| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding visit of Lieutenant Carr Harris, friend of the Misses Gibson of Kingston, Canada; he has been unable to find accommodation at the Hotel Continental, but Aunt and Amelia had curtains washing and an appointment at the milliner's so Uncle had to help him, much to his annoyance; Uncle is very rude to younger people when he never would be to older ones; she later took the Lieutenant to the Colosseum and the Palatine, as the entrance at the Arch of Titus end of the Forum was open; he enjoyed his afternoon and the views of the Alban Hills, Appian Way, etc.; he is quite good-looking apart from an 'uncontrolled lower lip' and great slowness to speak; he is not sure about his future career - his mother wishes him to become a minister and his father a medical missionary; he has a regular commission and seems to prefer the army life; he does not wish to return to college and would rather be a military engineer; his sisters are in France and Egypt as nurses, probably in the Canadian contingent; air raid in Naples, resulting in cannonading in Rome and much aerial activity, and in much chatter at the laboratorio; some who had contacts in the war and marine offices were telephoned to warn them to go down to their cellars as the enemy aircraft had reached Alatri; several have been killed and about 40 injured in Naples; the aircraft were Gothas, from the Adriatic base of Cattaro; they tried again two nights later but were spotted at Vesuvius and driven back again; gas and electricity were cut off in Rome and people had to find their way home in the dark; air raid rules are stricter now; the worst damage in Naples was to a Hospice next door to Mrs. Holme's house; Mrs. Elliott says that the mails will be disrupted; Uncle's colporteur there, Corona, has written to ask for money to cover damages, which will be investigated; the aerial department is in the Baracchini Palace so they will be warned well in advance if there is to be a raid on Rome; further debate about having to give up the manse; the Italians seem unsure about their ability to resist further Austrian and German incursions; Giampiccoli wants Uncle's help to obtain permission to go to the General Assemblies, to plead for the Waldensian proposal of a home for the children of those fallen in the war; he would stay in Italy if the situation worsened, in order to be with his wife and family; Amelia's visit to Mr. Berry to obtain permission to go to France; Mr. Berry was more amenable this year, and agrees that she needs no permit for the English splint models, if she can persuade the Marchesa to give them up; he is reassuring about the French authorities and whether or not they will let her through, but she occasionally has fears that she will never get away. |