July 19-26, 1917
It was the middle of July 1917 and Kate Roosevelt was all over the map, figuratively and logistically. Since her diary entries from July 19 through July 26, 1917 span the globe, I decided that her readers might just want to savor every second spending a week with the wealthy widow.
So here is a sampling of her writing word-for-word:
July 19, 1917: “I and George Nash to New York to get him a chauffeur suit. Jean and Billy Kayser arrived in their motor around 7 in the evening.”
July 20, 1917: “During the Great War, passenger service never ceased entirely. Even the ten days the German Government had the audacity to forbid sailing from this side. During that time the French and English shipping lines sailed as usual and got safely through the submarine danger zone. After we declared war on Germany this form of shameful publicity coming from sailing lines was usual. It is certainly not true. Internal political reports in Germany going on but they will not diminish or impair the strength of the Kaiser, the court, the princes or the military powers. Nothing short of complete victory by the Allies and the downfall of the Kaiser will bring about a lasting world peace.”
July 21, 1917: “The Kaysers, Jean and Billy, left for Cedarhurst. A big row (fight) with Augusta the cook.” To Princeton to see the aviation men fly.”
Bessie Alexander
July 22, 1917: “Dorothy and the Smiths to the Big Brooke at Merdlemouth. I to camp at Wrightstown, New Jersey. Home by way of Bordentown.”
July 23, 1917: “Olaf, the new chauffeur/handyman began to lay brick walk on back of terrace.”
July 24, 1917: “To Sea Bright. Lop (Kate’s Sister, Georgina Shippen), seems desperately ill.”
July 25, 1917: “Women to movies in evening, except the cook, Augusta.”
Advertisement for Silent Film “The Lone Wolf”
July 26, 1917: “Dorothy and I to New York to see the movie, “Lone Wolf.” Very Good. Took little Langdon to McCreery’s for a haircut.” Dorothy started for Sea Bright, New Jersey to stay with Bessie Alexander.”
For each episode of the Dowager’s Diary I usually take one or two comments made by Kate Roosevelt and go into the history of what was happening and why she was making note of certain people, places and events, but today I decided to do something different and share each diary entry verbatim.
White Star Line Advertisement
Kate’s first entry was meant to embarrass the Cunard and White Star Shipping Lines by discussing their false and misleading advertising that encouraged innocent people to risk their lives by traveling between New York and Europe in German U-boat infested waters. Looks like some of the Roosevelt talent for political rhetoric rubbed off and Kate was taking the two biggest shipping lines to task.
Sounds like the cook Augusta was at the boiling point. When the rest of the staff got the night off to go to the movies in Hightstown, Augusta was either punished or just stayed at home to sulk.
Outside Blair Hall, Princeton University
When she mentioned going to Princeton to see the aviation men fly, Kate Roosevelt was referring to the university and Princeton’s living-up to its patriotic potential. When World War One broke out in 1914 many Princetonians were moved and met the call of duty by persuading the university president, John G. Hibben to offer organized military training on the campus. Overseen by the Committee on War Courses, it was headed by General Leonard Wood, who along with his friend, Theodore Roosevelt, had volunteered to fight along with the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.
Next it was back to New York and to the movies at the Broadway Theater to see a Lewis J. Selznick production, the silent movie, “Lone Wolf” and to take little Langdon for a haircut. In the early 1900s, many large department stores like McCreery’s offered services in addition to a wide array of merchandise.
Sea Bright, New Jersey
Sea Bright was the next stop. There Kate paid a visit to her family home, The Anchorage, located along the Jersey Shore. As young girls, it was where she first met, Bessie Alexander, the widow of the famous portraitist, John White Alexander. Apparently Dorothy was going to spend a few days with an old-family friend, whose husband had painted her coming-out portrait in 1902.
A summer swirl of comings, goings, editorializing and socializing was par for the course and I could just imagine Kate Roosevelt returning to Merdlemouth, ready to take on the world and an unruly cook named Augusta.
Sharon Hazard’s Dowager’s Diary appears on Thursday.
Photo One:
Elliott and Frances Springs, 1918
Princeton Alumni Weekly, Princeton Historic Photo Collection
Photo Two:
Bessie Alexander
by John White Alexander
Photo Three:
Advertisement for Silent Film “The Lone Wolf”
wiki
internet archive
Photo Four:
White Star Line Advertisement
www.greatship.net, public domain
Photo Five:
Outside Blair Hall, Princeton University
Historic Photo Collection, Princeton University
Photo Six:
Sea Bright, New Jersey
author collection
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