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Elisina Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss, December 18, 1946

Hotel Richemond

Geneva

December 18th 1946

Dearest Mildred and Robert.

A very happy Christmas to you and a happy New Year. We shall think of you on Christmas Day, and hope that 1947 will bring us together sometime.

I saw in the papers here, an account of your adoption of a French village,The village of La Loupe. See “French Town Rises Again; Washington Couple Help Rebuild La Loupe, Smashed in War,” New York Times (November 25, 1946): “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss of Washington, interested themselves in the town, which is situated about sixty miles southwest of Paris, and are buying and shipping items of everyday life. Sheets, towels, tablecloths, mattress ticking, crockery, kitchen utensils, clothing and furniture for Mayor Edouard Coutard’s office and in the shipment. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss also plan to furnish the marriage chamber in the City Hall and the municipal council chamber. The hospital will get a refrigerator to store its penicillin.” restored to hope and confidence through your kindness. What happiness and satisfaction and interest, this generous act must give you. Perhaps I can appreciate better than many, the comfort your protection has brought. When Royall and I saw the news, we both exclaimed, Oh, how sweet!—and sweetness of this kind is what this grim world needs most, in order to forget the thoughts that hurt.

We were so happy about Bill’s promotion.As an employee of the U.S. Department of State, in 1946 William Royall Tyler served as the chief of the branch Area Division I and the assistant director in charge of areas of the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs. I am sure he will try his best to justify the confidence that has been placed in him.

We are both well; and so is Russell Greely [sic],Russell Greeley (1878–1956), a portrait painter who had been director of Mildred Barnes Bliss’s American Distributing Service (Service de Distribution Américaine) during the First World War. who is in Genoa, and likes it very well.

Gioia came to stay with us this summer. She worked very hard indeed during the war. But she has her undimmed spirit.

My best love to you both, and Royall’s too–

Yours affectionately always

Elisina

 
Associated People: Gioia Grant Richards Owtram
Associated Places: Geneva [Genève] (Switzerland)