Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-21
Dimes WITH
ROYALTY
Lieutenant Harold Thurlby. U. S.
Navy Dimes With Royal Family of
Italy-Writes of Experiences and
Conversation With Queen and
Crown Prince

The writer of the following letter
Lieutenant Harold Thurlby, now
serving on the staff of Admiral
Mayo, U. S. Navy is nephew of Mr..
N. Thurlby Of Tedrow and the son
of Mr.. Baker ThurIby OF Hudosn
Michigan who is well known by
many Fulton County people.
The letter YVES written from Rome
and is interesting as giving the ex-
periences and impressions Of real
rOyaty of Europe. Lieutenant
Thurlby is just "a years of age.
Tuesday evening, Nov. IL, 1918.
Dear Mother:-
Well, this has been one of the
must write you about it at once.
This day ranks with birth, marriage
and death for this evening / dined
prince, the royal family of Italy of
course. 1 am at Padua with Admiral
Mayo on the trip of which l wrote
you last time, but little did l think
then that I would dine with the king.
1 only hoped to see him, but as you
may not know. Admiral Mayo is our
second highest ranking naval officer
and as such is parsonage worthy
of notice by king. Even he, how
ever, did not think that he would be
invited to dine with his majesty. But
this morning the invitation came and
included all his staff, even little me-
The dinner was thrilling, but I en-
ioyed it thoroughly after two
minutes nervousness at the very
start
And mother. after dinner the
queen came to me and asked me how
old / was, saying that l looked very
young to be a naval officer in a for
! Hgn country. Upon reaching the
hotel Captain Jackson, chief of staff,
told me that during dinner had
been the subject of conversation be-
tween her majesty and the lady-1n
waiting, who sat at Captains right,
in which she asked him about my age
etc. (which he didn't know and she
said that l was very much a gentle
man. Your son was very gentle.
1 sat between the major general
and the man of honor. the husband
OF the lady-in-waiting, Coute Trinta
and as neither spoke English, was
compelled to speak Italian and
French. I got along pretty well by
answering their questions and pass
ing few phrases / had prepared
concerning our visit to the front and
my impressions of Venice yesterday.
The general also asked me how old I
was, and it so Happened that he was
exactly forty years older than me,
and he complimented me upon being
\ lieutenant at so early an age
The plates, cups and all eating
utensils were solid silver, and the
service was no more elaborate than
at the ambassadors dinner. The
dinner consisted of soup, chicken,
( beef steak and fruit with garrish-
| ings. Afterwards came coffee and
cigarettes.
The queen also said that I looked
no older than the crown prince, who
rs fourteen and magnificent look
ing chap. He spoke a few words to
me telling me that he had just en-
tered the military academy, but that
he was equally fond of the navy.
l drank to you all, one at tim
thinking of you, and decided to take
cigar. to send home to dad. but ]
had only edged my way toward the
taEle where they were when we lined
up to say good night.
Well l must close so Commander
Callan may have chance to sleep
Today we visited Mount Grapua or
he front. Tomorrow morning W,
motor to the Prave, where the heavy
fighting was a short time ago.
got two helmets, (Austrian) and ;
German trench knife today for sou
venirs and my dinner card at The
table tonight.
will have lots to write as soon a!
have the time.
Excitedly and affectionataly.
Your Son,
Horo1,