Edith Bolling Wilson to Woodrow Wilson

Edith Bolling Wilson to Woodrow Wilson

Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961

WWP14870

1915 August 5

Edith Bolling Wilson Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

English

Geneva
Midnight

My Precious One-

Will you forgive a pencil tonight? For I am in bed where I cannot use the ink without endangering some very lovely linen things in the way of sheets and pillow cases — and I must talk to you a little while before I put my light out -Shall I give you a picture of my abode that you may better visualize me – — Well this is a big square room with high old-fashioned mantel piece between 2 big windows — The latter have white curtains with blue borders - and the walls are blue & white.

All the furnature is big and massive, and by one window is a writing desk - where you can sit and talk to loved ones far away or gaze out over a big green yard - full of big apple trees – and on into a vegetable garden beyond – But- to come back to the room – In the centre of the side wall is a wide-low-old timey bed with big pillows piled high - and just now, in the centre of these, rests a lovely lady who loves you very dearly and while she writes is almost deafened by the claps of thunder and torrents of rain that roar and clash without -Just over her head is an Electric light which makes even the vivid lightning less disturbing than it would be -It is just the kind of night to carry out a plot or do some wild thing that needs the cover of storm and darkness.

I know you did not get a letter from me today and that is why you got Margaret to send the telegram tonight - Thank you for it, precious One, – I would have answered it except I thought it might be telephoned after you were all asleep – as it was nine thirty when I got yours - But I wrote you – Margaret and Jessie today so you will have them all tomorrow – and I think perhaps, on account of publicity, I had probably better not telegraph. Oh. Woodrow, how I did love every word in those twenty one pages I got from you this morning- What a wealth of love was stored into them and with what eagerness did my heart feed on all your dear fingers had written! I read it all over again this afternoon – for I had to hurry over it this morning as I wanted to get my letter off to you while Mr. & Mrs. R. were down town – and after they got back I did not have a moment until late this afternoon -Mrs. R. asked me in such a naive way this morning, when I said I wanted to stay and write to Margaret and Helen to thank them for all their sweet courtesy to me — “Oh but you won't have to write to the President too will you?” that I almost laughed- but managed to say “Well, I hardly suppose it is necessary — but I might send him just a line” Then tonight when your telegram came - Mrs. R. answered the phone and then called me and said it was a telegram and she was afraid someone was sick– So, of course, I told her it was just a message from Margaret saying she hoped we had all arrived safely — When she said– “Oh! of course they have read of these dreadful rains and have heard nothing from you since you phoned the night you left - so they may have felt uneasy–”

I almost had to bite my tongue to keep from saying oh, yes I have written every day except yesterday –but fortunately, caught myself in time — and instead said yes I suppose they have and it was like Margaret to think of sending us a line of greeting -Oh Sweetheart I almost die of internal combustion when the Roses tell their friends of you and your charm – and other people ask questions and say how wonderful they think you are - I want to go and hug them for appreciating you and then stagger them by saying you love me and how perfectly I worship you – But of course I can't do either of these things and just keep quiet for fear if I do speak I will say too much –

Friday- 10- a. m

The mail has just come, and brought me that which makes the day bright - your letter of Wed. and Thursday and I have read it through twice and will again when I finish this.Thank you Dearest for all the love it brings and for the assurance that you are so happy in our perfect comprehension of each other - I have just been reading the N. Y. Times – and wonder, if what they say about the A. B. C. Conference is true? I suppose it is as they say it is given out by Mr. Lansing – How much I hope you may be able to straighten out that problem at least – for Germany seems bent on giving us more and more trouble –Thank you for sending me Mr. Page's letter - I expect it will come by the next mail – as it failed to with yours. I know I will enjoy it, and will keep it as you direct until I get home But, Precious One , how much I wish we could read it together before the fire in the music room as we did the last one.This is a gray rainy day and we had to give up our plan to go to the country club for a lesson in golf– but I hope to begin my lessons next week - and work hard so some day I can play with you.

I knew from the Hanover post mark that you played there - as the letter was stamped 10 - a. m. - and I am sorry you could not get a game yesterday -I have just asked Mrs. Rose about the telephone and she says there is no Bell telephone in the house as there are 2 local lines and they have these - so unless you go down town you cannot get Long distance This is a nuisance but should there be any necessity I think you could ask the main office here to send a message to me and I could go to a public Booth. Of course you would not want to do this except for important thingsGive my dearest love to the girls and hug that blessed little Margaret for me — She was always so full of sympathetic comprehension —Now I must stop and write to my family - but I would lots rather keep on talking to you

-Goodby until tomorrow and remember I am now – and always
Your own,

Edith

Letter

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924