Back in Florence

Studied Italian as usual at breakfast-time. I find I am improving though I do not give much time to it. Washed out my two waists and arranged with Maria to wash the two pink woollies.
I went to the Pitti Palace and looked at the pictures and enjoyed doing so very much. The rooms were magnificent in themselves.

I was late to lunch.
Ate fruit afterwards – three apricots – crackers and jam – and had a nap of 1 ½ hours. Then I went to the store that Helen showed me and took my waist to have a new collar for which she is to charge me a lira – and ordered two crepe night dresses that I can wash myself.
Went afterwards into the Santa Croce Church.
Tried to write to Margaret but I was too tired
I received a notice that my dress is at the post office.
I love to hear the little pleasure boat go up and down the Arno with the lights, the song and the people.

Errands back in Florence

Woke at 4 – and got up at 5 – dressed and went upstairs and took Helen by surprise. Helped her get ready and went to the station and helped about her trunk. She was in an apartment for ladies and there were three who spoke English and she had the window seat. Saw the rain start – Walked home – Cooked my strawberries and had b’fast. Then had a grand wash of Harriet, Susan, June, and Rebecca. Also some small pieces and my waist. Mended a little, worked all the morning. After lunch, borrowed Mrs. Hubbell’s alcohol iron* and ironed my waist, then took a nap.

Mrs. Hubbell came in and invited me to come up to tea to meet a Mr. Pecker from California, but I thought I wouldn’t. Dressed and went out after my ring and spoon that I left to be marked. Went to a tobacco shop where I bought stamps, soap, starch, matches and candy – all for a franc. Walked around by the flower market and came home.

Spent the evening in Mrs. Hubbell’s room, showing her my postals and my marble bowl and leather card case. I wrote postals to John, Baby Florence, Marjorie and Constance Nice and Duncan, also one to Alfred.**

*There was a German patent in 1897 for such an iron which had a small container of alcohol fitted on to it to fuel it.
**Her grandchildren are John [Hincks], Baby Florence [Morse], Duncan [Morse]. Marjorie and Constance Nice are Margaret Morse Nice’s children and Alfred [Morse], Jennie’s son.

Suffrage Convention in MA.

Slept pretty well. Put in an hour’s hard work on Italian “verbi.” Find it pays.

About 10 o’clock, went out to do errands with Helen. – She bought her ticket for San Pellegrino for tomorrow and did several errands for Florence. I went to Am. Ex. and found my dresses had not come and would probably not be here till August as it takes two months for packages to come through. Came home for lunch and had a nap. Then went out to do the last errands. Left my ring at Settipurse’s to have the claw fixed and my spoon to be marked. Bought some little strawberries which were half bad as I saw afterwards.
After dinner, sat in the drawing room with the Hubbells and heard Miss Ida sing. She has a very sweet voice – then read my letters –or parts of them to Helen while she packed. I had letters from Percy and Margaret and had to pay 10 centimes for a postal that she forgot to put an extra cent on. I was much amused to read that the Wm. Morse’s turned out en masse to inaugurate the new Suffrage Convention in Amherst. Margaret and Katherine rode on a float to represent two of the ten states that have given votes to women – Margey was to have gone with them, but couldn’t at the last moment. Will drove the auto with Mrs. Morse and three other ladies, also Duncan and Constance* all dressed in white with yellow trimmings, white parasols with yellow bows. Will wore white with yellow tie and hat band. FINE

Margaret feels very keenly about the unfortunate situation in California between the Percy Hincks and the Sanfords. The furniture trouble is only a symptom. I am going to do the best I can to bring them together again in harmony. The Sat. Eve. Posts came from Alfred and from Hazel. **

*Wm. Morse was the husband of her daughter, Margaret. Katherine Duncan Morse was William’s sister as was Margey, [Margaret Morse Nice], who was the mother of Constance. Duncan, age 5, was Margaret’s and Will’s son.
**The Sanfords are Florence, [Jennie's daughter], and husband, Thomas Sanford. Possibly the furniture business is about the disbursal of Jennie’s furniture.

Siena To San Gimignano to Florence, Italy

Awoke at 5 – up at 6 – breakfast at 7 – left the house at 7:20 and in train at 7:30. Signora came up to say goodbye –“as she had to go to market and couldn’t wait. “ I left house five minutes later.

Got out at Poggibonsi* and found automobile, also crowd of small boys – so waited in salon II classe until nearly time to start. Had front seat. We went like the wind and shaved the corners and the carts. It was a hair-raising ride – Country was beautiful and wild flowers also but not numerous. Automobile stopped at gate of San Gimignano so walked up to the Hotel Leon Blanco and asked for F.B.H’s friends, the McLaughlan. Found Mrs. MacL. had left but Il signne was there.

Went to the Duomo and saw the famous Chapel of Santa Fina and all the frescoes and then to the Museo in the old Palazzo Popolo. The guard was fine and took me everywhere and talked Italian so that I felt I had rec’d a lesson and tipped him a franc.

Then went to lunch of omelet and café latte and saw the Shaws there. The First Cousins - married pair, English people at the Flora – also saw in the distance Mr. MacL, asked to speak to him – I saw the little waitress tell him and saw him look at me as he passed and after lunch he sent out to know my name. Said I was sister of F.B.H. He came at once and was very nice. Took me to salon where he had coffee and a cigar and then the Shaws came in and I introduced them and we all talked an hour. Then he took me back to the Duomo where I went into La Capella di Santa Fina and saw the two curtained frescoes and thence to the church of Sant’Agostino where I saw everything.

Bought two lire of postal cards, went back to hotel, saw Mr. MacL who walked with me to the automobile. It was filled with men who gave me the inside middle seat. Got train all right and had to change at Empoli. Saw Mrs. Morse traveling 3rd class to Milan. Saw Helen on street with a big bunch of asters for me. Saw the Hubbells and Miss Hamm, all very pleasant. Sat in the parlor after dinner with the Hubbells and Helen and watched a young fellow from Buenos Aires do all manner of parlor magic tricks. He was very nice and a young Italian doctor was there. Talked to Helen afterwards and got to bed at midnight.

*Poggibonsi is an ancient town between Siena and Florence.

Readying to Leave Siena

I was late in starting out having finished letter to Margaret inc. letter from Alfred and my answer, also 3 Kodak prints of myself and other letters re.

Went to Museo of Duomo – chapel of San Giovanni and Piccolomini Library.* Got there a few minutes before twelve, not knowing it closed at twelve. Guard said we must leave and to come back in afternoon or tomorrow, so went back at 2:30. Saw all the frescoes and bought over 4 francs worth of postals of Siena and a marble bowl from the Museo. Some of these postals I bought on the Via Carmi (sp?). Took a book out of library about San Gimignano, bought seeds and wafers off a peddler to try them.

Came home and settled bill with Signora. She is not friendly, I suppose because I would not pay for my breakfasts served in my room. Then too I thought it was 18 when it was 19 - paid 116.50. Paid 6.50 for having shoes repaired, a very high price. Signorina Orlandi came, but she was distraite and I was tired so the lesson was not a success. Paid her 9 lire. After dinner, packed my bag and hold all, also read about San Gimignano and wrote in this diary. I am glad I am going to leave this pension.

* Both the Piccolomini Library and St. John the Baptist Chapel are located in the Duomo di Siena.

Duomo and Strawberries

Sat up so late last night writing to Alfred that I was tired this morning. Had strawberries for b’fast. Had a letter from Helen. Dr. Giglioli wants her to go to the San Pellegrino* if only for 10 days so she is going.

Went to the Duomo for a while this morning and was much impressed with it. Brought some strawberries on the way home. Tried to buy six centessimi - 1 1/5 cents – worth instead of six soldi** – 6 cents.

Lay down after lunch – then went down to see the cobbler about my shoes. Then studied Italian till Signorina Orlandi came. Also studied this morning and this noon. We had a funny conversation tonight with the so-called count – think he is just an ordinary teacher – in Italian, French, and German. Wrote a note to Helen to say, I wanted to go to San Gimignano*** and would not reach Florence till 7 P.M. Also wrote to French Lemon to ask them to send my letters to Pension Crocini.

*Probably San Pellegrino Terme in Lombardy
**”Soldi” are old Italian coins worth 5 centesimi.

Medical Mishap Averted

I had a dreadful fright this morning. The maid who brought my hot water gave me a small bottle ½ full of liquid and partly by words and partly by gestures explained that she had broken my bottle in dusting, but had brought me another of the same medicine. I thought she meant that she had passed what was left of the cascara into another bottle, but in handing the bottle found it left a yellow stain in my hand and it proved to be tincture of iodine.

What would have become of me if I had taken 40 drops of tincture of iodine? I don’t know. I went right down to the Signora and she called the maids up and talked to them well, but I don’t think it made much impression and indeed I think she helped them get the medicine. Was much shaken up over it. Went to church and gave 5 lire for a thanks offering. Wrote to Florence to tell her about what had happened to me and to tell her of father’s 3 accidents to prove to her that she couldn’t have his disease.

Began a letter to Alfred. Took a nap – then went over to get some gelato – ice-cream – a German woman came up and sat with me and we talked a while in four languages. She was alone and lonely and her only son is in America. Came home and sat in my window to listen to the band playing in the Lizza.

Walked in the Lizza with the Oudesluys after dinner. Sat up till after midnight writing to Alfred about the disposition of the furniture in California.