Letter from Mary Elizabeth Garrett to M. Carey Thomas, December 06, 1891

Dearest Minnie, Thursday brought your little note of 20th which I had been looking forward to as a long letter and which was the more disappointing because all its enclosure made it look like one. Then came last nightGÇÖs mail without anything and I was very blue over it until it occurred to me that what has happened a number of times with your letter had happened once more, i.e. it was over taxed for weight in which case it is delivered later separately. This proved to be the fact and when I had almost given it up this morning it came! I was so very sorry about Bessie and from this last note had fully made up my mind that she was going to be at the Deanery for a long time to come, and it is a great relief to hear that she has got home safely. It would have been dreadful to have had her there through a long illness, and each day would have made it more difficult for her to go home as the risk of cold weather grew greater. I can not send you a long letter today, and I think you will see why, when I tell you that it is now 2:30 and that I am in bed still and have accomplished absolutely nothing but a letter to Mary which I began in the middle of the week and couldnGÇÖt finish although I had finished my breakfast, done my hair, etc., and was established in bed before 10 oGÇÖclock. It is only the same old story of wretched backache and being so tired all the time. Yesterday I sent for the best doctor here and asked him for a tonic thinking that perhaps the one I was taking might not be as suitable for Venice as something one who knew the place might prescribe. I asked both Countess Pisani and Lady Layard who was the best here, simply saying that I found the climate of the weather a little depressing and both mentioned the same man as undoubtedly the best. He came yesterday evening and although I gave him not very much more information I was amused to find that he at once gave not only iron but arsenic. I took the 1st dose this morning but really felt too miserable to get up and must have looked rather seedy as Nicoline when she asked what dress I wanted informed me in a very apologetic way that she wished I would not get up this morning as I looked so tired. I have done no hard or tiring sightseeing this week or none that was very exciting. Tuesday morning I spent nearly 2 hours at the photographerGÇÖs as I told you I would and after lunch rested and then went to the [illegible] and telegraph office only before going to Lady LayardGÇÖs, where I found Countess Pisani and where one or two uninteresting people came in and where I wanted very much to look at the pictures in the room and of course couldnGÇÖt, and there was fit for nothing in the evening. The next morning I went to one or two churches and in the afternoon simply rowed about for a while before going to Countess P.GÇÖs for a cup of tea. Thursday morning I spent in bed doing some writing and in the afternoon the same people came to take a cup of tea with me, a very simple entertainment which it required an effort to move myself to. Friday morning I went to San Francisco and della Vigua to find the Bellini had been at the Academy last year with the usual result to the [illegible] and to Sta. Maria [illegible] to look at that beautiful St. Barbara once more. In the afternoon once more to the Bank, and to Ouganias (I had had a long visit from him the day before in the course of which much to my amusement he offered me the [illegible] of a book with English [illegible] to pay my bill and then for a final cup of tea with the C. Pisani, as she left yesterday morning and I shall probably not see her again unless we meet further South. That evening I began my lessons again and tonight I have asked Miss Fresti to go to hear the Cavalleria Kusticania which she says she hears is well given. Later Yesterday morning I did not get out till 11 because I was so tired and then in leaving the note at the DoctorGÇÖs I found some interesting things in his neighborhood, Camps S. [illegible], over which I spent some time, looking at the details and going into the courtyard of GoldoniGÇÖs house, a find old Gothic one with a good Gothic staircase and then went to Sta. Maria Maggiore for the 1st time, to find myself not in the least moved by the [illegible] there, except the one that Ruskin does not mention at all, and Hare only says is possibly still there, in the refectory - an Entombment which seemed to me in the far from good light very beautiful. I wonder whether you remember it. Those in the choir have of course been restored out of almost all likeness to their original selves but the one very lovely idea in the Supper of the gray ghost-like angels and cherubs of which the air is full growing out of the smoke of the lamps and I am glad to say struck as the one very beautiful thing in the picture before I read any description of it. In the afternoon I went to San Zaccaria once more and then wandered about in that neighborhood, going in to see Catherine [illegible] very poor statue in the Pal. Loredau and the beautiful staircase and gallery in the court of the [illegible] Pal. etc. and then getting very tired went out into the lagoon to see the wonderful sunset and came in while there was still glory. Today the color has been I find this [illegible] is the one that is constantly occurring for I cannot reach the point of looking upon it as a natural state of affairs to have the world so transformed by color in sea and sky and in the stone and brick, as it is here. Now there is a young moon once more. Well, the photographs have come, and I sent them to you once more. My hair is high because I could not wear it low with those high collars, but when my trunk arrives with a dress all one color I will try once more for you. Please return these at once with comments. Of the little proof which he thought too bad to print No. 1 seems to me unfortunately like, but is of course hopeless on account of the general mess of the gown which he ought to have seen; No. 2 is also like, but a clumsy pose; No. 3 seems to me better while No. 4 is I think very like, crookedness of mouth and all, but the pink gown was not a success as a costume for photographs you see. Of those that he finished for me to choose from, I ought to have more vanity than to even let you see the reading one; the other one is the blue tea gown that I like so much with the gold Chinese [illegible] seems to me very good. It was the last of the small ones and was accidental, as I was very tired and threw my head back and rested while I was waiting for him to see whether any of the plates would do and he came back and asked me please to keep still and let him take that. The others all look posed as they are. The large ones you can give your opinion of without hearing mine. I told him not to take out lines, etc., but as you can see, from the difference between proof and finished ones, he has done it. Please return as quickly as possible, because I may have left here and because I want to send to some people if they seem good enough by New Year. Your ideas in the Univ or rather Med. Sch. situation did not tend to make me feel better this [illegible]. The financial statement you forgot to send, so shall hope for it by next mail. I cannot answer your letter by this mail. It was a very sweet one and so welcome, but about what to do I am still in the dark. I am finishing after dinner and it is now time to go with my enthusiastic companion so goodnight. Lovingly yours, Mary E.G. I wish I could give you a goodnight kiss and tell the hours with you tonight.