Skip to Content
 

Elisina Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss, May 29, 1928

21, Quai Bourbon
Gobelins 31–33
May 29th 1928Tuesday.

Dearest Mildred and Robert,

A series of disastrous advantages have befallen us lately, and after having thought matters out very seriously and carefully, I am writing to ask you if you would be so very kind as to give us your help over a tight corner.This letter concerns the Tylers’ property Antigny-le-Chateau.

The house and small garden we had rented for our gardener has come into the market, owing to the sudden death of its owner, and unless we acquired it, we should have been without means of housing the family which looks after our cows, basse-cour,“Barnyard.” and kitchen garden. With transfer dues, the sum for this little property is £ 450—. Moreover, the Monuments Historiques have been obliged to extend their programme of repairs to the chapel,The Service des monuments historiques of France had classified the chapel and round tower at Antigny as historical monuments. See letter of September 5, 1923. The letter of November 26, 1926, indicates that the Tylers and the Service des monuments historiques split the cost of repairs. as some serious trouble was discovered in the vault of the last bay, and that means another £ 400—

In order to save misunderstandings, Royall and I have apportioned our income so that he draws directly what he requires for himself in Budapest, and I look after all our general expenses and commitments, and Bill’s schooling. Therefore I am the one who is more nearly in touch with events here.

Our capital is partly in trust, and this part cannot be touched. The other part, as I explained to you once before, when you were good enough to lend us a helping hand, is invested in such a way that to realise would mean a very serious loss. We hope however that in time the revaluation of the bonds, (bought at £ 240 each, and now worth less than half of that, though the interest remains fixed) will be effected. Our bankers advised to ask a friend to help rather than to realise now.

I have considered the possibility of borrowing from our bank, on securities. The reason against this is that Royall’s influence counts for a great deal in the conclusion of loans of great importance in Hungary, and it is of the greatest importance that no one should ever be able to breathe a thought which could cast a reflection on the minds of the ill-intentioned. Royall is so scrupulous in everything that he never invested a penny in the ordinary Hungarian Loan when it was issued when he took his appointment, and the idea of anyone even entertaining for one moment any unfavourable idea of his absolutely crystal honour, through any rash action, or ill-considered step, wrings my heart with agony.

I have been carrying on a sort of journal of interesting things for you, and shall send it along very soon, as it is getting bulky.

This letter I send apart, and if you can cable me your reply, to Antigny, I should be so grateful. In case you wish to lend us the £ 860 we need, may I ask you to do so to our sterling account at the Westminster Foreign Bank Paris—Their telegraphic address is Westbank Paris.

Dear Robert and Mildred,—dear Milrob—we have had an uphill time with Antigny, owing to various contingencies which no one could foresee, and which are in their turn the result of a state of uncertainty and even upheaval in the world in general, and in France in particular. Though it is more hidden here than in countries where war brought catastrophes of the usual kind in such circumstances, there is a deep wound in the side of France, and so far empirical methods alone have been applied. It is far from being healed.

But I won’t detain you now with these other considerations, and I hope you will both understand in what spirit I have decided to write, and how deeply conscious I am of the immense favour your help in this contingency would be. To you two alone could I speak as I am doing, because you have always understood everything.

My very best and fondest love.

Yours
Elisina
.

 
Associated People: Royall Tyler; William Royall Tyler