Resting in Florence IV

Another day in bed.

I get up before seven each morning, send for hot water, wash myself and everything else, dishes, h’chiefs, make my bed, pick up my room, and after I have everything in order, I send for a hot water bottle, and breakfast, and get into bed.

B’fast consists of a big cup of hot milk (a small pitcher full is the way it is brought), a small pot of coffee and two stale rolls cut up and toast and several curly cues of butter. I detest it.

Florence is afraid of my cold. Indeed she has had a slight cold herself with sore throat and she is raising phlegm while I cough and cough and can’t. So she spends but little time with me.

It rained hard so Helen did not come up. I had a letter from Margaret about my letters being carbonned and sent around. I didn’t think they are worth it.

Spent most of the day reading The Weaker Vessel by E.F. Benson.* Took a long nap in the afternoon.



*a novel published in 1913.

Resting in Florence III

My temp is normal and I am better. Florence went to town to do a lot of errands. She saw Helen who went to the opera last night.

I read Diana Mallory all day and finished it. Knit a very little. Played solitaire.

Florence was in my room but little as she is afraid of infection and tonight she has a slight temperature. I am very sorry.

I had a nice letter from Alfred with enclosure of $60. I wrote him a postal acknowledging it. I am afraid to write a letter for fear of infection.

Resting in Florence II

Slept better and feel better. Got up, bathed, washed out four h’chiefs, picked up my room.

Had the everlasting rolls and coffee “latte” with milk for breakfast.

Helen came up and brought me some antiphlogistine* for my throat, and some beautiful blue corn flowers and white-pinks.



Helen stayed to lunch - we had a nice long talk. Florence lay down, went out to walk, I talked so much I made my throat sore. Helen tried to get some more registered letters but she couldn’t do it. Also a letter was sent from the boarding house yesterday which has not arrived.

*a poultice for pains and swellings caused through colds, sore throat, rheumatism, bruises, sprains and muscular pains.

Resting in Florence

Did not sleep at all well. At 5:40 a black cat crawled up in the window sill and cried. I tried to send her off but she wouldn’t go. Then we had a thunderstorm and heavy rain and I let the cat in.

Florence and I talked all the morning about everything and in the afternoon, Helen came in and we talked a lot more and had afternoon tea. Didn’t have any dinner as I had a little fever (100). Fortunately I had carried the fever tablets that Dr. Cogswell had given me in Amherst, so I took those and I kept awake till eleven so as to get the three doses in.

I had a nice letter from Hazel containing two pictures of John and also one from Florence.

I finished Eleanor* by Mrs. Humphrey Ward. I am beginning Diana Mallory** by the same author. I think I have read it before. Manisty in Eleanor is just like Tommy,*** I think.


Helen brought me some delicious strawberries. I do not dare to write to the children for fear of giving them the infection.

*Eleanor published in 1900
**The Testing of Diana Mallory published in 1908, a strong anti-Suffrage book. Mrs. Humphry Ward (1851-1920) was the niece of Matthew Arnold and a popular late Victorian novelist who was brought up at Oxford and whose work was marked by religious conflict.
***Tommy Sanford is her son-in-law married to her daughter, Florence.

In Florence with Florence and Helen!

Was called before six - dressed, finished packing and was off before 7:30. Miss Shakspere Wood said she hoped I would return. They were kind and I was sorry to go.

Took twenty minutes and cost 8 fr. 20 to get any trunk billed through to Florence. Got a nice seat. 2nd class by the window. An Italian family of five came in. I felt headachy and half sick.

Watched the scenery which was interesting. Very primitive methods - hardly scratch the soil with their ploughs.

Italian family went to lunch. 3 English women came in. Thought they would come to blows.

Florence and Helen* both at station to meet me. It was raining. Had to wait half an hour for my trunk.



Drove out to Pension Le Lune which seems very pleasant. I am to have a small room and pay 7 frs. a day. Helen did not come up as she is staying at the Montebello, to have her clothes fixed.

We had tea in Florence’s room and in eating a piece of zweibach. I broke off my other tooth, so that means more money and more distress but it can’t be helped.

My cold is growing worse so I shall not go down but have my dinner in my room or rather Florence’s. Had soup and whipped cream and cake. Had a hot water bottle and went to bed.

Florence came in and we talked till eleven. My cold is so stuffy, I could not sleep. Had a nice letter from Margaret** forwarded from Rome.

*An old friend, Helen Chase.
**Her daughter, Margaret Morse who is living in Amherst, MA. at this time.

Wrapping up in Rome

Went to Pantheon and then to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. It was dark in the church and I was too tired to look any way so I went to Cook’s to ask for letters.



Found none but my pretty hat was smashed out of recognition, had to pay 37 cents duty on it which made me mad. Left my address. Bought second class ticket to Florence. 27 francs 35 centimes.

Got home in time for lunch. Settled bill with Miss Wood for 11 days at 9 francs a day - came to 102 francs and 30 centimes. Miss Wood also wrote to Naples to try and get my letters that are missing.

Read Eleanor by Mrs. Humphrey Ward for a while, then partly packed my trunk and then went to the Boston Hotel to inquire about rooms for next winter. The cheapest were 10 francs a day, automatically raising to 12 in Jan. Felt a little blue and discouraged. Tired I guess. Besides I have a slight cold coming on.

Rode to terminus of No 8 tram, then took No. 1 as Miss Wood advised and rode around the whole circle. Walked home through the Corso.

Stopped in drawing room long enough to say goodbye to the people.

Letter from Florence Humphrey. *

*Her sister, who was in Florence, Italy at the time.

Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and Colosseum in Rome

A very busy day. I went to the 9:30 service in the chapel of Julia in St. Peters* at 9:40 today. I went so early I had a fine seat. The service was both beautiful, and interesting.

After it was over, I took, after waiting a long time, tram no. 16 and went to the English church at which I arrived twenty minutes late. Took a seat by the door. It was a very interesting church. I stayed after service to look at the church.

After lunch I talked to Miss Patterson about ruins. At 3:15 I started for the Coliseum and I went all over it climbing up to the very top to get a fine view.


Walked leisurely through the Forum and thought I should come back near tram 16 but I didn’t. I came out at Piazza Venezia and I had to consult my map had to walk quite a long time before I could get the car but I did finally.

I had planned to go to hear the Benediction sung by the nuns in Santa Maria di Monte** but I was both tired and late. I came right home. Stayed in drawing room a few minutes.

*Probably the Julian Chapel that was built by Pope Sixtus IV and now known as the Chapel of the Choir
**Probably Santa Maria di Montesanto