Julia Ward Howe Part 73

"_March 19._ I have not dared to work to-day, as I am to read this afternoon. The reading was well attended and was more than well received. Hall Caine came afterwards, and talked long about the Bible.

He does not appear to be familiar with the most recent criticism of either Old or New Testament."

"_March 24._ 'There is a third silent party to all our bargains.'

[Emerson.]

"I find this pa.s.sage in his essay on 'Compensation' to-day for the first time, having written my essay on 'Moral Triangulation of the Third Party' some thirty years ago."

"_March 26._ Dined with Mrs. McCreary--the Duke of San Martino took me in to dinner--Monsignor Dennis O'Connell sat on the other side of me. I had an interesting talk with him. Mrs. McCreary sang my 'Battle Hymn.'

They begged me to recite 'The Flag,' which I did. Mrs. Pea.r.s.e, daughter of Mario and Grisi, sang delightfully."

"_March 30._ A fine luncheon party given by Mrs. Iddings, wife of the American Secretary of Emba.s.sy at the Grand Hotel. Mme. Ristori was there; I had some glimpses of reminiscence with her. I met her with 'La terribil' Medea,' which I so well remember hearing from her. I presently quoted her toast in 'La Locandiera,' of which she repeated the last two lines. Maud had arranged to have Mrs. Hurlburt help me home.

Contessa Spinola also offered, but I got off alone, came home in time to hear most of Professor Pansotti's lecture on the Gregorian music, which, though technical, was interesting."

"_March 31._ I woke up at one, after vividly dreaming of my father and Dr. Francis. My father came in, and said to me that he wished to speak to Miss Julia alone. I trembled, as I so often did, lest I was about to receive some well-merited rebuke. He said that he wished my sister and me to stay at home more. I saw the two faces very clearly. My father's I had not seen for fifty-nine years."

"_April 6._ Went in the afternoon with Mrs. Stillman to the Campo dei Fiori, where bought two pieces of lace for twenty _lire_ each, and a little cap-pin for five _lire_. Saw a small ruby and diamond ring which I very much fancied."

"_April 10._ Easter Sunday, pa.s.sed quietly at home. Had an early walk on the terrace.... A good talk with Hamilton Ade, who told me of the Spartali family. In the afternoon to Lady Kenmare's reception and later to dine with the Lindall Winthrops."

"_April 11._ In the afternoon Harriet Monroe, of Chicago, came and read her play--a parlor drama, ingenious and well written. The audience were much pleased with it."

"_April 13_.... In the evening dined with Theodore Davis and Mrs.

Andrews. Davis showed us his treasures gathered on the Nile sh.o.r.e and gave me a scarab."

"_April 18._... Went to hear Canon Farrar on the 'Inferno' of Dante--the lecture very scholarly and good."

"_April 22._ With Anderson to the Vatican, to see the Pinturicchio frescoes, which are very interesting. He designed the tiling for the floors, which is beautiful in color, matching well with the frescoes--these represent scenes in the life of the Virgin and of St.

Catherine...."

"_April 24._ To Miss Leigh Smith's, where I read my sermon on the 'Still Small Voice' to a small company of friends, explaining that it was written in the first instance for the Concord Prison, and that I read it there to the convicts. I prefaced the sermon by reading one of the parables in my 'Later Lyrics,' 'Once, where men of high pretension,'

etc...."

This was one of several occasions when she read a sermon at the house of Miss Leigh Smith, a stanch Unitarian, who lived at the Trinita de' Monti in the house near the top of the Spanish Steps, held by generations of English and American residents the most advantageous dwelling in Rome.

On Sunday mornings, when the bells of Rome thrilled the air with the call to prayer, a group of exiles from many lands gathered in the pleasant English-looking drawing-room. From the windows they could look down upon the flower-decked Piazza di Spagna, hear the song of the nightingales in the Villa Medici, breathe the perfume of violets and almond blossoms from the Pincio. This morning, or another, Paul Sabatier was among the listeners, a grave, gracious man, a Savoyard pastor, whose "Life of Saint Francis of a.s.sisi" had set all Rome talking.

"_April 25._ To lunch with the Drapers. Had some good talk with Mr. D.

[the American Amba.s.sador]. He was brought up at Hopedale in the Community, of which his father was a member, his mother not altogether acquiescing. He went into our Civil War when only twenty years of age, having the day before married a wife. He was badly wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. Mosby [guerilla] met the wounded train, and stripped them of money and watches, taking also the horses of their conveyances.

A young Irish lad of fourteen saved Draper's life by running to Bull Plain for aid."

"_April 26._ Lunch at Daisy Chanler's, to meet Mrs. Sanford, of Hamilton, Canada, who is here in the interests of the International Council of Women. She seems a nice, whole-souled woman.... I have promised to preside at a meeting, called at Daisy's rooms for Thursday, to carry forward such measures as we can and to introduce Mrs. Sanford and interpret for her."

"_April 27._ Devoted the forenoon to a composition in French, setting forth the objects of the meeting...."

"_April 28._ Went carefully over my French address. In the afternoon attended the meeting at Daisy's where I presided."

This was the first time the Italian women had taken part in the International Council.

"_April 30._ To Contessa di Taverna at Palazzo Gabrielli, where I met the little knot of newly elected officers of the Council of Italian Women that is to be. Read them my report of our first meeting--they chattered a great deal. Mrs. Sanford was present. She seemed grateful for the help I had tried to give to her plan of a National Council of Italian Women. I induced the ladies present to subscribe a few _lire_ each, for the purchase of a book for the secretary, for postage and for the printing of their small circular. Hope to help them more further on...."

"_May 1._... I gave my 'Rest' sermon at Miss Leigh Smith's....

Afterwards to lunch with the dear Stillman Muse. Lady Airlie and the Thynne sisters were there. Had a pleasant talk with Lady Beatrice....

Wrote a letter to be read at the Suffrage Festival in Boston on May 17...."

Lady Beatrice and Lady Katherine Thynne; the latter was married later to Lord Cromer, Viceroy of Egypt. The Ladies Thynne were pa.s.sing the winter with their cousin, the Countess of Kenmare, at her pleasant apartment in the Via Gregoriana. Among the guests one met at Lady Kenmare's was a dark, handsome Monsignore who spoke English like an Oxford Don, and looked like a Torquemada. Later he became Papal Secretary of State and Cardinal Merry del Val.

"_May 2._ Have worked as usual. A pleasant late drive. Dined with Eleutherio,[125] Daisy Chanler, and Dr. Bull; whist afterwards; news of an engagement and victory for us off Manila."

[125] Her brother-in-law, Luther Terry.

"_May 4_.... We dined with Marchese and Marchesa de Viti de Marco at Palazzo Orsini. Their rooms are very fine, one hung with beautiful crimson damask. An author, Pascarello, was present, who has written comic poems in the Romanesque dialect, the princ.i.p.al one a mock narrative of the discovery of America by Columbus. Our host is a very intelligent man, much occupied with questions of political economy, of which science he is professor at the Collegio Romano. His wife, an American, is altogether pleasing. He spoke of the present Spanish War, of which foreigners understand but little."

"_May 5._ A visit from Contessa di Taverna to confer with me about the new departure [the International Council of Women]. She says that the ladies will not promise to pay the stipulated contribution, five hundred _lire_ once in five years, to the parent a.s.sociation...."

"_May 8._ An exquisite hour with dear Maud on the terrace--the roses in their glory, red, white, and yellow; honeysuckle out, brilliant. We sat in a sheltered spot, talked of things present and to come. Robert Collyer to lunch. I asked him to say grace, which he did in his lovely manner. He enjoyed Maud's terrace with views of St. Peter's and the mountains. In the afternoon took a little drive.

"Several visitors called, among them Louisa Broadwood, from whom I learned that the little Committee for a Woman's Council is going on. The ladies have decided not to join the International at present, but to try and form an Italian Council first. Some good results are already beginning to appear in the cooperation of two separate charities in some part of their work."

"_May 9._ I must now give all diligence to my preparation for departure.

Cannot write more on 'Reminiscences' until I reach home. Maud made a dead set against my going to Countess Resse's where a number of ladies had been invited to meet me. I most unwillingly gave up this one opportunity of helping the Woman's Cause; I mean this one remaining occasion, as I have already spoken twice to women and have given two sermons and read lectures five times. It is true that there might have been some exposure in going to Mme. R.'s, especially in coming out after speaking."

A few years after this, the a.s.sociation which she did so much to found, held the first Woman's Congress ever given in Italy, at the Palace of Justice in Rome. It was an important and admirably conducted convention.

The work for the uplift of the s.e.x is going on steadily and well in Italy to-day.

"_May 12._ Sat to Villegas all forenoon. Had a little time on the terrace. Thought I would christen it the 'Praise G.o.d.' The flowers seem to me to hold their silent high ma.s.s, swinging their own censers of sweet incense. Went to Jack's studio and saw his splendid work.[126] In the afternoon went with my brother-in-law to the cemetery to visit dear Louisa's grave. Jack had cut for me many fine roses from the terrace.

We dropped many on this dear resting-place of one much and justly beloved.... Dear old Majesty of Rome, this is my last writing here. I thank G.o.d most earnestly for so much."

[126] Elliott was at work upon his Triumph of Time, a ceiling decoration for the Boston Public Library.

CHAPTER XI

EIGHTY YEARS

1899-1900; _aet._ 80-81

HUMANITY

Methought a moment that I stood Where hung the Christ upon the Cross, Just when mankind had writ in blood The record of its dearest loss.

The bitter drink men offered him His kingly gesture did decline, And my heart sought, in musing dim, Some cordial for those lips divine.

When lo! a cup of purest gold My trembling fingers did uphold; Within it glowed a wine as red As hearts, not grapes, its drops had shed.

Drink deep, my Christ, I offer thee The ransom of Humanity.

J. W. H.