Their father was the village tailor, a man of great foresight. He insisted both his daughters received a good education which at that time in rural Molise was not easy.
Their elementary education begun at the castle, where they were taught by
Bright young ladies and incidentally still bright as buttons today, they both went onto study.
At this time in rural Italy that certainly would not have been easy. They would have usually have been expected to take up a life of domesticity.
However the Emma eldest went onto study as a pharmacist in Rome, and her younger sister Edith to teacher training college.
Emma talked with great excitement about Rome at that time was a very exciting place. I hope to hear more about those days another time.
Having trained as a pharmacist she returned to Torella but unfortunately had to give it up in time due to ill health and she too went into teaching.
Edith a beautiful lady still has a gentle, kind nature and one is able to see even now how much all children must have adored her.
They told me folk tales of witches who many people believed in, and some still do today.
There was a custom which required an old broom being kept at the door at night. This apparently kept the witches busy until morning when they had to disappear.
I am looking forward to talking to them again and finding out more about their fascinating lives in the beautiful hilltop town where they have lived themselves for almost a century.
Thank you Torella gentle ladies.
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