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22 January 1906 — Calcutta | |
Monday. 22nd [January 1906]. Nela & I drove into the town to find out from Thos: Cooks about our tour home thro’ Burmah, Ceylon & Japan. It took us a long time to discuss & we left it in Cook’s hands to make us out a scheme– I went to call on my old friend Mme de Martino who is staying with her daughter who is married to Count Quadt the German Consul Genl here. I had known Elisabeth de Martino when we both were young at Madrid—when she was a nice looking young woman with beautiful fair hair down to her feet. Now I find that she has grown stout & has also lost any good looks she had & dyed her hair a dark colour to hide the grey. However she was not changed in manner & we were delighted to meet again. Her husband had been the cause of so much unhappiness in my family that I had been obliged to drop even poor Elisabeth who must also have greatly suffered thro’ his behaviour. He died last year & so I am able to renew the old friendship with his wife. The daughter is a nice looking woman very talkative—perhaps too much so. In the afternoon Mrs Harington took us to a party held at the Museum at which the Viceroy & his family were present—& all the bigwigs of Calcutta. I made acquaintance with the Post Master Genl Sir Arthur Fanshawe, with the Bishop of Calcutta & his wife Mrs Girdlestone, Mr Havill the head of the school of art, the Lieut. Govr & Lady Fraser & many others. We had tea at a buffet with the Viceroy’s party– The Museum seems to be a new thing. There was a very remarkable picture of an Elephant procession by the Russian Weraschine, who was killed at Port Arthur. Very fine colouring & good drawing. Unfortunately the picture is too big for the room it is in. Opposite hangs a bad also large picture of the Delhi Durbar elephant procession by an Englishman painted “to order”– There was also an indifferent portrait by Reynolds. In one gallery is a fine french bureau presented by the King. It is the one always used by Queen Victoria when she wrote her Indian despatches. There is also a good model of an old fashioned E. India Co ship which is still lying in the river. The Haringtons dined out. Miss Waldegrave dined with Nela & me. | |
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