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23 July 1907 — Mezzaratta, Bologna | |
Tuesday. 23rd [July 1907]. After a cooler night it was a pleasant day wh we spent as usual sitting all the morning working at beads & talking Da Laura, Ct Taverna & I till lunch. After lunch again we sat on the terrace till 2 when each retired to their room, the others to sleep—I to read & we met again in the drawing room at 4—had tea & embroidered. Css Zucchini came in twice in the course of the day to talk– At 7 we 3 went down the hill to meet a carriage wh was to take us to dine with Marchesa Talon at her villa. We went down the hill in a little carriage—& Css Zucchini did the same. On the Bologna road the hired carriage took us up. The Talon villa was in a very pretty place. The Marchesa’s 2nd son did the honors, there were several other people there; a young Ct Vitalleschi who played the piano very brilliantly, & Ct & Css Pelliccioni & Sra Chantre a pretty young woman– We were 10 in all & it was a lively party. The old Marchesa is very grande dame & very amiable. There was also a boy, the son of the young count who was a good looking lad of 15 but dressed in the most ridiculous baby fashion—in a white muslin blouse fit for a girl hanging over the waist of his black short kneed trousers. His hair parted & curled! He was accompanied by a governess! Had he been an English boy he would have been at Eaton or Harrow & looked a man. They even called him “Bebé”!! It is in bringing up boys in this fashion they become fools & soft & knaves! It made me feel quite indignant. His mother was dead & so he is naturally a great pet—poor child. He sat at a side table with the governess & disappeared after dinner. The dinner was excellent and the glass & china of the best & old fashioned. There were lovely things in glass cases & afterwards the Marchesa took us to her private room wh was full of interesting family souvenirs, miniatures, portraits &c. The family of Talon was a good French extraction & the Marchesa was of a good Italian family & has kept her nice things. We sat in the ball room to hear the playing of Ct Vitalleschi at one end of which is a charming little stage now never used. We also sat in the arcade or kind of green house wh seems to run along the front of the villa. Da Laura was in very good humour & even began to dance when a polka was played. We got home abt 11—it was a delightful night moonlit & quite cool. On returning to Mezzaratta, Senatore Taverna had news that the Ex Minister Nasi imprisonment is confirmed by the Senate to stand his trial. There had been an attempt to get him liberated & there had been a special meeting of the Senate to decide the matter. | |
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