Skip to Content
 

Royall Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss, February 2, 1940

Hôtel de Crillon

Place de la Concorde

Paris

2.II.40

It’s only just this evening, dearest Mildred, that I heard of Ernest Schelling’sErnest Henry Schelling (1876–1939), an American pianist, composer, and conductor. He was a close friend of Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss. death.Ernest Schelling died on December 8, 1939. I at once wanted to write to you and tell you that I grieve with you. What a strange chance that it should have been just about the same time that my beloved Mrs. Stuart-Menteath died! I need not tell you what it means to me to have lost her. I didn’t hear of her death until two weeks after.

I found Elisina very well and very gallant. Living alone at Antigny in winter takes a stout heart. She has plenty to do, running the little place in wartime, and of course she has also taken on some local war work, with the Préfet de la C. d’Or“Prefect of the Côte d’Or region.” at Dijon, though I’m glad to say she has the sense to limit what she attempts to what she knows she can get away with.

I saw Billy PhillipsWilliam Phillips (1878–1968), an American diplomat who at the time was U.S. ambassador to Italy. in Rome. He spoke lovingly of you and Robert.

Fondest love, to you and Robert, and bless you for all you are to me.

Yrs

R. T.

It’s just possible that I may come over to your side before long. I’ll confirm by cable the moment I know. (Later) It now looks more like May.