Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17024
Date
1919 January 3
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
FRIDAY.
The special train reached the station in Rome at 9:30 in the morning. There was a great crowd in waiting together with a guard of honor. As the President descended from the train an Italian military band played the American National Anthem. President Wilson was greeted, as he stepped from his car, by King Victor Emanuel and his aides. The President inspected the guards, after which he passed through a double file of soldiers into the station then through to the great square beyond. Royal carriages were in waiting for the party. The first, in which the President and King rode immediately was surrounded by a troop of Royal Cavalry. They moved forward with the carriage enclosed in a hollow square. The entire route to the Quirinal Palace was lined with troops. At all street intersections the people were held well behind the house line. As far as the eye could see men, women and children were jammed in the roadways adjacent. The Rome reception was extremely enthusiastic so far as the people were concerned. In the big square around the Quirinal, every available inch of space was filled with an enthusiastic crowd of spectators. Entering the Palace, the President and King Victor, followed by Mrs. Wilson, the Queen, and the other members of the party passed up the royal staircase between lines of Tuscan guards into the Swill [note: Swiss?] room. These guards were selected from the grenadiers and were the largest men physicially in Italy. Arriving in what is known as the Swill [note: Swiss?] room, the members of the court were presented to the President by his Majesty. Following the presentation, on invitation of the King and Queen, the President and his party inspected the wing of the Palace which had been set aside for hospital purposes. In this section every patient had undergone a major operation. Those who were able to do so stood at attention as the President went by. Some were without arms, some without legs, but all apparently were very happy. On many of the stands beside the beds were photographs of President Wilson, showing the affection in which he was held by the wounded soldiers. At the conclusion of the hospital inspection the King and Queen invited the President and Mrs. Wilson to greet the crowd from the little balcony. Not less than 25,000 people were gathered in the square below. They cheered heartily. The President acknowledged their geeting by waving his hat and bowing. It was impossible to make a speech as he was too far removed above the heads of the multitude.
This ceremony concluded, the President and Mrs. Wilson, myself, General WW Harts and Miss Benham reentered carriages and proceeded to the Royal Villa, where luncheon was served. In addtion to the American guests there were present the King and Queen, the Crown Prince and the four little princesses. The five children spoke perfect English, but the Queen spoke only in French. The King however spoke English. After luncheon the King entertained the President by showing him many war relics that he personally had collected on the battlefield, such as rifles, swords, grenades, helmets, and many other German and Austrian souvenirs. He offered to share with the President but the latter very courteously said that they mean so much to the King, owing to the fact that he had personally collected them, that he did not feel that he should take any of them from him. At this stage, Orlando, the Italian Premier, arrived and said that the Italian newspaper men wanted to see the President and that the President was expected to speak to the crowd in the square in front of the Victor Emanuel Second Memorial, but that Sonnino the Foreign Minister had sent word that it was “impudent” for the newspaper men to expect to see the President or for the crowd to expect a speech at this place, as the officials had made no arrangements for such a meeting. The President did not agree with Mr. Sonnino and stated that he would see the newspaper correspondents as soon as he returned to the Quirinal which he did. Following this talk he conferred with Sonino and Ex-Premier Salandra separately. Previously, however, the representative of the American Committee on Public Information, Mr. JJ Hurley, had announced through the afternoon newspapers that the President would greet the populace from the Victor Emanuel Square. The President was promised by the Italian officials that he would be driven near enough to the court in the square so that he could see the people and they could see him and he could wave his hat to them on his way to the Parliament buildings. This promise was not kept and one of the largest crowds ever assembled to greet President Wilson was disappointed through no fault of his. The President was accompanied to the Parliament by the King, where he delivered an address. (SEE SPEECHES).
A state dinner was given at the Quirinal at eight o’clock, about 150 guests attending. The King toasted the President while the President responded. (SEE SPEECHES) At ten o’clock the President visited the capitol of the City of Rome, where he was made citizen of the ancient municipality by the mayor. He made a speech (Copy attached). About 10,000 were in attendance.
DIARY ENTRY: Arrived Rome, met at R.R. Station by the King & Queen, Escorted to the King’s Palace (Quirinal) in royal coaches drawn by beautiful bay horses,1st ” King & the President—2nd ” Mrs. Wilson & the Queen—3rdMiss Margaret—TN & Mrs. Page—Orlando4thMiss Benham—Soneno—CT.G. & lady—Inspected hospital—in palace which converted into hospital by the Queen. Lunch at King’s Villa—King & Queen & family—4 officers—President & Mrs. W.Miss M. Wilson—Miss Benham—Harts—CT.G.Afterwards King showed war relics.President denied seeing people by Soneno & Orlando—Big dinner at palace at night—Parliament —Pres. spoke—9 at night went to
The special train reached the station in Rome at 9:30 in the morning. There was a great crowd in waiting together with a guard of honor. As the President descended from the train an Italian military band played the American National Anthem. President Wilson was greeted, as he stepped from his car, by King Victor Emanuel and his aides. The President inspected the guards, after which he passed through a double file of soldiers into the station then through to the great square beyond. Royal carriages were in waiting for the party. The first, in which the President and King rode immediately was surrounded by a troop of Royal Cavalry. They moved forward with the carriage enclosed in a hollow square. The entire route to the Quirinal Palace was lined with troops. At all street intersections the people were held well behind the house line. As far as the eye could see men, women and children were jammed in the roadways adjacent. The Rome reception was extremely enthusiastic so far as the people were concerned. In the big square around the Quirinal, every available inch of space was filled with an enthusiastic crowd of spectators. Entering the Palace, the President and King Victor, followed by Mrs. Wilson, the Queen, and the other members of the party passed up the royal staircase between lines of Tuscan guards into the Swill [note: Swiss?] room. These guards were selected from the grenadiers and were the largest men physicially in Italy. Arriving in what is known as the Swill [note: Swiss?] room, the members of the court were presented to the President by his Majesty. Following the presentation, on invitation of the King and Queen, the President and his party inspected the wing of the Palace which had been set aside for hospital purposes. In this section every patient had undergone a major operation. Those who were able to do so stood at attention as the President went by. Some were without arms, some without legs, but all apparently were very happy. On many of the stands beside the beds were photographs of President Wilson, showing the affection in which he was held by the wounded soldiers. At the conclusion of the hospital inspection the King and Queen invited the President and Mrs. Wilson to greet the crowd from the little balcony. Not less than 25,000 people were gathered in the square below. They cheered heartily. The President acknowledged their geeting by waving his hat and bowing. It was impossible to make a speech as he was too far removed above the heads of the multitude.
This ceremony concluded, the President and Mrs. Wilson, myself, General WW Harts and Miss Benham reentered carriages and proceeded to the Royal Villa, where luncheon was served. In addtion to the American guests there were present the King and Queen, the Crown Prince and the four little princesses. The five children spoke perfect English, but the Queen spoke only in French. The King however spoke English. After luncheon the King entertained the President by showing him many war relics that he personally had collected on the battlefield, such as rifles, swords, grenades, helmets, and many other German and Austrian souvenirs. He offered to share with the President but the latter very courteously said that they mean so much to the King, owing to the fact that he had personally collected them, that he did not feel that he should take any of them from him. At this stage, Orlando, the Italian Premier, arrived and said that the Italian newspaper men wanted to see the President and that the President was expected to speak to the crowd in the square in front of the Victor Emanuel Second Memorial, but that Sonnino the Foreign Minister had sent word that it was “impudent” for the newspaper men to expect to see the President or for the crowd to expect a speech at this place, as the officials had made no arrangements for such a meeting. The President did not agree with Mr. Sonnino and stated that he would see the newspaper correspondents as soon as he returned to the Quirinal which he did. Following this talk he conferred with Sonino and Ex-Premier Salandra separately. Previously, however, the representative of the American Committee on Public Information, Mr. JJ Hurley, had announced through the afternoon newspapers that the President would greet the populace from the Victor Emanuel Square. The President was promised by the Italian officials that he would be driven near enough to the court in the square so that he could see the people and they could see him and he could wave his hat to them on his way to the Parliament buildings. This promise was not kept and one of the largest crowds ever assembled to greet President Wilson was disappointed through no fault of his. The President was accompanied to the Parliament by the King, where he delivered an address. (SEE SPEECHES).
A state dinner was given at the Quirinal at eight o’clock, about 150 guests attending. The King toasted the President while the President responded. (SEE SPEECHES) At ten o’clock the President visited the capitol of the City of Rome, where he was made citizen of the ancient municipality by the mayor. He made a speech (Copy attached). About 10,000 were in attendance.
DIARY ENTRY: Arrived Rome, met at R.R. Station by the King & Queen, Escorted to the King’s Palace (Quirinal) in royal coaches drawn by beautiful bay horses,1st ” King & the President—2nd ” Mrs. Wilson & the Queen—3rdMiss Margaret—TN & Mrs. Page—Orlando4thMiss Benham—Soneno—CT.G. & lady—Inspected hospital—in palace which converted into hospital by the Queen. Lunch at King’s Villa—King & Queen & family—4 officers—President & Mrs. W.Miss M. Wilson—Miss Benham—Harts—CT.G.Afterwards King showed war relics.President denied seeing people by Soneno & Orlando—Big dinner at palace at night—Parliament —Pres. spoke—9 at night went to
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 3, WWP17024, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.