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3 July 1907 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Wednesday. 3rd July [1907]. It is fine weather again. At 11 I went out in gondola—called at Hotel Victoria on Angela & home by 12. Found there Dss Ersilia Canevaro who has been away for a fortnight for a change of scene after the tragic death of her sister Maria. She has a queer disturbed look & it makes me anxious about her lest her brain should also give way, as the rest of her family. After lunch I modelled & typed till tea. At 5.30 Canon Ragg came & I took him to the Frari where we were invited to the fête given to the Giovane Operaie at which Queen Margherita was present and she gave away the prizes. It was a pretty sight. One of the cloisters of the old convent was arranged with carpets & chairs for the ladies invited. The girls were grouped in the centre round the old well & all round the cloister. The Royal march was played when the Queen arrived—& the girls afterwards sang a hymn written & conducted by Sr Taddeo Wiel. He & his wife came down from Belluno for a night for the occasion. She & I & pretty nice Countess Valmarana sat together. After the singing there were speeches read by Countess Brandolin (mère), Signorina Gosetti, & Maria Campagnol the Venetian—the girl who is always chosen out on these occasions to talk in the Venetian dialect. Her speech wh she accompanied with tremendous gesticulation was very animated and amusing & her Viva R. Margherita was responded to with great enthusiasm. After the ladies had been presented & kissed hands & the prizes had been given—the Queen was conducted into the Frari garden by the Malagola family & there a rinfresco was offered by them. I had sent my servant Giuseppe to serve & my cook had made the cakes—& a very pretty table was arranged. The old garden with the Frari church as background looked very gay & picturesque. The Q. came up to me & said a few kind words & said she was pleased to have Canon Ragg’s “Gospel of St Barnabas” wh I had sent her from him in the morning. I had hoped to present the Canon to her but there was no time. After saying a few words here & there to those present she hurried away as it was nearly 8 o’clock by then. Coming away a lot of the work girls who had been the other night at my house saw & gathered round me—to kiss & shake hands & to say they had not forgotten me & my house—& to show me their prizes– I took the Canon home to dine with me & afterwards we went to the Sailor’s Inst: where there was a very largely attended concert & 2 American ladies who sang. We did not remain late. | |
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