Abbot McClure to his cousin Georgiana Bowditch, 21 October 1922

[From Abbot McClure in Rome, Italy, to his cousin Georgiana Abbot Bowditch in Morganton, North Carolina. He describes his travels in Italy since 19 June, including time in Florence, Venice, Milan, and Rome, where he plans to stay over the winter, except possibly a month in Nice after the holidays; mentions he left America in 1918; describes the weather; and talks about how often he hears from various relatives.

This letter was in an envelope addressed to "Miss Georgiana Bowditch, Morganton, North Carolina, Stati Uniti d'America," and postmarked "Roma, Ferrovia, 11-12, 22 X, 1922."]

Roma - October 21st. [1922]

Dear Georgiana,

I have sent you postal cards from time to time on my summer outing, and wonder if you have received them, as the mail just now seems more or less uncertain.

From the 19th. of June until the 3d. of September I spent with friends in a villa near Florence and had a delightful time. Then I went to Venice and spent five enjoyable weeks there, seeing many friends of previous summers and meeting some delightful new ones, as Venice is the meeting place for people from all over the world. I especially enjoy the bathing at the famous beach of the Lido1 right on the Adriatic, and spend most of the time in the water and on the beach baking in the hot sun. I left Venice on October 10th., a little late I think, as rather dull cold days were beginning, and to really enjoy that Fairy City the blue sky and sun shine are essential.

Then I went to Milan, and had four most enjoyable days with friends, seeing the places of interest that I only vaguely remembered when I was there for only a few hours in 1909 with Rachel2 and the children.3 Then on to Rome, where I arrived last Sunday morning after a most comfortable and clean ride of fourteen hours. As far as I now know I shall be here all winter, with perhaps a month at Nice after the holidays to visit some friends who live there.

The weather for the past few days has been like Spring, and we have had two terrible rain storms that have done much damage both in the city and country. The Tiber is higher than I have seen it in my four years residance here, and it now is a rushing torrent the color of coffee with real cream in it, something I have not tasted since I left America in 1918, think of that! It can be had, but so expensive that only when one wishes to celebrate does one indulge. There are many things one can not have over here, but there is so much that makes life worth while that it matters little.

I hope you had your Milwaukee trip and thoroughly enjoyed it, and are now home better for the change. Do you have a garden as you did in Micaville, or is it too citified for that? I hear from Will4 once in a while, also from Abbot5 or Maud6 when the spirit moves them. Miss Norris7 I hear from too, but the Boston relatives are always silent. Rachel use to write me often, but Paul8 I hear from perhaps once in a year or so. Do write me when you can and tell me all about yourself and what you have been doing, for it has been a long silence.

With much love,

Affectionately,

Abbot

  1. Lido is a 7-mile long island separating the Venitian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Much of the Adriatic side is a sandy beach. See Lido di Venezia.
  2. Rachel Ewing Sherman (1861-1919), wife of Abbot and Georgiana's cousin Paul Thorndike
  3. William Tecumseh Sherman Thorndike (1893-1958), Martha Thorndike (1895-1973), and Anna Thorndike (1896-1961), children of Abbot and Georgiana's cousin Paul Thorndike
  4. William Thorndike (1870-1935), Abbot and Georgiana's cousin
  5. Abbot Thorndike (1866-1935), Abbot and Georgiana's cousin
  6. Maud Alice Kilbourn (1866-1936), wife of Abbot and Georgiana's cousin Abbot Thorndike
  7. Katherine Townsend Norris (1842-1927)
  8. Paul Thorndike (1863-1939), Abbot and Georgiana's cousin