Oct 2/25
Dear J. A.
Gertrud Woker sailed yesterday Oct 1 as planned, all serene. I met her at her boat from Malden-on-Hudson very early and we went to my friend Dr. Helen Baldwin for the physical examination which she has been so eager to have made before leaving the U.S. It was a simple external [inspection] and Dr. Baldwin gave her (& me) a written statement which showed that everything was normal and [virginal?] -- naturally. [page 2]
I think this had a decidedly soothing effect.
A Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, friends of Mr. & Mrs. Bigelow, came to the De Grasse to see her off as representing the Bigelows who could not come (Mrs. B. ill, both very busy over a big village celebration of a war trophy that Mr. B has gotten from the Government).
Rosika also turned up ↑she is in N.Y.↓ as Mrs. Palthe's guest. They are to be at the Hotel Bristol this month together. Mrs. Palthe comes with Madame [page 3] Ramondt & Ietie.
I think it was a good long
Rosika had earlier telegraphed to Mr. Bigelow saying she wanted to come & see G. W. on Tuesday (Sept 30) & would spend the night at the hotel in this place. Mr. Bigelow wanted me to represent to R S that he was away (or let her infer this) and to [conjure] away her proposed visit as he was unwilling to risk village [Vlatoch] for himself and thought the excitement and possible newspaper publicity, as she was sure to be [page 4] recognized(!) would tire & excite G. W. on eve of her sailing. So he quietly wanted me to pull those chestnuts out of the fire. I finally wrote her suggesting her seeing G. W. off in NY. so that is what she did & I think it was a good thing. She saw for herself how evidently insane (if that is the right word) she is and how wild & baseless are her statements so far as we can judge ↑[tell] them↓. [written up left margin] ↑I did not want her to feel she had been kept from seeing G. W. I think she was homesick to sail for Europe herself!↓ I suppose she (R. S.) still believes that there is a basis of some sort but I think she would think it practicable at best to try to prove, [page 5] in any case not for the W.I.L. to try to do so. All this is a relief.
I got G. W. to give me her test tube full of cyanide which she has been carrying about with her, poor dear, to "save her honor" if necessary.
I saw the captain and made him pretty well understand the situation. Mr. Bigelow thought it unwise to give the stewardess an abnormal sum, that is would make her exaggerate. So I suppose But he [page 6] was very glad to have G. W. keep this money in hand for the unexpected expenses. Outside this I ↑think↓ she had only 50 Swiss francs.
I gave G. W. a letter to the Y.W.C.A. who have an agency at Havre, where she lands, and asked them to take care of her in case of any [illegible] about her being met and told them [illegible] I was financially responsible for [illegible] in such case.
So I [wrote] you, I ↑had↓ cabled V. G that G W must be met [page 7] at Havre and to consult with her mother (whose address by the way is Steinebach bei [Merligen] Thunersee.)
The stewardess was very full of zeal and promises, said she would not was going up to Paris herself by the special boat train and would not leave G. until she was in the hands of responsible friends in the Y.W.C.A.
G. W. was very cheerful, said she had much work to do on board, correcting proof [page 8] and ↑she↓ felt herself safe which is the main thing. Dr. Baldwin like Dr. Lambert felt she would not do herself or anyone else an injury on the voyage but that this was not so sure for later if her fears & suspicions took such a turn.
Of course R. S. thinks it a terrible thing she is returning to Switzerland, & hopes she may go to Vienna, thinks Prague would be bad.
Well I think we may be thankful indeed it is as well as it is granted the tragic fact of her illness. [page 9]
I lunched at the W. City Club with Madeleine D. & her N.Y. Com. Not a numerous or strong group but with some promise. Apparently the combination with the China Com. & Miss [Fendall] is likely to go through.
When you come on to Boston N.Y. on November 11 is there any chance of your coming to Boston? That would be just too nice.
Yours ever Emily G B.
I do hope all goes well with you & yours. My niece got into Bryn M -- so I hope she & little [page 10] Miss [Lurie] are classmates. Annie seems to be better & has let her nurse go, with the doctor's permission.
Rosika told me that Vilma Glücklich's mother has died. V. was not notified in time to see her and has not gone to Budapest -- Isn't it hard. I think R. S. wants V. G. to come over here.
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