Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17101
Date
1919 March 11
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President’s temperature is normal today, and when I asked him how he felt he replied: “Better, much better. I think that you made an error in my diagnosis. It is true I had a headache, neuralgia, sore-throat, tooth-ache, fever and a chill, and my equatorial zone has been on a strike, and you can diagnose it just what you please. I usually have admiration and respect for your opinion and diagnosis, but this time I have decided you are wrong. My trouble is this, and I have worked it out myself: I am suffering from a retention of gases generated by the Republican Senators - and that’s enough to poison any man.”
In looking at some pictures today, and commenting on the wonderful development made in photography, he expressed the wish that a good picture had been taken of his mother.
During the day he also made the following remark: “I have been advocating education most of my life. While it seems to broaden the horizon at times, with some people it narrows their sympathies.”
The President worked at his desk for a part of the day, took a walk in the afternoon, and went to the movies at night. He witnessed a “fearful and wonderful” performance labeled “The Spirit of Lafayette”, which was designed originally to show the influence of the French in America and that America’s participation in the war was a payment for French aid in Revolutionary times. The pictures were most elaborate but decidedly badly chosen.
The following despatch appeared in the HATCHET:
The President in commenting on this article said that if an attempt should be made to defeat the League of Nations plan by the Irish-American vote, he would go to the mat with them and show them where they got off in America; that the American people would not stand for an alignment with Mr. Lodge. While he would hate to see this issue brought up in America, if the Irish would resort to this method, he would gladly accept the challenge. He said he told Lloyd-George sometime ago that he thought he had the solution of the Irish question, whereupon Lloyd-George exclaimed: “My God, I hope you have.” The President’s proposition was to give them Home Rule and to reserve the moving picture rights. But seriously speaking, he said, it was an internal matter which should be decided not by the United States but by themselves. Lloyd-George told him that it was a matter that had given him untold sorrow and grave concern. The President said: “My advice would be, if I had anything to do with it, to give them an independent state and let them fight it out among themselves; and I venture to say it would only be a short time before they would all be on their knees asking for help.” The Irish are a jealous race and difficult to satisfy.” Tumulty has done his level best to play fair with all parties, the President said, and he deserves to run for any office but the Irish and the Catholics would defeat him, because he has strived to serve everybody honorably.
The President remarked that the English people - and when I say English I mean the inhabitants of Great Britain and not Americans - made it a practice to maintain friendship more than any other peoples. For instance, they constantly remember your birthdays by sending letters and notes of congratulation, and, at stated intervals, they keep up a correspondence with their relatives and friends. We as Americans so often neglect these little attentions. In America, after a man is married, he often forgets the birthday of the various members of the family or of some old and one-time intimate friend.
In looking at some pictures today, and commenting on the wonderful development made in photography, he expressed the wish that a good picture had been taken of his mother.
During the day he also made the following remark: “I have been advocating education most of my life. While it seems to broaden the horizon at times, with some people it narrows their sympathies.”
The President worked at his desk for a part of the day, took a walk in the afternoon, and went to the movies at night. He witnessed a “fearful and wonderful” performance labeled “The Spirit of Lafayette”, which was designed originally to show the influence of the French in America and that America’s participation in the war was a payment for French aid in Revolutionary times. The pictures were most elaborate but decidedly badly chosen.
The following despatch appeared in the HATCHET:
The President in commenting on this article said that if an attempt should be made to defeat the League of Nations plan by the Irish-American vote, he would go to the mat with them and show them where they got off in America; that the American people would not stand for an alignment with Mr. Lodge. While he would hate to see this issue brought up in America, if the Irish would resort to this method, he would gladly accept the challenge. He said he told Lloyd-George sometime ago that he thought he had the solution of the Irish question, whereupon Lloyd-George exclaimed: “My God, I hope you have.” The President’s proposition was to give them Home Rule and to reserve the moving picture rights. But seriously speaking, he said, it was an internal matter which should be decided not by the United States but by themselves. Lloyd-George told him that it was a matter that had given him untold sorrow and grave concern. The President said: “My advice would be, if I had anything to do with it, to give them an independent state and let them fight it out among themselves; and I venture to say it would only be a short time before they would all be on their knees asking for help.” The Irish are a jealous race and difficult to satisfy.” Tumulty has done his level best to play fair with all parties, the President said, and he deserves to run for any office but the Irish and the Catholics would defeat him, because he has strived to serve everybody honorably.
The President remarked that the English people - and when I say English I mean the inhabitants of Great Britain and not Americans - made it a practice to maintain friendship more than any other peoples. For instance, they constantly remember your birthdays by sending letters and notes of congratulation, and, at stated intervals, they keep up a correspondence with their relatives and friends. We as Americans so often neglect these little attentions. In America, after a man is married, he often forgets the birthday of the various members of the family or of some old and one-time intimate friend.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 March 11, WWP17101, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.