Nancy Moran to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Nancy Moran to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Moran, Nancy
Identifier
WWP25238
Date
1918 October 8
Description
Sending President Wilson her prayers.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
703-14th-Ave-South,
Nashville, Tenn.
President Woodrow Wilson,
Washington,
DC
My dear President Wilson:
My memory is taking me back this beautiful fall morning to years past, when I was just a kid with my hair in curls, seated beside Dady in one of those stiff church pews, in Moore Memorial Church and you were there too, you weren’t President then but you were a very learned scholar and I shall never forget the feeling of importance that seized me when Dady introduced you as Mrs. Joseph Wilson’s brother-in-law, she was then one of our leaders; all the children loved her but somehow I think you must have won her place in my heart; I made Dad tell me about you and all the way home I was rather silent and before entering Dreamland that evening you were placed in my heart’s book of incidents as the “Quiet and Dignified Man.”
Time has rolled around though and I am now grown, but I haven’t failed to love and be happy with you in your achievements. When you were elected President, I could picture your strong face and those steady eyes and a restful feeling crept in my heart for the future of our “AMERICA.”
I have always wanted to be a success, a something, no one seems to understand and maybe you will think me queer but when you stand in front of the canvas of some great artist’s work; when you sit out in the audience and listen to the voice of a great singer and then when you come to the point in life where you have to anxiously await the hand of skilled science to perform some miracle of restoration, don’t something seem to take possession of your very soul, maybe its just the higher nature which is asserting itself-- but there please forgive me and don’t think that I don’t know that I am talking to the GREATEST MAN in the WHOLE WORLD, I only ask you these things so that you may understand why I am sending you this message as I am only an insignificant personage, journeying thru life but next to the joy of being a success is the happiness found in anothers.
My father died and all my dreams and air castles have had a rather realistic termination but my ideals of life are still with me and with you to uphold our blessed Government they shall never die. You may not care to read this, but it has been such a comfort to me to know that you are the head, it has helped ease the pain so that I am going to tell you anyway.
When I looked into my mother’s face of suffering, caused from anxiety at having to give our boy and then into the eyes of that noble and manly young fellow, so ready and willing if necessary to sacrifice his life for “OUR GREAT CAUSE” I thought of the millions who would have to experience the pain of separation and then slowly across my vision came your face, with those eyes, a perfect and steadying influence and I wondered what must be your feeling but I know that in every case it is that of the Master’s for though we sometimes can’t understand we have to suffer.
Dear, Great and Wonderful President, only the Saviour knows the joy that thrills thru me at being able to pen these words for you are that and more too, for God has chosen you to govern us all and I am sure that he is proud of the way in which you are fulfilling your mission.
I pray for you all the time-----.not that I think you needs my prayers but you have so much, so many issues to meet and now during the Great World War maybe God will let them be of some use to you.
There, there, I have said far too much, but I just thought maybe if I emptied the contents of my soul on this paper that perhaps it would make you if only a tiny mite--- that much happier-- to know that we have perfect faith in your every action and are praying that all will come out as you wish, with regards to “OUR OWN AMERICA.”
Please pardon me if this intrusion should displease you and know that it is only an effort on my part to try and explain the wonderful feeling of love and confidence we all have in you but then--- I guess-- God just sent you to LEAD us.
Yours in the spirit of love and prayer,
Nancy Moran.
Nashville, Tenn.
President Woodrow Wilson,
Washington,
DC
My dear President Wilson:
My memory is taking me back this beautiful fall morning to years past, when I was just a kid with my hair in curls, seated beside Dady in one of those stiff church pews, in Moore Memorial Church and you were there too, you weren’t President then but you were a very learned scholar and I shall never forget the feeling of importance that seized me when Dady introduced you as Mrs. Joseph Wilson’s brother-in-law, she was then one of our leaders; all the children loved her but somehow I think you must have won her place in my heart; I made Dad tell me about you and all the way home I was rather silent and before entering Dreamland that evening you were placed in my heart’s book of incidents as the “Quiet and Dignified Man.”
Time has rolled around though and I am now grown, but I haven’t failed to love and be happy with you in your achievements. When you were elected President, I could picture your strong face and those steady eyes and a restful feeling crept in my heart for the future of our “AMERICA.”
I have always wanted to be a success, a something, no one seems to understand and maybe you will think me queer but when you stand in front of the canvas of some great artist’s work; when you sit out in the audience and listen to the voice of a great singer and then when you come to the point in life where you have to anxiously await the hand of skilled science to perform some miracle of restoration, don’t something seem to take possession of your very soul, maybe its just the higher nature which is asserting itself-- but there please forgive me and don’t think that I don’t know that I am talking to the GREATEST MAN in the WHOLE WORLD, I only ask you these things so that you may understand why I am sending you this message as I am only an insignificant personage, journeying thru life but next to the joy of being a success is the happiness found in anothers.
My father died and all my dreams and air castles have had a rather realistic termination but my ideals of life are still with me and with you to uphold our blessed Government they shall never die. You may not care to read this, but it has been such a comfort to me to know that you are the head, it has helped ease the pain so that I am going to tell you anyway.
When I looked into my mother’s face of suffering, caused from anxiety at having to give our boy and then into the eyes of that noble and manly young fellow, so ready and willing if necessary to sacrifice his life for “OUR GREAT CAUSE” I thought of the millions who would have to experience the pain of separation and then slowly across my vision came your face, with those eyes, a perfect and steadying influence and I wondered what must be your feeling but I know that in every case it is that of the Master’s for though we sometimes can’t understand we have to suffer.
Dear, Great and Wonderful President, only the Saviour knows the joy that thrills thru me at being able to pen these words for you are that and more too, for God has chosen you to govern us all and I am sure that he is proud of the way in which you are fulfilling your mission.
I pray for you all the time-----.not that I think you needs my prayers but you have so much, so many issues to meet and now during the Great World War maybe God will let them be of some use to you.
There, there, I have said far too much, but I just thought maybe if I emptied the contents of my soul on this paper that perhaps it would make you if only a tiny mite--- that much happier-- to know that we have perfect faith in your every action and are praying that all will come out as you wish, with regards to “OUR OWN AMERICA.”
Please pardon me if this intrusion should displease you and know that it is only an effort on my part to try and explain the wonderful feeling of love and confidence we all have in you but then--- I guess-- God just sent you to LEAD us.
Yours in the spirit of love and prayer,
Nancy Moran.
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Moran, Nancy, “Nancy Moran to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 October 8, WWP25238, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.