 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
5 October 1884 — Bologna | |
Sunday. 5th October [1884]. As it was still raining this morng Henry & Morelli went out sightseeing without me. I read & wrote letters. At 11 o’cl they returned & we lunched at the Restaurant. At 12 we drove in a cab to the picture gallery where we met Mme Minghetti. From there we walked with her. We went to a pastry cook & took a little refreshment & then on to the Old University to the Public Library & Mme M. introduced us to the Librarian Signor Fratis a nice little old gentleman with a tongue like a clapper who at once offered to take us thro’ the library; when he had well understood who Henry was he rushed at him & shook hands with him again perfectly enchanted at finding in him the Discoverer of Nineveh & chuckling with pleasure. From the library wh was the old university & the walls of wh are covered with the arms of all the students, he opened a private door wh led into the Civic museum. But we got on slowly as the good old man pinned Henry every here & there & poured forth volumes on his favorite specimens & theories not leaving him breathing time for any answer. The whole place is beautifully arranged & kept & may be compared with the Museum at Copenhagen for order & arrangement. Mme Minghetti at last got so tired she left us & went home & I & Morelli sat on a bench & talked. When Henry tore himself away we went back to the Director’s room to see a little Francia wh belongs to the Library. We made the acquaintance of Signor Lamberti a very nice quiet man to whom Morelli said was due all the merit of the arrangement of the Museum. Then tired out we made our way back to our hotel abt 3.30. Rested a bit, dressed—& at 5.15 we drove off in a carriage with 2 horses up to Mezzaratta where we arrived without adventure to the very door– It was a wet evening but inside the house it was pleasant & cheery. Besides Blaverna the Syndic of Bologna Sr Taconi dined 6.30 at Mezzaratta & we had a very good dinner & pleasant talk. After dinner we spent the evening in the old church which our hosts have now turned into a great hall. Where the altar once stood is a great fireplace in wh were burning big faggots of wood. At the other end of the room is a billiard table—on the wall there are remains of Giottesque frescoes wh seemed to look down with astonishment on the scene which they were now made to witness. We all played games of billiards & were very merry. On the way up to Mezzaratta we passed Bonghi who arrived unexpectedly & dined there also. When we left at 10.30 we took him back to Bologna with us & he went on to Como. He had travelled all last night & was to travel all tonight. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |