Arrive at Naples

Slept pretty well - but woke up before seven. - Had my hot salt-water bath - dressed, finished packing - paid my fees and bills, said goodbye to everyone I knew. Gave the two baskets of fruit to a girl in the steerage - watched Ischia and the shores of the bay and Mt. Vesuvius and then the city of Naples until we came into the dock.

Pen saw her friends and went off with them. We could not find the porter with Alexandra Hotel in his cap and I asked another man who said he was his brother, but I wouldn’t go with him and we had a great time. Cook’s man got mixed up in it and the Metropole man and the Alexandra man who was very small and spoke French. He said they could take Miss Wilt and Miss Peet and Mrs. Merrill.

They took us through the customs - they never examined a thing - and we got into a carriage and drove it seemed for hours till we came to Via Margellina and the Alexandra House.* On the third floor we found Mrs. Dickens who was very nice, stout, short-hair elaborately done up. She said she could take Miss Wilt and Miss Peet, but not Mrs. M. but said she could send her to a nice pension near by.

I have the same room Florence** had - a double window, huge wardrobe with mirror door, two beds, light stand, huge bureau, washstand for two oblong tables, easy chair, two small ordinary chairs and two electric lights. Very comfortable. We had lunch, a very good one and then we went to see Miss Wilt’s room. It is on first floor and seemed damp, double bed in it, wardrobe, washstand. There is a porter at the door who sits in the place and there are broad marble stairs, an elevator which they charge 10 cts. to use.

Went to see where Mrs. M. is, block from here, very nice. Then they sent to Cook’s for mail and I came back and lay down till six when I got up, unpacked some of my things, changed for dinner. Felt much better and less homesick. Had a nice dinner, six courses. After dinner Mrs. Dickens gave us a paper to fill out for the police. We talked a while. Mrs. Merrill’s friends had come from Constantinople. I had a letter from Florence. She is at another pension. Tells me to take my time which I will do.

*Probably Alexandra House, 37 Via Mergellina, Naples. English Pension.
**This is her older sister, Florence Humphries, with whom she eventually meets up.


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