Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald (Dublin)

My Dear Mabel,

I haven't had a letter from you since I sent my last note, but today there is no postal delivery, it is a Genevese Feast.

I am sorry that I am not a better correspondent but I really don't have a minute. I hardly have time to see Dem ¹ and the others. Dem is having a good time I think. He is bathing these days. I understand that the water is hotter than at Biarritz, but I haven't managed it so far. This being president adds a lot to the time one has to give. And of course each year I come I know more people. To move from one spot to another is quite a lengthy process, with all the handshaking one has to do.

I have quite a lot of little items of news. I have seen so many people, but I should have to sit down and think over what has happened each day, and I am in a hurry to get off. I have just been to a Chinese Lunch. This morning with the Assembly, but actually most of the time with the bureau of the Second Commission. Last evening with the French Ambassador and others. He is Hennessey you know. Before that American Tea party and Assembly, before that meeting of Bureau. Lunch with Maharajah. Morning Assembly. Previous night dinner with Chamberlain at Eaux Vives. etc. etc. I have met a number of women. Mme Tabouis is here. I am dining next week with the Marquise de Crussol. She looks quite nice, has an interesting history but I am told she is not intelligent.

I am afraid that I shan't be able to send real news letters until later. I urge Dem to write. He will be able to be present for the entry of Germany tomorrow. He gets good bathing. And it is good for his Irish. He answers J.[oe] W.[alshe] in Italian. The Second Commission meets both Saturday morning and afternoon. But I am hoping that it may be over in time for me to get off to Fribourg. And I may be able to stay there until Monday. I don't know yet.

Hope things aren't too bad with you. Anyway you needn't worry about Dem. It is true that I only see him occasionally but he is quite happy and gets on well with the others. They have all commented on what a good swimmer he is.

Now I go off to offer rapporteurships to various people. There is an awful amount of that humbug about.

I shall probably have a letter from you tomorrow. I have seen in the Daily Mail about that awful thing in Drumcollagher.² After all with all our troubles things could be so much worse.