| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding visit of Deaconess Laurie and Miss Kent in connexion with papier maché splint work; the English models which have arrived are 'graceful as well as practical' but have aroused jealousy, and the Marchesa Centurione was unwilling for her to take them home to make notes about them for the use of her own patients - she had to explain that she was not setting up a rival establishment at home; Miss Kent is the originator of the work at Marchesa Centurione's, but is no longer welcome there as the Marchesa said she could only work there if she agreed not to work or teach anywhere else; Miss Kent had learned her skills in London specifically to teach them in Italy and refused to agree; she has started branches in Florence, Milan, Bordighera and Naples, all of which treated her more kindly; she wants to see the English models, but Amelia has taken them back now; Miss Kent has offered to show her how to take plaster casts and make the models on them, an easier method, and allowing the splints to be removed and replaced while still fitting perfectly; visit of Mrs. Bianchi who was delighted with the models; lecture by Sir Samuel Hoare on 'The needs of Italy' in relation to England supplying these medical things, previously restricted because of lack of tonnage; England has pooled its coal supplies for the use of all the Allies, and now coal is harder to find for domestic needs in England than in Italy; Mrs. Bianchi had heard that England wished to 'dominate poor Italy' and that the British had ousted Italian officials from the dogana, but Sir Samuel Hoare pointed out that both these stories were German propaganda; welcome arrival of Uncle's flannels, ordered in September; he had not approved of the order, but there were no shirts big enough for him in Lyon or Chambéry and flannel is now very expensive in Rome; pyjamas and shirts have arrived, 'real home quality'; they are now expecting boots; no letter has yet come from Chambéry; Mathieu is in Lyon in the Hôpital de la Charité, founded in 1531, and is to have a shoe fitted with a steel sole; the hospital has 1,200 beds and the adjoining military hospital has 1,000 beds; he has been invited to visit Hospital 103 in Chambéry some Sunday; he says that God will bless Uncle for releasing Amelia for the massage work, but Amelia is not sure that Uncle will agree and does not pass on the message; he is still very irritable and they have to go cautiously so as not to set him off; examples of his tempers; he is ungrateful to Maria though she tries her hardest to find difficult foods; Amelia blames some of his temper on lack of exercise; description of some of the meals with which he is not satisfied; he is not looking forward to Gibson playing the organ in Amelia's absence, so she worries that he will not improve when she is gone; the Board of Management is now reduced to three, but Gibson will not help with Communion even though Hale Benton is away in Milan on business; Gibson was very rude to his wife when she suggested he might help; Mr. Smith and Dr. Rossi managed instead; Mrs. Smith and Matsi were away, because Matsi has been confirmed at the Episcopal church; it must cause friction in the family but they have never mentioned it; Amelia's argument with Mr. Smith over whether or not she had taken too much trouble over Mrs. Fleming's belongings for no reward; Mr. Smith has been annoyed with Uncle for months because Luzzi is editing the Book of Proverbs as part of the Fides et Amor, and Uncle did not tell Mr. Smith; he has just discovered that Uncle has himself only just found out, and is now more friendly; Uncle is too involved in some of the work, and should leave it to Luzzi now; Aunt and Amelia have begun to make enquiries about accommodation at Gressoncy, off Val d'Aosta, for the summer; Uncle is not averse at present to finding out about it, and it must be done now before he starts procrastinating; 'he is not the better of staying in Rome all summer last year'. |