In Milan, Visit to the Brera & War Worries

Tried to read the Italian newspaper while I was eating b’fast, but there were too many words to look up that I couldn’t very well.
Helen went to the French Consul’s with a Miss Horsey, the new boarder, while I went to the Brera Gallery which I very much enjoyed, especially the fore-shortened Pieta by Andrea Mantegna, the most powerful picture I think I ever saw. I also especially liked the Dance of Cupids by Franc [Francesco] Albani. I was so impressed by the Pieta that before I left, I went back through all the rooms to see it again. I was there almost two hours and a half.
Came back and found Helen here. She said the French Consul said you could go into France all right, but he was not sure you could cross the Channel. We had a nice lunch, scrambled eggs in my little pans. It was late when we had the dishes washed – so I looked over my Italian paper till 4 when I took my lesson. I can see I improve even with so little study. Then Helen and Miss H. went to interview the Am. Consul, but I had a waist re. soaking in the washbowl – I washed them out – and intended to go in the train around the city, but I felt tired and stayed at home and mended instead.
We had dinner here – we were promised soup – which we had and roast-beef which turned out to be a pot-roast. Talked awhile after dinner. Then went into my room and went on with my sewing. Helen read me aloud a short story of Conan Doyle.
I had a letter from F.B.H. She says Dr. G. wants us all to go to the Mts. He thinks Italy will be drawn into the war and that conditions will soon improve. F. is having a new blue silk dress made. A nice letter from Hazel telling about little John and one from Hortense Oudesleys written Aug. 4 from Cortina. Said the war had broken out and advising me not to come. I hope they are all right.

English Church, and sight seeing,

I got so excited studying last night that I didn’t sleep last night very well, so it was late before I got started.

I went to the English church. There was no minister but they had a lay service and I liked it very much. It was slow and reverent. It was dark and began to rain before I got home. Then Helen came in; she had been to the Brera gallery.

I cleaned the spots of my white dress and Helen cleaned hers. Then we had our usual lunch of eggs, milk, rolls, and fruit and cake. I lay down and slept nearly two hours. It rained at intervals all day, and sometimes poured. About 6, we started to take the train that goes around the city. We went ¾ of the way around when it began to lighten and to rain hard so we got out of the car and went upon the Porta Venezia, and stayed there until the storm broke – then we took No. 26 train back to Via Brera – there we went to the Cooperative restaurant upstairs and found it crowded. No meat was left but roast veal so we left and went down stairs and had dinner in the restaurant below where we sat in the Vittorio Emmanuelle and watched the crowds.

Came back about 10 – Did not take a lesson today because it was Sunday. Read a column of the paper with difficulty.