Cary T. Grayson Diary

Title

Cary T. Grayson Diary

Creator

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938

Identifier

WWP17176

Date

1919 May 25

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

The President was feeling the strain of the hard week through which he had gone, and last night I asked him to forego his usual Sunday at church and to rest as long as possible. The result was that he remained in his room until nearly eleven o’clock, and came out much refreshed.

Mrs. Wilson, as a result of trimming a bunion, developed a severe infection (blood poison) in her right foot. It was necessary for me, under a local anesthetic, to make a free incision in order to evacuate the pus and provide for thorough drainage. The President showed that he was extremely uneasy and disturbed over her condition. No one could have been more sympathetic, tender and attentive.

After lunch the President, Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Axson and I motored to Fontainebleau. We went all through the Forest of Fontainebleau. It was a most pleasant ride. On our return Mrs. Wilson was helped from the car into her bed. The President spent the evening in her bed-room, going over a number of official matters that required his attention.

I attended a dinner at the Ritz Hotel given by Mr. Coromilas, the Minister from Greece. There were about thirty guests -- more men than women. I had a seat next to Hon. Arthur James Balfour. He discussed the President at great length during the dinner. He told me that he thought the President was not only the most scholarly and polished speaker that he had ever listened to but that he was the most profound and logical debater he had ever heard. Mr. Balfour said: “According to my way of thinking, he is the greatest statesman of any time. I can never tire of seeing too much of him. It is always an intellectual treat to be with him. Can’t you persuade him to go to Scotland for at least a week’s recreation; play golf, relax, and enjoy a vacation thoroughly free from officialdom? I would love to have him as my guest, and I would count it as the greatest treat of my life. I feel sure that you as a physician would find that such a vacation would prove to be an excellent tonic for him. Do see if you can’t arrange this.”

Mr. Balfour and I talked about the President’s aptitude in framing stories and anecdotes to meet situations as they arose. I then told him the “pig” story. Mr. Balfour said: that he was afraid Orlando did not appreciate such an appropriate story, first, because he missed the humor of it, and, second, he missed the wonder application, which he would pretend not to see in the circumstances.

Original Format

Diary

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PCST19190525.pdf

Citation

Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 May 25, WWP17176, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.