Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Ellen Axson Wilson
Title
Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Ellen Axson Wilson
Creator
McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson, 1889-1967
Identifier
WWP19555
Date
1908 April 29
Description
Eleanor Wilson McAdoo writes Ellen Axson Wilson a letter from her school, St. Mary's, in Raleigh.
Source
Eleanor Wilson McAdoo Papers, University of California, Santa Barbara
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson family
Contributor
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum staff
Language
English
Text
My own darling Mother, -
I wonder what you must be thinking of me by this time and I do hope that you haven't been worried by my long delay - longer this time than it has ever been, I think. Please forgive me once more and put most of the blame on that dreadful debate that is taking every spare minute I have.
Oh! Mother darling I simply can't get over the news about moving "Prospect." I think that, if they do it, it will be the most unspeakable thing I ever heard of. I simply can't believe it and I am so miserable about it, especially for your sake, my own sweet Mother. When I think that they may take away that beautiful garden that you made your own self and ruin that beautiful place that you have made so beautiful I feel as if it were all a bad, bad dream, and I could just cry and cry. Surely they won't have the heart to do it in the end, will they, do you think? What you said in your dear little note sounded as if there was some hope, doesn't it? Oh, I hope and pray that they will see what a foolish, dreadful thing it would be to ruin such an old place. Don't you suppose they will?
I got your little note enclosing dear Father's notes for the debate, and my! it certainly was fine to get them and I can't thank him enough for helping me such a lot. They are fine and just what I wanted and needed. Tell him for me that I think it was perfectly lovely of him to do it and thank him oh so much. Dear, dearest Father! How is he and has anything especial, in regard to the quad system, been happening, and is he very tired and worn out? Oh, if I could only see you all. I don't think I can wait until the end of May.
The debate is coming on slowly and we are getting "scareder" each day as the time approaches. It is only ten days off now. My dress is about half finished but I haven't seen it since she has really begun it. I am going down to-morrow to have it tried on for the first time. I know that it's going to be lovely, and I am crazy to have it all finished.
I meant to tell you at the beginning of my letter that the book and the gloves have come and they are lovely. Thank you very, very much for them dearest Mother. I have already read the book - all but a little bit of it - and I like it very much, though it is rather silly.
The gloves are such a pretty colour and such a very useful present too; and they really aren't too small after all. Of course they are a little tight like all new gloves but I am sure that they are alright and won't split.
I am so thrilled about the dance and so surprised too. I barely know Penn Harvey and how did it happen that he ever thought of taking me to the dance. But it certainly will be grand and I am excited already! It is perfectly dear of you to let me have Miss Thomas at such a busy time of the year and I am so happy about it, especially because she will know you and Father and I have wished that that could happen ever since I knew her.
We are having all sorts of gaieties now that Lent is at last over. Last night we shad a musical - a cantata - by all the vocal pupils and it was perfectly splendid and so pretty. We certainly have some fine voices among the girls here and it is really a great pleasure to hear them. Helen Hunter is one of them and she has the sweetest voice - one of the very best in the school. She sang in one of the trios and though she was frightened nearly to death, it being her first appearance in public, she did just beautifully.
There will be something going on every week now until Commencement - plays and musicals and so forth, and we will be kept busy. Just think it is only one month now! I can hardly realize it and oh, it makes me so happy to think what a short time it will be before I see you all my own dear Mother and Father. The time will go very quickly now, I think.
I am perfectly well and so are Aunt Annie and Annie. They have just come back from Chapel Hill where Annie has been to the Easter dances. Aunte Annie wasn't very well there but she is alright now, I believe. They both send lots of love.
Good bye my own sweetest, I love you so, and my precious Father too.
With devoted love and a big kiss from
Your devoted little daughter,
Nell.
I wonder what you must be thinking of me by this time and I do hope that you haven't been worried by my long delay - longer this time than it has ever been, I think. Please forgive me once more and put most of the blame on that dreadful debate that is taking every spare minute I have.
Oh! Mother darling I simply can't get over the news about moving "Prospect." I think that, if they do it, it will be the most unspeakable thing I ever heard of. I simply can't believe it and I am so miserable about it, especially for your sake, my own sweet Mother. When I think that they may take away that beautiful garden that you made your own self and ruin that beautiful place that you have made so beautiful I feel as if it were all a bad, bad dream, and I could just cry and cry. Surely they won't have the heart to do it in the end, will they, do you think? What you said in your dear little note sounded as if there was some hope, doesn't it? Oh, I hope and pray that they will see what a foolish, dreadful thing it would be to ruin such an old place. Don't you suppose they will?
I got your little note enclosing dear Father's notes for the debate, and my! it certainly was fine to get them and I can't thank him enough for helping me such a lot. They are fine and just what I wanted and needed. Tell him for me that I think it was perfectly lovely of him to do it and thank him oh so much. Dear, dearest Father! How is he and has anything especial, in regard to the quad system, been happening, and is he very tired and worn out? Oh, if I could only see you all. I don't think I can wait until the end of May.
The debate is coming on slowly and we are getting "scareder" each day as the time approaches. It is only ten days off now. My dress is about half finished but I haven't seen it since she has really begun it. I am going down to-morrow to have it tried on for the first time. I know that it's going to be lovely, and I am crazy to have it all finished.
I meant to tell you at the beginning of my letter that the book and the gloves have come and they are lovely. Thank you very, very much for them dearest Mother. I have already read the book - all but a little bit of it - and I like it very much, though it is rather silly.
The gloves are such a pretty colour and such a very useful present too; and they really aren't too small after all. Of course they are a little tight like all new gloves but I am sure that they are alright and won't split.
I am so thrilled about the dance and so surprised too. I barely know Penn Harvey and how did it happen that he ever thought of taking me to the dance. But it certainly will be grand and I am excited already! It is perfectly dear of you to let me have Miss Thomas at such a busy time of the year and I am so happy about it, especially because she will know you and Father and I have wished that that could happen ever since I knew her.
We are having all sorts of gaieties now that Lent is at last over. Last night we shad a musical - a cantata - by all the vocal pupils and it was perfectly splendid and so pretty. We certainly have some fine voices among the girls here and it is really a great pleasure to hear them. Helen Hunter is one of them and she has the sweetest voice - one of the very best in the school. She sang in one of the trios and though she was frightened nearly to death, it being her first appearance in public, she did just beautifully.
There will be something going on every week now until Commencement - plays and musicals and so forth, and we will be kept busy. Just think it is only one month now! I can hardly realize it and oh, it makes me so happy to think what a short time it will be before I see you all my own dear Mother and Father. The time will go very quickly now, I think.
I am perfectly well and so are Aunt Annie and Annie. They have just come back from Chapel Hill where Annie has been to the Easter dances. Aunte Annie wasn't very well there but she is alright now, I believe. They both send lots of love.
Good bye my own sweetest, I love you so, and my precious Father too.
With devoted love and a big kiss from
Your devoted little daughter,
Nell.
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Ellen Axson
Files
Citation
McAdoo, Eleanor Wilson, 1889-1967, “Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo to Ellen Axson Wilson,” 1908 April 29, WWP19555, Eleanor Wilson McAdoo Collection at the University of California-Santa Barbara, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.