Abbot McClure to his cousin Abbot Thorndike and his wife Maud (Kilbourn), 7 February 1924

[From Abbot McClure in Florence, Italy, to his cousin Abbot Thorndike and his wife Maud (Kilbourn). He thanks them for the Christmas check; mentions their (Abbot and Maud's) Christmas in Milwaukee with Will and Marie, and describes his own Christmas; talks about Florence and how he prefers living there over Rome; mentions his visits to Viareggio and Luna; and talks about the Carreres and his future travel plans.]

Florence, February 7th [1924]

Dear Abbot & Maud,

Thanks so much for your Christmas letters with the cheque that still remains in my treasure chest, although cashed. You wondered if it arrived in time. I received it on January 10th which of course was all out of proportion to the distance it had to travel. On the other hand one from Will1 came during my stay in Rome and was just twelve days en route. The mails seem to vary quite as much now as during the war, in fact more so. A letter came the other day from Arlington, Florida, to Florence in eleven days, so it goes.

What a jolly time you must have had in Milwaukee with Will and Marie,2 but too bad you could not have made a longer visit. I had a most enjoyable Christmas time with Mr. & Mrs. Carrere3 and their little boy Roban4 aged two. A big Christmas tree with all the things that went with it to add to the Christmas spirit. We had a late breakfast, with things we at home love, but as the cook is Italian they were half and half, but in spite of that nothing was left on our plates. No lunch was served, but at five o'clock we all partook of a bountiful tea. At eight thirty we all went to a large and beautiful dinner and ball in one of the finest villas here, and danced until the early hours.

I am finding Florence in many ways more agreeable than Rome. The air is more invigorating situated as it is among the mountains, and of course for my artistic work the atmosphere of Florence is far and away ahead of any city in Europe I think. Rome of course is a wonderful city to live in, but there is no country life in villas. One must live right in the city as the Campagnia Romana5 is settled only by peasants, who live a semi wild life on the plains stretching for miles and miles on either side of the Eternal City. Here the hills are covered with charming villas, and the city is a place to go to for work or play, returning in the late afternoon to the peace and quiet of a villa life.

We all motored down to Viareggio6 after Xmas and spent a week there breathing the fine sea air and taking long walks on the beach. Viareggio is one of the fashionable sea side resorts of Italy, and during the summer is crowded with people from all parts of the kingdom, but now of course it is empty and desolate, but we found it interesting and we returned filled with new life.

Two weeks ago I spent the weekend in Luna7 with an Italian friend, and thoroughly enjoyed prowling about that quaint old town.

We have had some very cold weather for Italy, with light snows and heavy frosts, but now it really seems like early spring with some of the early spring flowers already up and in many sunny spots in blossom. I suppose you are living more or less your anual lonely life during Mauds sojourn in Summerville, and shall you join her in March?

A year ago now found me in Nice visiting my friends the Joslings8 and seeing for the first time the wonderful Carnival. This year I think will find me remaining here until the studio is closed for the summer.

Mrs. Carrere with her baby governess and maid sail for America the end of May and Mr. Carrere will join them in August, to return with them in October. I will probably be here with him until he sails and then go some where for August and September. A friend9 is very anxious for me to join him in a trip to Munchen. I may provided the going is good and not too difficult to manage. Otherwise I shall remain within the borders of Italy.

How really wonderful if you four could come to Europe for several months during the summer. You did come over some years ago, but did you come down this far? Italy has such charm that the longer one lives here the more difficult it is to leave. I am one example out of thousands, and you and Maud would sucumb very quickly, I feel sure. Write me when you can and are not rushed with work as I always enjoy your letters.

With ever so much love to you both,

Ever affectionately,

Abbot

  1. William Thorndike (1870-1935), Abbot Thorndike's brother
  2. Mary Benson Kilbourn (1867-1945), William Thorndike's wife
  3. Robert Bruce Maxwell Cochran Carrere (1893-1959) and Ann Parke (1892-1964)
  4. Robin Carrere (1921-2009)
  5. A low-lying region around Rome, acclaimed for its beauty in the 18th and 19th centuries, and used as a farming region in the 19th and 20th centuries. The growth of Rome starting in the late 1900s has overtaken much of the area. See Roman Campagna.
  6. A seaside resort in Tuscany, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. See Viareggio.
  7. An ancient town, now abandoned, along the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of La Spezia, near the border with Tuscany. See Luni, Italy.
  8. Herbert Stanley Josling (1877-1951)
  9. Frank Savage (1877-1939)