A Letter From Rome
AN EXCERPT from A LETTER WRITTEN BY A young Thornton Wilder AT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME
Jan 13, 1921
Acad. Americana Roma
Dear Family:
My spheres of interest in Rome are so various that my left hand has no longer time to know what my right hand is doing, and when I sit down to write a letter I fumble among the many contrasting enthusiasms that have smitten me of late, and end by choosing not the most significant, but the most recent. I am perfectly conscious though that my social thrills and exploits amuse and disquiet you most, so I will begin by telling you of a little dance the other evening, and finish the letter on more edifying matters.
It was an elegant little private dance, beginning at 10:30 and closing at 3:00. The best idea of its chicness I can give you is by affirming that our two secretaries at the Embassy, bored, spoiled and curled darlings of Rome, Messers Riggs and Southgate, consented to be present. At supper, a long elaborate function with heraldic crockery, Venetian glass, etc, I found myself between the girl whose 21st Birthday (coming in with the midnight) the party celebrated, and my old friend the daughter of the Duke of Lante [?]. (So highly, is your inference, do the Romans rate the gift of rapid facile conversation). Suddenly before my fascinated eyes was opened the following glimpse into high life.
Thornton An architect friend of mine has been “measuring up” this little villa in The Garibaldi Park called the Villa Lante [?]. How long has it been out of your family, do you know?
Donna Elena Oh, a hundred years at least. I believe we exchanged it for something else.
Thornton You don’t know!
Donna Elena Oh, I forget everything I know about such things. Every old family has a priest who does nothing but study up the records of the family, and we have one at Bagnaria who’s supposed to teach us all the history, but I forget right away.
Thornton Does your brother remember such things?
Donna Elena No. Why should he?
Thornton Can you at least tell me which Popes were della Roveres?
Donna Elena No. (after a pause, in French) Yes, I can: - Sixtus IV and Julius II.
Thornton Well, I should hope so!!
[and just then my eye fell on her signet ring, where were engraved oak trees, under whose patronage The Sistine Chapel was built, and later decorated, The Vatican Library, my little Ponte Sisto, and under whose boughs Raphael, Michelangelo and Bramante found shelter.]
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I have another formidable dinner party in sight for Saturday evening at the Rev. Lowrie’s, for which Barbara Armour herself telephoned me this evening, in the loveliest silvery voice that immediately recalls her exquisite Dresden-China face….