Abbot McClure to his cousin William Thorndike, 19 January 1924

[From Abbot McClure in Florence, Italy, to his cousin William Thorndike. He thanks William for a check, apparently a Christmas gift; mentions some sconces that he had apparently packed up when he left the U. S. in 1918 and had now been sent on to William's wife; writes an interesting statement apparently in response to a letter from William about how dull his Christmas was; and describes his own Christmas.]

Firenze, January 19th [1924]

Dear Will,

Thanks many times for the cheque that was cashed in Rome and gave me a neat little sum for a gift that I have not yet purchased. I am delighted that Hunsberger sent the candle sconces so promptly and that Marie1 liked them. I hope he will send you the parts missing for as I remember I packed them all in a box together, but that was nearly seven years ago and time changes all things.

What a dull atmosphere two people can create when they set out to. The Abbots were always terribly dull, and added the Boston touch you have a fearful mixture to put up with, especially at Christmas time when things are supposed to hum.

My Christmas was a delightful one spent as it was with Mr. and Mrs. CARRERE2 and their little son Bunty3 aged two. They had as house guests Mrs. Sydney Carrere4 of New York and a Mr. Powell also of New York, so we had a most amusing and jolly time. A real Christmas breakfast was served at nine o'clock and no other meal that day. At eight thirty we all went to a large dinner and ball at one of the big 15th. century villas, and a more beautiful sight I have never seen. Thirty sat down to a superb dinner in the large state dining room, and the table groaned under the weight of good things. After dinner about two hundred came for dancing, and at four o'clock we rolled home, I for one ready for my bed.

Now Florence is more or less quiet, as so many have gone to Egypt or Switzerland, but at Easter all will be gay again. Work goes pretty well, and I have enough to do now to keep me fairly busy until late February. Tomorrow I go to Luna for one Sunday to see the beauties of that old town, returning Monday.

I had a short letter from Georgiana5 and she wrote she was most comfortable in the hotel. So strange I have had no word from Miss Norris6 as she generally writes me at Christmas time. I do hope she is not ill? Also guess you have not received my tortis shell match box. A Miss Gunther who lives in Milwaukee and whom I met in Rome several years ago very kindly offered to take it over and mail it to you on the other side. I hope it will eventually turn up for it was a little beauty.

We have had some bitter cold weather, but now the sun is out warm, and it seems like early Spring.

By the way Mr. Carrere is the nephew of the famous architect John Carrere7 who was killed in New York some years ago and was the firm of Carrere & Hastings.8

I wish you had some photographs of No. 79 you could send me for I do want to see how the little white home looks.

The sconces by the way are Dutch and I bought them from a Dutchman in Philadelphia who was selling his things from his home in Amsterdam. The more they are polished the more beautiful they will be. To clean the wax from the brass pour boiling hot water over them, but never scratch it off.

Now I guess I have written enough as I too have a pile of Christmas notes to get off. With love to Marie and Miss Norris.

Ever affectionately,

Abbot

  1. Mary Benson Kilbourn (1867-1945), William's wife
  2. Robert Bruce Maxwell Cochran Carrere (1893-1959) and Ann Parke (1892-1964)
  3. Robin Carrere (1921-2009)
  4. Gertrude Wellington Cochran (1871-1935)
  5. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), William and Abbot's cousin
  6. Katherine Townsend Norris (1842-1927)
  7. John Merven Carrere (1858-1911). He was killed when his taxi was hit by a streetcar on 12 February 1911. The driver of the taxi was arrested for homicide, and was said to be driving recklessly and to have disregarded a warning to stop to avoid the streetcar. Carrere lingered until March, never regaining full consciousness. Probable cause of death was a brain infection from trephination performed right after the accident. His body laid in state at the New York Public Library, which he designed, and 2000 attended the funeral.
  8. A well-known architecture firm in New York City, run by John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings. See Carrère and Hastings.
  9. Refers to William's house at 7 Waverly Place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The house no longer exists.