Scrapbook page 54
Title
Scrapbook page 54
Creator
Ochs, Adolph Shelby, Jr.
Identifier
T100526
Date
1918 May 15
Description
Letter from Adolph S. Ochs Jr. to his family re his visit to Mrs Hamilton Shields, who "can out-talk a machine gun."
Source
Gift of Rev. Shelby Ochs Owen
Subject
Correspondence
World War, 1914-1918
Stars and Stripes (Newspaper)
Contributor
Rachel Dark
Language
English
Is Part Of
Ochs Collection Scrapbook
Text
May 15
Dearest Folks:
After three invitations I went to see that Mrs. Hamilton Shields. She can out-talk a machine gun. Seems to have hailed from Knoxville and is a nephew or neice of the late and lamented fiddling Bob Taylor. Has been over here long enough to get the European bug in her head and, in the language of poets, is “nuts” on the subject of royalty. Gave me a continuous line of converation about the Duke of this and the Duchess of that and so forth and so on - with a few plain Generals, Bishops and Prime Ministers thrown in by way of punctuation. Has a daughter about Margaret’s age who speaks French, Italian Greek and occasionally. She invited me to go with her and her daughter to spend the week end at the chateau of the Count de “Quelquechose” near Paris. I declined as gracefully as I could, reminding the lady the we have a little war on our hands which necessitated my postponing the pleasure of playing tennis with the Count or feeding his goldfish. She wasn’t quite satisfied, however, insisting that “the Count ree-lie is charming and would so love to have you,” which made me forget my manners and “cuss.” (camaflouged, a bit).
We had a bit of an air raid last night - but the French put up a peppy barrage and drove back the Borche before he could do any damage -
All well Best love
A.
Dearest Folks:
After three invitations I went to see that Mrs. Hamilton Shields. She can out-talk a machine gun. Seems to have hailed from Knoxville and is a nephew or neice of the late and lamented fiddling Bob Taylor. Has been over here long enough to get the European bug in her head and, in the language of poets, is “nuts” on the subject of royalty. Gave me a continuous line of converation about the Duke of this and the Duchess of that and so forth and so on - with a few plain Generals, Bishops and Prime Ministers thrown in by way of punctuation. Has a daughter about Margaret’s age who speaks French, Italian Greek and occasionally. She invited me to go with her and her daughter to spend the week end at the chateau of the Count de “Quelquechose” near Paris. I declined as gracefully as I could, reminding the lady the we have a little war on our hands which necessitated my postponing the pleasure of playing tennis with the Count or feeding his goldfish. She wasn’t quite satisfied, however, insisting that “the Count ree-lie is charming and would so love to have you,” which made me forget my manners and “cuss.” (camaflouged, a bit).
We had a bit of an air raid last night - but the French put up a peppy barrage and drove back the Borche before he could do any damage -
All well Best love
A.
Original Format
Letter
To
Ochs, Milton Barlow, 1869-1955
Files
Collection
Citation
Ochs, Adolph Shelby, Jr., “Scrapbook page 54,” 1918 May 15, T100526, Adolph S. Ochs Jr. Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.