Slept very well. Woke at 7:40. Had b’fast at 8:40 in bed.
My eyes are weak from reading so much I guess when I was sick, so I must be careful of them.
I wrote a long letter to Marion.
Was dressed about noon and went in to see Florence. Her throat is very sore and has white ulcers on it. Nevertheless she went to lunch and dinner as they were charging her a franc a day for service. They charge me half that so I had lunch and dinner alone in F.’s room.
After lunch we went out and sat in the cement platform waiting for Helen. We waited from two to four when she came. In the meantime, Florence was lying in one of those long reclining chairs when a woman came out and asked for it for someone who had spinal trouble so of course Florence gave it up. Florence went in at 4:30 and Helen and I went for a short walk.
Helen told me she was not well and was worried and did not know what to do, whether to stay over or go to Bellnos Falls [sic] or what to do. Said she was afraid she would be in the way here if she stayed next winter.
I talked to her very frankly and tried to show her that people needed freedom of action and times of being by themselves. She was very nice about it but I don’t think she understands by experience she is of such a dependent nature.
It rained hard when she left at 6:30. I had a very nice dinner. Read T Trusbaum until after eleven in my room. My cold has nearly gone.
Saturday, May 16
Friday, May 15
Sitting with Florence
I read The Price of Lis Doris by Maarten Maartens until after eleven and then I dressed and went in to see Florence. Found her better, but still with a sore throat and feeling badly. It is a shame I should have given her this cold. I feel very badly about it.
I had lunch there with her and then sat and mended and talked for several hours. Then I read aloud a couple of Margaret’s letters and I finished Lis Doris.
Read last Sunday’s paper aloud - the big earthquake in Sicily last Saturday. We did not feel it here.
Florence lent me the money to pay my bill for $58.50 - charged me 6 francs for my trunk. Helen did not come out today. I had dinner with Florence and sat with her talking till eleven o’clock.
I am knitting my blue slippers with too heavy wool but it is the only wool that is of the right color. I have pulled it out twice because I didn’t like it but shall let it go this time.
I had lunch there with her and then sat and mended and talked for several hours. Then I read aloud a couple of Margaret’s letters and I finished Lis Doris.
Read last Sunday’s paper aloud - the big earthquake in Sicily last Saturday. We did not feel it here.
Florence lent me the money to pay my bill for $58.50 - charged me 6 francs for my trunk. Helen did not come out today. I had dinner with Florence and sat with her talking till eleven o’clock.
I am knitting my blue slippers with too heavy wool but it is the only wool that is of the right color. I have pulled it out twice because I didn’t like it but shall let it go this time.
Thursday, May 14
Out of bed at last!
I got up about ten, but it was nearly noon before I was dressed, as I did some mending. Carried my sewing in to Florence’s room, put hooks and eyes into my new guimpe.
Used the pretty new grey bag with old rose lining that Mrs. Morse gave me Christmas.
After lunch I went out and walked an hour, going up to the next little town and back. It was the first time I had been dressed since May 5th.
I found Helen here when I came back. She brought out some calimel* and Florence and I each took half 12 tablets. I had lunch and dinner in Florence’s room.
I am reading The Price of Lis Doris and find it most interesting.
*Probably “calomel”, mercury chloride, used as a laxative and disinfectant until the 1940’s.
Used the pretty new grey bag with old rose lining that Mrs. Morse gave me Christmas.
After lunch I went out and walked an hour, going up to the next little town and back. It was the first time I had been dressed since May 5th.
I found Helen here when I came back. She brought out some calimel* and Florence and I each took half 12 tablets. I had lunch and dinner in Florence’s room.
I am reading The Price of Lis Doris and find it most interesting.
*Probably “calomel”, mercury chloride, used as a laxative and disinfectant until the 1940’s.
Wednesday, May 13
Resting in Florence VIII
Slept pretty well, but my chest is very sore from coughing.
Helen came up this morning but spent all her time in Florence’s room. She wanted one to advise her whether she ought to go home this summer, but I told her I couldn’t. She must do what she thought best.
The manager sent in his bill and asked me 8 frs. a day for this room instead of 7 and half a franc for service in sending meals up also, 6 francs for bringing up trunk. Florence made him take off the franc in the day. It is all right - I expect to be cheated and should be disappointed I suppose if I wasn’t.
Got up after lunch and sat in Florence’s room while mine was being cleaned. She read me letters from Mrs. Brown (whom she met in Carmel and who is in Japan) and from Mildred and I read her the one I received today from my Florence.
I don’t like the food here, detest it to be frank. I live principally on bread and milk. Have begun The Price of Lis Doris by Maarten Maartens.*
Knit a lot on my slipper. Didn’t like the shape and ripped it out.
Eighth day in bed.
**Published in 1909, this is the story of a Dutch peasant boy who becomes a famous painter, but whose fame is stolen from him by a wealthy amateur under whose protection his career has been successfully launched.
Helen came up this morning but spent all her time in Florence’s room. She wanted one to advise her whether she ought to go home this summer, but I told her I couldn’t. She must do what she thought best.
The manager sent in his bill and asked me 8 frs. a day for this room instead of 7 and half a franc for service in sending meals up also, 6 francs for bringing up trunk. Florence made him take off the franc in the day. It is all right - I expect to be cheated and should be disappointed I suppose if I wasn’t.
Got up after lunch and sat in Florence’s room while mine was being cleaned. She read me letters from Mrs. Brown (whom she met in Carmel and who is in Japan) and from Mildred and I read her the one I received today from my Florence.
I don’t like the food here, detest it to be frank. I live principally on bread and milk. Have begun The Price of Lis Doris by Maarten Maartens.*
Knit a lot on my slipper. Didn’t like the shape and ripped it out.
Eighth day in bed.
**Published in 1909, this is the story of a Dutch peasant boy who becomes a famous painter, but whose fame is stolen from him by a wealthy amateur under whose protection his career has been successfully launched.
Tuesday, May 12
Resting in Florence VII
Poor Florence’s cold is so bad that she is going to stay in bed. I am so sorry. I went in to see her for a few minutes.
Read A Crimson Blind by Fred. A. White,* a piece of pure and poor trash.
I think my cold is better.
*Subtitle is “A Plucky Girl’s Detective Work”, published in 1905.
Monday, May 11
Resting in Florence VI
Another day in bed.
Began a letter to Alfred. Knit some in my blue slippers. My eyes and head ached so I did not read. My cough is very tight but I have no fever at all.
Helen came and brought me some tablets, Zymole* for which I paid her 1 fr. 80 cents. 36 cents for a 25 ct. article.
We had tea about five. I hate tea. Helen says she is coming out here next week. She is having a dress and a suit made, very nice ones.
Florence had a letter from Mollie and she is better. Also one from Marion. She says Edith** is a little better but too weak to leave the house. Little Marion has whooping cough.
*”Why wait for that hoarseness to ‘wear off,’ when Zymole Trokey will stop it so much quicker? Disagreeable coughs are often avoided by the use of "Zymole Trokeys.” This is from a 1908 advertisement.
**Edith is Marion's daughter (b. 1883) who married to John Graeff Kennedy. “Little Marion” is their daughter born in 1908.
Began a letter to Alfred. Knit some in my blue slippers. My eyes and head ached so I did not read. My cough is very tight but I have no fever at all.
Helen came and brought me some tablets, Zymole* for which I paid her 1 fr. 80 cents. 36 cents for a 25 ct. article.
We had tea about five. I hate tea. Helen says she is coming out here next week. She is having a dress and a suit made, very nice ones.
Florence had a letter from Mollie and she is better. Also one from Marion. She says Edith** is a little better but too weak to leave the house. Little Marion has whooping cough.
*”Why wait for that hoarseness to ‘wear off,’ when Zymole Trokey will stop it so much quicker? Disagreeable coughs are often avoided by the use of "Zymole Trokeys.” This is from a 1908 advertisement.
**Edith is Marion's daughter (b. 1883) who married to John Graeff Kennedy. “Little Marion” is their daughter born in 1908.
Sunday, May 10
Resting in Florence V
A gloomy day outside and another day in bed. Helen came up and stayed a while this morning.
She is going to Parsifal* this afternoon. It begins at 3, lasts till eight and she goes home for afternoon tea in the interim.
Florence stayed a little while but she is afraid of this cold. I don’t wonder. I cough and cough with no result. I am tired of it myself. Had a good nap this afternoon.
Read my March number of Current Literature.**
I had a nice letter from Margaret.
* Wagner’s Parsifal had its Italian premiere in 1914.
**A literary review that regularly ran much fiction, much of it reprinted from obscure sources for national circulation.
She is going to Parsifal* this afternoon. It begins at 3, lasts till eight and she goes home for afternoon tea in the interim.
Florence stayed a little while but she is afraid of this cold. I don’t wonder. I cough and cough with no result. I am tired of it myself. Had a good nap this afternoon.
Read my March number of Current Literature.**
I had a nice letter from Margaret.
* Wagner’s Parsifal had its Italian premiere in 1914.
**A literary review that regularly ran much fiction, much of it reprinted from obscure sources for national circulation.
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