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29 October 1907 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Tuesday. 29th October [1907]. I had a tremendously busy day. Mr Montalba came at 9 a.m. to receive from me all the moneys for the hospital wh I have had & to carry it off to the bank. Mr Marzollo came to take leave. Prof: Trombini came to make a photo: of me. Miss Arbib came to give the last touches to the picture she has made of me. Bianca Arbib came to bid me goodbye & to fetch away her cousin. The Curtis & Raggs came to luncheon. Mrs Ragg went off straight to the station afterwards to go to Milan. The Canon returned & I took him to the Hospital where at 3.30 there was a Committee meeting. On arriving there I found all the nurses & servants drawn up in the hall to receive me—a touching respect invented by Sister Chaffey which I felt much. She very kindly wished to mark especially the realisation of all my work in raising this monument to my Henry’s memory & I am very grateful for the help & energy she has displayed since she has been here. Mr Horatio Brown, Mr Montalba, the Canon & I were the members of the Committee present. The Edens are still at Belluno & Dr van Someren telephoned that he was too busy to come. Sister C. conducted us over the establishment. She had adorned every place with flowers—& all was bright & scrupulously clean. Those of the Com: who had not been at the house since the alterations & additions were surprised & pleased & it was a great satisfaction to my heart. We had a committee meeting after the viewing & I then said to it that it was my intention to make over the property to the English community as soon as I could find the proper & legal way of doing so—& that the hospital was a memorial raised to my husband—after the business was over we had tea to wh we had bidden a few English & Americans of the community who were also loud in their praise of the arrangements & Lady Radnor offered £10 on the spot towards the expenses. Sister Chaffey was in her element. Sister Hoyllar, & a German nurse now with us helped to entertain the guests. Sister H. handed over to me a lovely miniature wh she had done for me from Passini’s portrait of Henry. Before taking to be a nurse she had been an artist especially in miniatures & she comes from an artistic family. There were no sailor patients but then three paying patients were visited. They were sitting out on the terrace having tea & smoking & looked very happy. I got home about 6—very tired but pleased & rested till after dinner wh I took upstairs in my studio. I received in the evening but owing to its being a very wet night very few people came. | |
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