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9 February 1901 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 9th [February 1901]. Last night’s storm seems to have cleared the air by this afternoon the sky was quite blue & serene & the sun shone brilliantly. I modelled & played the guitar in the morning & after lunch Mme Noce came & we played guitar music together for an hour. Then I took her home in my gondola & went to the Piazza & took a short walk returning home for tea. Heard of the death at Florence of Mrs Bronson who had lived here for many years & was quite a character. She was an American & came here many years ago with her husband who was under medical care from softening of the brain brought on by dissipation. They had one daughter—clever but plain who not long ago married the head of the Rucellai family at Florence. Mrs (Katharine De Kay) Bronson was pretty, smart & admired in her youth. Her husband died soon after they settled here—& she continued in the small Palazzina Alvisi opposite the Salute to keep open house & received all English & Americans residing here & passing thro’. She was rich & soon fell a prey to all who flattered her & begged of her. She had little idea of the value of money & gave away & spent recklessly– She had very good taste & had a house full of pretty bibelots. She delighted in hero worship & the poet Browning was her special adoration & with his sister often stayed with her. She was most kind & charitable & was a great favorite. Of late years she bought a tiny little house built on the walls of the old castle at Asolo & being in ill health remained there a great deal & having become exceedingly stout led a very inactive life & then had a stroke of paralysis. About a year ago she became a Roman Catholic after having had all her life a hankering to do so & at once fell a prey to priests & nuns. | |
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