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18 May 1906 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Friday. 18th [May 1906]. Count Seckendorff & his cousin left me at the end of this week returning to Germany. The Count took with him several of the stones I had bought in Ceylon to have them set for me in Germany– I intend to sell them for the benefit of the Cos: Hospital in a small sale I shall get up in London in Nov. Towards the end of the month I had a visit from the English Ambassador & Lady Egerton who came up from Rome to stay with me. She is a Russian & Sir Edwin met her in Greece where he was for many years a Minister. She was then a widow. Speaks English like a native & is very agreeable & intelligent. We got to be great friends she & I & Sir Edwin was very friendly. We were sorry to part when the moment came. Marchese Cassis & his wife joined our party on Sunday & they all left for Rome together on the following Thursday. After their departure I allowed Sear the cook I had had on a job, to return to England—thus putting an end to the reception of more guests & for a week or ten days the food I eat was prepared by the kitchen girl under the superintendence of Baker my maid. At last an Austrian woman was found & I engaged her to come & cook for me. A week afterwards I had a letter from Maria Bartoli, the Valdensian girl who had formerly been my cook & who had left me in a moment of rage. She begged me to give her a recommendation as she was leaving her present place & searching for another. I sent for her & arranged that she shall return to my service as soon as she is free which she said was abt 10 July. One morning I arranged to meet the Sindaco Count F. Grimani at the Cosmopolitan Hospital to show him over it. He expressed himself pleased. He had been so antagonistic to the plans that when Princess Christian did the opening ceremony he would not be present—so I was anxious he should go there. Of course he had taken into his not over wise head that I had arranged the institution as a means for religious propagandism—& the authorities of the Civil Hospital had also heard of a rival with displeasure– Another day I invited Dr Franchi to meet me & to see the Hospital. He was also very enthusiastic in his praise of it. At the beginning of June Mr & Mrs Rodman Griscom came to Venice. I had invited them to stay with me but they preferred to go to the hotel. However I took them about every day & they lunched with me daily. I lunched several times with Baroness Reinelt at the Hotel Victoria & she dined with me so the time slipped away & the heat increased. I tried to make the Hospital Report for the year 1905–6 & was worried over it daily. I got my maid Baker to help me & we daily hammered away at it. Then came Mr Montalba to the rescue & things are going better but it is not yet finished. | |
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