To George Sturgis
Hotel Danieli,
Venice. June 12, 1940
Dear George,
Your telegram, and the $2000 at Cook’s arrived safely, and your promptness has made it possible for me today, after 48 hours of uncertainty and delay, to get the $2000 into my pocket in the form of Cook’s Travellers’ cheques. This does not solve my difficulty, but it relieves it very much and makes me independent of my old and my new (not yet received) letter of credit.
Now for an account of what has occurred. Three days ago, the young cashier from Cook’s unexpectedly made me a visit. As I had drawn $500 a few days earlier, I was afraid he might come to get them back, on the ground that his draught could not be passed. But no; he said that was all right, but that he came on his personal initiative (he had nothing to do at his office, there being now no travellers) to say they had had orders not to pay any cheques or letters of credit in dollars (as well, of course, as in sterling) in the future; and that he came to suggest, if I expected to draw more money soon, that I should telegraph for it at once, as the order would not become operative until the following day. On getting further explanations, I gave him your address and authorized him to telegraph in my name. He would then let me have half the amount in Italian money and half in Cook’s cheques, which would be good if I decided to leave Italy later.
So that was arranged for the moment, and I had no trouble further than the disturbance to my philosophic peace of mind concerning earthly things.
That was on Sunday, June 9th; and on the Monday afternoon (morning in the U.S.) came your telegram to me. At half-past five I showed it to the cashier at Cook’s; and he said they too had had your reply (from New York) and that the money telegraphed had been sent for inspection to some head-office. It was just when the Piazza San Marco was filling with a great crowd gathering to hear through the radio and loud-speakers Mussolini’s speech in Rome announcing war. I went and had an orangeade in a quiet café round the corner, in the Piazzetta, looking at the domes of St. Mark’s, with their jolly gilded crosses sprinkled with gilded balls, not yet bombs.
Yesterday was discouraging: the money could not possibly be converted into Italian currency, and Cook’s cheques would be no good, because they too would not be cashed. But the cashier would see if through Switzerland, perhaps, he might not manage it.
This morning he sent a message, please to come at once to the office. I did so, and he said he could do nothing through Switzerland, but could give me the whole $2000 in Cook’s cheques, or have the money sent back to New York. I took the cheques, incidentally getting a thousand more lire in settling for the telegrams, etc: so that I feel happier, although uncertain whether I can go to Cortina or must attempt to leave Italy in whatever way may be possible. Inquiries are being made for me, and I will let you know what is decided.
Yours affly,
G. Santayana
From The Letters of George Santayana: Book Six, 1937-1940. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2004.
Location of manuscript: The Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge MA