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
WWP15584
Date
1919 January 3
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Friday.
My dearest darling
We arrived on the banks of the Tiber this morning, and it seemed that all the old Romans were at the Rail-road Station to greet the President—only omitting Romulus and Remus. The King and Queen, Parliament; royalty and plain citizens. It is a wonderful old city—and to-day she fairly outdid her palmest days. The Royal Carriages, and beautifully matched horses, livery in keeping—drivers, footmen—out-riders—all in grand attire. It was a scene fit for the gods of old. In the first carriage were was—The President and the King—2nd carriage—Miss E. & the Queen. 3rd Miss Margaret, the American Ambassador, 4th Miss Benham—Premier Sonino & CTG 5th 6th 7th 8th etc.
The procession was continous applause and throwing flowers at the President. They worship him here—Upon arrival at the Quirinale which is the Palace—an enormous place. Most of it is converted into a hospital & is full of patients. In company with the King & Queen we were shown all through the hospital wards and everywhere.
The King and his family are not living in the Quirinale now. They live about a mile away from it in a villa which is no humble cottage, not elaborate, but in fine taste in every way. We lunched with King & Queen and all the children—four girls and one son—at the villa. I sat on the Queen’s left; the second daughter about fourteen on my left. This little girl spoke English beautifully which sounded sweet to mine ear. The King and all the children speak English—the Queen speaks no English—(Italian & French.) I was especially impressed with the beautiful manners of the children. All the girls had on blue dresses. The Queen is from all appearances and accounts an ideal Queen. She is very much Miss Edith’s style but taller—The King is very small in stature, barely five feet tall, but democratic in manner & speech—very popular—especially since the war. He was constantly out among the soldiers. He strikes me as a simple; sincere and straightforward man.
Soneno and Orlando—both made poor impressions on me. They are absolute politicians, would be my guess.
There are many interesting notes I am afraid to put in a letter but I am bringing them back to you in detail and great length in my notes. If I am not able to publish them, they will be valuable for Gordon to have. They are real inside history which will be, in many ways—unknown to the world—some very minor affairs and facts and some with much significance and great interest.The President talks more to me confidentially than ever. We often have little five minute conferences. He gives me his angle, and asks what are the impressions I gather. Then, I talk to three newspaper men—Associated Press, the United Press, and the International News. These three send the news to nearly 2500 newspapers in America.
To-night, the King gave a big dinner—about 150 guests. It was splendid and gorgeous. There was no shortage of food there. My partners were—Countess—can’t pronunce her name or spell it. She was excessively jeweled. Dress too low in the back. I felt much tempted to ask why not put on another string of pearls or diamonds to keep off the draft from her back. She was a lady in waiting to the Queen. The other damsel was well on in years, also w heavily jeweled but spoke not a word of English. From some of the luncheon and dinner partners I have drawn, I am constrained to believe that rank pays for its prestige. Many of them are aged.
As usual I am writing after midnight. I am kept so much on the go there is no other time to write.
Miss Margaret is better—much better to-day. She acts very indiscretely. These people don’t understand her actions. It is very embarrasing and hurtful to the President. She runs off alone with George Creel, sight seeing, fails to show up at invited luncheons etc. My guess is she is getting on Miss E’s nerves—
I had a note from Mrs. Meyer upon arrival telling me of the error in diagnosis about Julia—and what she thought of the Doctor. She sent you a beautiful Venetian blue shawl which is a beauty. She also gave me one to bring back to Alice Rodgers. I saw Julia to-night at the Parliament where the President spoke. She seemed glad to see me. I have no times for calls, I am on the move every minute with the President. Like London upon the Presidents arrival declare a holiday, and all stores closed, so has been the case in Rome. I have no opportunity to purchase anything—much to my disappointment. In Paris the prices are about double they are in New York. I am distressed I have not your Christmas present yet. My thoughts, heart and love are all yours minus a present. Have nothing for Gordon or Margaret, or any one—.
To-morrow is another full day—and we leave at 9.30 p.m. for Genoa—the home of our good old friend—C—Columbus.
I miss you, think of you very, very much every day and love you more and more, my true love
—Good-night— Your ever devoted
CTG
Saturday, the 4th,
A few lines before dinner. We dine here with the King & Queen. 9.30 make our adieu to Rome. This has been some day of days. Speeches, sight seeing—Forum; Coliseum—University—Big lunch with the Ambassador Page—who by the way is a bit of a disappointment as an Ambassador—called on the Pope at three o’Clock. It was a sight. I never imagined a man could live so far from his front door. Escorted by Priests, in robes all colors of the rain-bow, soldiers in knee breeches, with rifles about as long as my arm. All dressed in clothes appropriate for the 16th century and many of them looked as if they had been living since that date. After following these old fellows through about fourteen hundred rooms we finally arrived and was presented to a little man dressed in all white. He was the Pope. He spoke no English, so his conversation did not go very far with me. If he blessed us, I failed to recognise it. I am glad to have had this opportunity to visit the Vatican—especially with the President. But, I am further from the RC than ever. I am told the RC’s are losing strength in Italy—especially so, since the war. I saw a cartoon in an Italian paper—contrasting the Pope & President Wilson—The Pope praying for peace—but his subjects were burning churches—children starving and he was not mindful of the happenings on earth.
The President’s motto—Peace on earth; good will to men. He standing above the statue of Liberty—throwing light over to Europe—sending ships loaded with grain and food to the hungry. Miss E.’s cold is better. So is Miss Margaret much improved. G. Creel is not to be in Paris any more. The newspaper men can’t stand him. He has many good qualities & lots of brains but a poor balance wheel, if any.
I go to dinner in a minute and depart at 9.30, so good night my precious love.
Your
CTG
P.S. Love to Gordon. Take good care of my darling Trudie.
My dearest darling
We arrived on the banks of the Tiber this morning, and it seemed that all the old Romans were at the Rail-road Station to greet the President—only omitting Romulus and Remus. The King and Queen, Parliament; royalty and plain citizens. It is a wonderful old city—and to-day she fairly outdid her palmest days. The Royal Carriages, and beautifully matched horses, livery in keeping—drivers, footmen—out-riders—all in grand attire. It was a scene fit for the gods of old. In the first carriage were was—The President and the King—2nd carriage—Miss E. & the Queen. 3rd Miss Margaret, the American Ambassador, 4th Miss Benham—Premier Sonino & CTG 5th 6th 7th 8th etc.
The procession was continous applause and throwing flowers at the President. They worship him here—Upon arrival at the Quirinale which is the Palace—an enormous place. Most of it is converted into a hospital & is full of patients. In company with the King & Queen we were shown all through the hospital wards and everywhere.
The King and his family are not living in the Quirinale now. They live about a mile away from it in a villa which is no humble cottage, not elaborate, but in fine taste in every way. We lunched with King & Queen and all the children—four girls and one son—at the villa. I sat on the Queen’s left; the second daughter about fourteen on my left. This little girl spoke English beautifully which sounded sweet to mine ear. The King and all the children speak English—the Queen speaks no English—(Italian & French.) I was especially impressed with the beautiful manners of the children. All the girls had on blue dresses. The Queen is from all appearances and accounts an ideal Queen. She is very much Miss Edith’s style but taller—The King is very small in stature, barely five feet tall, but democratic in manner & speech—very popular—especially since the war. He was constantly out among the soldiers. He strikes me as a simple; sincere and straightforward man.
Soneno and Orlando—both made poor impressions on me. They are absolute politicians, would be my guess.
There are many interesting notes I am afraid to put in a letter but I am bringing them back to you in detail and great length in my notes. If I am not able to publish them, they will be valuable for Gordon to have. They are real inside history which will be, in many ways—unknown to the world—some very minor affairs and facts and some with much significance and great interest.The President talks more to me confidentially than ever. We often have little five minute conferences. He gives me his angle, and asks what are the impressions I gather. Then, I talk to three newspaper men—Associated Press, the United Press, and the International News. These three send the news to nearly 2500 newspapers in America.
To-night, the King gave a big dinner—about 150 guests. It was splendid and gorgeous. There was no shortage of food there. My partners were—Countess—can’t pronunce her name or spell it. She was excessively jeweled. Dress too low in the back. I felt much tempted to ask why not put on another string of pearls or diamonds to keep off the draft from her back. She was a lady in waiting to the Queen. The other damsel was well on in years, also w heavily jeweled but spoke not a word of English. From some of the luncheon and dinner partners I have drawn, I am constrained to believe that rank pays for its prestige. Many of them are aged.
As usual I am writing after midnight. I am kept so much on the go there is no other time to write.
Miss Margaret is better—much better to-day. She acts very indiscretely. These people don’t understand her actions. It is very embarrasing and hurtful to the President. She runs off alone with George Creel, sight seeing, fails to show up at invited luncheons etc. My guess is she is getting on Miss E’s nerves—
I had a note from Mrs. Meyer upon arrival telling me of the error in diagnosis about Julia—and what she thought of the Doctor. She sent you a beautiful Venetian blue shawl which is a beauty. She also gave me one to bring back to Alice Rodgers. I saw Julia to-night at the Parliament where the President spoke. She seemed glad to see me. I have no times for calls, I am on the move every minute with the President. Like London upon the Presidents arrival declare a holiday, and all stores closed, so has been the case in Rome. I have no opportunity to purchase anything—much to my disappointment. In Paris the prices are about double they are in New York. I am distressed I have not your Christmas present yet. My thoughts, heart and love are all yours minus a present. Have nothing for Gordon or Margaret, or any one—.
To-morrow is another full day—and we leave at 9.30 p.m. for Genoa—the home of our good old friend—C—Columbus.
I miss you, think of you very, very much every day and love you more and more, my true love
—Good-night— Your ever devoted
CTG
Saturday, the 4th,
A few lines before dinner. We dine here with the King & Queen. 9.30 make our adieu to Rome. This has been some day of days. Speeches, sight seeing—Forum; Coliseum—University—Big lunch with the Ambassador Page—who by the way is a bit of a disappointment as an Ambassador—called on the Pope at three o’Clock. It was a sight. I never imagined a man could live so far from his front door. Escorted by Priests, in robes all colors of the rain-bow, soldiers in knee breeches, with rifles about as long as my arm. All dressed in clothes appropriate for the 16th century and many of them looked as if they had been living since that date. After following these old fellows through about fourteen hundred rooms we finally arrived and was presented to a little man dressed in all white. He was the Pope. He spoke no English, so his conversation did not go very far with me. If he blessed us, I failed to recognise it. I am glad to have had this opportunity to visit the Vatican—especially with the President. But, I am further from the RC than ever. I am told the RC’s are losing strength in Italy—especially so, since the war. I saw a cartoon in an Italian paper—contrasting the Pope & President Wilson—The Pope praying for peace—but his subjects were burning churches—children starving and he was not mindful of the happenings on earth.
The President’s motto—Peace on earth; good will to men. He standing above the statue of Liberty—throwing light over to Europe—sending ships loaded with grain and food to the hungry. Miss E.’s cold is better. So is Miss Margaret much improved. G. Creel is not to be in Paris any more. The newspaper men can’t stand him. He has many good qualities & lots of brains but a poor balance wheel, if any.
I go to dinner in a minute and depart at 9.30, so good night my precious love.
Your
CTG
P.S. Love to Gordon. Take good care of my darling Trudie.
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 3, WWP15584, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.