Ubi Bohemia Fuit

Venice, May 30

My dear Old Boy: -- A rainy Sunday -- blue gray -- blue gray -- that dismal stretch of water reminding me of the long dark Sundays of the past winter when we shivered over the stove and cursed Italy and all other cold countries. We were up at 4 this morning intending to go to Torcello. Ben, Arthur Donaldson & myself were to go in a three oared sandolo. But it blew and rained so it was useless to think of going and so we are gauming here at home -- that is Arthur and I are.

I'm going to tell you how I sleep since you left. I haven't spoken of it before and I don't dare tell you why I haven't. Since we parted at Ferrara I haven't [page 2] passed one good night. I always wake up in the middle of the night and in fact my whole sleep is but a succession of cat naps. At 4 a.m. I am wide awake, no difference how late I have been up or how tired I am, and by evening I am completely played out from want of sleep and rest. For a while I though it was our old attic chamber that made me restless, so I suddenly ordered Giovanni [1] to move all the stuff down into the improper room and haven't been into our attic room since and don't intend to go. But change of room does not cure me. I can't sleep there is no use trying, and this is a malady which is sure enough with me as you know. What is the matter? I know I miss you, my old [page 3] chummeke, but isn't it reasonable that my other self misses you still more and won't let me sleep because he wants your magnetism! I think it must be so.

Your London letter of May 24 came a day or two ago. I gave the message to the Adams'. By the way I have told 'em that I hope you will come to Bruxelles to meet me and of course they want to hurry up and get there too. Mrs. A. says "if one man pays the $100. he owes and another only lets me have the $250 that's due I'll be there by the middle of July." I reply calmly "Madam, under these circumstances we shall not expect you." She is spooney on you, you know. We have been there to dinner twice this week. Didn't I write you how [page 4] I went in full dress on Monday. Last night we were there in ordinary costume and Donny & I gaumed in the window all the evening. Her V.E. & F. Joseph letter is published in the Home Journal. I have never heard from any of mine.

Bunce is playing me a scurvy trick. He expects me to give 600 frs for the stuff in the house -- as I have told you -- now he makes no reply to my ltter asking for reasonable settlement but but contents by walking off with 250 francs of mine and all I have is the rubbish. I have agreed to give it all to Giovanni for his last month's wages and shall give him no 'buona mano' besides. I wait patiently for some answer from Bunce, but still can't help cursing some because I have lost heaps of money in this old house. He evidently thinks [page 5] I am cheating him.

Gossip:

Hunter and Gildersleeve after a season of most unmitigated spoon with Miss Kellogg and Mrs. Fish, have gone "Beechering" with the two ladies in Switzerland. Hunter gave no notice of his departure and none of them came to say "goodbye."

Mrs. Ticknor and Miss Adams are not coming up having telegraphed Barker to that effect. He had engaged the rooms, had coolly cut the Wests and the Adamses and myself and was awaiting the syrens. Barker is now 'tout a fait desole' [very sorry] and came down here late last evening to yell at me from a gondola; first attempt at recover of position in Bohemia that was.[2]

Will Green's sister was drowned [page 6] in the Schiller.

Mrs. Harris has just returned from a weeks visit to Florence. I had previously purchased two straw fans for the Adamses and presented them in our names. Mrs. H. brought me two but Gildersleeve begged 'em away so I did not get them for myself as I'd hoped.

Here endeth the Second Lesson. Am sorry to hear bad news of [Joaquin] Miller. Am hoping to hear of your new book's success.

Bet your life, dear Boy, that it sooths me to learn that I am not the only one who misses his companion in arms. Then with the wish that we may meet in six weeks in Belgium I am with all my heart and much love

Yours to put your finger on,

Frank

Tom's portrait shall come on.

P.S.

Just recd letter from Bunce [the original renter of the house Millet was occupying in Venice]. Says the least he will take is 180 frs. Says I have stayed here rent free etc. etc. That he is loser and that we have lived on him -- or words to that effect. He insists that 600 francs was paid for the stuff, and don't believe a word I say. I have given him your address if he wants any witness as to the truth of my assertions. I say we stayed here on his acct. and that if he had given up the house we would have been [damned?] glad to go. That we did go away one month and then paid Giovanni 50 francs to take care of Bunce's furniture while we were gone. I have given all the stuff to Giovanni and wrote Bunce that if he was willing to come back on his written statements, I was not. That he had 231 francs of mine which makes rent of Jan'y & Feb'y 112 francs, highest price offered for furniture 70 francs total 182 francs then remains 50 francs which he can stick up as rent of his very valuable furniture.

Sic transit [Latin: sic transit gloria mundi, meaning "So goes the glory of the world].

This business cuts down my travels and leaves me with precious little money to get home on.

F D M

Notes

1. Giovanni is the apartment's servant, cook and gondolier according to Austen, Genteel Pagan, 73.
2. Barker is not identified in Engstrom, Francis Davis Millet.