Death of Pope

The Pope is dead. Late in starting from the fact that I did not sleep well and I am tired. Helen had a poor night. I was in with her after midnight and fixed her peppermint and hot water. Finally got off about 11 and left the milk bottle. Saw some splendid peaches in the street. Thought Alfred would want me to have them so bought them and then our usual supplies of milk eggs and rolls and came back to the house.

Found a telegram from F.B.H. saying, “Consul advises sailing on Canopic* Sept. 10th - Am booking places.” Well I was struck off of a heap and felt old and discouraged and all my ambition gone. I don’t want to go back for I shall never come again. Read it to Helen. – She is half pleased to go. We went out together and went to the Scala Theatre and saw behind the scenes and to the Council Chamber in the Palazzo Marini. Mailed home letters. Went into Duomo - then home to lunch. Then I had Italian lesson, very good one and then I went out tram riding. Took the Circum?? at Porta Venezia and went all around then took car the wrong way and had another ride. Had a note from the Oudesluys. They are still at Cortina. Also a letter to Florence which I forwarded. It had been sent on from Amherst. We had a nice dinner here in the house – soup, roast beef, and stewed peaches – I read all the stories in the volume I have of Conon Doyle’s around the fire. Most of them are gruesome.

*S.S. Canopic of the White Star Line