Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Monday 20th At the studios. Saw Miss Stebbins great success the Lotus-Eater. Mrs Wales in the evening.

Tuesday 21st At Mr Wild’s Studio. Sight-seeing. Mrs Stowe &c. in the evening.

Wednesday. Lovely day. Drove with the Wales on the Campagna. Jamie and I waked up at night to find we had both been dreaming of Dickens. He had been with him to visit a school and Dickens continually made the boys laugh, till at last the teacher was obliged to dismiss them with a prayer wh....

Thursday 23d To see the Ludovisi Villa. Lowering day. Mr Cronkite was buried at 2. Pages passed the evening in talk about Art, Spiritualism &c.

Friday 24th Breakfasted with Miss Cushman. She talked delightfully about old Rogers and told some of the best stories I had ever heard repeated from his lips. Her imitations of Luttrell and her repetition of the story about a hubbub in the theatre occasioned by a vulgar man’s saying something...

Saturday 25th Pleasant tea at Miss Weston’s. Party at Mr Rogers afterward.

Sunday 26th A little tired so we stayed at home reading until we drove to Overbeck’s studio in the afternoon. How impressive he is now with his quiet keen eyes and long grey hair. I longed to be able to talk German with him, indeed we tried but I seemed to forget everything. His cartoons are...

Monday 27th At the Vatican for one short hour. We need days there. In the evening there was such a pleasant music party at Miss Cushman’s. Browning again. Mrs Stowe &c. &c. Supper at Mozier’s afterward.

Tuesday 28th At the Pamfili Doria Villa. The flowers are up and Spring is radiant.

Wednesday 29th Called on Mrs Browning. She was anxious to know how we felt about the politics of Italy and if we had faith in Napoleon. She wanted to hear about him as we saw him in Paris and told us she was deeply hurt with Tennyson—that he should take the stand he does against Napoleon.

Thursday 1st of March. Breakfasted with Miss Cushman. She has persuaded us to see Germany en route to England and we have persuaded her I think to go to California to play a short 3 months or so and take the money which is awaiting her there. A most clear hearted, clear headed woman.

Friday 2d We have seen palaces upon palaces and churches on churches. I hope this frail tenement of memory will stand up bravely and retain what is best worth retaining for me.

Saturday 3d Mr Newton called with the illustrations for his fine book also to ask us to his house tonight. We have already promised Mrs Chapman and Mrs Rogers but we must contrive to go and go honorably nevertheless. Have been to the Farnesina Villa to see the exquisite frescoes by Raphael and...

Sunday 4th Charming breakfast at Mrs Story’s. I sat between Mr Story and Mr Newton. Had a very long pleasant conversation with the latter mostly upon the advantages or disadvantages of the established church. He supported. I contested its worth. Browning sat opposite to us and Jamie and...

Monday 5th Went to the Pamfili-Doria and found Spring there to welcome us. The Vatican.

Tuesday 6th. Out in the sun-light of Rome all day. Walking and driving from place to place secure of enjoyment in this world of ruin and of eternal beauty wherever we might turn.

Wednesday 7th Went to the Villa Albani and saw the Antinous. The marble wears the freshness of its youth still as if it would render a perpetual homage to this lovely youth. Here we see the youthful undeveloped strength and beauty of a noble man. The sadness of his fate is foreshadowed on his...

Thursday 8th Called at Mr Wild’s studio. In the evening I received from him a lovely basket of exquisite flowers. Saw Guercino’s great picture at the Capitol.

Friday 9th A pleasant party at Mrs Freeman’s.

Saturday 10th Jamie was suffering so intensely with a head-ache that we could not go to Mrs Story’s nice party nor the breakfast in the morning. Browning came in to sit an hour instead in the afternoon. Talked about Chorley’s unfortunate book and Hawthorne’s new novel. The extracts from...

Sunday 11th Took a long walk with Jamie among the ruins of the Palace of the Cesars, the day was unspeakably lovely and the whole scene was full of music.

Monday 12th Mr Newton breakfasted with us talking wonderfully well of his experiences in Asia Minor and of his new book, directly after he left I went up to sit with Miss Stebbins and read with her. She is just finishing her Lotus Eater. The morning was exquisite as only a Roman spring morning...

Tuesday 13th Roaming all day about the dear old city “seein’ sites.” Capital little party at Mrs Stowe’s in the evening.

Wednesday 14th “Clouded noons” like the sweet April weather of England reigns. Breakfasted with Mr and Mrs Parker and Miss Stevenson at Miss Cushman’s. Talked somewhat about the Pilgrims and Plymouth. Mr Parker described a leaping steamboat on the Mississippi and how he does it [here is a...

Thursday 15th Looked over Macpherson’s photographs. Charming party at Miss Cushman’s in the evening. She sang “Mary, go and call the cattle home” and our blood ran cold with the nearness and loneness of this sorrow.