Edith Bolling Wilson to Sallie White Bolling
Title
Edith Bolling Wilson to Sallie White Bolling
Creator
Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961
Identifier
WWP14925
Date
1915 December 26
Source
Edith Bolling Wilson Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia
Language
English
Text
Sunday
5 P.M.
With what joy I found your dear Xmas Eve letter on my breakfast table yesterday– and it brought you all very, very near– Then we opened your dear gifts and were both charmed with them but more by what they represent
I had on my rose chiffon negligee so these dainty slippers just completed it and I put them right on – “W. W.” was so pleased with his brush – and sends you a heart full of love & thanks
He is now at his typewriter working hard — but says he wants to write as soon as he can – but I told him he has so much writing to do — I would tell you for him — also please thank Mother, Rolfe & Annie – Will - Wilmer & Nell & your own self for the cards that came this morning – We read & appreciated each one more than I can say and will answer if time permits – Tell “Bill” his “golf” one was fine – and that we are both so distressed he has to go before we get home – ask him if he can't stay – it will be just a week longer & he has been so long in coming – This letter will have to be a round Robin as I am snowed under with things to answer– So I will tell you of our day – I think I told you in my letter to Mother that we are so overpowered by waiters in our private dining room that to escape them we have breakfast in here – (The Living Room) served on a sweet table by Susie & Otey. This she adorns with fresh flowers and any home letters which she sorts out of the hundreds that still come –So we come in after a bath in our wrappers and slippers – and take from one to 2 hours over the meal – reading letters & opening all sorts of queer packages – Then we get dressed & play golf for 2 hours this makes lunch pretty late – afterwards we go for a ride – and get back in time to write & work an hour or so before dinner– at 8 –– By the time this is over — it is made tedious by unnecessary service we get “comfy” and Woodrow reads aloud to me until I sometimes revert to my old habits and go to sleep– but otherwise I behave
Yesterday we followed pretty much this program – with the addition of receiving dozens of telegrams & about a hundred Xmas cards. G. & H. sent us a book your brush & slippers, Helen sent me golf gloves Nell a dear handkerchief Margaret jeweled hat pins Jessie & Frank drinking cups in a dainty case – and all of them combined & sent W. W. a platinum watch chain –Mrs. Rust sent an old book with Light Horse Harry Lee's name in it and said it came from Statford Hall where we were last June – also a hugh piece of mistletoe.
The Hotel sent a good sized Xmas tree all decorated and lighted by electric lights – a big growing poinsettia plant and an arm full of cut blossoms. Some Western firm sent 2 cute little trees on stands – another firm a beautiful leather case with four thermos bottles – luch box – spoons forks knives plates etc for 6 people – Mr. & Mrs. Lomburd a diamond Horse Shoe. Susie Williamson Blue cuff links — Gertrude Lutz pink satin garters very like the yellow ones – Vivie & J. a card & a box of fudge. Some body in Radford a box of home made candy — The Belle Meade Sweets a box of their candy – a crate of grape fruit, a pincushion – and sachet from some one & letters!–letters!! letters!!!
The telegram signed by all of you dear ones came last night at dinner & we certainly felt you very near – also one from the White House signed by each of them. We heard from Dr. Grayson, the Houses Altrude, Malones Baltimore Wilson's Penn. Wilsons Coulter, Luiker, Hancock, etc etc – and I had letters from Cousin Annie Thank you for asking Susie. I know she appreciated it even if she did not come– Otey is having a fine time I think she & Brooks seem good friends
We have 7 Secret Service men & Robertson the chauffeur so it is really quite a staff with Swem -the stenographer
Give a big kiss to each one and keep one for your dear self from
Edith
5 P.M.
With what joy I found your dear Xmas Eve letter on my breakfast table yesterday– and it brought you all very, very near– Then we opened your dear gifts and were both charmed with them but more by what they represent
I had on my rose chiffon negligee so these dainty slippers just completed it and I put them right on – “W. W.” was so pleased with his brush – and sends you a heart full of love & thanks
He is now at his typewriter working hard — but says he wants to write as soon as he can – but I told him he has so much writing to do — I would tell you for him — also please thank Mother, Rolfe & Annie – Will - Wilmer & Nell & your own self for the cards that came this morning – We read & appreciated each one more than I can say and will answer if time permits – Tell “Bill” his “golf” one was fine – and that we are both so distressed he has to go before we get home – ask him if he can't stay – it will be just a week longer & he has been so long in coming – This letter will have to be a round Robin as I am snowed under with things to answer– So I will tell you of our day – I think I told you in my letter to Mother that we are so overpowered by waiters in our private dining room that to escape them we have breakfast in here – (The Living Room) served on a sweet table by Susie & Otey. This she adorns with fresh flowers and any home letters which she sorts out of the hundreds that still come –So we come in after a bath in our wrappers and slippers – and take from one to 2 hours over the meal – reading letters & opening all sorts of queer packages – Then we get dressed & play golf for 2 hours this makes lunch pretty late – afterwards we go for a ride – and get back in time to write & work an hour or so before dinner– at 8 –– By the time this is over — it is made tedious by unnecessary service we get “comfy” and Woodrow reads aloud to me until I sometimes revert to my old habits and go to sleep– but otherwise I behave
Yesterday we followed pretty much this program – with the addition of receiving dozens of telegrams & about a hundred Xmas cards. G. & H. sent us a book your brush & slippers, Helen sent me golf gloves Nell a dear handkerchief Margaret jeweled hat pins Jessie & Frank drinking cups in a dainty case – and all of them combined & sent W. W. a platinum watch chain –Mrs. Rust sent an old book with Light Horse Harry Lee's name in it and said it came from Statford Hall where we were last June – also a hugh piece of mistletoe.
The Hotel sent a good sized Xmas tree all decorated and lighted by electric lights – a big growing poinsettia plant and an arm full of cut blossoms. Some Western firm sent 2 cute little trees on stands – another firm a beautiful leather case with four thermos bottles – luch box – spoons forks knives plates etc for 6 people – Mr. & Mrs. Lomburd a diamond Horse Shoe. Susie Williamson Blue cuff links — Gertrude Lutz pink satin garters very like the yellow ones – Vivie & J. a card & a box of fudge. Some body in Radford a box of home made candy — The Belle Meade Sweets a box of their candy – a crate of grape fruit, a pincushion – and sachet from some one & letters!–letters!! letters!!!
The telegram signed by all of you dear ones came last night at dinner & we certainly felt you very near – also one from the White House signed by each of them. We heard from Dr. Grayson, the Houses Altrude, Malones Baltimore Wilson's Penn. Wilsons Coulter, Luiker, Hancock, etc etc – and I had letters from Cousin Annie Thank you for asking Susie. I know she appreciated it even if she did not come– Otey is having a fine time I think she & Brooks seem good friends
We have 7 Secret Service men & Robertson the chauffeur so it is really quite a staff with Swem -the stenographer
Give a big kiss to each one and keep one for your dear self from
Edith
Original Format
Letter
To
Bolling, Sallie W., 1843-1925
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961, “Edith Bolling Wilson to Sallie White Bolling,” 1915 December 26, WWP14925, Edith Bolling Wilson Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.