“After much consideration, the idea has occurred to me that about the best disposition to make of our camp and camp outfit here would be to turn the whole establishment over to the Little Sisters of the Poor. Yesterday I sent Mr. Elliott and Mr. Phillips, head carpenter here, out to examine their former building, to see whether we could do anything to help them; but it is in complete ruin, requiring to be rebuilt from the ground up--an undertaking of course beyond us. They still have the property and garden, and in time their house could be rebuilt. Meantime if they want this camp and its equipment as a temporary dwelling, it would be suitable and available. I know of no other charitable disposition equally good; and as the Little Sisters are indeed poor, it would not trouble them much to move what little they own in, as we move out. Of course all we take will be our personal belongings, and everything else--bedding, table gear, lamps, and such furniture as we have, would be theirs. “One of the houses near the camp has a family recently moved in, in direct competition with the one in the Queen’s house in Reggio, for the first baby born in an American house. I shall telegraph the arrival, whether it occur here or at Reggio. The same day also the Pro-Sindaco came, Commendatore Martino, who expressed much [Illustration: ELIZABETH GRISCOM HOSPITAL, VILLAGGIO REGINA ELENA. _Page 469._] satisfaction with all he saw, and was very complimentary, even intimating that he would become a siren to endeavor to retain our party here, to continue such energetic work. “In fact the work has spread so since you were here that what you saw is comparatively insignificant. Mr. Derby said this morning that, remembering how comparatively little there was when he was here in April, six weeks ago, he can hardly realize that it is the same place. The growth, the white paint, and the clearing up of the streets, have made a complete transformation; and from the top of the hotel one gets a view of the whole settlements that gives an idea not to be gained in any other way. “At Villaggio Regina Elena, all our houses were finished on Friday afternoon; the door and window hanging and the kitchens will probably be done by the end of this week; and a contract has been given to another painter to paint them by the end of this month. The job has been done very well and quickly, and when the white paint is on the appearance will be all that could be desired.