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30 July 1900 — 3 Savile Row | |
Monday. 30th [July 1900]. Today another terrible tragedy. The assassination of the King of Italy! The horror of it!! The world is indeed growing daily more horrible. I went out this morning to see my Dr (Adensell) at 10.30. I sat talking some time with him—the conversation turned on the Empress Frederick. He said there is a report she is married to Count Seckendorff! It is the old story invented by the French some time ago served up fresh. I told him so. I thought if they only knew what I do they would not think the poor Empress’ mind was running on marriage. But the world is cruel—& thoughtless. I told him I had this very morning heard from the controller of her household Baron Reischach to say I may pay H.M. a visit at the end of Aug. & he said Count Seckendorff was absent. We also fell talking over Mr B. Coutts & his attack on the Army Medical System & he said it would be a boon if he could reform it. On leaving the Dr who lives in Up. Brook St. I went by Gros: Sqr to Lower Brook Street to Blanche’s shop & arranged with Miss Lang who has succeeded Miss Jefferys as secy about some work to be done by the Irish girls. I was walking home from there when I saw to my horror a boy with a great placard having in large letters “Assassination of the King of Italy”– I at once bought a paper & found it was too true– The dastardly crime was committed last night by an Anarchist. It quite staggered me– We are indeed living in troublous times—& one horror succeeds another only too quickly. The same paper also tells how 5000 Boers have surrendered—so that the war seems to be drawing to its end. But on the other hand no news from Pekin & the Chinese still maintain the Ministers are alive—this cannot be true—but the mystery & suspense are awful. Nellie returned home fm Peterboro at 12. The Pastoral Play there acted by the Alderson family has been a great success. I telegraphed condolences to Marquis Guiccioli the Chamberlain to the Q. of Italy at Rome. I can think of little else– The good Queen Margaret in sorrow & the horror of it all– Nellie brought a Mr Watt a fellow actor to lunch. At 3 I drove in a hansom to Bethlem to see Miss Lyons. She was out in the enclosed yard. She looked better but would not speak—so I did not remain long. Walked home. Called at Mr Wainwrights but he is abroad. Stopped at Mr Bains & ordered some books. He showed me a book of photos of the Dss of Devonshire’s Jubilee fancy dress ball– Some of the portraits are excellent & artistic—but the book costs £40 & does not easily sell. Got home for 5 o’cl tea. Went out afterwards & drove in a hansom to call on Mrs Holmes White as she was out drove straight home & rested & read till dinner. Duncannon dined with me & Nellie & we talked over the Venezia-Murano Glass Co of which he is now a Director & which was founded at Venice by Henry to encourage the making of artistic glass. | |
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