Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Sunday, 15 April 1877

There are trotting races against the clock today, it appears. We go, and I put on an embroidered batiste dress and a straw hat. It made something of an impression. There are few people, but the Court is there, and the Prussians. At once the two little ones arrived, Zunica and the son of La Piedimonte, who is in the stand with Princess Margherita. But I was very much taken up with the Duke of Sarno, Larderel and several others in the men’s stand. On the pretext of looking at the princesses through my glass, I looked at that animal, that drunkard, that little monkey from Florence. Melissano notices my lorgnette and bows.
The races are run in two-wheeled carriages, and as one is afraid at every moment that the horse will break into a gallop, it is very interesting.
Melissano comes, goes away and comes back with Larderel, who has grown rather ugly with his grey hat and his nose, the skin of which is not beyond reproach in the sunlight. The sun, the open air, the horses, the eccentric attitudes one strikes in a carriage at the races — all of it sets us chaffing; just think, a tease like Larderel, and then me!
In this world, you see, nothing is serious but chaff. I mix in a few mocking allusions that only Larderel can understand, so to speak, but that is not enough.
He tells Maman all his affairs in a whisper; it seems he is under administration for incapacity; and then lists of his income, which make me regret him more and more.
I understood almost everything. He liked me, but since his first return I have been so plain — no, let us tell the truth: I am short of dresses, and a heap of these little details hamper me and rob me of whatever grace and naturalness I had. And then I was too afraid of looking bad to look well. It was a remark of his that confirmed the suspicions I had had before. The points of all our shoes were being admired, Altamura’s too — he was there as well, also in a carriage.
RACES OF TROTTING HORSES ORGANISED BY THE SOCIETÀ ZOOFILA NAPOLETANA AT THE CAMPO DI MARTE Sunday, 15 April 1877 2 o’clock in the afternoon Second trial of the Race for Italian horses in harness Distance 9,600 m — timed by chronometer Society’s Prize: 2,000 lire to the first — 1,000 lire to the second The following horses will take part: 1st HEAT Scarpaleggera, black horse, owned by Sig. Conte Mattei Luigi of Bologna — Driven by Sig. Oppi Biagio Roma, bay mare, owned by Sig. Rossi Giuseppe of Crespano (Veneto) — Driven by the Owner 2nd HEAT Rigoletto, chestnut horse, owned by Sig. Oppi Biagio of Bologna — Driven by the Owner Beduino, bay horse, owned by Sig. Conte Castracane Rodolfo of Fano — Driven by the Owner INTERNATIONAL RACE for Horses in harness Second trial — 9,600 metres timed by chronometer (maximum time 25 minutes) Prize 5,000 lire awarded by the Municipality and Province of Naples and by the Society and Gold Medal granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce will run: MONACO, bay, 6 years old, foaled in France out of Belle-idée, a Norman mare, by Gibojer, a Norman stallion, both half-bred English, owned by Sig. Vincenzo Pouaquet of Bordeaux The other nine horses entered were withdrawn.
JURY OF THE TROTTING RACES AGAINST THE CLOCK ORGANISED BY THE SOCIETÀ ZOOFILA NAPOLETANA PRESIDENT Comm. Prof. LUIGI PALMIERI, Senator of the Kingdom VICE-PRESIDENTS Principe di Piedimonte, Senator of the Kingdom — Cav. Giovanni del Balzo, of the Dukes of Caprigliano Director of the Races Cav. Ferdinando de Laurentys y Lagunas, Member of the Governing Council of the Società Zoofila Napoletana and Honorary Member of the Royal National Society of Veterinary Medicine of Turin. Secretary Sig. Olindo Amore, Member of the Governing Council of the Società Zoofila Napoletana MEMBERS OF THE JUDGING COMMITTEE Bar. Giuseppe Andrea Angeloni, Deputy in Parliament Cav. Brunetta d’Usseaux, Colonel of the 1st Cavalry Regiment (Nizza) — Hon. Aide-de-Camp to H.M. Cav. Giov. Caracciolo d’Avellino Cav. Luigi (nob) Gregori, President of the Hippic Society of Modena and Member of the Higher Council of Agriculture (Horse-Breeding Section) Marchese di Latiani Cav. Marcello Spinelli di Scalea, Hon. Equerry to H.M. Cav. Rocco de Zerbi Mar. Gioacchino Cutinelli, Senator of the Kingdom Cav. Giuseppe Carelli, Veterinary Major (Delegate) of the Royal National Society of Veterinary Medicine of Turin Duca di Bagnara Cav. Carlo Nobili, Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry, Member of the Higher Council of Agriculture (Horse-Breeding Section), Director of the Stallion Depot of Reggio Emilia Conte di Savignano Duca del Galdo Conte Giorgio Clerici, Secretary of the Italian Stud Boock Cav. Luigi Rossi, Vice-President of the Società Zoofila Napoletana
GENTLEMEN’S TROTTING CHALLENGE Omnium Horses of any age, breed and country, ridden by Gentlemen Distance 4,800 metres (three laps of the course) PRIZE The Society offers a Cup to the 1st to finish; the 2nd will recover his own entry fee. Taking part: Cocotte, bay mare, Italian, owned by Sig. De Micheli, captain on the general staff — Ridden by the Owner — Yellow jacket, red sleeves and cap Dora, roan mare, English, owned by Sig. Gusman Giuliani C. Raffaele — Ridden by the Owner — White jacket and cap, red sash. Duck, black mare, English, owned by Sig. Cassitto Luigi — Ridden by the Owner — White jacket, amaranth sleeves and cap Alma, roan mare, English, owned by Sig. Crescio Cav. Luigi, major of the 1st cavalry regiment (Nizza) — Ridden by the Owner — Green jacket, red sleeves, green cap TROTTING RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK IN A SINGLE HEAT For horses aged 5 and over, foaled and bred in the Southern Provinces, driven in single harness. Distance 4,800 metres (three laps of the course) PRIZES 1st: Gold Medal and 1,000 lire — 2nd: Half the entry fees plus his own. The following horses will take part, in two heats: 1st HEAT Schiavo, black horse, 9 years old, owned by Sig. Ciardi Giuseppe of Naples — Driven by Sig. Traccheggiano Francesco Brasciano, bay horse, 8 years old, Castaldo breed, owned by Sig. Grossi Leopoldo of Naples — Driven by the Owner 2nd HEAT Carlinotto, grey horse, 9 years old, Maisto breed, owned by Sig. Aletta Federigo of Naples — Driven by Sig. Panetti R. [illegible], black horse, 8 years old, owned by Sig. Traccheggiano Fr. of Naples — Driven by the Owner CHALLENGE RACE Between the winners of the Italian race — a single heat. Distance 3,200 metres PRIZE A banner embroidered in gold with the arms of the Società Zoofila Napoletana NB. Members of the Society are reminded that they have free admission on foot to the Hippodrome on showing the Society’s medal.
JUDGES OF THE COURSE Sig. Michele Buono — Sig. Michele Giuliani Gusman » Conte F. Lefebvre di Balsorano — » Cav. Raffaele Giuliani Gusman » Luigi Cassitto — » Cav. Giovanni Santasilia » Conte G. Gaetani di Laurenzana — » Cav. Gaetano Guevara di Bovino » March. Camillo Imperiale — » Duca di Evoli » Cav. Onorato de’ Medici — » Conte R. Gaetani di Laurenzana » Cav. Raffaele de Rosa — » Captain Raffaele Cav. d’Agostino » Duca di S. Martino — » Principe di Fondi » Marc. Francesco Serra di Gerace — » Cav. Carlo Bona, Capt., 1st Cavalry Regt. » Cav. Achille Sorvillo — » Bar. Francesco Ferrante » Carmine de Hippolytis — » Pasquale Massimo » Duca d’Avena Giovanni Valiante — » Marino Sorvillo RESERVE JUDGES Sig. Cav. Carlo Caracciolo di Stella — Sig. Bar. Giovanni de Jorio » Cav. A. Caracciolo di Castagneta — » Cav. Vincenzo Altamura » Ernesto Giordano — » Eduardo Contardi » Filippo Buono — » Giacomo Del Pozzo » Diego Calcagno — » Francesco Acquaviva d’Aragona » Bar. Domenico Lombardi — » Cav. Edmondo Santasilia STEWARDS OF THE COURSE Members of the Governing Council of the Società Zoofila Napoletana Sig. Cav. Ignazio de Angelis, Commander of the Municipal Guards — Sig. Cav. Carlo Carafa dei Duchi di Noia » Gaetano Serra Caracciolo — » Raffaele Lauro » Michele Cardona HEALTH COMMISSION Sig. Dr Alessandro Gatti, Member of the Governing Council of the Società Zoofila Napoletana — Sig. Professor Vitarelli, Deputy Director of the Dispensary of the Società Zoofila Napoletana NB. Should the weather prove unfavourable, the race may be postponed by up to 72 hours. Naples, 14 April 1877. Naples — Printed by Cav. G. de Angelis & Son, printers to H.M. the King of Italy.
Printed programme and jury of the Società Zoofila Napoletana trotting races, 15 April 1877 (two sheets pasted in)
Printed programme and jury of the Società Zoofila Napoletana trotting races, 15 April 1877 (two sheets pasted in) Mon Journal, vol. 10, p. 116 (facsimile)
Printed programme of the trotting races, 15 April 1877: gentlemen’s races, race against the clock, judges and health commission
Printed programme of the trotting races, 15 April 1877: gentlemen’s races, race against the clock, judges and health commission Mon Journal, vol. 10, p. 117 (facsimile)
— What an exquisite point! Larderel exclaimed over Dina’s foot. It is so pointed! It is with that very point that Mademoiselle pierced my heart!
— Good heavens, Monsieur, so she has given you a kick!
— In any case, he went on knowingly, she has not given my illusions a kick.
And now let us come to the evening. I am wearing a perfectly plain muslin skirt with a large ruche at the hem. Bodice cut square in front, with a ruche, as in old engravings. Mittens on my hands and scarlet satin slippers on my feet. Slippers trimmed with gold and tied at the ankle with a big faille ribbon.
All these gentlemen were forever asking to dance; well, tonight we are giving them their dance.
It is as well arranged as it can be in this vile inn. The drawing room cleared of furniture, a large anteroom and then a small one; the lavishly stocked buffet is in a boudoir on the right.
I am not very beautiful and I am uneasy. Schettino arrives first, then Caracciolo, then old Carmignano. Mme and Mlle Fabbricatore, Mme and M. d’Agostino. The Hamontoffs. Porcinari, Zunica, Santasiglia, Marini, Altamura. The Prince of Melissano brings his friend the Duke of Grottaminarda, who has been asking for a week to be introduced — tall, fair, bearded and squinting. And Larderel, interesting and not drunk. Then Schininà. And Prince Greuther, Duke of Santa Severina, introduced this afternoon by Nasimoff. I think that is all — no, there was also the delightful Melito. And Campomarino, how could I forget him! All the more since it was he and Melissano who were the pearls of the evening, performing a tarantella to perfection, to the accompaniment of cricket clickers, by way of an interlude.
I kept everyone amused by making fun of everything out loud, beginning with myself.
Besides, I do not pass this gathering off as anything other than what it is. Marcuard is in bed after a fall at the Skating. We sent him pears, figs, a heap of silly things. There was dancing until three in the morning, and supper. There was a hired pianist.
Olga and Marie were so neglected, few as the ladies were, that I am quite indignant with these gentlemen over it. Melissano, like Saëtone, directed everything.
For a cotillion figure we played cat and mouse. Grattaminarda is so tall that by throwing himself on the floor and stretching out his arms he had everyone within reach. Dina was caught in the midst of the tumult caused by this bar laid across the drawing room.
We found ourselves alone by the buffet, Larderel and I; instead of saying what absolutely had to be said, I chaffed — the word is vulgar but graceful, especially when, like me, one chaffs with grace. And then, you understand, the emulation roused by that artist... that chaff.
We have already taken up our places on our respective balconies, spied on by Doenhoff.
And yet I must speak to him; one cannot let such ideas grow in his head.
He slipped away to sleep before supper. To find out where he is, I send a pear to the stuffed Swiss, and I send Rosalie to his own rooms. There is nothing odd in that; he jokes with her and with Melissano enough for anything of the kind to be allowed. He was in bed.
We enjoyed ourselves. It is not a ball, you understand; it is simply a gathering of men tempered by the presence of three worthy matrons and two harmless young girls — Mmes Hamontoff, Fabbricatore and d’Agostino, and Mlles Fabbricatore and Hamontoff.
I am very proud of a compliment from Santasiglia, which clashes so with the aplomb and the compliments of these gentlemen. He was looking at my foot and consulting Zunica in a whisper, and Zunica seemed to be saying: why yes, my friend, why not? yes, yes. Zunica is a year older than Santasiglia, who at last, blushing all over, tells me that until now only seven wonders had been known... but that an eighth had just appeared.
— And which is that?
An embarrassed glance at Zunica, who encourages him with his monocle.
— It is... that!
Confusion.
— What, that?
— The boot
— Ah.
— Yes, not... not quite the boot... (a glance at Zunica) but what is inside it.
Such delicacy — not to touch it even with a word — is found only in well-born boys of eighteen and in witty, refined men of thirty-five.
— Well, I said, laughing, you are going it, young man; I can even predict that you will go far.
He became thoroughly confused, blushed, and began asking Zunica in Italian whether he had said too much: one could say that? could one not?
Towards three o’clock only a few gentlemen were left, among them Melissano, who was making up for it, poor monkey, at the table — drinking, nibbling, eating, swearing, admiring.
At four o’clock I was still playing the mandolin.
What a charming life it would be if Larderel did not vex me so. Everything is sunshine and song in Naples
Naples will be, as it has been before, my best memory, in spite of Larderel, with whom I have no fault to find.
Can one compare this with the affronts of Nice!!! Nice, horror and filth?
Thirty-six thousand torments for two days of mad laughter with the Sapogenikoffs.
Naples, I detest you as a city, but the goodwill you hold reconciles me to your beauties — undeniable, but uncongenial.

Notes

In Italian in the original: per inabilità — his estate had been placed under legal administration, as for a man judged unfit to manage his own affairs. ↩
In French in the original: cri-cri — a small tin clicker, a toy imitating the chirp of a cricket. ↩