Money Found, Shopping and Helping Starving Artist

Mrs. Zupponi came this morning and said she knew where my money was, that it was in the Credito Italiano – that she had been there the day before and they admitted it was there, but would do nothing till they had seen me. That it had been sent to Milano thinking I was there and it was not to be returned to Florence before I could get it or I could have it sent back to America. From there I went to Bargello and took a guide who explained everything to me and I spent 1 ¾ hours there most usefully and pleasantly.

After lunch lay down awhile and tried to find the store where my night gowns were made at 10 Via de’ Benci. They had not reopened. Then we went over to the Fallon’s and had my suit tried on – it fits well. Florence came in to have her clothes tried on and Helen and I left. We were going to the Femminile to try to get lace cuffs to match collar – went into store to see about dictionary when I ran into Mr. Smith, the artist who lived at Mrs. Grassini’s. He was looking pale and thin and said he was going to Rome. I told him Florence knew a nice pension which was cheap and we started out to Carelia’s the tailor’s to find her. She had left and we chased her to the library. She invited him to dinner, but had to go back to the tailor’s, so I took him along with me. He is having a hard time. His money has not come and he has not paid at Fiesole for 4 weeks. They do not give them enough to eat, so he is always buying some extra to eat. He owned up he only had a lira in his pocket book. It seemed that the doctor* had a check of more than enough to pay the board – so that could be cancelled.

We went into the showrooms of the Signa factory and wandered through them admiring everything. Then we came home and Mr. Smith played on the piano while I smoothed my hair re. When Florence came, I consulted her about lending him some money. It was decided to do it, but he wouldn’t take it. We had a jolly dinner with the Braggs and C. Then we were going to the Piazza Emmanuelle to see the crowds, but we got talking downstairs. We forced 150 francs on him and made him promise to come to the Crocini to live. He is coming Sunday and we are to wait for him. He left about 10. I hope he will come for I feel worried about him.

The war news is terrible. Germany seems to be winning on every side.

*Dr. Sterling Barrows. Mrs. Addison’s cousin.

Checking boats home and a good dinner

I slept very well and the pain in my back is better. I think it is sciatica. I found Helen feeling very poorly. She had had a bad night from heat and indigestion. She stayed in bed all the morning. Mr. Betham came in and I had another lesson on the paper. Then I wrote a note to Florence. – at one I started out to mail it. Stopped at Thomas Cook’s and found a postal card from Florence at Florence. She feels the heat very much. She is at the Crocini.

Went to the P.O. and then to the Am. Consul’s where I was told that the Carpathia* was to sail Aug. 31st and that probably normal conditions would ensue. Bought some supplies and came home. Tried to buy some felt roosters for my two babies, but they asked too much. We had lunch at 3 and cleared away the things. Then I slept an hour and a half. Then Helen and I got dressed and went down to the public gardens where we walked around and watched the children and then went to a restaurant in the park and had chicken, spinach and macaroni and very good too. Sat in the park till nearly 10 P.M. and came home and read two short stories by Conan Doyle. Helen feels better tonight. Poor ink.

*The Carpathia was a Cunard ship which had been involved in the rescue of the Titanic’s passengers in 1912. On September 5th, 1914, it was fined by the Italian government for transporting emigrants without a license.

Letters, Letters

Helen came into my room soon after six all dressed and ready to go, and even then she had not fully decided to go, but the maid called her and she left to get her b’fast and then came back and said good-by and started for Florence with Mrs. Clement and Miss Jeannerett.

Had b’fast and studied Italian. Then the maid came in with the mail for me from French Lemon & Co., two letters from Percy, one from Alfred enclosing $60, in money, one from Margaret, one from Florence S., one from F.B.H. and one from Uncle Hugh with his fifth manuscript, 2 to Helen from Hotel des Thermes. I wrote a note to Helen and addressed it to the Riccioli* and enclosed her two letters and the one I rec’d from F.B.H. and sent it, also sent one to Crocini for fear she might have gone there. Also forwarded to F. B. H. a note that Florence S. had sent her in my care and wrote her a little note.

Talked about Venice and the Dolomite trip with Mrs. O. and found out how much they were expected to cost. Wrote to F. B. about them. Mailed the letters about 3, went up town to Mosca’s to hunt for Nellie’s card case. “Not found,” the clerk said. Came back and studied hard an hour and a half on my Italian before Signorina Orlandi came. Had a good lesson. The Italian was at dinner and we had a polyglot conversation again. Left the table to look at the soldiers returning from Africa. Sat on the porch. Miss Gamble and her friend came over. Miss G. had taken the Dolomite trip and told us a lot about it. Mrs. O. and I walked around the Lizza** and came in. I am tired and going to bed.

Alfred’s landlady, Mrs. Johnstone, died very suddenly. I am sorry. She was a nice woman. He is well. He wrote me about the furniture. Could not find my cascara,*** but just pieces of the bottle. It must have been broken.

*Probably Riccioli, Via dei Tintori, mentioned in Italy Handbook for Travellers, by Karl Baedeker, 1906
** City park, La Lizza.
***Cascara-medicinal bark taken for constipation.

Changing Pensions and Inspecting Riot Damage

Had breakfast in bed as usual. Heard the trains running.

Finished The Return of Sherlock Holmes.



Tried on my dress, the black and while dress that Florence gave me and that I am altering. Florence pinned the hem the right length and I basted the place.

Florence spoke to the directore and he said he would send the trunks down at 1.30 so finished packing my trunk and suitcase before going down to lunch. I said goodbye to all the people I knew and wrote an “approbation” in the Le Lune book. Paid my bill and left about 2 P.M. Helen came up about eleven to see if I were coming down. She then decided to come to the Pensione Crocini herself.

Florence came with me and on the way we stopped at Marmies’s and saw the wonderful ceiling. Also the windows the mob broke yesterday, also the street lights everywhere that they had smashed. We stopped and had ice cream and cake - cost 14 cents apiece.

Then went to the Crocini and found my trunk had arrived. Looked at several rooms and picked out the largest. Then Helen arrived, bag and baggage. She brought over some of the things I had left with her. We all went in to see Mrs. Hubbell. Then went to the Montebello for my plant and some things we had left there. Helen left a lot of things she did not want. We brought over flowers, books, magazines, etc. Florence packed my black winter hat in her trunk also my steamer hat, new pair of shoes, rubbers and heavy winter dress. Then I went back to Le Lune and we came to the Crocini. I unpacked lots of things. We had a good dinner. Went into Mrs. Hubbell’s room a few minutes. Worked over my room till nearly eleven. Ordered a can of hot water. I like the Hubbell family very much.

Cinemattograph

It did rain about 9 so I gave up my trip to Florence where I was going to spend the day with Helen. I had breakfast in bed. However it cleared off at 10 so I made up my mind to go. Dressed and got to the Montebello to find Helen. Waited an hour reading the papers. Helen came in at one and we decided to have lunch there instead of going to that queer place under a palace.

Then we went to the Pension Crocini* and I engaged a room at 6 frs., 2 frs. extra for light, beginning next Tuesday. Then we went to a store to look at some dresses and didn’t like them and we wandered around the shops, finally ending at the Cinemattograph. It was called “La Tormenota” .We had to wait outside till the end of the act and then went in and saw the whole thing which took two hours. People leaving and entering every 10 minutes or so. It was a highly dramatic, sensational and emotional melo-drama, but I enjoyed it, the novelty of the situation immensely. Helen walked down to the car with me.

Got home before the first bell rang for dinner.

Played Sequence with Florence after dinner and beat her.

Had a very lengthy letter from Percy about that wretched old furniture situation enclosing exchange of letters between Florence, Hazel, and Percy. I am so sorry that there is this tensity of feeling between them.

*In the 1928 Baedeker, pg. 169, Pensione Crocini is at Lung Arno Guicciardini 9. As well it is listed in Artistic Guide to Florence (1910) on the Lung Arno Guicciardini.