Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17025
Date
1919 January 4
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
SATURDAY.
At 9:30 President Wilson visited the Pantheon, where he laid wreaths on the tombs of King Victor Emanuel, Third, and King Humbert. He spent half an hour inspecting the structure. The President was then driven to the Garibaldi monument, which he viewed, leaving his automobile to do so. He walked over to the side of the hill where he had a view of all the hills of Rome stretched in panorama beyond. The party proceeded to the Academy—where the President received a degree and made a response. (Speech attached). An amusing incident of this visit was the attitude of a very elderly gentleman who during the entire visit rather rudely scrutinized Mrs. Wilson through opera glasses. Leaving the Academy the President visited the coliseum, baths and forum in turn. Luncheon was served at the American Embassy where the President was host to the King.
The luncheon was arranged at the Embassy by Thomas Nelson Page, the American Ambassador. The Ambassador “coached” the President as to how he should act as host, and among the things he said was this:
“You must toast the King as you are on American soil in the Embassy. The proper time to do so at this luncheon is immediately after they serve asparagus.”
When the salad has been served, there being no asparagus, the President proceeded to give the toast to the King. After luncheon he said:
“Mr. Ambassador, if I had followed your instructions literally I would have failed to have given a toast.”
The Ambassador said: “I do not understand, Mr. President.”
To which the President replied: “Because we did not have any asparagus.”
Whereupon Mrs. Page, the Ambassador’s wife, said: “Oh, Mr. Page did not understand that; we found after making the menu card out that we could not buy any asparagus for the luncheon.”
Among the notables present were General Diaz, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian armies. Fifty-two guests in all were present. At 3:15 the President and party, in three automobiles, proceeded to the Vatican. Ambassador Page abandoned the party at the entrance to the Vatican. He was obliged to leave because of international etiquette, which prohibited him, an accredited ambassador to the Italian court visiting the Vatican in the company of an official mission. As the Presidential party entered the court yard, the papal guard paid military honors while the band of papal gendarmes rendered the American National Anthem. The President was greeted by Mgr. O’Hearn, an American prelate who was rector of the American College in Rome. He introduced the President to the Pope’s Chamberlain and the latter, in turn, introduced him to the Major Domo, who escorted the party up the stairs and through from thirty to forty rooms into the small room adjoining the little throne room. This is the room in which Leo XIII died. The procession traversed the entire distance through a line of Swiss guards while the papal guards accompanied the President. The Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword were dressed in the Elizabethian Court costume and the Vatican courtiers were garbed in the dress of Papal Rome. Among those in attendance on the Pope was the papal postmaster, a Roman Prince who traced his lineage to Fabius Maximus. Only lesser prelates of the church were present, among them three Americans. Formal ceremony was waived for the President and his party, they being escorted through the various chambers without the customary formalities. The President was ushered into the little throne room by Mgr. O’Hearn accompanied only by General Harts, an interpreter and myself. This room was that which only reigning princes received. The entrance of His Holiness was announced by the tinkling of a small bell. The Pope opened hs study door himself entering the room unescorted. He greeted the President in French leading him alone by the hand into his study. They were accompanied by two interpreters. Following a brief private interview, Father O’Hearn opened the study door and called General Harts and myself into the study, where we were presented to the Pope by the President. When I was presented to the Pope as the President’s physician, the President said:
“This is the man who keeps me well”. The Pope, addressing me in French said:—
“You have done good service and the world should be grateful to you.”
Meanwhile the other members of the party had entered the little throne room. A small bell then tinkled to announce the reentry of the Pope and the President into the little throne room, where the President introduced the members of his party individually to his Holiness. The Pope was dressed in white, wearing the white cap, gold chain and cross, and red sandals. He was small of stature, not more than five feet four inches, and apparently weighed about one hundred and thirty pounds. He wore glasses. He blessed the members of the party with the sign of the cross saying:—
“It is for you, your family and your dear ones.”
Leaving the presence of the Pope we went down stairs where the President was introduced to Cardinal Gaspari, Papal Secretary of State. From there we drove back to the American Embassy, which was American soil, leaving immediately afterward for the Quirinal, where the President held a number of conferences. At 5:30 the President visited the Parish House of Dr. Lowry, rector of the American Methodist College of Rome, where he held a reception to the American Protestants of Rome. Following this the President returned a call to the King’s Villa where he had a ten minute visit with the King and Queen and children. Dinner was served in the Quirinal Palace at 7:30. I sat beside an old Italian Duke who spoke English, but later proved to be very deaf. When I thought I was making fine headway, I remarked,
“I was delighted to see General Diaz.” He replied:—“Yes, the Alps are very beautiful but you had a poor opportunity to see them as you passed through ninety-two tunnels between Paris and Rome.”
The King and Queen then accompanied the President and his party to the railroad station. A flash light photograph was taken of the King and Queen and the President and Mrs. Wilson. We departed at 9:30 for Genoa.
DIARY ENTRY: Touring—Pantheon—laid wreaths on tomb of King Humboldt & Victor EmanuelForum— Lunch American Embassy—King & Queen present—52 there.3.15 Visited Vatican—President introduced all to the Pope.5 P.M. Held reception to all protestants7.30 dinner at Quirinal by K & Queen—about 40 present—Escorted to train by K & Q—Left for Genoa at 9.30
At 9:30 President Wilson visited the Pantheon, where he laid wreaths on the tombs of King Victor Emanuel, Third, and King Humbert. He spent half an hour inspecting the structure. The President was then driven to the Garibaldi monument, which he viewed, leaving his automobile to do so. He walked over to the side of the hill where he had a view of all the hills of Rome stretched in panorama beyond. The party proceeded to the Academy—where the President received a degree and made a response. (Speech attached). An amusing incident of this visit was the attitude of a very elderly gentleman who during the entire visit rather rudely scrutinized Mrs. Wilson through opera glasses. Leaving the Academy the President visited the coliseum, baths and forum in turn. Luncheon was served at the American Embassy where the President was host to the King.
The luncheon was arranged at the Embassy by Thomas Nelson Page, the American Ambassador. The Ambassador “coached” the President as to how he should act as host, and among the things he said was this:
“You must toast the King as you are on American soil in the Embassy. The proper time to do so at this luncheon is immediately after they serve asparagus.”
When the salad has been served, there being no asparagus, the President proceeded to give the toast to the King. After luncheon he said:
“Mr. Ambassador, if I had followed your instructions literally I would have failed to have given a toast.”
The Ambassador said: “I do not understand, Mr. President.”
To which the President replied: “Because we did not have any asparagus.”
Whereupon Mrs. Page, the Ambassador’s wife, said: “Oh, Mr. Page did not understand that; we found after making the menu card out that we could not buy any asparagus for the luncheon.”
Among the notables present were General Diaz, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian armies. Fifty-two guests in all were present. At 3:15 the President and party, in three automobiles, proceeded to the Vatican. Ambassador Page abandoned the party at the entrance to the Vatican. He was obliged to leave because of international etiquette, which prohibited him, an accredited ambassador to the Italian court visiting the Vatican in the company of an official mission. As the Presidential party entered the court yard, the papal guard paid military honors while the band of papal gendarmes rendered the American National Anthem. The President was greeted by Mgr. O’Hearn, an American prelate who was rector of the American College in Rome. He introduced the President to the Pope’s Chamberlain and the latter, in turn, introduced him to the Major Domo, who escorted the party up the stairs and through from thirty to forty rooms into the small room adjoining the little throne room. This is the room in which Leo XIII died. The procession traversed the entire distance through a line of Swiss guards while the papal guards accompanied the President. The Chamberlains of the Cape and Sword were dressed in the Elizabethian Court costume and the Vatican courtiers were garbed in the dress of Papal Rome. Among those in attendance on the Pope was the papal postmaster, a Roman Prince who traced his lineage to Fabius Maximus. Only lesser prelates of the church were present, among them three Americans. Formal ceremony was waived for the President and his party, they being escorted through the various chambers without the customary formalities. The President was ushered into the little throne room by Mgr. O’Hearn accompanied only by General Harts, an interpreter and myself. This room was that which only reigning princes received. The entrance of His Holiness was announced by the tinkling of a small bell. The Pope opened hs study door himself entering the room unescorted. He greeted the President in French leading him alone by the hand into his study. They were accompanied by two interpreters. Following a brief private interview, Father O’Hearn opened the study door and called General Harts and myself into the study, where we were presented to the Pope by the President. When I was presented to the Pope as the President’s physician, the President said:
“This is the man who keeps me well”. The Pope, addressing me in French said:—
“You have done good service and the world should be grateful to you.”
Meanwhile the other members of the party had entered the little throne room. A small bell then tinkled to announce the reentry of the Pope and the President into the little throne room, where the President introduced the members of his party individually to his Holiness. The Pope was dressed in white, wearing the white cap, gold chain and cross, and red sandals. He was small of stature, not more than five feet four inches, and apparently weighed about one hundred and thirty pounds. He wore glasses. He blessed the members of the party with the sign of the cross saying:—
“It is for you, your family and your dear ones.”
Leaving the presence of the Pope we went down stairs where the President was introduced to Cardinal Gaspari, Papal Secretary of State. From there we drove back to the American Embassy, which was American soil, leaving immediately afterward for the Quirinal, where the President held a number of conferences. At 5:30 the President visited the Parish House of Dr. Lowry, rector of the American Methodist College of Rome, where he held a reception to the American Protestants of Rome. Following this the President returned a call to the King’s Villa where he had a ten minute visit with the King and Queen and children. Dinner was served in the Quirinal Palace at 7:30. I sat beside an old Italian Duke who spoke English, but later proved to be very deaf. When I thought I was making fine headway, I remarked,
“I was delighted to see General Diaz.” He replied:—“Yes, the Alps are very beautiful but you had a poor opportunity to see them as you passed through ninety-two tunnels between Paris and Rome.”
The King and Queen then accompanied the President and his party to the railroad station. A flash light photograph was taken of the King and Queen and the President and Mrs. Wilson. We departed at 9:30 for Genoa.
DIARY ENTRY: Touring—Pantheon—laid wreaths on tomb of King Humboldt & Victor EmanuelForum— Lunch American Embassy—King & Queen present—52 there.3.15 Visited Vatican—President introduced all to the Pope.5 P.M. Held reception to all protestants7.30 dinner at Quirinal by K & Queen—about 40 present—Escorted to train by K & Q—Left for Genoa at 9.30
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 4, WWP17025, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.