Margaret Axson Elliott to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre

Title

Margaret Axson Elliott to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre

Creator

Margaret Axson Elliott

Identifier

WWP17344

Date

1906 September 27

Description

Margaret Axson Elliott writes to Jessie Wilson Sayre about her travels to Chapel Hill.

Source

Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University

Language

English

Text

Jess, my love, if you sail at the appointed time this is my last letter to you. I am in doubt even about this one, so that I shall send it not to Loughrigg Cottage, but to the Bankers.

Now to begin with, aren't you surprised to see mthe heading of my letter? I am myself. You know I wrote you last time that I could not go to Georgia now because Meemee was still in Ohio, so that I had reversed plans and was going to see Nell Flinn first. Well, I did, but it was so hot in Columbia and Margaret kept imploring us to come, so we got up and came.
It is lovely here. Of course I had always heard a lot about Chapel Hill, but it is much prettier than I expected. It is composed of “the Street” “the back street”, and “the other back street,” and there are quantities of fine trees and quaint old houses.

I forgot to say that Mrs. Howe and Annie arrived a few days before we did. They are looking so well, better than I have seen Mrs. Howe for a long time. Their summer at Markham was frightfully gay, quite a giddy whirl of boys and dances so Annie is blissfully content.

The house is really lovely, very simple on the outside, but livable up to the last nook and corner inside, and with lots of personality about it. Do you remember how disorderly Margaret always was when we knew her before? All that is changed. The whole place is in apple pie order all the time, and since she keeps great bowls and jars of flowers and boughs standing around, it gives the effect of a bit of the real outdoors.Nell is prettier and dearer than ever, I believe, and oh so happy! There was always a lot of talk about “the Judge”, but it's a lot worse now. Verily, that man is the only authority worth mentioning on the face of the earth.

I am wondering how you enjoyed your visit at Sir ____ somebody's. It wasn't so terrible as you expected after all was it? I have not had a letter from you for more than two weeks, so I am beginning to feel myself again in ignorance as to your doings and plans. Had I known the name of the steamer, I should have sent you a letter to Glasgow, so as to be on the safe side (that would seem to mean the other side) in case this fails to reach you. I can't even have one waiting for you in New York unless I hear before then whether you are due on the Columbia or the Caledonia. I suppose that you would scorn to be found on any other of the A fine craft.
I can't really write a letter to-day, for we are having a “party” to-night, but I simply had to try to catch this post, lest I miss you altogether.

It makes me feel quite excited to think that you may possibly be sailing for home before long. Dear me, but you've been gone a long time!With stacks and stacks of love for all the bellessed family and for you, Carissima, as ever

Your
Tantchen.

Original Format

Letter

To

Sayre, Jessie Woodrow Wilson, 1887-1933

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/MRAtoJWS19060927.pdf

Tags

Citation

Margaret Axson Elliott, “Margaret Axson Elliott to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre,” 1906 September 27, WWP17344, Jessie Wilson Sayre Correspondence, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.