July 19 Sunday – At Quarry Farm in Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske with the results of his “Long-distance house-hunting ”and sailing plans.
Dear Professor Fiske: / You did us a great kindness when you furnished us Mr. Gregory Smith to lean on. He has stood the strain handsomely, & we look forward to thanking both of you in person in November.
We were waiting for Mrs. Ross’s letter before deciding as to a house. It came night before last; the villa she had been looking at had some very attractive features indeed, but we felt that the Papiniano would be better for us; so I cabled yesterday morning & asked Mr. Smith to secure it for me. I have been carrying Florentine villas around on my back for three months, but already I begin to feel rested, now. Long-distance house-hunting is entertaining, but there’s considerable solicitude and anxiety & uneasiness & uncertainty mixed up with it, & a noble sense of rest & peace descends upon a body when the curtain is rung down.
We have shifted to a big modern ship, the Princess Irene, & shall put in at Genoa November 6, if nothing breaks.
With the kindest regards and thanks of both of us [MTP].