Correspondence (incoming): Grant, Ida, 1887-1889

entirely settled in our new home my dear Mrs Stanford, which we enjoy so much, and for which, in so great a part, we feel that we must thank you and the Senator and your kind friendship. We could rent nothing ready furnished which seemed at all appropriate, so we have

of the matter proved, that out of our means we could not very well furnish anew. Luckily our own things came very safely without any breakage to speak of, and our home is truly "American". The mahogany and things of that sort could not be gotten here at all. Fred had to be at his office every day during the summer, so that we simply

brought over all our own handsome furniture, which we had stored in Morristown, ever since we had been living with Mrs Grant. Our things were just suited to our home here, and much more elegant than we could find, or afford to buy here. The dress makers do very well, and there are some

things very pretty in the shops, but most of the furniture is showy and poorly made, but quite expensive; so that we really should not have been able to get what was really necessary, for as little as we could just simply have ours boxed and brought over (as you know free of duty). We did not take the step until a long consider-

remained quietly in the country within an hour of Vienna and in this way were able to { ?} ly enough to bring over everything and get fixed in our home. We find Vienna delightful and have been quite taken up, with our official calls etc. about which there is the greatest amount of ceremony here.

had, no wonder she wishes to be secluded and quiet. We understand so it was from the Austrians that their Empress has always disliked society, though so beautiful and affable, so that this winter their court will be a very quiet one. We have just enough to do, and think of, to keep us busy and Col. Grant is really pleased with his office and work. I feel

We have of course seen a great deal of the Diplomatic Corps, and the "doyenne" has to take me, still, to a great many places to call though the Season begins very late and there is no one yet in the city. We are told by all the Diplomats, that Vienna though a beautiful city, is very quiet really

compared to other large Capitols. The court affairs will be few, also, we hear, as the two court balls, which are usually given, will be left off this year, because of the deep mourning of the Empress, who of course, is in great distress over the loss of her son the Crown Prince. Such a terrible affliction she has

course, news from home is slow in coming to us, so far from the direct line of communication.

Our little children are very well indeed, having recovered entirely from the whooping cough which they took on their voyage over. They are studying well with German teachers, little Ulysses

having gone right into the "Theresianum" the great school here, where there are also other little foreigners children of the Diplomats the two sons of the { ?} of Egypt and others.

I write you all about our life here, my dear kind friend, because you seemed so interested and sympathetic when we were in Washington last spring