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Hot Springs, Va., Oct. 24th, 1899.

340

Friend Bixby:-

Your letter of the 22nd inst. reached me here this morning, and I am very glad indeed to hear that you have decided to go abroad for a couple of months rest. You are starting at a good time, and the trip should do you a lot of good, both physically and mentally. You have acted wisely in choosing Italy for your stamping ground. Inasmuch as you have courteously asked me to give you some pointers,"will enumerate a few below, hoping, however, that you will not feel that because they come from me that you shall be in any way obliged to follow them.
In the first place I cannot help feeling that a good cour[[strikethrough]]t[[/strikethrough]]ier is the very first item of necessity. I have had a man named Bellinetti serve me in that capacity during two trips to Italy, and I am confident he would be of great service to you. I recommend that unless you have some other man in view that you cable him before leaving St. Louis to meet you at Naples on arrival of your steamer. He will take charge of your luggage, pass you through the Customs House, secure good accommodations for you at the Grand Hotel in Naples, and you can depend upon him in every way. His address is Bellinetti, Courtier, Grand Hotel, Naples. Should you cable him perhaps it would be better to mention my name. He comes from a good family, has been acting as cour[[strikethrough]]t[[/strikethrough]]ier for some ten years, and while he has a few of the regular cour[[strikethrough]]t[[/strikethrough]]ier tricks, he has the advantage of a good education; speaks English very fluently; is strictly sober, and a person you could send anywhere with Mrs. Bixby and your daughter, B if you did not feel like accompanying them.
From Naples you should visit Pom Peii C, Vita Pozzouli, after D which go to Castelamare; then to Sorento, and from Sorento visit Amalfi, Ravello, Lacava, Paestum; then back to Naples. You should also spend at least three or four days at Capri, to which place you can go by steamer in two or three hours from Naples, or in one hour

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