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3 May 1904 — Rome | |
Tuesday. 3rd [May 1904]. Eda came to me in the morning & I had a visit from Css Pasolini & she took Eda away with her. She promised to come & pay me a visit at Venice soon. Lunch at 12.30 & afterwards the Queen took us down to the ground floor to see the linen rooms. We found 6 girls in neat cotton frocks all ironing a sheet together. When the Queen approached they all curtsied at the same time & then went on ironing. Mimi di Valmarina has the superintendence of the linen department & did the honors—the wife of the Queen’s coiffeur is the manageress so it is all kept with care & precision. She delighted to take out specimens of the lovely linen to show us. I enjoyed most the plain fine damasks & sheets—not being fond of linen embroidered & inlaid with fine laces & in colours. After the Queen had dismissed us I walked out & called on Css Brazzà in the Via Pinciana close by. I had to explain to her the failure of her pet scheme for the Lavori feminite at Venice. We had tea with H.M. in the garden & she very kindly invited Eda to come which was a great delight & honor for her. The Queen liked her & admired her frank manner & good looks– There was a diplomatic dinner at the Palace this evening in honor of the Chinese Ambassador who came in beautiful embroidered costume and brought a secretary who fortunately could speak French & serve as interpreter. There were also some ministers of the present Govt– Sr Orlandi the Minister for Public Works took me in to dinner. He is rather a rough diamond. We spoke of the rebuilding of the Venice Campanile & he said it was the worry of his life being under his care. He said he was “neither an engineer nor the son of an engineer” & knew nothing about building, but 2 architects had failed to build it & now it was being built by a committee of 5 who did not agree amongst themselves about it. After this H.E. [illegible word] turned his back upon me till towards the end of dinner he seemed to have an inkling who I was & was a little more polite. We went straight into the white drawing room after dinner & sat en circle for a while when the Q. rose & retired making me a sign to follow her & I remained with her for another hour till bed time. I am very glad to find that no one smokes before the Queen nor did she smoke herself as all the Italian ladies do at Venice. The Chinese Ambr is a fat jolly looking old man with twinkling eyes—both he & his secy wore gold spectacles which seemed part of their costume. | |
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