Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Sunday, 24 August 1879

Berthe breaks the monotony of the family... and what a tiresome family!
We talked yesterday with the candles extinguished until four o'clock in the morning. We go to the races, I have a dress of white wool muslin, ideal style draped like an antique, large muslin fichu on the shoulders; gloves to the elbow, black hat and boots. Berthe has an outfit of Pompadour batiste, made according to the fashion, that is to say imitation Louis XV or XIV, very much worn, a pretty hat. Her husband makes her take a sort of cocotte dress. It is a pity. Da Costa, Sandford, Blanc and Lambertye, do you remember well the Comte de Lambertye in Nice? my acrostics?
Berthe introduces him to me. There is a crowd of people, familiar faces.
The vile Larderei is there with dirty women and completely stupefied.
As our room is on the ground floor, when we have not gone out we are always at the third window on the left and there is always someone in front of the window. It is I believe the only rather gay thing about the hotel, before it was the princes, at present there are others. One calls out, one [speaks] and while one is at the window the other dresses or arranges herself in the back and joins the conversation from afar; Dina, Berthe and I.
After the races there is the Casino, fireworks. But to give ourselves a little more movement we go, the three of us and Alexis, to the little theater of the town to see I know not what comedy and arrive just in time for the fireworks. Our escorts bring us a divan from the room for there was not a single chair left and we are royally installed.
Afterwards we sup under the veranda of the hotel and laugh until we double over at everything and nothing.
I am not enjoying myself.
Bojidar is in love with me. You know how lucky I am.