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24 May 1910 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Tuesday. 24th [May 1910]. The poor murdered Stucky was buried today & the whole town showed its respect & honor. At 9.30 I went off in gondola to the Palazzo Grassi—one of the finest of the Venetians palaces as the Grand Canal which Stucky had bought a couple of years ago & in which the family had lately taken up their abode. Traversing the great court yard which was full of friends of the family—one went up the fine staircase from which looked down the fine figures painted in fresco by Tiepolo—all in their seventeenth century costumes & masks—on into the room where the coffin lay on the floor covered with a pall—one went down another small staircase wh brought one back to the court yard. Thence I went by the narrow streets which led to the Piazza San Stefano. It was difficult to get along as the procession of men carrying numerous wreaths extended all the way & the streets are so narrow that the wreaths which were very big almost blocked them up. All the shops were shut in the town the 2 hours that the funeral lasted. I got into the Church of S. Stefano & found a seat with the other ladies who were there in quantities. The coffin came soon after 10 & was laid on the floor in the centre of the aisle & the service began. The big church was soon filled with a respectful crowd & deputations of every sort & of workmen from Stucky’s mills & the service began. It was musical & was very well performed. The whole congregation was very quiet & reverential. I had never before seen a service in a R.C. Church so nicely conducted. The arrangements were perfect. I thought that one could see that the parroco is a gentleman by birth who knew how things ought to be done. He is in fact of a good Venetian family & has made people take an interest in his church & contribute eno’ money to restore it. The whole of the walls & ceiling are covered with 17 ceny decorations which had been covered with white wash. He got this removed & the effect is good. The whitewash is supposed to have been done as a disinfectant after the plague. When the service was over the funeral carriage went to the Iron bridge where speeches were made & from whence they proceeded in gondola to the station. I came home straight by 12 o’cl. Lady Ancaster & her daugr had been out to the Academy & the rest somewhere & we all met at 1 o’cl lunch. At 4 went out in gondola with Lady A. & her girl & Helen Johnson to the Eden’s garden which is just at the height of beauty from the roses. Had tea there & stayed some time. Mr Alick Yorke & Hugh Whitaker came to dinner & I had my usual Tuesday eveng reception afterwards. Some nice Swedes of the name of Magnus friends of the Montalbas, father, mother & 2 girls came &c, &c. It was a lovely moon light night. We tried in vain to see Halley’s comet which ought to have been visible. | |
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