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.**

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.

Restful Saturday in Florence

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Resting in Florence IV

Another day in bed.

I get up before seven each morning, send for hot water, wash myself and everything else, dishes, h’chiefs, make my bed, pick up my room, and after I have everything in order, I send for a hot water bottle, and breakfast, and get into bed.

B’fast consists of a big cup of hot milk (a small pitcher full is the way it is brought), a small pot of coffee and two stale rolls cut up and toast and several curly cues of butter. I detest it.

Florence is afraid of my cold. Indeed she has had a slight cold herself with sore throat and she is raising phlegm while I cough and cough and can’t. So she spends but little time with me.

It rained hard so Helen did not come up. I had a letter from Margaret about my letters being carbonned and sent around. I didn’t think they are worth it.

Spent most of the day reading The Weaker Vessel by E.F. Benson.* Took a long nap in the afternoon.



*a novel published in 1913.

Resting in Florence III

My temp is normal and I am better. Florence went to town to do a lot of errands. She saw Helen who went to the opera last night.

I read Diana Mallory all day and finished it. Knit a very little. Played solitaire.

Florence was in my room but little as she is afraid of infection and tonight she has a slight temperature. I am very sorry.

I had a nice letter from Alfred with enclosure of $60. I wrote him a postal acknowledging it. I am afraid to write a letter for fear of infection.

Resting in Florence

Did not sleep at all well. At 5:40 a black cat crawled up in the window sill and cried. I tried to send her off but she wouldn’t go. Then we had a thunderstorm and heavy rain and I let the cat in.

Florence and I talked all the morning about everything and in the afternoon, Helen came in and we talked a lot more and had afternoon tea. Didn’t have any dinner as I had a little fever (100). Fortunately I had carried the fever tablets that Dr. Cogswell had given me in Amherst, so I took those and I kept awake till eleven so as to get the three doses in.

I had a nice letter from Hazel containing two pictures of John and also one from Florence.

I finished Eleanor* by Mrs. Humphrey Ward. I am beginning Diana Mallory** by the same author. I think I have read it before. Manisty in Eleanor is just like Tommy,*** I think.


Helen brought me some delicious strawberries. I do not dare to write to the children for fear of giving them the infection.

*Eleanor published in 1900
**The Testing of Diana Mallory published in 1908, a strong anti-Suffrage book. Mrs. Humphry Ward (1851-1920) was the niece of Matthew Arnold and a popular late Victorian novelist who was brought up at Oxford and whose work was marked by religious conflict.
***Tommy Sanford is her son-in-law married to her daughter, Florence.

Visiting the Roman Forum

Felt pretty tired after my trip of yesterday so had b’fast in bed and did not go down till 10. Then washed out my night dress and hung it out on the balcony to dry.

Had a talk with Miss Wood about rooms. It will cost from $55 to $60 a month here - two in a room - if we come here next winter - fully $60 with fire for you pay for your own fuel.

After lunch I started for the Forum to attend a lecture by Dr. Raymond. I was late in getting there so missed the lecture but wandered around the ruins for two hours and a half and with the aid of Baedeker understood the place fully well. A keeper showed me the new excavations for which I gave him four cents.



Was beguiled into buying two sets of Roman postcards for 85 cents.

Spent part of the evening in the living room talking to Miss Patterson.

Finished a silly old novel called Marriage by Miss Ferrier*, a distinct imitation of Evalina.

*Susan Edmonstone Ferrier, “Marriage,” 1818.