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24 July 1910 — Salsomaggiore | |
Sunday. 24th [July 1910]. I took an affect. leave of the Italian Lady who sat at the table next to mine at meals & with whom I now always engaged in conversation. I did not find out her name. I reassured the Director of the Hotel who was in a state of mind because he thought I was leaving the Hotel because I was not well served—& then walked up to the Hotel Thermes & found all the Tavernas & their friends sitting out on the broad terrace of the hotel under a bower of green leaves. I was introduced to many ladies whose names I hope to acquire with time. Abt 3 retired to me room & there remained till dinner at 7.30 when I dined at table d’hôte at a table next Marchesa Adda Somoni of Venice. It was too cool to sit out after dinner on the terrace so we foregathered in the centre hall. Made the acquaintance of a Prof. Fano of Florence a delightful & much travelled man who knew England well & is an enthusiastic admirer of my country & says there is in no other country such wonderfully ordered Museums & Galleries. He even admires our dear old smoky town of London. He has travelled all over India & was delighted to compare notes with me on that country. He has been in Constantinople & like the Turks as much as I do– In fact when 11 o’cl came & it was time to go to bed I went refreshed by contact with as illuminated mind—the more refreshing after the last weeks isolation. I remained on at Hotel des Thermes for more than a week & made more pleasant acquaintances, Mme Mylius a Swiss lady who is established at Milan, a Protestant & very nice, quiet, refined, Signora Ester Erengrini, née Ponti, sister of Conta Pasolini of Rome & her daughter; Mme Soffia a very good looking young woman who comes from Alexandria; Marchesa Protti & her aunt; & Countess Jeanette Dal Verone di Bobbio– The last named is a character & very amusing & as she was alone at a table at meals we agreed to join at one table which made it very pleasant for me. She likes to laugh & is full of humour. We struck up a friendship. I took my iodine bath of a morng early & remained in my room till 12. After lunch we sat out on the terrace all chatting till 3 when I returned to my room. At 5.30 Baker & I took an hour’s walk along the road leading up the valley, the only place where there was any shade, returning in time to dress for dinner at 7.30. Sat chatting in the hall till 10.30 & then bed—so the days passed. On Sunday 31st Count Nani Mocenigo came from Venice to see Css del Verone who is trying to arrange a marriage for him with a young French girl whom he has not yet seen. It is curious how they both talked of it openly before me. He is in the Italian navy seems a very steady youth. He told me had had been engaged to Contessina Pia Valmarana who had jilted him & made him very sad for some time. He left to return to Venice the next day. He told us that the bathing season at the Lido at Venice is now at its height—& that the fun is fast & furious. That some of the ladies live in tight fitting maillots & merely wear of cloak over it. That on the eveng of St Anna, Countess Morosini had given a dance & that there was a feud because Mrs Eustis a little American bride had invited the Duke of the Abruzzi to dinner the same eveng & caused the Morosini great anger. Mrs Eustis had asked the whole Venetian society to her house in the eveng & only 5 people went to her. I was very sorry when Prof. Fano left with Mme Mylius. He showed me a little Blick type writer made in aluminum he has for travelling & he ordered me one when he passed thro’ Milan on leaving. It is very light & I am glad to possess it. | |
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