Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson
Title
Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP15580
Date
1919 January 1
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
My dearest love
We are now off for Rome. This morning we played our first game of golf in France—at a club about twenty minutes drive by motor from the Palace Murat, a beautiful sight location over-looking Paris.
Your dear letter came just as we were leaving for the train. You cannot image how happy I was to get it. It made me feel so good that in the language of an old friend of mine—“a kitten could play with me to-night!” I have read and re-read every word. It was as refreshing and good as a drink of cool water to a weary traveller over the desert of Sahara—I had a trying day. It seems to fall to my lot to smoothe and settle all jealosies and quarrels of the thousand and one people that are around the President in various capacities—chief among them being the newspaper men—G. Creel—Harts is always rubbing some one the wrong way. He is a fine fellow—but is too Prussian in his orders and decisions—He makes lots of enemies—unfortunately.
Miss Margaret is aboard the train to-night, she came in from a singing engagement to go on this trip. She is sick in bed. She had no business going in her condition, but she did not mention it—her condition—until the train had left Paris an hour or more. She was in a hospital a week while we were in London which was time lost both from a treatment standpoint and her otherwise. No rules about eating or drinking pure water. She is in for a spell, I am afraid. I told her—and the President, the plain facts. He is much annoyed that she should have come on the train in the circumstances. I can only half treat her here. But she is grateful and expresses sorrow that she was not in my care before. Miss Edith is about to catch cold, but I hope to head it off—
Thursday—
Last night was very cold—This morning we are in the Alps and the scenery is beautiful but not more so than the mountains in West Virginia. When the train stopped at a little town I got out to walk around a few minutes. I engaged in conversation with several Italians standing by—One spoke English. I asked had he been in America. “Six years in Charleston, WVa”. Ambassador Thomas Nelson Page joined us to-day. He is a fine gentleman—but a long winded Virginia—Ambassador & Madam Cellere also got aboard. We are travelling a special train provided by the Italian Government.
The Italians are wild about the President. They think he can do everything. I am told they burn candles around his pictures as they do the pictures of Christ. I am terribly homesick for you & Gordon. And while I am having a wonderful experience—one of a lifetime, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity, yet no one knows how happy I shall be when the day comes that I arrive at 1600—The telegram was from Eloise Cosgrain, she wished you bon voyage on the George Washington. In the hurry to get the letter off by the Pilot I forgot to enclose it. I hope the 13th Street property is rented. I have faith and hope in Mr. Ross’ ability to get a tenant—To-morrow morning we are due in Rome. I wish so much that you were here, too.
I am so thankful you are taking care of yourself—my darling—
CTG
We are now off for Rome. This morning we played our first game of golf in France—at a club about twenty minutes drive by motor from the Palace Murat, a beautiful sight location over-looking Paris.
Your dear letter came just as we were leaving for the train. You cannot image how happy I was to get it. It made me feel so good that in the language of an old friend of mine—“a kitten could play with me to-night!” I have read and re-read every word. It was as refreshing and good as a drink of cool water to a weary traveller over the desert of Sahara—I had a trying day. It seems to fall to my lot to smoothe and settle all jealosies and quarrels of the thousand and one people that are around the President in various capacities—chief among them being the newspaper men—G. Creel—Harts is always rubbing some one the wrong way. He is a fine fellow—but is too Prussian in his orders and decisions—He makes lots of enemies—unfortunately.
Miss Margaret is aboard the train to-night, she came in from a singing engagement to go on this trip. She is sick in bed. She had no business going in her condition, but she did not mention it—her condition—until the train had left Paris an hour or more. She was in a hospital a week while we were in London which was time lost both from a treatment standpoint and her otherwise. No rules about eating or drinking pure water. She is in for a spell, I am afraid. I told her—and the President, the plain facts. He is much annoyed that she should have come on the train in the circumstances. I can only half treat her here. But she is grateful and expresses sorrow that she was not in my care before. Miss Edith is about to catch cold, but I hope to head it off—
Thursday—
Last night was very cold—This morning we are in the Alps and the scenery is beautiful but not more so than the mountains in West Virginia. When the train stopped at a little town I got out to walk around a few minutes. I engaged in conversation with several Italians standing by—One spoke English. I asked had he been in America. “Six years in Charleston, WVa”. Ambassador Thomas Nelson Page joined us to-day. He is a fine gentleman—but a long winded Virginia—Ambassador & Madam Cellere also got aboard. We are travelling a special train provided by the Italian Government.
The Italians are wild about the President. They think he can do everything. I am told they burn candles around his pictures as they do the pictures of Christ. I am terribly homesick for you & Gordon. And while I am having a wonderful experience—one of a lifetime, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity, yet no one knows how happy I shall be when the day comes that I arrive at 1600—The telegram was from Eloise Cosgrain, she wished you bon voyage on the George Washington. In the hurry to get the letter off by the Pilot I forgot to enclose it. I hope the 13th Street property is rented. I have faith and hope in Mr. Ross’ ability to get a tenant—To-morrow morning we are due in Rome. I wish so much that you were here, too.
I am so thankful you are taking care of yourself—my darling—
CTG
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Alice Gertrude Gordon, 1892-1961
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson,” 1919 January 1, WWP15580, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.