| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding their first Sunday service back in Rome; attendance of the Browns, the Smiths (he the successor to Mr. Walker), Mrs. Campanella, Miss Jamieson, Mrs. Taglialatela, Miss Forster Walker, Mr. Guppy, and the Bentons; the climate does not suit Mrs. Benton; they may eventually go to America; she does not hide her feelings; she has been made homesick by a visit from her half-brother who is working for the American Red Cross in France; she is thin, because of the scirocco; account of journey from Chambéry; a family they travelled with were temporarily separated from their nurse because the train was split; the trains are unreliable and very long; Uncle met them in Rome on time; the house is in good order though needs cleaning as lack of rain all summer meant heavy dust; Maria and her husband Vincenzo have had an argument about treatment for his stiff neck; Amelia sides with Maria; account of how she dealt with grumbling soldiers at Aix; men are babies when they are ill; Ernesta has agreed to return to work for them again this season; she has arrived with a chicken and two trout for Uncle; the season has certainly started easily; Maria is pleased to have a little less work; she calls her husband 'that poultice'; Aunt and Amelia's visit to Mrs. Bretschneider junior; she has asked to sell Amelia's piano which is on hire; Amelia is pleased as it means the drawing room piano will have to be moved upstairs; Miss Jazdowska is back [There were Jazdowskis associated with teaching and art in Aberdeen: James Bronislas Jazdowski, son of John, teacher in Aberdeen, graduated from Marischal College in 1856 and according to an annotation of the Search Room student list died in Rome in 1902]; there were several efforts made to meet her but she had not said she would stay a night at Turin so everyone missed her; Mrs. Brock travelled with her but has gone to Udine; she is to return to Rome in November, to open up the house for Muriel Brock's Christmas holidays; Muriel may stay with Miss Jazdowska till Easter; Miss Dove and her sister have arrived; a Scottish Episcopalian, recommended by Mr. Darlow of the Bible Society, has also arrived and Uncle has invited her to visit; Mr. Hall has written to thank Uncle for his work at Mürren - he is convener of the Committee for the Spiritual Oversight of Soldiers and Sailors; Matheson from Oxford is to replace Blake; glad to hear news of John Geddes; thanks for letter; Bordes has written to say that he is back in hospital with his hand; Mrs. Brock and Miss Jazdowska brought their luggage out labelled 'Red Cross' so that it would not be examined. |