| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, anticipating a visit from Mr. Walker, and regarding frequent demonstrations; difficulties in getting around the city; the Italians call the Parliament House the 'farmacia' (the chemist's) because concoctions and chatter go on there; loyal demonstrations for the King and the Royal Family; half the fleet is guarding Venice; the Lido has been levelled to give the Venetian cannon scope; the Government is calling women to serve when they can be spared; the Red Cross is busy but the dilettantes who join consider themselves above the need for training; the 'frothy' workers give the worthy ones a bad name; all citizens have now to enrol at the police office and foreigners have extra papers to complete; Aunt is down as a 'lady of means' and Amelia as a student; other responses to the questions have caused amusement; papers must be carried at all times; British people are wearing Union Jack badges; the Germans still in the city are calling themselves Swiss; the young officers are proud of their uniforms; the older men are grave; scabbards have been oxidised so as not to reflect the sunlight; metal rank stars have been replaced by silk ones; Giolotti left the city as the police said they could no longer protect him; request for Aunt Amy to write her postcards in Italian for safety. |