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8 May 1900 — 3 Savile Row | |
Tuesday. 8th [May 1900]. Princess (Aimée) Cariati came to stay with me today. I knew her first at Constantinople when she was a girl of 15. Then at 17 she married a Swedish naval officer with whom she was very unhappy & whom she divorced. Her father, M. d’Ehrenhoff, was Swedish Minister at Constantinople & she returned to him there—& then met & married Prince Cariati. Their 2 boys are at school in England & she has come over to see them. Her husband is now at Madrid in the Italian Embassy there. She arrived here at 11 with her bags—deposited her luggage & then went to shop & returned in the afternoon. At 12 I went off to see my sister Maria. Sat with her & then took a hansom & drove to the city & went to 14 Throgmorton St to Mr E. Cazenove’s office & he thence accompanied me to the Mansion House & we lunched with the Lord Mayor. There were several other ladies & gentlemen there whose names I did not discover. They all seemed to be there on business—the ladies to talk over different Bazaars now being prepared. A great “National” Bazaar & another in aid of War Funds being in deadly rivalry. The Lord Mayor lead me into lunch & I sat on his right. On my right sat the permanent Sec, Mr Soulsby. We began the meal with the traditional turtle soup. Half way thro’ the meal the Ld Mayor excusing himself for leaving me got up & went the round of the table to the different gentlemen & standing over them bent down over them discussing with them their various business. When he came to Mr Cazenove, who was opposite me I heard & joined in & explained what we are doing about the Convalescent Home—& asked the Lord Mayor to help us from his Fund. I had with me a written statement of our work which I handed over to the secretary Mr Soulsby whom I found was the right person to get the work done with. We finally agreed that the Ld Mayor shd give me £250 down but that it was to ration our patients with. This was agreed to. The Ld Mayor soon after disappeared on business. We were about 20 of us at luncheon in a handsome room & a well appointed table. The Ld Mayor sat at the side of the table in the centre. I was next to him. The Lady Mayoress sat at the end. She was very smartly dressed & wore a hat. We were told off to walk into lunch with a gentleman who however did not offer the lady his arm. I suppose this is to mark the difference between going to luncheon & going to dinner. When the Ld Mayor had gone the Lady Mayoress came & sat by me & we talked again abt the Layard Home & on hearing we had got only £250 from her husband advised us to apply shortly for £250 more. I then took leave & I & Mr Cazenove went away. I went home. I telephoned to ask if Adeline Dss could see me & she appointed 4 at wh time I went to her & explained all & then returned here to tea & found Reggie & Mary Alderson. I had a cable from Capetown telling me to send out servants for the Home & wrote to Williams to get some. Mary Alderson & Onie & Irène Ponsonby dined here– | |
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