| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding first Sunday back in Rome; baptism of Hale Benton's baby; Mr. Benton is completely under his wife's thumb; she should remember the days when she was a paid companion herself, and not put others into servitude; she considers herself above everything and expert in everything, but fortunately she has a good maid who copes very well; the line via Genoa is still under repair so their journey was delayed; the long, hot summer was followed by torrential rain which broke the bridge near Rapallo; Maria had the house and supper ready for them when they arrived; prices are increasing all the time and they are not sure how they will get through the winter; they will have to acquire another servant for they cannot manage all the work just with Maria; Ernesta is a possibility; she is in mourning for both her parents; Uncle has still to approve of her; Fenisia has written a card to them; her brother has consumption; Maria and her husband have a lodger but she does not do his washing; the two previous lodgers were charcoal sellers and her stepson is a butcher, so she had quite enough to do with them; Mario, the stepson, and his wife come to blows occasionally but Maria thinks this is quite normal; Mr. Walker has resigned and will be replaced by the British & Foreign Bible Society agent at Brazil, a man suffering from neurasthenia, even though Italy has the worst climate for it; he knows no Italian; he will find conditions very bad; Fattori, the printer in Florence, has been cheating the Society and the Scotch Bible Society over paper; Walker is jealous of his children's attachment to their mother and wants to return to them; the British have attacked the Germans near Nairobi, and have now declared war on Bulgaria; Greece is being asked to state her intentions; the sons of Professor Stalker and Principal Smith [George Adam Smith?] have been killed. |