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To Monsieur et Madame Jean Van de Vyvere from ill Lucie in France.

Jean's writing is difficult to read and it doesn't seem to be positive (or perhaps the message is lost on this English-reader). He writes to the Jean Van de Vyvere family at 74 Rue de Rotterdam. The postcard is of another beautiful historic French hotel, the "Grand-Hotel" at place de la Liberté in Toulon. 

We initially thought this message was from Jean. Thank you to Timo Van Havere's translation (see the comment below), we see that Lucie wrote the card. She is ill and asking her brother for help.

Note that Lucie's message on the front of the card seems dire. This card was posted in 1928. We believe that Lucie survived her illness because she posts another card in 1930 from La Madeleine (Magdalen Church).





The "Grand Hotel" seems now to be Government Offices. Toulon is the principal base for the French Navy and the second largest naval port in France. 




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Timo Van Havere said…
Both the front and the back of the card contain one long message from Lucie, who has fallen ill while travelling to the south of France. A translation:

'So abruptly ill on the train that I had to interrupt my trip in Lyon and when boarding the train again, I collapsed. When I arrived in Toulon, fortunately, nurse wardens that I met on the street made me drive by car here, where an emergency doctor, seeing my 39.8 of fever, declared that I had a nasty flu-like angina. I have to stay in bed until at least Thursday, then I will be transported to the Marquise who is very good and already came to see me (on Sunday I hope). I can't swallow anything anymore. My morale is excellent, even though I can't even stand on my legs. Jean has to send me another 1000 French francs. I only have dabs, sinapisms and can hardly move. What ugly angina! But don't be upset. Each cup of linden tea costs me 8 francs! Jean can send the money order to Villa Capriciosa in Tamaris sur Mer and a word to this hotel.'
18 February 2020 at 07:03
Stella Portage said…
Thank you for translating this postcard, Timo!

If information is correct, Lucie would be 32 years old when writing this. I can't imagine having to communicate by post, to get money when ill on a voyage!
26 February 2020 at 17:10
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