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
WWP15532
Date
1918 December 14
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Text
Dearest,
We landed safely at Brest yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful sight to see the great ovation which was given the President by the French people. I have never seen anything like it.
Paris simply went wild. No one has ever seen it’s equal. It all seemed so spontaneous and hearty. After all the new scenes & surroundings of yesterday, last night and the great whirl of to-day, I am feeling weary and tired to-night. It is now after twelve o’clock. We lunched to-day at the Elysée given by the French President and Mme. Poincaré. There were about 250 present. I was seated between two ladies; neither speaking a word of English, I used all of my old ready made phrases of French on them. I gave them some amusement anyway. Tell M. Portalís that they complimented my pronunciation very much—I am really learning more French every day. Joffre, Clemenceau, Viviani were present at this lunch. It correspondended to similar representation if our Congress, Senate and their wives were invited to a White House luncheon and the Cabinet & their wives and a few others like General March etc etc
To-night I went down to see the French celebration. It is a holiday. Every one seems wild with enthusiasm. Six girls formed a circle around me. All demanded that I kiss them before they would let go. I did it; but I was horribly embarassed. One stole my cap and ran off in the crowd with it. It was pure luck I found her and got it about ten minutes later. I saw dozens of American officers without caps and the French girls had stolen them. It was no joke or sentimental matter with me. I have only one extra cap and impossible to get another in Paris. It is now after midnight, I am tired and sleepy. This has been a long, full and intensely interesting day—but I did not enjoy the cap incident at the time—but it all seems funny now and a good joke—
The Palace or Hotel Murat is fine and very comfortable. I have lots of room—a large bed room and a nice little study adjoining. It seems well heated. My bed looks like the one the first Napoleon rested in. I know it will feel good this night. Good night my precious little girl. I miss you terribly and wish for you more than ever. I love you so much—my dearest love—Good night—
CTG
Sunday.
I did not go to morning services with the President and Mrs. Wilson. I went to select a wreath which the President wished to place upon w La Fayette's tomb. He drove to the tomb immediately after church, placed the wreath and wrote on the back of his personal card. “In memory of the great Lafayette from a fellow servant of liberty.”
In the afternoon we went to the military service of the Church of the Holy Trinity. Heard a fine sermon by Bishop Gerry of South Carolina—an old friend of mine at Sewanee, Tennessee. Also returned the call of the French President.
Miss Margaret joined us at Brest. She and G. Creel run together. Ollie Newman, former District Commissioner now a Major is her aide—will tell you more when I return. The French don’t understand—General Harts says its a very great mistake etc.
CTG
We landed safely at Brest yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful sight to see the great ovation which was given the President by the French people. I have never seen anything like it.
Paris simply went wild. No one has ever seen it’s equal. It all seemed so spontaneous and hearty. After all the new scenes & surroundings of yesterday, last night and the great whirl of to-day, I am feeling weary and tired to-night. It is now after twelve o’clock. We lunched to-day at the Elysée given by the French President and Mme. Poincaré. There were about 250 present. I was seated between two ladies; neither speaking a word of English, I used all of my old ready made phrases of French on them. I gave them some amusement anyway. Tell M. Portalís that they complimented my pronunciation very much—I am really learning more French every day. Joffre, Clemenceau, Viviani were present at this lunch. It correspondended to similar representation if our Congress, Senate and their wives were invited to a White House luncheon and the Cabinet & their wives and a few others like General March etc etc
To-night I went down to see the French celebration. It is a holiday. Every one seems wild with enthusiasm. Six girls formed a circle around me. All demanded that I kiss them before they would let go. I did it; but I was horribly embarassed. One stole my cap and ran off in the crowd with it. It was pure luck I found her and got it about ten minutes later. I saw dozens of American officers without caps and the French girls had stolen them. It was no joke or sentimental matter with me. I have only one extra cap and impossible to get another in Paris. It is now after midnight, I am tired and sleepy. This has been a long, full and intensely interesting day—but I did not enjoy the cap incident at the time—but it all seems funny now and a good joke—
The Palace or Hotel Murat is fine and very comfortable. I have lots of room—a large bed room and a nice little study adjoining. It seems well heated. My bed looks like the one the first Napoleon rested in. I know it will feel good this night. Good night my precious little girl. I miss you terribly and wish for you more than ever. I love you so much—my dearest love—Good night—
CTG
Sunday.
I did not go to morning services with the President and Mrs. Wilson. I went to select a wreath which the President wished to place upon w La Fayette's tomb. He drove to the tomb immediately after church, placed the wreath and wrote on the back of his personal card. “In memory of the great Lafayette from a fellow servant of liberty.”
In the afternoon we went to the military service of the Church of the Holy Trinity. Heard a fine sermon by Bishop Gerry of South Carolina—an old friend of mine at Sewanee, Tennessee. Also returned the call of the French President.
Miss Margaret joined us at Brest. She and G. Creel run together. Ollie Newman, former District Commissioner now a Major is her aide—will tell you more when I return. The French don’t understand—General Harts says its a very great mistake etc.
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,” 1918 December 14, WWP15532, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.