| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding weather; swollen Tiber; threat of flooding eased; drainage bad in Trastevere; Fenesia's brother saw wine casks floating out of cellars; stores and books damaged; snowfall in the hills has disrupted transport; further earthquakes; Mme. B's memories of similar problems during her first winter in Rome; considerable damage in the cellars of the Waldensian Church; Herr Goll has rebuilt the organ at the American Church; shown over it by Mr.Green, formerly organist at York Minster; offering to let her play it when she wants; hopes to have a few lessons from him on English organ music, but no time at present with first aid lectures; Uncle's health still poor; Professor van Millingen lecturing on the archaeology of Constantinople; they do not like his wife who is aggressive; she insists that Uncle is not too old to marry; she is very open about her husband's faults; she is very forward about their house; the van Millingens plan to settle in Rome, now that their plans for Dresden are impossible; criticism of modern youth might reasonably result in criticism of modern mothers; bad provision for her children's education; Mrs. Mitchell, an Irish lady who visited the previous week, was much more impressive; the Mitchells have supplied Leghorn and would be good in Rome; nothing definite decided by parliament concerning the war; public protests; Salandra put in power on the grounds that he will break neutrality, but this is not likely unless the Austrians attack; the University has been closed to avoid riots; vacillation is everywhere. |