Maud Howe Elliott 
Roma beata; letters from the Eternal city [PDF ebook] 

LOOKING FOR A HOME 
Rome, January 20, 1894. 
Rome, which we reached Thursday, is veiy much 
changed since I last saw it ; imagine the Foun- 
tain of Trevi, all the principal streets, even many 
of the smaller ones, gleaming with electric lights ! 
We at once engaged an apartment bathed 
with sun in the Piazza di Spagna, sun from 
early morning till late afternoon. But when 
we moved into it, the day was overcast. The 
apartment which had been tropical with the sun 
when we hired it was arctic without it ! 
We interviewed our padrona (landlady), an 
immense woman, and demanded a fire. 
’ But, Excellency, it is not good for the 
health.’ …