Slept very firmly. Got up at 6. Ate two oranges and wrote in this diary.
Florence came in about 7:30 as I was writing to Alfred and began to expatiate on the way Helen has been acting of late - which I must say I think has been very foolish.
Had caffe latte at 9.
Then the Directore sent in to ask if I wanted the other room and after talking it all over decided I did. So I dressed and began to move taking my smallest table and chairs. The room is two down from F’s, has sun in the afternoon and is a little larger and the bed is lower. The other bed was 34 inches from the floor. I was all in order by lunch time.
After lunch wrote a long letter to Alfred about addresses re. and told him things had been going on here with Helen and Florence, re. and then sent it to Margaret as she would understand the situation and told her to forward it to Alfred. Sent William the drawing of the sword of Damocles. Mailed them at the branch P.O. in the city.
Took the 4:45 car and got to Dr. Dunn’s office by 5:15. Waited some time and then he called me in and filled the teeth in. I think they do not bite quite right, but I am mighty glad to get them.
Went for my gloves but they are not ready. Got home at 7 as I walked up from San Gervasio.*
So delighted with my teeth that I showed them to several people. That nice Miss Hanney, the English lady, said she hoped my troubles were over. I hope so too. After supper we went outside and sat awhile and then came upstairs.
*Probably Via San Gervasio.
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
Shopping and doctors' visits in Florence
Read a little more Eugene Sue with my b’fast.
Florence came in to say that the Russian count who had the room next to hers was going and that the proprietor said I could have his room as the same price. I looked at it. It has light furniture. I did not like it so I am to have the next with dark furniture. I fussed around my room all the morning washing gloves and the 3 veils.
After lunch got ready to go up town or down town with Florence.
She went to the U.S. Consulate* and got two powers of attorney; had to pay $2 a piece for them. We also went to P.O. and sent off a money order for $2.50 to get our English daily paper.
Then we went to her ear doctor, Dr. Tito, and she asked for her bill. Then we went to several shops to get a parasol for me and I bought a gray one for $1.60 that will do but that I do not like. You cannot buy ready made things in Italy and I think it costs as much to live here as in the U.S.
Then Florence went home and I went to the dentist’s. I waited half an hour and saw him five minutes.
I have more doubts about these teeth being suitable or successful, but Dr. Dunn says they will give me better service than what I had.
Got back to the pension about 6. Found Florence here. Her foot troubles her greatly. We sat out on the terrace before dinner and in the salon afterwards.
Got talking to the two sisters and nurse of the woman with spine trouble. Then we came upstairs and played Sequence till eleven.
*Located at 9 Via Tornabuoni
Florence came in to say that the Russian count who had the room next to hers was going and that the proprietor said I could have his room as the same price. I looked at it. It has light furniture. I did not like it so I am to have the next with dark furniture. I fussed around my room all the morning washing gloves and the 3 veils.
After lunch got ready to go up town or down town with Florence.
She went to the U.S. Consulate* and got two powers of attorney; had to pay $2 a piece for them. We also went to P.O. and sent off a money order for $2.50 to get our English daily paper.
Then we went to her ear doctor, Dr. Tito, and she asked for her bill. Then we went to several shops to get a parasol for me and I bought a gray one for $1.60 that will do but that I do not like. You cannot buy ready made things in Italy and I think it costs as much to live here as in the U.S.
Then Florence went home and I went to the dentist’s. I waited half an hour and saw him five minutes.
I have more doubts about these teeth being suitable or successful, but Dr. Dunn says they will give me better service than what I had.
Got back to the pension about 6. Found Florence here. Her foot troubles her greatly. We sat out on the terrace before dinner and in the salon afterwards.
Got talking to the two sisters and nurse of the woman with spine trouble. Then we came upstairs and played Sequence till eleven.
*Located at 9 Via Tornabuoni
Thursday, May 21
Festival of the Cricket in Florence
Florence* was married a year ago today.
As usual lately I did not sleep well and therefore slept late. Florence came into my room at 8:15 o’clock to ask me if I did not want to go to the Park in Florence to the cricket festival.** She said it began at 4. She said she did not feel well enough to go but thought I would enjoy it, but as I was not dressed and it was late and I would have to go alone, I declined.
I had b’fast in bed and began to read Le [Lupine?] by Eugene Sue with the help of a dictionary. Then at 9:45 Helen called up and wanted me to go to the Festival and I said I could get dressed and start in half an hour which I did.
I got to the Duomo** a little ahead of Helen. We took a # 5 car and went out to the Park and walked up and down watching the people and the children and the people who sold things to eat, the men who sold toys and especially the ones who sold crickets.
There were thousands and thousands of poor crickets in boxes and pans? But especially in little cages of every hue and color. I bought one for 8 cents, also a flying machine and a clacker. We walked up and down several times there as the crowd rapidly thinned we sat down and talked about everything and everybody. Helen defends her conduct of last Tuesday, saying she acted in a conscientious manner. She apparently cannot see that she was mean and untruthful and deceiving. She said she felt ill and I begged her to put herself under the care of a good doctor, but she won’t. She seemed to have no discipline, no will power left. I tried to talk to her and advise her but it was of no use and I shall just try again. We stayed in the park until 3, then took a car back to town and then went to a tea room where I had ice cream and cake and Helen had caffe latte and cakes. I ate 5. We paid 1 fr. 20 cent. a piece as caffe latte costs more than ice cream.
Then Helen took me as guest [on a] most beautiful drive over the Viale de Colli. It was through a most beautiful country where you had a wonderful view of the city. Then we came down to the Duomo and I took the car home. The drive was Helen’s treat and cost a dollar. I brought the cricket home and let it out of the box.
Florence was here. I bought some “American molasses candy” which was rancid and awfully poor. I told her all about the day and the conversations. Some new people have come to the pension and 3 automobile loads came up and had dinner on the terrace.
I found a nice letter here from Alfred. Sat in F’s room after dinner playing solitaire and knitting.
The people on the terrace made such a noise I could not sleep till late.
*Her daughter, Florence Thurston Hincks, was married May 21, 1913 to Thomas Frederick Sanford, a professor of English at the University of California.
**the Duomo of Florence, also known as the Cathedral of Florence or Santa Maria del Fiore
**In late April or May, the annual cricket festival, Festa del Grillo, is held in the Cascine Park in Florence.**
As usual lately I did not sleep well and therefore slept late. Florence came into my room at 8:15 o’clock to ask me if I did not want to go to the Park in Florence to the cricket festival.** She said it began at 4. She said she did not feel well enough to go but thought I would enjoy it, but as I was not dressed and it was late and I would have to go alone, I declined.
I had b’fast in bed and began to read Le [Lupine?] by Eugene Sue with the help of a dictionary. Then at 9:45 Helen called up and wanted me to go to the Festival and I said I could get dressed and start in half an hour which I did.
I got to the Duomo** a little ahead of Helen. We took a # 5 car and went out to the Park and walked up and down watching the people and the children and the people who sold things to eat, the men who sold toys and especially the ones who sold crickets.
There were thousands and thousands of poor crickets in boxes and pans? But especially in little cages of every hue and color. I bought one for 8 cents, also a flying machine and a clacker. We walked up and down several times there as the crowd rapidly thinned we sat down and talked about everything and everybody. Helen defends her conduct of last Tuesday, saying she acted in a conscientious manner. She apparently cannot see that she was mean and untruthful and deceiving. She said she felt ill and I begged her to put herself under the care of a good doctor, but she won’t. She seemed to have no discipline, no will power left. I tried to talk to her and advise her but it was of no use and I shall just try again. We stayed in the park until 3, then took a car back to town and then went to a tea room where I had ice cream and cake and Helen had caffe latte and cakes. I ate 5. We paid 1 fr. 20 cent. a piece as caffe latte costs more than ice cream.
Then Helen took me as guest [on a] most beautiful drive over the Viale de Colli. It was through a most beautiful country where you had a wonderful view of the city. Then we came down to the Duomo and I took the car home. The drive was Helen’s treat and cost a dollar. I brought the cricket home and let it out of the box.
Florence was here. I bought some “American molasses candy” which was rancid and awfully poor. I told her all about the day and the conversations. Some new people have come to the pension and 3 automobile loads came up and had dinner on the terrace.
I found a nice letter here from Alfred. Sat in F’s room after dinner playing solitaire and knitting.
The people on the terrace made such a noise I could not sleep till late.
*Her daughter, Florence Thurston Hincks, was married May 21, 1913 to Thomas Frederick Sanford, a professor of English at the University of California.
**the Duomo of Florence, also known as the Cathedral of Florence or Santa Maria del Fiore
**In late April or May, the annual cricket festival, Festa del Grillo, is held in the Cascine Park in Florence.**
Wednesday, May 20
Going Hat Shopping and to the Dentist
Slept better.
Florence came into my room at 8:15, found me in bed and said she was going to have her lunch sent up and could get it cheaper if it came with Helen’s so she went down to see the manager about it. He said she wasn’t coming and then repeated what Helen has said and done.
Florence was furious and insisted upon bringing the manager into my room and having him tell [truth]. Then she called up Helen who hedged, said she thought it wasn’t right to come under the circumstances, appealed for advice and finally when Florence told her to do what she wanted to, decided to stay at the Montebello.* So Florence ordered her lunch to be brought up. I got up, washed out some h’chiefs, ripped the feathers off my hat.
We decided to go down town after lunch, buy our hats, go to the bank, see about letters re. hunt up a dentist. We had quite a little time about getting Alfred’s check for $306.94 - cashed but we did finally.
Then I left gloves to be cleaned and we did numerous small errands and then we hunted up Dr. Wm Dunn.** There were lots of patients in the waiting room and at first the girl said we would have to make an appointment, but when she heard it was an accident, she said she would take the plate and the broken tooth and show him and then she came back and said he would see me in an hour.
So F. and I walked down to the New Market to buy an outing hat. I picked out the one I wanted and then had to hurry back to the dentist who advised me to cut off those three roots level with the gum and have a plate made. Said he could give it to me by Saturday whereas if I had all my teeth out, it would take a month before the gums would heal enough to have teeth {adher}. So he ground down the 3 teeth and made an impression of the bite.
Found my way back alone. Florence came in soon after. She had brought 2 more veils and the two cheap hats. Florence’s feet hurt terribly all the afternoon and evening. It is the gout in them. After dinner sat in F’s room. Played solitaire awhile myself and got it finally.
*Via Curtatone 2
**Dr. Dunn, a dentist, is mentioned in the 1886 Baedecker as being on Piazza S. Maria Novella 24.
Tuesday, May 19
Hat shopping in Florence
Slept poorly. Think it is indigestion. Had bread and milk for breakfast.
Finished T. Teinbaum so Helen could take it. She came in before I was dressed. She can’t make up her mind whether to come up here and join us or not. Finally said she would - then went down and beat the price down to 7 frc. a day for a sunny room and then told him 7. Said she would not stay if she did not get her room at the same price and she made such a muddle of it, that she decided she would not come, but she did not tell us of her discussion and we were expecting her tomorrow.
We went down and had lunch and then Florence said, “Let’s go to Florence and buy our sun hats - it will do us good,” so we started off. It cost us a franc for car fares because we got into the right bus going in the wrong direction but we saw lots of the city. Hunted and hunted for a store where they sold old laces till we found it and then Florence bought 5 v. 2 3 ???. Mine cost $2.50.
One is for my hat trimming; an interesting old Italian and his son have the shop and they go all over Italy buying these things. These things were worn by contadini* women and thrown over babies for christening. They are most interesting. I shall use mine for a little shawl.
I also bought a little blue delft bottle for 50 cen. We stayed there till six and then had to get back for dinner. I ate only soup and bread and milk because I was so tired.
Played several hands of Sequence with Florence and beat her. Then I played solitaire alone till eleven like a fool. We looked at our purchases and divided them. I had final choice. We went out to walk right after lunch and got caught in a shower or at least it began to rain, but not heavily till we got into the house. No letters.
*peasant
Finished T. Teinbaum so Helen could take it. She came in before I was dressed. She can’t make up her mind whether to come up here and join us or not. Finally said she would - then went down and beat the price down to 7 frc. a day for a sunny room and then told him 7. Said she would not stay if she did not get her room at the same price and she made such a muddle of it, that she decided she would not come, but she did not tell us of her discussion and we were expecting her tomorrow.
We went down and had lunch and then Florence said, “Let’s go to Florence and buy our sun hats - it will do us good,” so we started off. It cost us a franc for car fares because we got into the right bus going in the wrong direction but we saw lots of the city. Hunted and hunted for a store where they sold old laces till we found it and then Florence bought 5 v. 2 3 ???. Mine cost $2.50.
One is for my hat trimming; an interesting old Italian and his son have the shop and they go all over Italy buying these things. These things were worn by contadini* women and thrown over babies for christening. They are most interesting. I shall use mine for a little shawl.
I also bought a little blue delft bottle for 50 cen. We stayed there till six and then had to get back for dinner. I ate only soup and bread and milk because I was so tired.
Played several hands of Sequence with Florence and beat her. Then I played solitaire alone till eleven like a fool. We looked at our purchases and divided them. I had final choice. We went out to walk right after lunch and got caught in a shower or at least it began to rain, but not heavily till we got into the house. No letters.
*peasant
Monday, May 18
Still under the weather in Florence
Did not sleep well. Had breakfast at 9:45. Got up at 10 - dressed, washed out several things, mended a lot of clothes.
Unpacked most of my trunk, the things I would need.
Went to lunch - a good one.
Sat in Florence’s room most of the afternoon. I was sewing and she pressing down the lace collars to dry that she had washed this morning.
Finished a slipper. Afraid I bound it off too tight.
Showed Florence how to play Solitaire.
Went to dinner.
Taught Florence how to play Sequence.
The missionary nuns came with a lot of embroidery lace and leather ??? I did not buy because I felt too poor.
It rained all day.
Read T. Tanbaum till late.
Unpacked most of my trunk, the things I would need.
Went to lunch - a good one.
Sat in Florence’s room most of the afternoon. I was sewing and she pressing down the lace collars to dry that she had washed this morning.
Finished a slipper. Afraid I bound it off too tight.
Showed Florence how to play Solitaire.
Went to dinner.
Taught Florence how to play Sequence.
The missionary nuns came with a lot of embroidery lace and leather ??? I did not buy because I felt too poor.
It rained all day.
Read T. Tanbaum till late.
Sunday, May 17
Still sick...
Did not sleep very well and woke with a headache so I did not eat any breakfast except two oranges. Florence’s throat is so bad that she is going to the doctor’s after lunch.This pen is acting badly again and leaking all over my fingers.
Helen came and stayed to lunch and after lunch, Helen, Florence and I went into the doctor’s. Florence had forgotten it was Sunday and had not made an appointment so we found the doctor out. Nothing to do but wait so we went to a fashionable store and had some frozen custard and cakes and sat in the show windows and then Florence was tired and said she would go home so we walked to the car with her intending to come back and listen to the music.
We stopped at the Baptistery and looked in.It is where all the Catholic babies rich and poor have been baptized for years. Three were waiting there. It was cold and I did not dare to stay so we started for the music and it began to sprinkle so I said I was afraid of catching more cold and I would go home.
Looked in again in the Baptistery, more babies, came out and thought I would go and hear the music but it looked so like rain I turned back, so went into the Baptistery again. Four babies were being baptized and several more including one with a cloak embroidered with a crown and an M in gold were waiting. Florence said it must have been a child of a big ducal family. So cold I did not wait.Helen put me in the car. Told the manager Helen was coming Wednesday.
He was rather disagreeable about it; said he could not keep a room for her.
Went down to dinner. Sat with my back to the rest of the people.
Letter from Margaret saying Hazel was making trouble about the furniture. Wrote a nice letter to Florence.
Helen came and stayed to lunch and after lunch, Helen, Florence and I went into the doctor’s. Florence had forgotten it was Sunday and had not made an appointment so we found the doctor out. Nothing to do but wait so we went to a fashionable store and had some frozen custard and cakes and sat in the show windows and then Florence was tired and said she would go home so we walked to the car with her intending to come back and listen to the music.
We stopped at the Baptistery and looked in.It is where all the Catholic babies rich and poor have been baptized for years. Three were waiting there. It was cold and I did not dare to stay so we started for the music and it began to sprinkle so I said I was afraid of catching more cold and I would go home.
Looked in again in the Baptistery, more babies, came out and thought I would go and hear the music but it looked so like rain I turned back, so went into the Baptistery again. Four babies were being baptized and several more including one with a cloak embroidered with a crown and an M in gold were waiting. Florence said it must have been a child of a big ducal family. So cold I did not wait.Helen put me in the car. Told the manager Helen was coming Wednesday.
He was rather disagreeable about it; said he could not keep a room for her.
Went down to dinner. Sat with my back to the rest of the people.
Letter from Margaret saying Hazel was making trouble about the furniture. Wrote a nice letter to Florence.
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