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27 February 1899 — Rome | |
Monday. 27th February [1899]. I arranged my papers for tomorrow’s start for Venice. At 11.30 I went out for a walk. Up to the Pincio for a last turn up there & in hopes of meeting Lady Vivian. She was not there so I returned & walked by Trajan’s Forum to the Colosseum & then into the Roman Forum. It was after 12 o’cl—& there were no tourists about & so I had the whole place to myself & could wander about at will & could conjure up in my mind crowds of old Romans in the busy place & standing in the centre aisle of the Temple of Julia. I could imagine processions of crafty priests—the old old story of the ambition of man to have his fellow creatures in his power– It was a cold day—tramontana blowing—but a lovely bright sunshine & deep blue sky overhead. I walked up to the Campidoglio & down into the modern town & found myself brought down to the realities of the present. I got in a little late for lunch & joined Lady Louisa Legge at her table. At 3 I went out again to the Via Ripetta to buy a little present to send to Mme Riaño at Madrid thro’ the Span. Ambr who goes tonight to Madrid. I got her a small leather bag made by a man who works in book bindery, in the old way. One of the Italian artists of old times– I met Lady Vivian as I was coming away & agreed to meet her at Miss Wilson’s tea rooms at 5 which I did & then returned to the hotel & Lady L. Legge came & played patience for the last time in my sitting room till her dinner & then I dressed & went to dine at the Embassy English. Met Sir Wm & Lady Harcourt who are here for a short time. The American Ambassador & Mrs Draper. She is a handsome woman but enormously stout. I sat next him at dinner & Count Bosdari (Ethel’s husband) took me to dinner. Met also Count & Css Pasolini, Mr Sydney Sonnino, Mr Thadeus. It was decidedly a dull entertainment. Lady Currie was amiable, but for a woman who has the reputation of being clever, she appears to me remarkably silly & were rather missish. I left early. | |
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