Dear Folks, I managed to put together the first part of the story regarding the trip my father took in 1938. I hope I'll be able put together part two. I hope you enjoy it. vee 1938 TRIP TO FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND January 31, 2004 I'm putting this story together from memory but mostly from what I just discovered in the box of souvenirs that my father had kept of his 1938 trip to France and Switzerland. Since both Mother and Daddy passed away many years ago, I can only hope I can do the story justice. In the fall of 1938 Daddy announced to Mother, and my sister Norma (age 12) and me (age 7) that the plant he worked in, Vanadium Corp. of America, in Niagara Falls, New York, was sending him and several other key metallurgists to France and Switzerland for a month to study the new French furnace. When we questioned him about the French furnace, he told us that it was a new process for melting down iron ore, coke and other ingredients in a blast furnace. It was a better method to produce ferrous alloys. Although I was curious, I didn't understand it of course. We were all thrilled that he would actually be going across the Atlantic Ocean. I was especially thrilled when he told us he would bring back presents for us. When he asked me what I'd like to have from Switzerland, I was very definite. A Heidi dress just like the one Shirley Temple wore in the movies. Daddy just smiled at me. I can't remember our seeing him off to New York City but I can imagine that my mother, my sister and I went with him to the railroad station in Niagara Falls. And no doubt family members of the other metallurgists all were there with us to wave goodbye. His passport that was issued November 10, 1938, describes him as five feet six inches tall, with auburn hair and gray eyes. Place of birth, Steelton, Pennsylvania, date of birth June 23, 1904, occupation metallurgist. Of course there was a picture of him that looks just like I remember him only much younger. He was 34 years old. In addition there were limitations on his travel (in 1938). It said, "This passport is not valid for travel in Spain." No doubt Daddy and the other men stayed overnight or longer in a first-rate hotel in New York City and according to his first letter home, they must have had a first-rate Bon Voyage celebration! The next day they all went aboard the magnificent French ocean liner the S. S. Ile de France and set sail at noon on November 20, 1938. Just prior to departure Daddy received a Western Union Bon Voyage telegram from Gert and Chad. I forgot Chad's first name (their last name was Chadwick) but he was one of Daddy's closest friends from the Vanadium. My mother and father frequently played cards together with them. The telegram was sent from Niagara Falls and addressed to Charles Housman, "Sailing noon Nov. 20 Ile De France Cabin 477 NYK. "Good bye, good luck, good riddance to all cares and a good warm welcome when you come home again. Gert and Chad." In addition he must have received the following note prior to leaving Niagara Falls. It was from someone by the name of Bill who was an acquaintance of Daddy's. It said: Charles, Will you please get me a 2 ounce bottle of "Zibelin" perfume. It is about $17.00 here and ought to be almost half that price in Paris without any duty. I don't want to pay duty if you are bringing too much for yourself. Just let mine go. Also would like two small 1 dram bottles of "My Sin." It is $1.25 a dram here. Think it sells for $.75 in the foreign currency or something like that. Helen wants to know if she should pay now and if so, how much. She wants it only if it is coming thru cheaper. Got the book. How about sending me a couple [stamp] covers with the boat cancels on? Also when you are over there a nice cover or so with co, or special stamps on it. You know I am a cover collector. Bill-and good luck to you for a nice trip." [Note; my father was an avid stamp and cover collector himself.] Prior to his departure a woman by the name of Sherry Munson wrote a letter dated November 16, 1938 in French on the stationary of Hotel Niagara, Niagara Falls, N.Y. I know very little (if any) French but it appears that she is asking her friend, Helene in Paris, to be hospitable to my father while he is in Paris. It was in an envelope addressed to Madame Gues-Willer, 126 Boulevard, Raspail, Paris. There was no stamp on it so I suppose she handed it to Daddy as a letter of introduction. My mother sent him a Bon Voyage greeting card after he had boarded the ship. It was addressed to him, "French Line, Ile deFrance, cabin 417, New York City, N.Y." Inside was the standard greeting card verse: Here's a cargo of good wishes; For a fine and happy trip; From the time you are embarking; Till you leave the homeward ship." It was signed only "Verna." On November 20, 1938, he wrote a letter to my mother on the ship's stationary describing the first day of their voyage. It reads: Dear Verna, We are rolling along and so far I have not been sick (mal de mer) but when we came aboard we were not feeling so hot. You cannot mix wine, scotch, champagne and beer and feel happy about it. We have very nice cabins with two beds in each. Have not found any use for the second bed as yet but give me time. [Vee's note: Oh my goodness, what on earth did he mean by that??] [We] dressed up in our monkey suits [tuxedos] last evening for dinner and boy am I a knockout! So far Brennan is all wet on the quality of the French cooking. It is OK. Only thing I can kick about is the quantity. They give you too much. Earl and I bought berets today. They are better than hats on deck. [Note: there's a snapshot of him in his beret standing along the rail on deck. How debonair!] I think we will get dolls (custom) [meaning in costume of a particular area] for the kids. They are very nice and the most expensive even on the ship is about $7. We have a countess aboard. Also tell Chad that Messers Wile, Andre and Arndt are with us. They are all in the metallurgical game and he will have at least heard of them. They had movies at 5 P.M. last evening, "Tamchy[?] Gets Her Man" in English and a French news reel. After dinner they had a concert and then danced. Earl got left out in the cold. Not enough women to go around. Will write you further as we go along. Charly.