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13 June 1907 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Thursday. 13th [June 1907]. Heavy scirocco. After lunch I went off to the Hospital & paid a visit to Miss Chaffey to talk over business. Home at 4. Angela called for me before 5 & we went to the “Corsair” for her to see over it as Mr Morgan had told me to bring her any afternoon. But he & the Capt. being both out they wd not let us on board & begged us to return tomorrow. We went on to the public gardens & there sat till 7 o’cl . Poor Angela—it is sad how many deceptions come to her through her riches– One by one she finds out her friends to be false to her & to be only wanted to get money out of her. She said today that she wished she were poor again! & had the affection of her 4 children wh were lost to her from the time she became rich. She is a clever woman—& good & born with fine interests—if not she would have succumbed ere this—but she is clever & cannot be taken in & knows the world. At 9 o’cl came under the windows of this house a big boat full of “giovano operaie”—young work girls who have joined a club. Under the care of Signorina Gosetti they came. First they sang under my windows & I went down to the front door & invited them to come in wh they did. There were abt 30 of them & they came up stairs & went round the rooms admiring every thing. One of them presented me with a bouquet of flowers & read out a compliment then another girl called Maria Campagnol read out a pretty little speech written in the pure Venetian compliment. They said she had written it in ½ hour but I think it had been composed by Srina Gosetti. The rooms lighted with electricity are bright and pretty & the girls admired every thing & always kept saying “E con paradiso.” In the long hall they sang a couple of songs & then at 10 went into the dining room & formed a circle round. Then we ladies helped them to lemonade & cakes & sweets. They were very polite & good mannered saying “Troppo onoro”—“Non meritiome il disturbo” &c &c. They sang a last Venetian song & then I led them down stairs. The door of the ground floor apartment being open they peeped in so I took them in to see the best bed rooms “per gli ospeti.” “He capio, per I foresti” they said. As they filed out at the door to return to their boat each girl kissed my hand & made a little curtsey. Once all on board they sang Ave Maria of Giordegiano & gave “evvivas” & waved their handkerchiefs & went off singing down the canal. Mme Malagola & I sat talking for an hour when Guido came to fetch her home & I went to bed. My little Venetian fête had been a decided success. | |
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