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26 May 1912 — Mezzaratta, Bologna | |
Sunday. 26th [May 1912]. Nela came & had tea with me in my room at 8.30. She went down to town to meet Matt Ridley & to go to see pictures & churches with him. At 11 Prof. Albertotti the great occulist of Padua came to visit Donna Laura & we sat in the Loggia talking together till lunch time. He is a learned man, has travelled much—studied in England Turner’s methods of light & colour in his watercolour drawings. He has tooked at Da Laura’s eyes & says that the cataract in them progresses very slowly & no operation would be possible under 3 or 4 years—& she is now 84. He volunteered advice to me to bathe my eyes with plain salt & water & then warm water. He says it is the commonest prescription wh no one writes down on acct of its simplicity. Nela came back to lunch but Matt did not come till dinner time. There was a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Nela & I made out the Annual Report to be printed for the Venice Hospital. After tea Donna Laura had a visit from Css Zucchini & a friend of hers & they remained till 7. Marchese & Marchesa Tanori came to dinner. He is exSindaco of Bologna—a nice lively little man once an officer in the navy. She is English now quite Italianized. When Matt arrived we went in to dinner & there was much general talk about England, our strikes &c. Matt spoke very tolerable French. He declares himself an ultra Conservative & Protectionist. Mme Tanori said that Protection was a sign of weakness in the country. When we went to the drawing room there was smoking, talk & patience playing. Sr [illegible word] came to call on Da Laura & entered into conversation with Matt also on politics. They all left soon after ten oclock. I took leave of Matt who kissed me very affectionately & said he had enjoyed his stay in Italy. He goes tomorrow to Ravenna & on Wedy starts for London. | |
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