Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre

Title

Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre

Creator

McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson, 1889-1967

Identifier

WWP17522

Date

1915 October 10

Description

Eleanor Wilson McAdoo writes Jessie Wilson Sayre with family news from Washington, DC.

Source

Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University

Language

English

Text

Precious sister

I have tried to write to you ever single day since we got back and have never come near having time even to sit down at my desk—so this is being scribbled in bed just on the eve (almost) of our departure for the west. Yets, I'm really going with Mac! I can hardly bear to think about it right now because leaving the babe is just like having my heart torn out by the roots. bBut I've struggled over it a long time and come to the conclusion that it isn't right to side-track Mac when he really needs me and that, since Ellendoesn't need me, I must go. That's what I'm here for, you know,—to help Mac—and so I musnt give him up for the babe since she can get along just as well without me and won't even miss me. But oh, Jetty, think of missing three weeks of her heavenly-ness and having her learning wonderful new tricks without me and forgetting me—Oh, I musn't talk about it—I must try not to think of it. I know you think I'm doing right and of course I'll have a good time with my wonderful husband when I once get over the first plunge.
We are to be gone only three weeks—going to Indianapolis, Kansas City, St Louis, Salt Lake City, Reno!—San Francisco, Portland and then home, by the northern route, I reckon. And we leave Tuesday afternoon.
You darling, I'm so sorry that Frank has to be away from you now. It's hard times and I'll be so happy when he's back with you again. It would have been much better if it had happened when you were with us in Cornish, wouldn't it? Oh sweetheart, if you only weren't so far away from us—I am sick sometimes for the sight of you. I wish you could have gone with Frank. Tell me, when you write, just how you are, please. I'm so glad that the new nurse has turned out well, and that little Frankie is thriving. He is simply adorable, Jetty. I have never seen a more fascinating and beautiful baby boy. (Whew, isn't this pen awful!) We missed you and the Franks tragically when you left C. It was desolate without you.
I have had a hideous time with nurses. Jessie turned out very badly—a good nurse (that was the sad thing about it.) but an impossible person. She was unspeakably impertinent and outrageous and I dismissed her on the spot. I made her leave the next day and we had to borrow Miss Harkinsagain! Then I went to New York last week and got a nurse from Dr. Holt's baby hospital—and I'm trying her now. She is an excellent nurse and sweet with the babe but she knows everything that was ever known about a baby and treats me with a toucch of superiority. I am already under her thumb—contrary to your advice—but I don't care much if she takes good care of Ellen! I'm going to have the babe stay at the White House under Helen's supervision while we're gone and the doctor will be in the house, too, so I think I ought to feel safe about her.
Well—now for the real excitement. I hope somebody warned you and Margie that the announcement was going to be made so soon so you wouldn't be taken by surprise. I didn't know until two days before, because they decided rather suddenly. But aren't you glad that the first excitement is over—I am. I couldn't have stood thinking about it much longer. And don't you think it's been done very well? The papers have been quite decent I think and have shown, for them, really good taste. Of course I don't mean all the silly stuff that they print and will print for months to come. But in the way they announced it. Every body is very enthusiastic and extremely complimentary to Edith. She really is beautiful, isn't she? But the most delightful thing about her is her poise and dignity. She has been wonderful through all this first wild furore. Yesterday Mac, the Smiths, Cousin Ed and I joined them in Phila. for the baseball game. There were millions of cheering people everywhere and all wild, of course, with curiosity to see her. And she was beautifully well poised and lovely, through it all. Father looks much better and it is a very great happiness to see him so happy. That is all that really counts—it's the most important thing in the world next to our husbands and babies, isn't it?Mac has come up and I must stop in a minute because I don't want to keep the poor tired man awake. I'll tell as much more as I can in a few minutes.The Smiths are so perfectly sweet. They are really happy about Father, as you and Frank said they would be. They said they had already guessed, partly because none of us ever mentioned Edith all the time they were in Cornish. An example of keeping a secret too well, isn't it?Ellen is doing finely now—the change of milk stopped her from gaining for a week but now she has started again and weighs 11 and ¾. She has the sweetest nursery—our whole house, in fact is lovely. I'm crazy to have you see it. You are coming for Christmas, aren't you, beloved darling? I'll just die, if you don't. Oh, you blessed, lovely thing—I adore and worship you and hope every day with my whole heart that you're not feeling badly and that things will go well. There's no reason on earth why you should feel that anybody would be anything but happy for you, you beloved darling. I only wish that you didn't have to have the discomfort of it so soon.
I'm sending you some things to-day. The black shirt and chiffon coat I spoke of and then some other things that I thought you might possibly have some use for.Good-bye darling sister—I love you very deeply and long for you every moment. Mac sends his best love to you all—

Always your adoring sister
Nell

Original Format

Letter

To

Sayre, Jessie Woodrow Wilson, 1887-1933

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NWMtoJWS19151012.pdf

Citation

McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson, 1889-1967, “Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre,” 1915 October 10, WWP17522, Jessie Wilson Sayre Correspondence, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.