Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17026
Date
1919 January 5
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
SUNDAY.
At eight o’clock we arrived at Genoa, with rain falling in torrents. There was the usual local committee with open carriages, but I would not permit the President to ride in them. He with Mrs. Wilson and myself were furnished closed automobiles. Through well crowded streets, despite the rain, we proceeded to the statue of Mezzini, where the President laid a wreath at the base. Then we drove to the house wherein Christopher Columbus was born. This was located on a side street in what is now the poorer quarter of the city. In the room adjoining that in which Columbus was born is the wonderful statue known as “The Young Columbus”. It represents a youth, sitting with legs crossed, chin resting on hand in an attitude of deep study, a beautiful type. Proceeding from this place we drove to the Town Hall, where the President delivered an address. (See Speech). En route to the railroad station we stopped at the Columbus Monument, at the base of which the President deposited another wreath. This monument was erected from money contributed by Italians in America. As the President laid the wreath at the base of the monument he said, “Columbus performed a great service to humanity when he discovered America.”
We left Genoa at eleven o’clock arriving at Milan at three. Here the crowd was most enthusiastic, the President himself describing it as “Most superb, stupendous and overwhelming.” The President drove from the station to the Royal Palace, where he addressed an enormous crowd from the balcony at four o’clock. None of the party could agree on the number in the crowd, the guesses ranging from 50,000 to 150,000. It was agreed, however by everyone, that it was the largest crowd they had ever seen gathered together. The American Consul at this place, whose name was Winship, was by far the poorest and most inefficient we had yet seen. He proved much more of a hindrance than a help to us. As the President passed through the streets his automobile was deluged with papers hailing him as “Savior of humanity” and “God of Peace,” “The Cavalier of Humanity,” “The Moses from across the Atlantic”. Members of the Italian party said that the population in this section are so enthusiastic about the President that they have burned sacred candles about his picture. At six o’clock the President visited the City Hall, where he was feted and made a citizen of Milan. (See Speech attached) The local committee tendered him a dinner at the Scala at 7:30. Here the President was asked to autograph many of the menu cards. I noticed that many of those to whom he gave them kissed the signature and pressed it to their hearts. The President then attended the opera, where the second act of Aida was given, with a cast of about four hundred. Before the opera he went out on the balcony and was heartily cheered by the crowd which filled the square below. At eleven o’clock we left for Turin in the special train.
DIARY ENTRY: Arrived Genoa 8 am. Raining—visited house of Columbus birth place, President placed wreath on his monument, wreath on tomb of Mezzini Left for Milan at 11 & arrived 3 o’clock.
The most superb spontaneous and overwhelming ovation ever seen, The President spoke to over one hund thousand people from the Palace.
Speech hotel Deville—Dinner Speech—autograph menu cards—Theater—Left at 11 o clock for Turin.
At eight o’clock we arrived at Genoa, with rain falling in torrents. There was the usual local committee with open carriages, but I would not permit the President to ride in them. He with Mrs. Wilson and myself were furnished closed automobiles. Through well crowded streets, despite the rain, we proceeded to the statue of Mezzini, where the President laid a wreath at the base. Then we drove to the house wherein Christopher Columbus was born. This was located on a side street in what is now the poorer quarter of the city. In the room adjoining that in which Columbus was born is the wonderful statue known as “The Young Columbus”. It represents a youth, sitting with legs crossed, chin resting on hand in an attitude of deep study, a beautiful type. Proceeding from this place we drove to the Town Hall, where the President delivered an address. (See Speech). En route to the railroad station we stopped at the Columbus Monument, at the base of which the President deposited another wreath. This monument was erected from money contributed by Italians in America. As the President laid the wreath at the base of the monument he said, “Columbus performed a great service to humanity when he discovered America.”
We left Genoa at eleven o’clock arriving at Milan at three. Here the crowd was most enthusiastic, the President himself describing it as “Most superb, stupendous and overwhelming.” The President drove from the station to the Royal Palace, where he addressed an enormous crowd from the balcony at four o’clock. None of the party could agree on the number in the crowd, the guesses ranging from 50,000 to 150,000. It was agreed, however by everyone, that it was the largest crowd they had ever seen gathered together. The American Consul at this place, whose name was Winship, was by far the poorest and most inefficient we had yet seen. He proved much more of a hindrance than a help to us. As the President passed through the streets his automobile was deluged with papers hailing him as “Savior of humanity” and “God of Peace,” “The Cavalier of Humanity,” “The Moses from across the Atlantic”. Members of the Italian party said that the population in this section are so enthusiastic about the President that they have burned sacred candles about his picture. At six o’clock the President visited the City Hall, where he was feted and made a citizen of Milan. (See Speech attached) The local committee tendered him a dinner at the Scala at 7:30. Here the President was asked to autograph many of the menu cards. I noticed that many of those to whom he gave them kissed the signature and pressed it to their hearts. The President then attended the opera, where the second act of Aida was given, with a cast of about four hundred. Before the opera he went out on the balcony and was heartily cheered by the crowd which filled the square below. At eleven o’clock we left for Turin in the special train.
DIARY ENTRY: Arrived Genoa 8 am. Raining—visited house of Columbus birth place, President placed wreath on his monument, wreath on tomb of Mezzini Left for Milan at 11 & arrived 3 o’clock.
The most superb spontaneous and overwhelming ovation ever seen, The President spoke to over one hund thousand people from the Palace.
Speech hotel Deville—Dinner Speech—autograph menu cards—Theater—Left at 11 o clock for Turin.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 5, WWP17026, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.