in color of all of Sweden. it is very good and will give you some idea of what the country looks like. It is very clean and modern. There is little to buy because everthing is so "stateside" if you know what I mean. We went to the so-called "Old City" of Stockholm and in an antique shop I bought two very old hand-made copper molds that will look beautiful on a kitchen wall. I'm still not sure whether I'll give them to sis or keep them.
Our vacation started August first when we took Rick and his dog to Italy and the Isle of Elba for two weeks of swimming. They loved it and Rick did learn to swim and how to dive into the water head first, We had a good rest and Rick seemed to enjoy it so much. Then we drove back to Paris, by way of Venice, and dropped Rick and the dog off. Ben and I went on to Germany (spent one night in Belgium on the way), Denmark and Sweden. Got so sick of driving the citr6en that we left it in Coppenhagen and flew to Stockholm. It was grand experience but I'm so glad to be home again.
Venice is a lovers town if I've ever seen one. You know it's all true, There are no streets. We had to park the car on the mainland and take a gondola to the hotel. It took thirty minutes and we passed century old houses. There were $'public bus" gondolas and "truck" gondolas to carry food stuffs. We saw a milkman delivering milk and butter in a gondola. The payof f was to see two gondolas come to a "screeching" halt at an electric stop signal while another went "sailing" through on the green light. That is when you truly realize how the old world meets the new. Rick was so impressed. Do you think he will remember it when the subject comes up in school? He fed the pigeons in the square in front of St. Marks Cathederal which was built in the year 1000, can you imagine? It's 952 years old!
Denise still isn't walking alone. She seems to be of the opinion that a girl doesn't have to walk until she goes away to college. She stands alone and walks fine if you hold her hand but isn't about to let go. She looks Just as cute as can be in the dresses you sent for her birthday. It's wonerful they are both red. It's her best color, She is so dark, mother, her eyes are Just beautiful, not dark blue anymore, but aL more unusual and interesting shade of grey. Her natural wave has turned into a real curl, lots of curl in f act. I believe she will be small, maybe even short like Phyliss. Rick loves her dearly. He is so good with her all the time. He was so pleased with his package for her birthday, Thank you all so much.
Well I've got to close now. It's time to round up Rick and Ben for dinner, Tomorrow I'm entertaining our new Attach6, his wife and their two children for lunch. I've never met them but hear they are real down to earth people from Arkansas.
We plan to move out of our beautiful old house in October. I'll be so sad to go. We've loved it so much and had so much fun here. Our allowances have been out in half which makes it nearly impossible to have a staff of three servants and gardener. And this place can't be run with less. So, we are taking a nice but smaller place in Paris. I'll let you know when we move and give you the new address. Incidentally, the new Attach6 will take the old house - he has a larger allowance and the money too. I think this is the nicest house of the Diplomatic Corps.
Write again soon and thanks again for Denise and Ricks package.
Love,
Dottie and Ben
September 11, 1952
Dear Sis and Family,
How are you feeling? We're so pleased about a new baby at your house, but I hate to think you're not feeling well. Tell me, what do the girls think about the whole procedure? Have you gained much weight? Is there anything in particular you'd like to have from France?
Denise, the Joy of our life, is walking! And I must say it's about time. Rick started at ten months and she is nearly 14 months. She looks simply darling in her birthday dresses. I am pleased with the two red ones. It's her best color. She is so dark, Thanks a million.
The MacCloskeys are gone and the new Air Attach6 is a Colonel Gregory whe seems pleasant enough, They plan to take our "country estate" when we move into Paris next month. As I told mother our allowances have been cut and we can no longer afford to run this place. The new Attache receives more than his assistant so they will be able to manage it. Our new place is in a very nice section of Paris and will be quite comfortable. The big saving will be in coal. And I'll have only one servant. Before the government paid for all of them but no more. So I have to give up the nurse and butler and make do with a bonne a toute faire (maid of all works) in place of the cook.
Rick starts school next week - the same one he went to last year. Our new house will be much closer and that will be nice. He is so tall but a little thin. He weighs fifty pounds and is 47inches tall. How does that compare with Sharon? Rick is so shy! Can you imagine? It must be an age or something because it's come about so suddenly.
We are thrilled about a new MATS flight that goes direct from Paris to Moffet Field, California. When we leave, if we can get on it, it will be a good deal for us. We'd save the cost of a flight from the east coast. I wrote mother all about our vacation so I'm sure you heard the sad story about how I got to Sweden without my address book. Just made me sick. Stockholm is the most beautiful city I've seen, Its canals came as a great shook. I had no idea there was so much water. Everybody seems to own a boat.
Please write soon and answer all my questions. Give my love to the girls.
As ever, love
Dottie
September 14, 1952
Dear Mommie and Pops,
It's a bitter cold morning and I'm sitting in front of the fire in the library thinking how much I'll miss this lovely old house when we move into town. I'm sure we'll enjoy being in Paris for our last winter, though. The house is a nice one. It's much smaller, newer and there are some gardens to keep up.
The one thing I've wanted to do here in Europe and haven't been able to do is go to St. Moritz for the winter sports. So Ben and I are talking about going for three or four days. Not that I expect to ski (I'd like to try) but I would hate to leave Europe without seeing the Swiss Alps in the snow. We hope to go in January.
Ben and I have one more interesting trip coming up. In November we go again to Africa. We'll spend two days in Lisbon on the way back. We've never been to Portugal.
I'm planning a big birthday party for Rick this year - fourteen boys and girls. He was looking at a Better Homes and Gardens and ran across an advertisement for a "Carnival Clown Party". So we sent for one with fourteen place settings. The ad said it would include a big clown table cloth, paper plates, napkins (that will say "Happy Birthday Rickie"), hats, noiesemakers, cups, a big clown on a bike for a table decoration, clown ballons and three carnival games for all the kids to play. It should be a ball.
Denise Is getting cuter every day. It's a shame you have to miss this cute age. She will be an easy one to manage. Even now all I have to do is look cross and she behaves. She doesn't talk yet. She only says mama, dada, raka and No.
There is a possibility we may be invited on the inaugural flight of the "Comet" from Paris to Dakar, Wouldn't that be something? It would really be one big party - the press, Air France officials and a few of the Diplomatic Corps. Oh, I sure would like to make that trip. We won't be sure of an invitation for another month or so.
Well I think I'll go upstairs and sort through our summer clothes. It's time to pack them away. Just think, next time I unpack them it will be to wear them home to California!
I'm enclosing our new address just in case you have to reach us in a hurry. However, if you prefer continue to use the APO for letters.
Lots of Love
Dottie
Villa Montmorency
21 Avenue des Sycamores
Paris, 16, France
phone: Jasmine 29-08 72
In an oral history interview with me fifty years later Dad observed about those times . . ."Paris sounded a lot more exciting and of course Dottie and Betty got along so well so it wasn't hard and we decided to go to France with the MacCloskey's. They went ahead of us. They didn't go through the training but Mac left me to go through the strategic intelligence school and the Army language school out in Monterrey, both of which were good schools at which I learned an awful lot.
I had no special feelings even any special observations of this period of rebuilding Europe. We were busy in the embassy collecting intelligence information and coordinating Air Force activity in Europe and we made occasional trips to Africa. Ended up as Operations Officer in the Air Attach‚ office and pilot for the Air Attach‚ plane. My Job was air fields throughout France and Africa. Bill Bailey followed the order of battle of the French and the Belgians. I thought I had the best job in the embassy or at least in the Air Attach‚ office because all of French Colonial Africa came under our surveillance. We had to keep up with all the airfields, their fuel capacity, runways, etc. And it was during that period the decolonization of Africa was beginning. So there was an awful lot of demand for material intelligence on Africa. And that is why we got so many trips down there. Flying in North Africa was great. When we first got to the embassy there weren't any other American military people in Paris except for the Graves Administration which was a little bitty outfit.
When they announced the formation of NATO and appointed Eisenhower to head NATO we were half glad and half sad about more military coming in and spoiling our unique situation of being the only American military in Paris. On the other hand Eisenhower brought a big staff him, hospitals and doctors which was very fortunate because when Deanie was born Dottie needed special doctors for that Rh factor. NATO doctors brought it with them. She didn't have to go to Germany or back to the states to have a baby.
We really liked our ambassador in Paris his name was David K.E. Bruce and he was married a 2nd time to Evangeline Bruce. She had a couple of dogs that traveled around with her. He had been chief of the OSS in London during the war. I suppose most Americans have heard him. He was Ambassador to everything including China up to Nixon. Bruce liked to travel and he liked to have his own airplane. He wanted to see the French make the empire so that fit into our plan nicely. Evangeline liked to go with him and she would invite Dottie to go along for feminine companionship, so we had some wonderful trips, mostly to North Africa. Where ambassador Bruce would be greeted with open arms. And there was some negotiations for American bases in North Africa particularly in Morocco.
It was real fun traveling with them. We got VIP treatment with MacCloskey's and the Bruces. On one of our trips to Morocco we ran into Winston Churchill and his wife in Marrakech. We saw him at lunch and they were kind enough to invite us back to dinner (when I say us I mean the MacCloskey's and us) at La Mamounia Hotel. The Ambassador had separate meetings. Churchill was no longer Prime Minister but he was still a voice in the world and of course we all listened with attention when he spoke at dinner. He only spoke between drinks. He had his siren suit or his flight suit on. Quite an articulate leader of the conversation.
When I heard him tell MacCloskey we Americans ought to be careful and watch Korea, that things were going to break out in Korea and there was going to be all kind of trouble. It came as an absolute shock to me. I hadn't been following the far east news. Dottie and I went back to the hotel that night and I said I wonder where Korea is and what is going to happen. We looked it up on the map, Neither one of us had heard of it. But to make a long story short the war in Korea broke out just a few months later and kind of confirmed what Churchill had told us. I guess no other Americans listened to him. Because we were obviously not prepared for anything there in Korea. Churchill had at least warned Ambassador Bruce and General Mac that it was coming.
I got my first look at Leopoldville while in Paris. There was an American Air Attache‚ In Tangier named Joe Bloomer and he had the job once a year of touring all the colony areas of Africa and it was customary that the pilot from the embassy in Paris go with him so I made that trip and it was fantastic. We went all the way to Brazzaville, I didn't get to Leopoldville but you could see it across the river.
We visited all the French possessions including the onse in the desert. Some of the crazier places like Ouagadougou. There was a famous Foreign Legion post down there. We hit them all down the coast and then in the middle. We hit Bangui and Cameroon, all of them. We were gone about a month.
When I later applied to go to the Congo it wasn't out of stupidity. I knew pretty well what I was going to find. It looked pretty good, and was excellent flying."
We left Paris in the spring of 1953. After a months leave in California we moved into base quarters in Montgomery, Alabama. Such were the vagaries of military life–we transmigrated from a Chateaux in France to wherry housing in Dixie in the brief span of a couple of months.
During the next thirty years the Matlicks moved a dozen times over three continents. Dottie embraced each move with the same vitality revealed in her letters, becoming in the process, the quintessential homemaker. Wherever she went, whatever was