Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904 — John Shaqi
Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904Waddington, Mary King
General
Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904
Waddington, Mary King
Rome (Italy) -- Social life and customs
During the dinner Maffei called my attention to the menu "Cotelettes à
la Waddington," and asked me if W. was as much of an authority in cooks
as he was in coins. I disclaimed any such knowledge for him, and was
rather curious to see what the "cotelettes" would prove to be. They were
a sort of chaud-froid, with a thick, white envelope, on which was a
large W. in truffles. The whole table was rather amused, and Madame de
Noailles gave us the explanation. Her chef had been some time with us at
the Quai d'Orsay, and when he heard W. was coming to dinner was much
excited, and anxious to do honour to his old master--so he consulted
Madame de Noailles, and that was the result. I will keep the menu for
you.
After dinner we adjourned to the beautiful Carracci gallery, and there I
was presented to various ladies--Madame d'Uxkull (ci-devant Madame
Gheka), very handsome; and Madame Visconti Venosta, an attractive
looking woman with charming manners. I had quite a talk with Lady Paget,
who looks always very distinguished with her beautiful figure. She told
me Mrs. Edwards's baby had arrived--a little girl--to be called "Gay"
after her daughter.[18] I hope she will grow up as pretty as her mother.
I talked some time to Madame Cairoli who was very amiable and expansive,
called me always "Madame la Comtesse"; and offered me anything I wanted
from cards for the Chamber to a presentation to the Queen.
[18] Now the Hon. Sylvia Edwards, Maid of Honour to Queen Alexandra.
There was quite a reception in the evening--not many of the Roman
ladies. Marc Antonio Colonna came up--recalled himself, and introduced
me to his wife--very pretty, with splendid jewels. She is the daughter
of the Duke of Sant-Arpino, a very handsome man. Her mother, the
Duchess, an English woman, also very handsome, so she comes fairly by
her beauty. I walked about the rooms with Wimpffen, and he showed me all
the notabilities in the parliamentary world. Lady Paget asked us to go
to her on Sunday afternoon, and I promised Nevin we would go to his
church, but we didn't.
W. has just received an intimation that King Humbert will receive him
to-morrow at one o'clock, and I have told Madame Hubert to get out his
Italian decorations, as he always forgets to put them on, and it seems
in all courts they attach much importance to these matters. We are
starting now for a drive; first to the Villa Wolkonsky--I want to show
it to W., and we shall probably go in late to the British Embassy.
Monday, March 11, 1880.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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