Learnt the family tree of the Buonapartes in the history class. It is extraordinary how personal experiences colour study of this description. For instance, Dr. Scannell told us of his conversation with a man who had found the body of the Prince Imperial after a battle in the Boer War, and this together with some other details of the same nature gave us a quite new interest in things. Got about twelve splendid stamps from Lilian Russell who lives in our terrace. I often do some bargaining with her. Mammy and I discussed the details of her concert, which is coming off shortly, while we were at tea. Went to Choral Society practice, where they studied Gounod’s ‘By Babylon’s Wave’ (‘Super fluvius Babylonae’), a very beautiful and pathetic work. The mission which is now in Cork and which will continue for four weeks kept many away from the practice. There seems to be rather a general despondency after the big concert. It is very sad.
