“Good morning Mrs Travers.”
“Morning Mrs Wylie.”
“Can I smell oranges?”
“Aye that’s the first o’ the Seville oranges in, so I thought I’d make a start on the marmalade.”
“I thought they were difficult to get this year.”
“Aye they are, but I know a wee man.”
“What, from Seville?”
“No Shettleston, he works in the fruit market.
“Well, that’s good, remember to put my special off set printed labels on.”
“Yous mean they ones that say, A Taste of Spain – handmade by Mrs Muriel Wylie, Gracious Living from Andalucía.”
“Yes, I thought it was a nice touch. Don’t you?”
“Yous think o’ everything Mrs Wylie! I’ve jist made some coffee if you’d like me tae bring it tae the drawing room? An’ there’re a few fresh pancakes which Mr Wylie managed to leave.”
“Where is he? In his study?”
“No, he said to tell you he’d to see a man about a dug and then he’s going curling.”
“Curling? He’s never curled in his life.”
“Said he needed tae slim doon a bit an’ then had two pancakes an’ went oot lookin’ fur your faither’s auld stone in the Museum in a Shed.”
“I don’t think I like the sound of this Mrs T. There will be a hernia before bedtime, mark my words.”
“Well, yous cannae monitor his every move.”
“I suppose not. He has been busy with the very successful sale at ‘Chez Nous, interior decorators for the discerning’. We’ve sold a lot.”
“Aye it’s been puir deid mental! They wrought iron magazine racks an’ planters have been goin’ like snaw aff a dyke.”
“Yes, at this rate Mrs T, we might be having a little remuneration increase.”
“Oh, how unexpected your mamship. You’re the very model of human kindness.”
“I know; I’m a fool to myself. I will just take the coffee to save you a trip and I might have a pancake later. Is that the post?”
Electricity bill, Jasper; telephone bill Jasper; notification of rate increase from Glasgow Corporation, (daylight robbery) Jasper; school fees for Gayle, me (must telephone headmistress about position in class after first term tests, clearly a mistake made somewhere); Old girl’s reunion dinner (depends on who is going) pending pile. Do I want to join the Labour Party – a personal invitation from Mr Gaitskell; bin. Ah, this looks interesting – an airmail letter from Cousin Lulubelle in Washington which is near America.
Dear Cousin Muriel, as ah live and breathe the ole south.
How’re y’all Hunny Lamb?
Thought you might like to know that li’l’e ole me arrived safely in New York on the B.O.A.C. Boeing 707. I spent a few days with Sebastian who said to tell you he is well and, despite your worries, quite as gay as Kansas in August. We had a swell time out and about going to the theatre, ice skating and shopping in Macy’s and Bergdorf Goodman.
Ah got the train to D. C. and am staying at The Willard Hotel, where the Battle Hymn to the Republic was written in 1861. Jasper would love it! Nathanial Hawthorne said it was the centre of Washington and Allan Pinkerton smuggled Abraham Lincoln in here to avoid assassination attempts. That went well. Fortunately, Ah’m well known to many hotel managers as it is impossible to get a hotel room here. Preparations for the forthcoming presidential inauguration to which Ah’ve been invited (as a leading Southern Democrat) are in full swing and to quote that Mrs Travers ‘it’s puir dead mental’ and goin’ like a fair here.”
Impressive Stuff
I think Cuzzin woman, y’all would be impressed at the detail and painstaking preparation for the President’s Parade. Can you believe, the elm trees along Pennsylvania Avenue, which although bare, have been treated by a special anti-pigeon brigade, so that there are no embarrassments for the President and Mrs Kennedy in their open top Limo. Honestly Cuz, one would think, as a Scottish reporter from your Herald said, that Groucho Marx is overseeing the proceedings!
The Secret Service are everywhere, not as subtle as the Handsome Stranger of course. Many of them, with their shades and bulging jackets, look as if they have just been given a child’s “How to look like a Spy Kit.” I hear on the grapevine that their instructions for the day run to 83 pages of paper. That is almost as long as one of dear Jasper’s Hysterical Society talks.
Since the beginning of the year the removal vans have been at the White House, the leaving process is not quite so cruel as the one at Downing Street. Yesterday when Ah passed by, I saw President Eisenhower’s clubs coming out. It must be difficult for him and Mamie. A dyed in the wool Republican looked quite distressed as he watched the scene and referred to Mr Kennedy as “the upstart successor.” Ah think the youth of the President is concerning some of the old guard, but Ah personally think it’s a good thing. “For heaven sakes sister woman” , Ah said to a Republican matron of the Daughters of the American Revolution, “this is the 1960s. We need youth, we need something of the spirit of the court at Camelot.” One can have too much apple pie. Not Jasper of course he can never too much. By the way Ah suggested he take up curling to get rid of that Christmas belly. He’s a hunny. Y’all gotta cut him some slack darli’n’.
As a major contributor to Democratic Party funds Ah was invited to a little supper party the other night with Jackie and John; y’all would have loved it Hunny Lamb. Gotta bit of a lowdown on proceedings. Apparently Frank Sinatra is going to be part of the entertainment and Robert Frost is going to do a poem. You can tell that to Jasper I know he likes Stopping by woods on a snowy evening and The road not taken.
Muriel On the Button
By the way Mrs Kennedy said she is so grateful for your advice about her wardrobe. She has never forgotten your suggestions regarding her wedding dress and says she got it right because of you cuzzin woman. So, she has gone with your suggestion of the designer Oleg Cassini and Halston for hats and gave him your briefing paper on ‘How to be a Simply Marvellous First Lady, Dress Deportment and Decoration for DC’. Jackie Kennedy says as per your advice she is going for simple chic – no big furs, elbow length gloves, and pill box hats will suit her hair perfectly. She hopes you will be happy with the beige A-line coat she has gone for with big pockets and large buttons. Your view that she will then stand out against the rest of the be-furred Senators’ wives on Capitol Hill has been taken onboard.
Style Icons
There’re two formal balls, and she agrees that matching accessories are a must, and the cape idea is brilliant. She will stand out with regal simplicity like an arriving angel, with just a glimpse of glitter on the bodice beneath. As y’all say so astutely, this suggests the promise of the glittering court to come. Her worries about keeping warm on the stand have been assuaged by your suggestion that she carry a muff. She spoke to Jack, who said he was very keen on muffs as hand warming devices and anyway this is a fantastic suggestion as it would not look good to have shaking hands around the Bible at the swearing in. Ah gave her the charcoal warming pad for which she is most grateful. Ah think, Cuzzin Woman, that thanks to your advice Mrs Kennedy is likely to become a major style icon in Washington, just as you are in Glasgow.
One thing is clear the Kennedys intend, to make some big changes at the White House and in the country. About those changes Mrs Kennedy wonders if you might consider assisting her with decorating the White House? She feels that you might help her make a big impression, that is if you have time? Frankly, it is a no brainer, as we Americans say. And it would give you something else to think about rather than those wretched wrought iron magazine racks. They are a good money earner and Ah’m all in favour of that, but Ah know y’all like something challenging and sophisticated and of course it will not do my rissole in a bun business any harm, either.
After the inauguration Sebastian and I are going to have a little ole vacation, we might go down to Florida. Ah’m kinda hoping we might get to see Patty in li’le ole Virginia. Also, Cuzzin Ah’ve not forgotten that recipe y’all want me to give Julia Child. Ah imagine she’ll lose no time in getting to grips with your sausage and apple hot pot, just as she did with Crepe Suzette and spreading gracious living to the American people.
Well, Ah must get ma glad rags on. Ah’m going to a li’le ole cocktail party at Lady Bird Johnson’s.
Now give a big southern hug to Jasper. Ah promise Ah’ll bring him some grits when I get back. Meanwhile thanks for keeping the show on the road in the UK, just keep selling hunny. And Ah’m taking your advice to enjoy the inauguration and remembering what Hairy Mary from Inveraray, with the second sight said, “… it might just be like Camelot, one brief shining moment.”
Your loving cuzzin
Lulubelle x
January 1961
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