 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
15 April 1909 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Thursday. 15th [April 1909]. About 10 a.m. arrived a steam launch with a message from the Emperor to say he would call upon me at 11.15. I was taken by surprise as all the times he had been in Venice he had never noticed me—but—the house was being got into summer trim—the double windows were being removed & replaced by the wooden shutters. The workmen had at once to be ejected & the drawing rooms wh were in disorder to be arranged—this was hastily done & all was in order when we saw the Emperor’s boat was at the door of the Mocenigo Palace opposite us. There were several launches round about & gondolas full of Americans & Germans watching for a sight of him. At 11.15 the big blue barge manned by 12 rowers drew up to our door. I met it on the door step accompanied by Oscar Guest—the rest of my party, Hallam Murray, Ola & Mr Talboys remained up in the hall & I there presented them. To my surprise the Empress accompanied the Emperor—they both greeted me cordially & she said she had not met me in Venice since 1883—wh was true because she had never noticed me here since. The Emperor said he hoped he had not disturbed me too early in the day & was very cordial. I led them into the drawing rooms & the Empress & I sat in the centre drawing room on the sofa under the great Gian Bellini, & began to chat & I had Turkish coffee served– We talked of the Empress Frederick & of Pss Charlotte & she noticed her miniature wh I wore from my neck. I asked after her health wh the Emp: said was not good & spoke of her way of covering her face with powder. I said I regretted it & had tried to dissuade her from putting it on. We spoke of hospitals & she said she would have liked to go & see my hospital here but she had no time. While we were sitting talking the Emperor with the suite were going round the rooms looking at the pictures under the lead of Ola. It appears he was most struck with the Madonna & Child of Luini & said if it were missed from its place we should know where to look for it. The Empress gave but a hasty glance round at the pictures—evidently not understanding much about them. I was wearing the miniature of Pss Charlotte Meiningen round my neck & they both of them noticed it. I said she often stayed with me & I enquired after her health wh they said was not satisfactory. The Empress said what a pity it is that Pss C. will cover her face with powder wh makes her look more ill. I purposely wore this portrait to show my affection for the Pss knowing that she is not in favor with her brother. By the time the party had gone round the rooms & had returned to the corner drawing room & stood & talked a bit Their Majesties made a motion of going– I asked them to [write] their names in my book which they did & then I accompanied them down to the door & the Empr jumped in first to the barge & took the steering gear wh I observed is arranged for a one handed man– The Canal was covered with gondolas full of people waiting to see them come out of this house—& there were various launches—police &c to escort the Emperor. He had remained about ½ hour & had been very gracious. In the afternoon Oscar & I went to write our names on their M’s at the yacht Hohenzollern– On getting near the officer made us a sign to wait as they were just leaving the ship. We waited awhile & as it was getting late & we were going to meet them at tea at Countess Papadopoli’s we determined to return later– On getting to Palazzo P. we found the Emperor was already there (4.30). He had been to lunch with Css Morosini & had come here direct from there. There was a short interval before the Empress arrived straight from the Hohenzollern. It appears that she would not accompany the Kaiser to the luncheon at the Css Morosini—it is supposed because she does not approve of his devotion to the beauty. Everyone thinks the Kaiser’s admiration to be entirely platonic & I hear that he even thinks that he is able to influence the lady in a religious sense & has taught her to read her Bible which he said no other R.C. Italian ever does. The other day at lunch at the Bülows Css Morosini said to me that she had gone into our church (wh is next door to her house) & had admired it & that “she had a great sympathy for the Prot. religion! Well, soon after the arrival of the Empress at Pal. Papadopoli when everyone there had made their bows tea was prepared & everyone sat down to that meal at small tables laid out in the centre hall, the Empress had me on her right & her hostess on her left—opposite the Kaiser had Css Miari & Css Wallis Mocenigo– Countess Morosini & Css Papadopoli who sat next to me completed the little party. Just as we were going to sit down—the Emperor ran round the table & taking my parasol from my hand placed it in a corner while Css Papadopoli did the same for the Empress– I apologised saying that it was my habit never to give up my parasol to the servants at the door especially as any nice handle it might have was the gift of his sister Pss Charlotte who always declared that I never have a decent one unless she gives it to me– The Kaiser laughed & said “you are like my wife, she always holds on to hers.” He was in high spirits & insisted most of the time in talking to me in English across the table much to my embarrassment as I knew that our host did not understand that language. I made various little efforts to turn the talk into French but H.M. insisted & I had to give it up. He spoke of Assyriology & began to enumerate the different kings of Assyria who he said were 70 in number. He described the tableaux he had arranged in Berlin last year representing the figures depicted on the slabs discovered by Henry & said that if I would come to Berlin he wd have them specially done for me– I wish to educate my people, he said, on this—in Germany till now no one had taken any interest in it. (I thought how frantic the German professors wd be could they hear him). The Empress, next whom I sat, turned to me said “Oh if you & the Emperor once begin on that subject you will never stop.” I told H.M. that I had heard from old Mr Rassam that the tableaux where to take place as he had been invited to Berlin to see them & had not been able to go on account of his great age. In the course of talk some one said that the modern chairs were very slenderly made & were not very safe for a heavy weight. The Emperor said—“yes this big old arm chair is safe & I sit so high I appear to be presiding at a meeting.” He thereupon struck an attitude lent back, put his arm on his side rolled his eyes & burst out laughing like a child. He spoke all languages fluently using German with our hostess & Countess Morosini. As soon as we rose from table, Css Papadopoli fetched the Empress’ parasol & handed it to her—the Emperor flew to the corner where he had placed mine—& taking it from the ADC who had forestalled him he presented it to me– After a few minutes the royal party were led upstairs by our hosts to see the rest of the house & soon after took leave & returned to the Hohenzollern– Oscar Guest & I thought it our duty to go there to write our names so after waiting a short time to allow the Royal party to get well away we jumped into our gondola & taking Baroness Gisella Hellenbach (our hostess’ sister) with us who was bent on the same errand we rowed there. On reaching the ship we saw the Emperor & Empress looking over the side of it & waving to us. Rather confused we asked the officer who came to the ladder if we cd write our names without disturbing their Majesties. Having assured us we could so we went on board. After writing we found the Empress’ lady Baroness Keilen waiting for us & she asked us to go & see her room. There we were soon joined by the Empress who brought me her photograph duly signed—& then she invited us to see her own cabin & proceeded on to the photographs of all her children, taking us into her bed cabin & into the drawing room. Soon we were joined by Ct & Css Wallis Mocenigo who had also come intending to sign their Majesties’ book & had also been invited into the Empress’ cabin. We were there talking a few minutes when in came the Emperor himself carrying a large photo of himself which he had signed & presented to me. We all (ladies) sat down & the Emperor stood over my chair & talked most pleasantly with me. He spoke of the late visit of our King & Queen to Berlin & showed me sketches by his favorite marine painter of the ships on that occasion. By this time it was past 8 p.m. & at last they gave us the signal to depart– I mistook the door & the Emperor went into fits & said “you are making for the bedroom.” This created a diversion—& we retired accompanied by the Emperor to the top of the companion ladder where he took an empressé farewell kissing my hand. I am quite at a loss to account for so much graciousness from a person who hitherto has often been to Venice & ignored my existence—his court not even returning my cards. I think he is trying to be civil to the English after our King’s visit to Berlin. They depart tomorrow for Corfu where he has his villa. We came home late to dinner & talked over all the stirring events of the day. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |