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Royall Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss, April 10, 1936

Finance Ministry

Budapest

10.IV.36

I’ve just had Robert’s letter telling me that you’ll be at the Excelsior in Rome, dearest Mildred, and I’ve wired to you suggesting you apply for advice about a Byz. Easter Mass to Jerphanion (author of the Eglises Rupestres de Cappadoce,Guillaume de Jerphanion, Une nouvelle province de l’art byzantin: Les eglises rupestres de Cappadoce (Paris: P. Geuthner, 1925). which you should buy) or the Greek Legation.

I wrote to you a few days ago, c/o the U.S. Embassy, Rome, to tell you that Bill has developed a slight infection of the right lung, and the doctors insist he take 6 months away from the Bank. In case the earlier letter didn’t reach you, I’ll repeat that the Xray shows improvement, and Bill is gaining weight, but he’s badly run down. He is with the LindsaysSir Ronald Charles Lindsay (1877–1945), the British ambassador to the United States between 1930 and 1939, and his wife, Elizabeth Sherman Hoyt Lindsay. in Washington, and he and Betsy plan to sail on the Lafayette, April 18. He wants to go to Antigny, poor lamb, and so he shall as soon as Burgundy is warm enough (May 15th), for the interval, we’ll see what Smolizanski,Dr. Léon Smolizanski (1882–1944), author of L'albumine dans les crachats des tuberculeux (Paris: Jouve, 1911). who gave him such wise advice on the earlier occasion,William Royall Tyler had tuberculosis in 1929. See letter of August 11, 1929. suggests for this time.

It’s a blow, precious Mildred. I console myself with the thought that, given the fact that this tendency was developing, it is a mercy that an attack of bronchitis brought it out when it did, so that Bill didn’t go on longer fighting against heavy odds. This explains much that had troubled me in his letters. Elizabeth Lindsay, whose guest he was when it was discovered, has been an angel, and so wise.

Much love, dearest Mildred, to you and Robert.

R. T.

Don’t omit, if you do go to Florence, to ask Anna LeviAnna Cosadino (Kosadinou) Levi (1895–1981), wife of the art historian and archaeologist Teodoro (“Doro”) Davide Levi (1899–1991). She was born in the Greek section of Istanbul and married Levi in 1928. See Giovanna Bandini, Lettere dall’egeo: Archeologhe italiane tra 1900 e 1950 (Florence: Giunti, 2003), 92n29 and 122n3. (Tel. 54123) for Byz. guidance. I think her husband, who is the best Classical Greek archaeologist in Italy today, will be there this month. You’ll find him very interesting, and so nice. The type of the purely intellectual Jew. I shall hardly be able to leave here before Apr. 28, but if I do I’ll let you know.

 
Associated Places: Budapest (Hungary); Florence (Italy)