BR TO ALYS RUSSELL, [20 APR. 1908]
BRACERS 21106. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

Salemi
Monday night

Dearest Alys

Two letters from thee with enclosures reached me this morning, of Monday and Tuesday. I return proof for Macmillan in enclosed envelope. — Today George and Charles joined us at Marsala and we walked in Garibaldi’s footsteps to this place, about 20 miles. There was a very violent scirroco, rather unpleasant, dry and hot and dusty: the country was dull at first, but towards evening it got lovely. This is a little town on a hill, with a splendid view. Baedeker has never been here, so we didn’t know if there was an inn, but we found quite a nice little place. We are a great curiosity, so much so that the whole population turned out and followed us down the street. Walking is so unusual that the horses shy at us. At Marsala the inn would have been all right but for the fact that they kept a whore on the premises, whom the fashionable of the town came to make arrangements with. Tomorrow we see the temple at Segesta, and sleep at Calatafini where the inn is called after Samuel Butler who lived there. Trapani is the place where Butler says the authoress of the Odyssey lived. George and Charles are much the most vigorous. We have great fun, and the wild flowers are wonderful especially the asphodel.

Thine aff.
Bertie