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23 April 1912 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Tuesday. 23rd [April 1912]. We breakfasted a little before 9 & afterwards a Municipality 4 oared gondola arrived to take the Ambr & Lady Rodd to the opening of the exhibition & they joined the procession of boats wh started from the Municipio to fetch the Duke of Genoa from the Palace & to accompany him to the Public Gardens where there is the Exhibition. Off they went in a gondola with blue velvet cushions & gold fringes. The men in blue & gold liveries & knee breeches & tall silk hats with gold adornments. I went off in my own gondola, with the English flag, my men in white duck with blue silk sashes. I arrived at the Exn about ¼ before the ceremony began. There were very few ladies & a moderate number of men. The sound of the Royal march announced that the Duke of Genoa & his escort had arrived. A small dais was arranged on wh the Duke in full uniform took his place with the bigwigs round him. All stood while the Sindaco read out a speech—followed by one read by the Minister of Instruction Sr Cridaro– I could not hear either speech except stray words such as “Plato, arts, glory” by which I imagine I did not lose much. As soon as the speeches were over & the Exhibition declared open the Duke was conducted round the different rooms, going quickly round merely glancing to the right & left & there was such a bustle & so much pushing that I gave up all idea of trying to see the pictures & made my escape. On getting into the gondola I went in search of the rest of my party & soon found the gondola in wh they were & took the Duchess of Somerset into mine. We waited about for a long time in hopes of seeing the procession returning but they were so long coming & such a cold wind was blowing that we gave it up in despair & seeing the yacht Miranda had just arrived we went to it & paid a visit to Lord Leith of Fyvie & found with him a very handsome young Mrs Mitchell Henry & another lady & I invited them to come to me in the evening. We then went home to luncheon where all my party was reassembled. In the afternoon I went off to see Angela Reinelt & returned by 4 when I went out with the Rodds in their grand gondola. We went to the Eden’s garden & found them there & stayed some time, after wh we went to the Hospital to show over Lady Rodd—then to the Piazza where we were invited to tea at Lavena’s by Mr Arbuthnot. We found the Dss, Nela & Mr Sargent already there. The scene was lively, the day lovely & there were crowds of people. The Rodds walked home & I returned in my own gondola with Susan Somerset & took an hour’s rest before dinner. Lord & Lady Brassey dined with us & Hugh Whitaker making our party 13—so we put the Rodd boy at a small table. The Rodds went off to the Gala performance at the theatre. I had my usual Tuesday evening reception when a quantity of English now in Venice came. All the Italians were at the Gala theatre. | |
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