Dick is
always grinding at literature as usual; so what with helping Dick
(we are studying something together), literature, looking after the
little _menage_, and philanthropic business, Church work, the animals,
and the poor, I am very happy and busy, and I think stronger; albeit
I have little rest or _amusement_, according to the doctor's ideas.
In fact I have a winter I love, a quiet Darby and Joan by our fireside,
which I seldom get."[1]
The principal event at Trieste in 1881 appears to have been the arrival
of the British squadron in July. Burton and his wife were always of
a most hospitable nature; they would have spent their last penny in
entertaining their friends. The first thing they did on the arrival
of the squadron was to invite the captains and officers of every ship
to an evening _fete champetre_ and ball at Opcina. In addition to
this they sent out about eight hundred invitations to the captains
and officers of the Austrian navy and other men-of-war anchored at
Trieste, the officers of the Austrian regiments stationed there, the
Governor and Staff, and the Austrian authorities, the Consular corps,
and all their private friends, to the number of about one hundred and
fifty of the principal people of Trieste. They turned the gardens of
the little inn at Opcina into a sort of Vauxhall or Rosherville for the
occasion. There were refreshment tents, and seats, and benches, and
barrels of wine and beer, and elaborate decorations of flowers, and
coloured lamps and flags, and no end of fireworks.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271