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Rome, Oct. 30/94.

Dear Mr. Hecker:

The beautiful weather continues and my stay in Italy gives me great pleasure. I like particularly the smaller villages; such as Fieasole and Ravello. At the latter place, I found some excellent wine and purchased 9 doz. bottles, which will be shipped in your name and Mr. Palumbo the maker will send invoice direct to you. Ravello is about one hour distant from Amalfi - much higher above the sea and one of the most beautiful spots I have yet seen in this land of wonderful beauty. It has a charming old Villa, also a delightful old Bishops house in which was made the wine I purchased. I still have Tivoli, Caprarola, Bognaia and Viterbo to visit. But they are all near Rome, so if the weather continues pleasant I shall probably finish Italy (for this time) about Nov. 6th after which I go direct to Paris. My address there will be care of Munroe and Co. It is so difficult to get information concerning the steamers for the Orient I shall have to wait until I reach Paris or London to determine the date for sailing to India --- but of course, I will advise you as soon as I engage passage, so you can reach me by cable before I sail.

You will possibly remember that before I left Detroit I said to you that I wanted to get my impressions of Italy and her gardens fresh, direct without guide books etc.,etc. Well I am succeeding in getting impressions, yes! many! but I don't want to convey the thoughts they suggest or much of the unblemished charm realized until I have finished what I came here to do. After this has been done I will write you fully. Belleinnetti is a jewel. Saw W.K. Anderson for a minute at Florence --- Henry Villiard was the first man I met in Rome to speak to. He is stopping at the Grand Hotel with his family. I met him again this A.M. in the Pope's garden. I remained one day at the Grand Hotel in this city and then quit and came to the Quivinal which is much better in every respect except rooms. May I trouble you to have Tillman or his partner look after the wine when it arrives. In addition to the duty, there will be freight etc. to pay from Ravello.
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