On the 11th another presentation ceremony took place, this time at the Circolo.  Those of us who had enjoyed honorary membership here presented to the Club two small silver clocks.  The Major again made a short speech and the President of the Club replied, expressing the hope that the hours might be short, which these clocks would record before the hour of final victory.  The cordiality of all the members of the Club at this meeting was very memorable.  One old gentleman of 76 years of age told me that I was the very image of his son who was serving at the front in the Artillery, and with tears in his eyes kissed me on both cheeks.  “Permit this sign of affection,” he said, “seeing that here we are in the midst of friends.”

That afternoon a few of us had tea for the last time at Finzi’s, a favourite haunt of mine between the Castello and the Cathedral.  After I had said a few words of farewell, Signor Finzi said to me, in one of those perfectly turned compliments which Italians always pay to foreigners endeavouring to speak their language, “Lei parla la lingua di Dante,"[1] and Signora Finzi gave to each of us a small Italian flag.

[Footnote 1:  “You speak the language of Dante.”]

That night our transport arrived, and our departure was fixed for the following morning.  The 12th of December was a day that I shall vividly remember for the rest of my life.  We left Ferrara about 1 p.m. after one of the most enthusiastic demonstrations I have ever seen.  That morning the town had been placarded far and wide with the following poster:—­

Comitato di Preparazione Civile.[1]

CITTADINI,

Stamane alle ore undici e trenta (11.30) gli Artiglieri inglesi muoveranno dal Quartiere Palestro diretti alia Stazione Ferroviaria.  Essi partono verso il fronte, per difendere cogli eroici soldati d’Italia e di Francia il conteso e sacro suolo della patria, per combattere la barbaria tedesca, che tenta invano di avanzare contro il baluardo offerto dai petti dei soldati di tre nazioni.

CITTADINI,

Vi invitiamo ad accorrere ed a portare il vostro saluto ai fedeli e valorosi Alleati.  Essi debbono sentire che i vostri cuori palpitano, con loro, di speranza e di fede.

FERRARA. 11-12 dicembre 1917,
IL PRESIDENTE AVOGLI.

[Footnote 1:  Committee of Civilian Preparation.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

This morning at 11.30 a.m. the British Gunners will march out from the Palestro Barracks to the Railway Station.  They are leaving for the Front, to defend alongside of the heroic soldiers of Italy and France the disputed and sacred soil of our country, and to combat the German barbarians, who strive in vain to advance against the rampart which is formed by the breasts of the soldiers of three nations.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

We invite you to be present and to salute our brave and faithful Allies.  They should be made to feel that your hearts, in unison with theirs, throb with hope and faith.]