Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP16997
Date
1918 December 7
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
SATURDAY.
The President slept late but early in the afternoon went on deck for another exercise walk. We were now in the Gulf Stream, and the weather was almost summery. Enroute about the deck the President encountered M. Jusserand, the French Ambassador to the United States, and the latter shook hands with him and chatted briefly. Jusserand, who is probably the most wily of all of the French diplomats, made it very plain that he did not desire at this time to interfere with the President’s rest, and his conversation was for the most part of an informal nature. After leaving Jusserand the President encountered Count Cellere, the Italian Ambassador. The latter was far less wise than his colleague and endeavored to get the President into a discussion of the merits of Italy’s peace claims. The President did not rise to the occasion and turned the matter off with a few pleasant remarks dealing with the weather and the pleasant voyage generally. It was rather a coincidence that Cellere should have attempted to precipitate a discussion of politics at this time and that months later the President’s greatest fight came over the consideration of the Italian claims.
Passing around the deck the President asked the three newspaper men how they were faring and chatted with them for some time.
He told them a number of amusing stories, one of which dealt with the late Russell Sage, whose saving, sometimes called miserly, habits were a by-word. The President said that he had been told of a dream dealing with Russell Sage’s death, which had some amusing characteristics. According to it when Sage died his soul proceeded to heaven and knocked on the gates. When St. Peter appeared he asked: “Who is there?” The reply was: “Russell Sage.” “What do you want?” “To come into heaven.” “On what do you base your demand for entrance”, demanded St. Peter. Russell in reply declared: that he had contributed to numerous charities. St. Peter then called upon the Guardian Angel to look up the records and to find out whether Sage actually had ever contributed personally of his own volition. The record brought out the fact that Russell had contributed three pennies on three separate occasions to three distinct charities. St. Peter then slammed the gate in Russell’s face, turning to the Guardian Angel and saying: “Give him back his three cents and tell him to go to hell”.
Among other matters that the President touched on was a discussion of the characteristics of various men. In that connection the President told me that he had discovered that usually when a man was lacking in humor he was also lacking in tact. However, in the opinion of the President this feeling in a great many men has been overcome by the possession of strong feelings of sympathy. The President expressed the opinion that sympathy and understanding very frequently will assist in accomplishing things which tact and diplomacy cannot.
The President slept late but early in the afternoon went on deck for another exercise walk. We were now in the Gulf Stream, and the weather was almost summery. Enroute about the deck the President encountered M. Jusserand, the French Ambassador to the United States, and the latter shook hands with him and chatted briefly. Jusserand, who is probably the most wily of all of the French diplomats, made it very plain that he did not desire at this time to interfere with the President’s rest, and his conversation was for the most part of an informal nature. After leaving Jusserand the President encountered Count Cellere, the Italian Ambassador. The latter was far less wise than his colleague and endeavored to get the President into a discussion of the merits of Italy’s peace claims. The President did not rise to the occasion and turned the matter off with a few pleasant remarks dealing with the weather and the pleasant voyage generally. It was rather a coincidence that Cellere should have attempted to precipitate a discussion of politics at this time and that months later the President’s greatest fight came over the consideration of the Italian claims.
Passing around the deck the President asked the three newspaper men how they were faring and chatted with them for some time.
He told them a number of amusing stories, one of which dealt with the late Russell Sage, whose saving, sometimes called miserly, habits were a by-word. The President said that he had been told of a dream dealing with Russell Sage’s death, which had some amusing characteristics. According to it when Sage died his soul proceeded to heaven and knocked on the gates. When St. Peter appeared he asked: “Who is there?” The reply was: “Russell Sage.” “What do you want?” “To come into heaven.” “On what do you base your demand for entrance”, demanded St. Peter. Russell in reply declared: that he had contributed to numerous charities. St. Peter then called upon the Guardian Angel to look up the records and to find out whether Sage actually had ever contributed personally of his own volition. The record brought out the fact that Russell had contributed three pennies on three separate occasions to three distinct charities. St. Peter then slammed the gate in Russell’s face, turning to the Guardian Angel and saying: “Give him back his three cents and tell him to go to hell”.
Among other matters that the President touched on was a discussion of the characteristics of various men. In that connection the President told me that he had discovered that usually when a man was lacking in humor he was also lacking in tact. However, in the opinion of the President this feeling in a great many men has been overcome by the possession of strong feelings of sympathy. The President expressed the opinion that sympathy and understanding very frequently will assist in accomplishing things which tact and diplomacy cannot.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1918 December 7, WWP16997, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.