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Elisina Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss, October 6, 1935

Pavillon Colombe

St. Brice-sous-Forêt (S&0)

October 6th 1935

My dearest Mildred

I am arriving in New York on the 25th of October, on the ‘President Roosevelt’The SS President Roosevelt, a passenger liner of the United States Lines. and I am nursing the fond hope of seeing you and dear Robert very soon. I should love to see your lovely “Oaks,” too, and if you can arrange for me to be with you for a day or two, and will let Bourguignon know, I will be so happy to make my time suit your convenience.

I have just spent a few days here with Edith, after her return from her very sad errand in England.The death of Mary (Minnie) Cadwalader Rawle Jones (1850–1935), Edith Wharton’s sister-in-law, on September 22, 1935. She is remarkably well, considering the strain and fatigue this journey has meant for her. She is wise in resting when she needs rest; and except for the inconvenience of one or two after-results of her breakdown last April, she is really recovering her old eagerness and strength. It is a wonderful thought that we can perhaps talk all this over very soon now!

The news are what you know. The civilized world as a whole condemn the onslaught on defenceless blacks,The Italian invasion of Ethiopia (known as Abyssinia) on October 3, 1935. and the series of miscalculations which has led up to it.

In France, unhappily, the international question, as usual, is queered by internal division: the bien-pensants“Conservatives.” are all for the dictator.Benito Mussolini (1883–1945), Italian politician, leader of the National Fascist Party, and ruler of Italy from 1922 until 1943. In 1926, Mussolini seized total power as dictator and ruled Italy as Il Duce (“the leader”) between 1930 and 1943. The freemasonry and free-everything all for Abyssinia.The Italians invaded Ethiopia (known as Abyssinia) on October 3, 1935. To some extent this will hamper LavalPierre Laval (1883–1945), a French politician who was four times prime minister of France. who might have played such a fine part at this juncture. I hope he will keep the friendship of the Anglo-Saxon world, and so build up the future of his own country, and save what can be saved of the future of Italy.

I enclose a cuttingThis cutting has not been preserved in the correspondence. that will amuse you.

Darling Mildred, my very best love and a hug to you both.

A bientôt, n’est ce pas?“Soon. Is it not?”

Your ever loving

Elisina

 
Associated People: Edith Wharton; William Royall Tyler