Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17045
Date
1919 January 24
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
FRIDAY, I accompanied the President to the usual morning conference at the Quai D’Orsay. This evening before dinner I asked him what sort of a day he had. He replied, “Not very satisfactory; the French consumed most of the time talking without result.”
At six o’clock the President and Mrs. Wilson gave a tea at the Murat Palace for the three hundred American and French soldiers detailed as guards, chauffeurs, telegraph operators and orderlies about the premises. After refreshments the men gathered around the President and he told them a number of interesting anecdotes which produced loud laughter and took all of the stiffness out of the atmosphere. I was the only officer present. Before the gathering broke up the President and Mrs. Wilson posed for a flash light picture with the soldiers. The President had a French soldier on his right hand and an American on his left. The comment of the soldiers after this personal contact with their Commander-in-Chief was that he was the “grandest man in the world.”
DIARY ENTRY:President attended usual morning 10.30 conference—not a satisfactory day— Visited Bender at hotel—temperature 101½ F.Probert called & talked newspaper—President & Mrs. Wilson had tea for soldiers—no officers—about 300—President told them some fine drunk stories—They flocked around him deep—Flash light picture of President & Mrs. W, with American private on one side & French private on other. Attended French Opera—Castor & Pollux—very poor entertainment—went by behind the curtains between acts.
At six o’clock the President and Mrs. Wilson gave a tea at the Murat Palace for the three hundred American and French soldiers detailed as guards, chauffeurs, telegraph operators and orderlies about the premises. After refreshments the men gathered around the President and he told them a number of interesting anecdotes which produced loud laughter and took all of the stiffness out of the atmosphere. I was the only officer present. Before the gathering broke up the President and Mrs. Wilson posed for a flash light picture with the soldiers. The President had a French soldier on his right hand and an American on his left. The comment of the soldiers after this personal contact with their Commander-in-Chief was that he was the “grandest man in the world.”
DIARY ENTRY:President attended usual morning 10.30 conference—not a satisfactory day— Visited Bender at hotel—temperature 101½ F.Probert called & talked newspaper—President & Mrs. Wilson had tea for soldiers—no officers—about 300—President told them some fine drunk stories—They flocked around him deep—Flash light picture of President & Mrs. W, with American private on one side & French private on other. Attended French Opera—Castor & Pollux—very poor entertainment—went by behind the curtains between acts.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 January 24, WWP17045, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.