Chio le 15/28 Octobre 1901

My dear Pauline

Bournabat

Just last Saturday did I receive your full of complaints and almost insulting letter, dated from the 23rd of the current month, and I reply today, since today there’s a steamer bound for Smyrna.

What can I say, my Paulina, I have read your letter at least a hundred times so far, in order to better understand its meaning, but this has proved impossible. You write to me that my first letter was very cold, and that it would be better if I had not sent it to you, etc. etc. …

Bravo, I thank you for all that, and I congratulate you. I wrote this letter in your interest, and it was like that because it would not be delivered directly into your hands, but to a third person, and I was particularly afraid that it would fall by chance into the hands of the Nuns, which is not in your interest, if I am not mistaken.

MBut take into account, and I repeat that it never occurred to me that my Paulina, who I know how much she loves me, would send me such a cold letter, but anyway, all that will be forgotten.

Let’s move on now to local news.

I saw Master–Stratis in the town on Saturday and I conveyed him your greetings etc., and he complained about Master–George, who wouldn’t let him take the mule to town on the day of our departure etc. etc. I told him to condone him and don’t pay attention to such things.

On Saturday evening it was raining heavily here.

On Sunday, yesterday, my sister and some other people whom I didn’t know came and visited me, since, as you know, I don’t go to town on holidays. I had her play the piano and I felt as if you were here, though the whole place seemed empty. Then we went to my room and we were looking at your photo, for my consolation. In my first letter too I had told you to write to me how do you do and what you are doing, but unfortunately I didn’t receive an answer. I am delighted that the 1 Novembre is approaching, when you will come out of school, and I am pleased on your behalf. If you would have stayed out some more days, I would certainly come to meet you, but don’t worry, if we are in good health we will soon meet.

My special greetings to Mademoiselle Antoinette.

Which theatre will we visit today?

That’s all for now, I kiss you,

Your beloved, Cimon

Analysis:

This letter was written in 1901 by a Chiot named Cimon to a Pauline in Smyrna, who was probably working in a Catholic school in Bournabat (Bornova). Kimon Zervoudes was an importer-exporter based in Chios and doing business with Smyrna, where he probably exported oranges from the Kambos in Chios.

From authors such as Kararas etc. we know there was in Bournove a Kula of the Nuns, French Catholic run a school. It is probable that both Mademoiselles Pauline and Antoinette were living and working at the School and they may be they were pedhia ton koulon (abandoned children). The accented French names could had been given by the French nuns.