July 15, 1912
From 8-year old Hilda’s diary:
I couldn’t go to the French people’s party, because it was late at night and Daddy said that there wouldn’t be any other children there and he would tell me all about it in the morning. Every night I have to be in bed at eight o’clock just like at home, and then Father tells me a story and kisses me goodnight and he goes down to be with the grown people. As soon as we woke up and brushed our teeth and dressed, I asked him about the party and if it was fun. He said it was, and he said he drank some bubbly wine but that there were just too many speeches. He hates speeches just like I do, maybe I inherited that from him. He brought me a souvenir from the party, a little blue, red and white rosette like our colors on the flag, but there are no stars. Our colors are Red, White and Blue and the French colors are Blue, White and Red. The Flags of every country have about three colors and they are divided into stripes or patterns, but I don’t think any of them are very pretty, just a lot of color and a lot of waving.