Abbot McClure to his cousin Georgiana Bowditch, 4 May 1926
[From Abbot McClure in Florence, Italy, to his cousin Georgiana Bowditch in Morganton, North Carolina. He talks about the weather and how rainy their spring has been; describes his summer travel plans, going to Nice, France, in July, to the Austrian Tyrol in August and September, and returning to Florence in October; mentions some friends and family members; and hopes Georgiana is better after her severe illness.
This letter was in an envelope addressed to "Miss Georgiana Bowditch, Hotel Morgan, Morganton, North Carolina, U. S. A.." It's postmarked "Firenze, Ferrovia, 13-14, 5 V." The year is only partly readable, but is either 1925 or 1926. As described in the notes before the previous letter, dated 16 Dececember, from the contents of the letters dated 9 September (1925) and 7 August (1926), it seems likely that this letter was written in 1926. This envelope contained a torn-out fragment from another letter, in different handwriting, with the name Abbot McClure and an Italian address, which helped identify the writer of these letters as Abbot McClure and not Abbot Thorndike.]
Florence - May 4th. [1926]
Dear Georgiana,
Since I received your letter I have been wondering how you are and what you are doing. If your Spring has been as disagreeable as ours has been all your gardens must be in rather a set back condition. Here of course one notices the advance guard of Spring in February and early that month the gardens were full of fine big violets. Now the garden of the Villa where I make my home is water soaked after three weeks of incessant rains and the poor plants seem to long for the bright warm sunshine. The roses are in full bloom and have been for five weeks, and I hope with sun such as we are having today all will be well. When Spring finally does come Tuscany is a wonderful part of Italy to be in and I adore it all. Rome of course is so much farther south that the Spring comes several weeks earlier, but in spite of it I find Florence and the surrounding countryside more sympathetic, at least to me.
I shall be here through June, and in July I plan to go to Nice for a visit and have some fine sea bathing. In August and part of September I will probably be up in the once Austrian Tyrol, returning to Florence in October in time to open the studio for the winters work.
I have not heard from Milwaukee in a long time but presume all's well there.
Two old family friends have been here all winter, Miss Maud and Cora Miller, daughters of Mr. & Mrs. John Miller and nieces of Mrs. B. K. Miller. Does this mean anything to you?
I do hope you are stronger again after your severe illness and able to enjoy Spring days if such you are having.
I have not had a letter from Miss Norris1 in months. I do hope she is not too ill to be about. Will2 wrote long ago that she was rather feeble but able to be about in spite of the fact.
Do send me a line when you are able and feel like it. With ever so much love to you Georgiana,
Ever affectionately,
Abbot
- Katherine Townsend Norris (1842-1927)
- William Thorndike (1870-1935), Abbot and Georgiana's cousin