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
WWP15723
Date
1919 April 15
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
My dearest one.
Last night I attended a dinner at the Crillon hotel given by Colonel & Mrs. House in the honor Mr. & Mrs. Pudoweski of Poland. It was a very elaborate and formal affair “and all that kind of thing.” There were about forty present. The most notable were—Marshall Joffree—Orlando—V. McCormick—and a lot of foreigners who names I cannot spell. I sat by a Miss Hare of New York—who belongs to the ultra-society circle there. She jolly’s the Colonel and gets lots of news of the inner workings of the Peace Conference. I’ll tell you more when I come home. After the dinner a lot of guests were invited in to a reception etc.
To-day I attended a lunch at the Continental hotel given by Hon TP O’Connor of Ireland in honor of Mr. Venizelos of Greece. It was a fine affair—about twenty in number. Mr. Venizelos is the greatest statesman in Europe. Next to President Wilson, the greatest in the world. This is a large order but I am quoting AG Gardner and WW. The later did not mention himself—of course.
I went over to the Ritz hotel to say good-bye to Mrs. Meyer who is sailing on the Leviathan to-morrow. Then, I took Mr. Frank Hitchcock over to call on Marshall Fosch at his office in the Ministry of War department. To-night, after nine o’clock I called on the new ambassador to France from France America. They seemed glad—real glad to see me. I found Mrs. Wallace, Hugh, Mrs Francis, Sallie Beecher and Melville sitting around the fire. After a few minutes conversation all together, the Ambassador said to me, I am going to steal you away for a little private talk. I thanked him for the basket of “jurisprudence” sent you and said I hoped the boys would not drink it all before my return.
After about an hour’s conversation I returned home. I warned him to watch out for the Parisian bacillus which was infecting so many just at this season of the year. First symptom being swelled head. My warning was in the nature of watch out for it in others. I said that I am not calling any names—but you will see it many times. It is Epidemic as the Influenza—He asked my advice about some policies that he proposed to adopt. My advice was to go slow at first—until he got a bit acclimated—and to just be natural.
This morning I was greeted bright and early by Pat McKenna—He came over on the Leviathan, said that he had telephoned you just before leaving & that everything was all right. Said that he would have called to see you but he felt it was would be intruding and presumptuous as you were still confined to your room. He said, “Admiral you know, you are one man, I don’t mind saying, that I would go to hell for any day—but Mrs. Grayson is the finest lady I know. She is so fine and natural. I admire her most of all. After all this I was ready to loan Pat. all the money I had—but he would not take a dollar. Pat told me all the news he knew—leaves for London in the morning—then he goes to his old home in Ireland for two weeks. Remember, I got Frank Polk to send him over as a courier. I think he is also ready to go anywhere—including the same place he says he would go for me—for Frank.
It was certainly grand to see Pat. I am homesick to-night for you and the boys. I love you dearly and am longing to get back to you—Good night—My love.
CTG
Last night I attended a dinner at the Crillon hotel given by Colonel & Mrs. House in the honor Mr. & Mrs. Pudoweski of Poland. It was a very elaborate and formal affair “and all that kind of thing.” There were about forty present. The most notable were—Marshall Joffree—Orlando—V. McCormick—and a lot of foreigners who names I cannot spell. I sat by a Miss Hare of New York—who belongs to the ultra-society circle there. She jolly’s the Colonel and gets lots of news of the inner workings of the Peace Conference. I’ll tell you more when I come home. After the dinner a lot of guests were invited in to a reception etc.
To-day I attended a lunch at the Continental hotel given by Hon TP O’Connor of Ireland in honor of Mr. Venizelos of Greece. It was a fine affair—about twenty in number. Mr. Venizelos is the greatest statesman in Europe. Next to President Wilson, the greatest in the world. This is a large order but I am quoting AG Gardner and WW. The later did not mention himself—of course.
I went over to the Ritz hotel to say good-bye to Mrs. Meyer who is sailing on the Leviathan to-morrow. Then, I took Mr. Frank Hitchcock over to call on Marshall Fosch at his office in the Ministry of War department. To-night, after nine o’clock I called on the new ambassador to France from France America. They seemed glad—real glad to see me. I found Mrs. Wallace, Hugh, Mrs Francis, Sallie Beecher and Melville sitting around the fire. After a few minutes conversation all together, the Ambassador said to me, I am going to steal you away for a little private talk. I thanked him for the basket of “jurisprudence” sent you and said I hoped the boys would not drink it all before my return.
After about an hour’s conversation I returned home. I warned him to watch out for the Parisian bacillus which was infecting so many just at this season of the year. First symptom being swelled head. My warning was in the nature of watch out for it in others. I said that I am not calling any names—but you will see it many times. It is Epidemic as the Influenza—He asked my advice about some policies that he proposed to adopt. My advice was to go slow at first—until he got a bit acclimated—and to just be natural.
This morning I was greeted bright and early by Pat McKenna—He came over on the Leviathan, said that he had telephoned you just before leaving & that everything was all right. Said that he would have called to see you but he felt it was would be intruding and presumptuous as you were still confined to your room. He said, “Admiral you know, you are one man, I don’t mind saying, that I would go to hell for any day—but Mrs. Grayson is the finest lady I know. She is so fine and natural. I admire her most of all. After all this I was ready to loan Pat. all the money I had—but he would not take a dollar. Pat told me all the news he knew—leaves for London in the morning—then he goes to his old home in Ireland for two weeks. Remember, I got Frank Polk to send him over as a courier. I think he is also ready to go anywhere—including the same place he says he would go for me—for Frank.
It was certainly grand to see Pat. I am homesick to-night for you and the boys. I love you dearly and am longing to get back to you—Good night—My love.
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 April 15, WWP15723, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.