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5 January 1870 — Madrid | |
Wednesday. 5th [January 1870]. Did some writing for Henry & then accounts and took another singing lesson. In afternoon we drove to the Buen Retiro but 1st went to Mr Bauer where Henry had some business. There he heard that the Regent had been shot at while walking the day before in the Buen Retiro but that no one had been found or taken up. While walking in the Retiro we met the Canitzes also taking a constitutional & turned back a little way with them & then walked in the place where the wild beasts are kept. After dinner we dressed tho’ I had rather a headache & we went to Genl Sickles but being very early only 10! we found them lighting the candles & only the Genl & his daughter & mother a nice prim old lady. Later came the attachés amongst whom was Col: Hay whose acquaintance I made & who was very agreeable. I also made the acquaintance of Mrs Viscarrondo an American married to a Spaniard. She told me the meaning of all the noise which was going on in the streets tonight. She said it was the Eve of the feast of the 3 Kings of the East & that parties of men went about with ladders and lighting torches of straw pretending to look for the three Kings and that sometimes they get hold of an ignorant man from the country probably a water carrier & make him believe it is bona fide & make him go up the ladders & then make fun of him. When a few more people had arrived they began to dance, so I danced a quadrille with Mr Rosty and then we came home as I had a headache– A white fog tonight. | |
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