27 Apr 1930
John Griffin to Mother, Paris, France
I guess it does seem strange, yet since I've been in Paris I've got more homesick than I ever did on my mission. Of course it just comes in streaks, especially when missionaries pass through here on their way home - missionaries that came over after I did. I suppose though I'll chalk it off somehow and manage to stick it out another couple of months.
Today is one of the most beautiful days we've yet had. I suppose though by night time it will be raining; it's still April. The leaves and flowers are all out and nature is just grand. I'd surely like to be able to jump in the car and run up the canyon for a ride. It won't be long now. Tomorrow we start back to school and the next time we finish it's for good. I'm still a little afraid of the exams. In a theme I just did I spent some 16 hours and at exam time we're supposed to write one in three hours without books or even a dictionary. It surely scares me. Oh well, even if I don't pass I will have gained a lot.
Last Monday we all went out to see Wales play France for the international rugby championship. There was such a mob that thousands were turned away. We were lucky and followed a gang and went in where they crashed a gate. Wales won 11-0. It was interesting but not near as much as our games at home.
Yesterday noon while I was sitting here reading your letter I heard the most terrible noise outside and imagine what - there outside our window, just a hundred feet or so, it seemed, away was the old Graf Zeppelin. It was surely pretty, about as majestic as you could imagine, and big. It circled Paris a couple of times on its way to London. We tried to take a picture of it. If the pictures are good I'll send you one. Ben hasn't decided to fly over on it yet, has he? That's about all the excitement we've had around here. I've been studying hard this last week trying to get caught up and get in another theme.
You said something in your letter about getting a suit and sending it over. I appreciate a lot your good intentions but really, Mother that wouldn't be a wise thing to do. One of the freres had to pay $20 duty on a suit. When it costs more at home and you have the expense of sending it, for $35 I could have me a nice suit made here and could get the American styles as well as at home. Paris is about half American. Frere Thomson got him (a suit) the other day and it looked real well. However you do as you think best. Bro. Foulger told me that if I ever went to New York he would give me a letter recommendation so I could get suits at a wholesale price. Maybe it would be a good thing to ask him about it again, and wait till I get to New York to buy one. The only thing is shipboard. I need something there bad. Do what you think best but really I wouldn't try sending one over.
The pageant and centennial celebration must have been wonderful. I surely wish I could have seen it. Did you see the Time for April 7. It is a magazine about as popular as the Literary Digest. It has President Grant's picture on the cover and a very good article on the Church. One of President Christensen's friends sent it to us. You might get it...
I guess school will be out right soon after you get this. Another year gone. Just think, I could have graduated this year if I had gone on. Oh well I'll catch up somehow and I have something much more valuable than those who went on.
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