Some way I was very late in starting though I am taking my b’fast upstairs now – they have so few to help. Helped F. with her ears – syringing them out. It was 11.30 before I got out. Mrs. Addison, the one who knows Mrs. Blaney – came and said she had heard of an extra berth – she wants to travel with us to Naples. Said she knew of a pension with a view for 6 ½ lire.
I went to the Duomo and saw the last part of the funeral service for the Pope. – It was very grand mummery. Met Mrs. Addison there by accident. Maria and her husband, the former porter. – She looked so thin and sad. I gave her $2.00 and 2 lire to Italia who goes on a week’s vacation. Maria takes her place.
After lunch, went out about my money to the consulate. Did not see the consul, but a gentleman who advised me to get it and take it out. He thought French Lemon’s conduct was suspicious.
Went to tailor’s to say that F.T.H. was sick and could not go to be fitted. Took my veil to be dyed. Met a Mrs. Nevins and went with her in search of an Eng. Newspaper for Florence – later than Aug. 17th – could not get it. We went in to Santa Maria Novella to see the frescoes.
Bought an Italian paper. The news is terrible. Mr. Lang, the young Eng. who has just returned from Vallombrosa,* says the French and English are beaten badly, that Germany is committing every outrage, killing young boys and even babies. They are using not only dum-dum bullets,** but an even more deadly kind. I hope that God will punish that man, Emperor William, as he deserves – for he is the cause of this terrible, inhuman war. I can read a little of the Italian papers, but not much.
After much work finished my boudoir cap. I went into my room and was reading one of Phillip Oppenheim’s*** stories when I fell asleep and did not awaken until 12.40. After that, I washed out my crepe nightgown which has been soaking all day.
The dressmaker brought my dress but there were lots of mistakes which have to be altered. Florence looked after it. Then the milliner brought my hat which was very good. That is the one with the blue feathers that I had last summer and my felt for the boat.
Mrs. Nevins said, “the war was inconvenient coming at the time – that it had inconvenienced a good many people.”
*Vallombrosa is a Benedictine abbey in the comune of Reggello (Tuscany, Italy), c. 30 km south-east of Florence.
**Expanding bullets which were outlawed, but Germany was accused by Belgium of using them during World War 1.
***Phillip Oppenheim (1866-1846) was a very popular and prolific British novelist who wrote genre fiction and thrillers.
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