 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
14 July 1903 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Tuesday. 14th [July 1903]. This day last year the Campanile fell. This morning’s papers bring worse news of the Popes health. He really seems to be dying—poor old man– I finished the copy of the Gian Bellini portrait. Had a visit from Mr Harston & before he left me in came Monsr Sandalgian—they just shook hands & Mr Harston left. The former sat with me a long time & told me he had been very unwell since that day he had met Mr Harston here from the result of the emotion he had gone through & his imagination had been so excited that while talking to Mr Harston he had suddenly become faint & thought he saw his mother appearing to warn him not to leave the R.C. church. However he said he still was determined to do so—but he would defer it for another year till he could make his arrangements so as to be financially independent. That he was trying for one of the Swedish Nobel literature prizes wh he hoped might bring him 5000 fcs & that he wd go to Constantinople & settle his family affairs & so be able to live in England at his own expense. He said he must also accustom his heart to the change wh head told him was reasonable– In fact things are to remain as they are– He was quite cheerful & rather amusing. He was bitter against the Sultan who he said came of a cruel race & had shown it by the massacre of the Armenians his countrymen. He also said that Russia was preparing with the Balkan provinces to make war on the Sultan in Sept. to drive him out of Europe—& that England will let them do it. The Sultan will have to retire to Brusa– Then the talk fell on the illness of the Pope & the report of the head of the English Freemasons speech about it– I had great difficulty in persuading Monsgr Sandalgian that Freemasons in England are good respectable people & Christians. It was not easy to make him believe that they are anything but deists. After lunch I worked at my wax figure of the fisher boy. It was hot, stormy & overcast & rained off & on—but at 5 I started off for a walk—& called at the Montalbas to ask Clara to come to dine with me—& then went on to Mr Harstons to tell him abt Monsgr Sandalgian & he walked home with me the rain having ceased. On arriving I found Clara at my house. We strung bead necklaces after dinner till 10.30 when I took her home in gondola & returned home to bed– | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |