May 29 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Francis B. Keene. “I am very much obliged. I am writing the Harpers that I will let them know by Sept. 1, whether to pay the duties & keep the portrait in America, or decline the duties & return it to me here” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Villa-hunting these many many days. We can’t stay in the neighborhood of this fiendish Countess Massiglia—an American adventuress & born skunk” [NB 47 TS 11]. Note: Also, right under this entry, below a printed heading of Note for May (in Italian):
“English & Americans are foreigners, but in lesser degree than is the case with other peoples. Men & women—even man & wife—are foreigners. Each has reserves that the other cannot enter into nor understand. These have the effect of frontiers” [ibid.]
Bradley Gilman wrote from Rome to Sam. His wife had met Sam years ago at the Perkins home in Hartford. He was a clergyman, Unitarian Congregational, author of several books. Since they were coming to Florence about June 6, they would like very much to call [MTP]. Note: the Perkins likely referred to would have been Sam’s attorney in Hartford, Charles E. Perkins.
Arthur Von Becker wrote from Florence about the possibility of Sam renting his villa [MTP].