Viewing page 69 of 69

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

May 12, 1914.

Darest mamma,

I really must try to tell you a little about our wonderful trip to Florence.It is a town which resembles other Italian towns on one or two points only.First, every one stands round the streets all day as if he had nothing else to do, and secondly because you are an American you are cheated on all sides,in stores, in hotels and by cab drivers.If you go into San Lorenzo, San Marco or any other beautiful place you are pursued by some one who calls himself a guide.He ought, I am sure, to know something out of the ordinary about the thing you are looking at, but he very seldom goes, and will invarrialy tell you exactly what is written on the picture or in your guide book.But in all other respests Florence seems to me unique,it is the richest and most wonderful storehouse of art you can imagine; and besides it is situated so charmingly in the vally of the Arno. There is so much to [[strikethrough]] [[/strikethrough]] speak of, that it is possible only [[strikethrough]] only [[/strikethrough]] to tell you of a few of the things that we saw.The Medici tombs are too wonderful for words, and also the statue of the Madonna and Child in the same room. I never could quite decide which I liked best of them [[strikethrough]] all [[/strikethrough]] but they are all so extraordinary that there seemed to me very little choice.Of the other places I visited I liked the Certosa and San Marco but it is difficult to decide which one of them leaves the most charming impression. They each have their own charms and each is so different and yet so attractive in its own way;_____Certosa for the lovely country around and the little garden that attached to each cell, the cloister also is very lovely with its old well by [[strikethrough]] Michleangolo [[/strikethrough]] Michelangelo in the center.The two cloisters of San Marco are just as lovely but the Certosa does not possess all the wonderful frescoesly Fra Angelico in each of the cells which San Marco can boast of. Just think of the good monk patiently painting a picture in each of the 44 cells, some of them so dark that it must have been very [[strikethrough]] [[/strikethrough]] difficult for him to see. 
I have no time to tell you [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] today of all the hundreds of lovely pictures we saw. 
I hope you are much better now and [[strikethrough]] be [[/strikethrough]] that you don't have to stay in bed any more because I know how you must hate it. With lots of love and kisses 

from 
Flora