Letters September 20, 2010 Issue

LETTERS

with contributions from ANDREW WILSON, CAROLYN HILL, STEPHANIE PEEK, PAUL BRANDIS

I thought readers might like to know that, with reference to my book A President's Love Affair with the English Lake District, the President, Woodrow Wilson, developed an intimate friendship with a pioneer Christian Science family in the area ("A journalist thrives through prayer and perseverance," June 28, p. 9).

The family was that of Rydal artist Fred Yates, whom Wilson, then President of Princeton University, first met when he rented a cottage for himself and his family near the Yates' home for the summer of 1906, on his fourth visit to the Lake District. After he returned to the USA, Wilson wrote to the Yates': "What a happy, happy thing our meeting and summer-long companionship was! I am sure it has made us all richer in love and happiness. ... It is always affection that heals me, and the dear friendships I made were my real tonic and restorative."

Wilson returned to the Lakes on his own in the summer of 1908. This time Fred's daughter Mary made notes of his near-daily visits to their home, which give further proof of the warmth of the relationship, which was maintained by correspondence until his death.

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