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6 February 1899 — Rome | |
Monday. 6th [February 1899]. While dressing in the morning I received a telephone message from the Dss of Sermoneta to ask if I would go with her this morning to the meet of the hounds & on my assenting she called for me in her carriage abt 10. Her daughter Donna Gesvanella was with her in her habit as she was going to ride. The meet was on the Via Momentana & there were a great many people about 150. We got out of the carriage & walked about among the horses & “Nella” got on her horse. We followed the field for a while in the fields to try & see some of the sport– We saw a few people jump some [illegible word] & finally we gave up the chase & drove back to Rome. It was rather cold day & there was no sunshine but with such a charming companion it was a pleasant excursion. We spoke of society & people at Venice. The Dss spoke of Countess Anina Morosini & regretted that her son Leoni Castani should have been so taken with the Css whom we agreed to be a vulgar woman & to have had a bad influence on Leoni. Ada said as he was now 24 she hoped he would settle down & marry—& that she could scarcely believe that the friendship has been platonic. That Css Morosini when she comes to Rome is very insolent to her (the Dss!)—& shown still more her ill breeding in that way. I lunched with Ada & then walked back to the hotel by about 2. At 5 I walked to Pal. Bonaparte to pay a visit to Mme Westenberg on her “day.” There were not many people there. Lady Vivian came late & we left there together & I went to enquire after Mme de Hurtado who seemed better. I remained but a short time. Dined with Mme de Bülow & Lady Louisa Legge– Dressed afterwards & Ersilia & Ct Canevaro called for me at 10 & took me to pay an evening visit to Countess Lavaggi where I made the acquaintance of her daughter Donna Giulia. The house is modern & beautifully kept & nicely furnished. There were several people there as people called in an informal way. I made the acquaintance of the Danish Minister Ct Reventlow & of several young men. Donna Giulia without being strictly beautiful is tall, handsome & very lively. Her hair is inclined towards golden & pretty & curly. She is full of go & seems the sunbeam of the house. The Marchesa, who has been very beautiful, & one can see it, was very pleasant—tho’ she has a stiff manner—the result of a kind of stroke she had some time ago & wh prevents her moving her head & arms much. Mrs Draper the wife of the American Ambr was mentioned at which the Marchesa asked me if I had heard what Col. Draper had said to his wife & wh was so shocking & she proceeded (before all the men) to tell me that Mrs Draper had said she was determined not to decolleté herself, at wh her husband had answered “It is a pity my dear, when you have such lovely bosoms”!! I was duly shocked & hoped that the young men present had not understood English eno’ to be also shocked. The Marchese came in just before we left & he showed me the portrait of Da Giulia by Lenbach which we agreed is abusing. He seems a nice old man– Got to bed abt 12. | |
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