Pension Simi Piazza Donatello,19, Florence June 18, 1933.

My darling,

Perhaps, I can get a little headway before lunch, we have returned from church. This is Red Cross Collection day and such a perfect system, we had to pay 2 soldi more on each tram fare for the Red Cross, besides there were a couple of girls with their can and basket on the tram, so you just had to contribute and get your pin, to protect you from further onslaughts, as it is quite a walk to the church after you leave the tram. 0n rainy Sundays we generally like a carrozza, as a protection. Such a time, as we have in getting started; if we leave at 10.30, we arrive a little early for 11 o'clock service, but the next tram makes us a little late. The children will sit around waiting for me, but when I start, they generally delay matters, by having to get gloves or go to the toilet. To-day, I thought we'd miss the 10.40 as I could hear it coming & rushed out telling the door-boy to tell the children to run; fortunately the conductor waited for an old lady who was crawling along behind me and it gave the children time to catch up.

Lunch bell rang, and now I've finished eating, I'll resume. Quentin just came in the dining room with a school cap that has been missing for over a month. He climbed up a trellis in the back of the house and found it on top. If you only knew how much time I'd wasted looking for that cap. Now he's changed his Sunday clothes to go out to play, will have to dress again, as we're going to some Greek dances in the old Roman theater at Fiesole. Just imagine visiting towns mentioned in Caesar - Fiesolum and Pistorium (Pistoia where Henry, Dot & I with Miss Marsh & Miss Rose visited the churches and art galleries yesterday.) Sometimes I'm not so sure that it is wise to go back to France, where it costs over a hundred dollars for our transportation (5 of us) and then if we ran into a rainy summer in Brittany, it would be terrible. Here I don't mind the rain as I have friends I can call on the telephone, picture galleries, churches, moving pictures, shops, tea rooms, a good library in the house, and several good libraries in the town. Miss Marsh has decided that she would probably get homesick at the beach, and has decided to go to Siena, which is high, and very old, full of art, a good summer university course, with Americans and English. It is also a fine center for numerous rides in the country, not too far to Umbrian towns and mountains in Tuscany.

If I were alone, I should keep as close as I could to Miss Marsh. She is not only a beautiful lady - Dot and Henry call her "the beautiful lady," but a good sport. She never complains. She has been in Europe many times, used to come as a little girl with her mother. I think for adults, a slight elevation makes an excellent change for the summer.

I have heard of a good beach near Rimini, which is another good center for auto trips to old towns like Ravenna, Padua, Verona. If we went in that direction we'd be headed for Vienna without paying so much in R.R. fares, as Italy is making very low rates; one can travel through it at prices never heard of before. Renzo, Quentin's friend, the young porter, has gone to Venice, a special ticket 22 lire, round trip. He left Friday and will be back sometime Monday. He will see more than I did on the Hamburg cruise; at least, he will have more than twice as much time there, as I did.

Henry thinks we ought to leave Italy by the end of June, so as to get my 30% student's reduction. We decided not to sign up for the French university course which would entitle us to reduction on French rails, as we could not have any stop over privileges; & Henry & Dot & the children want a few days in Paris. To me, it is an aggravation to be in a place where you want to spend money, and then feel that you can't. Besides, Henry and I both felt that it was tying up considerable money to pay tuition in advance, especially if the weather was too cool and rainy, to remain at the beach. I think Henry and Dot may call on us this P.M. as we haven't made any very decided plans. It is hard to suit everybody.

I feel that the children are better off at a beach in summer; perhaps they would enjoy a farm outside of Siena, but I've never had that experience and can't tell. Henry likes Italy, but Dot is crazy to get to France. It's hard to please everybody. Florence said, as we were going by Miss Barry 's, I love that school. It is the best school, I've ever been to. I shall feel sorry to leave it, when we go home.' Yet I have been thinking that next spring, possibly we had better go to Rome, as there is a good English school there for the children, and a new art field for Dot and Henry. They must feel that they have covered Florence rather thoroughly.

As I haven't heard of sufficient prosperity to feel justified in thinking that we may go home soon, I hope that Henry will be able to better his condition, or in other words to find another line of work when he returns. People in Prof. Tealdi's class think that he must be an architect, as he is so interested in buildings. I do feel that he might lecture, as he has a good voice, and expresses himself well. Miss Parini, Tealdi's secretary told me that one woman who comes here to study every summer made $4000 last winter in Buffalo, lecturing on Tuscan Art. Miss Marsh said that art museums had positions to offer young people who knew the history of art, without being artists; she had a young friend visiting her for a week in Florence who was preparing for such a position. Henry has given far more time in Florence than this girl gave. I think with studying art in France, Italy, and Germany next winter, and if there should be another winter, we would go to Madrid; that he might be fitted for something other than office work.

It is a wonderful opportunity for the children to acquire the accent and rhythm of a foreign language. Adults can hardly ever get the pronunciation unless they have a good musical ear. Quentin has picked up considerable Italian, and Henry is a marvel. He seems to understand all the guides, but they speak it slowly and distinctly. Henry says that I should never have asked you to send our 2nd payment in June in advance, as you would ordinarily have to wait until such time as interest fell due. I really regret now that I hurried you, as I think we may all go to Siena for the last week in June.

The 2nd of July there is an ancient custom of horse-racing called the Pallio. It is a gorgeous sight and we've been advised not to miss it this year. I left just a bit too early last year to see it. I am trying to get all the sewing finished up this week, also the dentistry. I shall have our bags packed here and take only what we need for a few days in Siena, then come back here to start for France, as naturally we'd have to get cleaned up before starting. We can't make this trip to Siena if it takes too much money, but if it doesn't cost any more than Florence, we might. Siena is said to be less expensive than Florence.

I ought to be finding out whether Florence is studying or just reading. She reads a great deal, and sometimes I think it is a waste of time. Quentin has a little Italian girl that he plays with, that he can boss around the way he did the youngest Sweeney. (Note from Quentin: I don't remember knowing any little Italian girl. I do remember "the youngest Sweeney." She was Dorothy, the gardener's daughter, my playmate. I don't remember "bossing her around.") I think it is better for him than to be cowed by Florence. She has grown rather overpowering.

We have had a great deal of rain, most unusual for Italy, and to-day, a high wind which makes it a bit too cool - not good for summer clothing. If you are having similar weather I fear the cottage won't rent. The city would be preferable to the shore. There were only 6 of us in the dining-room this noon. The children feel so much at home. Quentin banged on the piano so loudly, that he found it locked. I told him that if he had played as he should, he would still be enjoying it. He could pick out Italian songs by ear. Mrs. Rose said that he was very musical and should have a musical education.

Florence is talking of wearing winter clothes to the Greek dancing - what will happen to the dancers in their thin organdies? I wish Cecil could put on some weight, the pictures were interesting that you sent; the children have been planning to write and thank you. Florence just discovered that a rose tree has broken and fallen to the ground, in this high wind. There are many flower pots used in garden decorations as the flowers last longer than in the ground which gets baked with the hot summer sun. Quentin seems like a different child from last year. He has grown tall, and is full of vitality. Wish you could see him, I also wish I could have a miniature painted of him before he loses a certain gentle beauty. I must write to the aunts, Florence and Evelyn. I suppose I put too much time in one letter.

Lovingly,

Blanche