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11 June 1904 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 11th [June 1904]. There have been days of storms which have hovered round us and given showers wh do not seem to cool the air much. However this afternoon’s storm did better work & some steady rain fell in the evening. I set out for a row after tea but turned back deterred by the threatening look of things. Mrs Curtis & Lady Kenmare ventured out in the covered gondola & came to tea with me & looked round the house & pictures. Lady K being an art collector. The Prefect & Elsie Cassis came to dine to meet Baroness Reinelt. The latter left early in the evening & we sat on having much pleasant talk. The Prefect was loud in his praise of the Sicilians whom he declares make excellent people if well directed—but in every way are different to Italians. He says they are honest, hard working , proud of their post & patriotic. He also declares that Sicily is still so different from Italy that those who come from there here find themselves as in a foreign country. This Elsie says was the case with her when first she came to live in Italy having been brought up in Sicily. We talked about the populace here who, he said, were daily deteriorating—were more lazy, cynical & insolent every year. We spoke of the great want of good political men in Italy & how the upright set wh had come to the front during the first years of the Unity had entirely disappeared. I fear that few men of energy, activity, singleness of heart are now in affairs—such as in the Prefect himself. Let us home that they still exist & will turn up when the country is in need of them. | |
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