Showing 5 results

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno. - Has been here since New Year, and will leave on the 27th to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks; will then return home after a few days at Pisa. There has been a 'chilly and rainy scirocco for the last three days', but he expects it to be 'fine and sunny again tomorrow'. Is mainly busy with his translation of Lucretius, which he would like to finish. Has now done all of books I, III, and V [of De Rerum Natura], half of II and some of the rest; has 'still about a third of the whole to do, and the dullest part too, unfortunately'. Thinks though that it is 'worth finishing'.

The headmaster of Eton, Alington, is here with his family; he is 'quite a pleasant man, and a scholar'. Robert likes his wife, 'who was a Lyttelton'; there are 'six children, from 7 to 20, who make a very pleasant family'. Has not been to Ravello for 'twenty three years', and greatly enjoys seeing it again. Spent a 'very interesting day at Pompeii, seeing the new excavations'; these were most interesting archaeologically though there was 'nothing very remarkable in the new paintings'. The frescoes at the Casa dei Misteri outside the town, however, which he had not seen before, seemed to be the 'finest classical painting' he has ever seen, and gave him 'some idea of what really fine Greek painting may have been'; they illustrate an 'initiation into the Orphic, or rather Dionysian mysteries' and he has photographs which he will bring on his next visit to Welcombe.

Hopes his mother is well and enjoying the milder weather. Bessie and Julian seem well, and have been 'spending two very full days in London'. Will write to his mother soon.

Pension Palumbo, Ravello. - Will leave here next Thursday, after almost a month, to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks. Last week there was almost continual rain for six days; at last it is fine again today, though still cold, with 'snow upon the higher hills'. Despite the bad weather, has done 'a fair amount of work'. Forgets whether his mother has been to Ravello, or to Amalfi; calls the views of both the mountains and over the sea towards Paestum and the Apennines beyond 'very wonderful', but thinks he prefers the beauty of Tuscany and Umbria.

The Alingtons are staying in the Ruffalo palace, and come to meals here in the hotel; he is headmaster of Eton, and is 'quite pleasant and friendly', but Robert likes his wife better, 'who was Hester Lyttelton' and is now middle-aged, with six children, four girls and two boys, all here. They are a 'very jolly family, and two of the girls are quite musical' and sometimes play the hotel piano and on the violin. There is also a 'young English painter' whom Robert likes, and 'two quite pleasant Americans, an invalid and his wife', so he does 'not lack company' when he wants it.

Bessie seems well, and Julian has enjoyed his holiday and now has returned to school. Will be back at home before the end of February, and hopes to visit his mother at Welcombe 'sometime this spring'. Hopes the weather has been good, and that 'the primroses and snowdrops are coming out'. There are 'plenty of wild narcissuses among the rocks' here, and 'the wild crocuses are beginning'.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The wedding [between George and Janet Trevelyan] is over, and now the family is 'all married'; wishes Robert and Elizabeth had been there as it was a nice, well arranged occasion. She, Sir George, and Booa [Mary Prestwich] arrived by train in Oxford just in time for the Registry, which was 'in a shabby little first floor room', made nice with 'carpet & flowers' but much inferior to the Hague; description of the short ceremony there, with only the 'nearest relations' and some of George's friends. They then went to [Manchester] College to meet the friends who had just arrived by special train from London. The chapel is 'extremely pretty, with lovely Burne-Jones windows'. Order of service originally enclosed; describes the address, in which 'there was nothing the least doctrinal, but it was very high toned & 'ethical'". Many guests, including Meggy [Price], Annie [Philips], Harry Greg, 'a number of Wards & Arnolds & Croppers', the 'H.Y.T.s' [Harry Yates Thompson and his wife], 'the Bell connection, & the Stanleys in numbers'. Also Mrs [Alice] Green, Henry James, 'Ritchies, Freshfields, Sidgwicks, Mr [Hugh?] Clifford, the Holman Hunts, Russells, Muggins Runcimans', many Oxford people and 'an array of George's friends'.

They then went into the library, a 'fine room with beautiful woodwork, & painted windows, & a statue of Dr [James] Martineau' for tea, took the special train back and were in London by 6 pm. Sir George was unwell with a bad cold for two days before, but got through; it was a warm day and he does not seem worse this morning. George and Janet went to 'a quiet place in Surrey' for a few days then on to Cornwall; will then return to London to 'put their house in order & go abroad'. Describes Janet's wedding dress and travelling dress.

Received the box of things from Taormina yesterday [see 11/93]; 'very nice, & just suitable for a bazaar'; will write and thank Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] for ordering them. Sir George sends love, and thanks for Robert's last letter; he is reading Lord Acton's letters 'with amusement and interest', having had to stop work for a while; she thinks 'working too long at the B.M. [British Museum] made him ill' and is 'sure it is full of germs'. Charles and Mary were 'much to the front' at the wedding, and Mary looked 'magnificent'; dined with them last week in North Street, where everything is arranged nicely. Supposes Robert and Elizabeth will return to lots of business about the new house and hopes it goes well: 'the old judge [Sir Roland Vaughan Williams] has had plenty more time to think it over'. Sir John Swinburne's engagement has been broken off. Hester Lyttelton and Victoria Buxton are both going to be married.