104 years ago today, 17 July 1918, was a sunny day in Casterino. Luigi Pollini carried Clarence Bicknell out onto the terrace of his ‘cottage’ where he died peacefully, in the surroundings which he loved, encircled by the mountains which he knew as ‘The Gate of Heaven’. Luigi was not just someone in Clarence Bicknell’s service; he was his best friend, companion in the mountains and on his travels, note-taker, engraving-rubber, archivist, Esperantist, the husband of his cook and much more.
When Luigi had composed himself after the death of his dearest friend and mentor, he wrote a tribute to Bicknell in the Casa Fontanalba Visitors’ Book. We reproduce that page here today.
Valerie Lester in MARVELS (page 205) wrote “The following day, neighbours from the valley streamed into the house to pay their respects, and Luigi wrote a heart-breaking memorial in the visitors’ book.
“Your own Luigi, who for almost 24 years lived happy and proud in being your companion, hopes that he has been of service to you. He always tried to follow all your desires and begs pardon if he sometimes failed. Good soul, rest in peace. Rare among the rare, soul of virtue and honesty, I lose you in the flesh but never in the spirit. I shall always remember our journeys, the pleasant and unpleasant things shared in various circumstances. I shall remember your holy and kindly thoughts, the way you showed me to follow, the good you always did me. And if one day we meet afresh, I shall be most happy to start again and to go through another life with you. Farewell, or better, till we meet again, Luigi.”
Luigi could not leave it at that and made three additions:
“ii. I add your dear ‘Casa Fontanalba’ where you lived more happily and contented than an emperor, among your mountains, your prehistoric rock engravings and especially your much-beloved flowers which long occupied your thoughts to the profit of mankind, throwing light on them in scientific works and in poetry too. Till we meet again, your Gigi. iii. ‘Capi’ says ‘I remember your kindness’. (This was written in Esperanto.) iv. I include dedications, photographs (one of my father), and a postcard of Casa Fontanalba as company for you in your coffin, the last time I could see you, 20 July 1918.”
En français…
Il y a 104 ans aujourd’hui, le 17 juillet 1918, c’était une journée ensoleillée à Casterino. Luigi Pollini emporta Clarence Bicknell sur la terrasse de son « cottage » où il mourut paisiblement, dans un environnement qu’il aimait, encerclé par les montagnes qu’il appelait « La Porte du Ciel ». Luigi n’était pas seulement quelqu’un au service de Clarence Bicknell ; il était son meilleur ami, compagnon dans les montagnes et dans ses voyages, preneur de notes, Maitre-copieur-des-gravures, archiviste, espérantiste, le mari de sa cuisinière et encore.
Lorsque Luigi s’était composé après la mort de son plus cher ami et mentor, Luigi a écrit un hommage à Bicknell dans le livre d’or de la Casa Fontanalba. Nous reproduisons cette page ici aujourd’hui.
Le lendemain, des voisins de la vallée ont afflué dans la maison pour leur rendre hommage et Luigi a écrit un mémorial déchirant dans le livre d’or.
“Votre propre Luigi, qui a vécu pendant près de 24 ans heureux et fier d’être votre compagnon, espère qu’il vous a rendu service. Il a toujours essayé de suivre tous vos désirs et vous demande pardon s’il a parfois échoué. Bonne âme, repose en paix. Rare parmi les rares, âme de vertu et d’honnêteté, je te perds dans la chair mais jamais dans l’esprit. Je me souviendrai toujours de nos voyages, des choses agréables et désagréables partagées en diverses circonstances. Je me souviendrai de vos pensées saintes et bienveillantes, de la voie que vous m’avez montrée à suivre, du bien que vous m’avez toujours fait. Et si un jour nous nous revoyons, je serai très heureux de recommencer et de vivre une autre vie avec toi. Adieu, ou mieux, jusqu’à ce que nous nous reverrons, Luigi.
Luigi ne pouvait pas en rester là et a fait trois ajouts :
“ii. J’ajoute votre chère « Casa Fontanalba » où vous avez vécu plus heureux et satisfait qu’un empereur, parmi vos montagnes, vos gravures rupestres préhistoriques et surtout vos fleurs bien-aimées qui ont longtemps occupé vos pensées au profit de l’humanité, les éclairant dans travaux scientifiques et en poésie aussi. Jusqu’à ce qu’on se retrouve, ta Gigi.
iii. « Capi » dit « Je me souviens de votre gentillesse ». (Ceci a été écrit en espéranto.)
iv. J’inclus des dédicaces, des photographies (celle de mon père) et une carte postale de la Casa Fontanalba comme compagnie pour vous dans votre cercueil, la dernière fois que j’ai pu vous voir, le 20 juillet 1918.
In italiano…
104 anni fa oggi, 17 luglio 1918, a Casterino era una giornata di sole. Luigi Pollini portò Clarence Bicknell sulla terrazza del suo “cottage” dove morì serenamente, nell’ambiente che amava, circondato dalle montagne che conosceva come “La Porta del Paradiso”. Luigi non era solo qualcuno al servizio di Clarence Bicknell; era il suo migliore amico, compagno in montagna e nei suoi viaggi, prendeva annotazioni per lui, lo aiutava nel riportare su carta le incisioni rupestri, ne curava l’archivio, era un valente esperantista, era il marito della cuoca e tanto altro ancora.
Quando Luigi si ricompose dopo la morte del suo più caro amico e mentore, Luigi scrisse un omaggio a Bicknell nel Libro dei visitatori di Casa Fontanalba. Riproduciamo quella pagina qui oggi.
Il giorno dopo affluirono a Casa di Clarence dei vicini da tutta la valle per rendergli omaggio e Luigi scrisse nel libro dei visitatori un ricordo che spezza il cuore.
“Il tuo Luigi, che da quasi 24 anni visse felice e orgoglioso d’essere tuo compagno, spera d’esserti stato utile, ha sempre provato ad assecondare tutti i tuoi desideri e se qualche volta ha mancato, ti chiede perdono. Riposa in pace, anima buona, rara fra le rare di virtù, d’onestà, ti perdo materialmente ma mai moralmente, ricorderò sempre i nostri viaggi, i piaceri e dispiaceri divisi nelle varie circostanze, ricorderò le tue idee sante e benevole, ricorderò il cammino che m’indicasti di seguire, il bene che m’hai sempre fatto e se un giorno c’incontreremo nuovamente, sarò felicissimo di ricominciare e continuare una nuova vita con te. Addio, o meglio, arrivederci LP.”
Luigi non riusciva a lasciarlo e aggiunse tre ricordi:
“II Aggiungo la tua cara “Casa Fontanalba”, ove vivevi felice e contento più d’un Imperatore, fra i tuoi monti e le rocce colle incisioni preistoriche ed in special modo i tuoi tanto amati fiori, che lungamente occuparono i tuoi pensieri a profitto dell’umanità, illuminandoli scientificamente e anche poeticamente. Gis la remido, Gigi.
III “Capi” dice [In Esperanto] ’ricordo la tua gentilezza’
IV Accludo dediche e fotografie (con quella di mio padre) accluse come compagnia nel feretro, l’ultima volta che potei vederlo, cioè il 20 Luglio 1918) e la cartolina di Casa Fontanalba. “
You can read more about Luigi and his family at the following paper on our web site:
https://clarencebicknell.com/wp-content/uploads/pollini_excerpts_from_marvels_mb_nov2021.pdf
It could hardly be more appropriate that Luigi wrote his tribute opposite Clarence’s watercolour of a Forget-Me-Not. Luigi would certainly never forget Clarence.
The subject of Clarence Bicknell’s watercolour…
Myosotis alpestris F.W.Schmidt; Alpine Forget-me-not (in English), Myosotis alpestre (in French) or Non-ti-scordar-di-me alpino (in Italian). Family : Boracinaceae. Plant very common in the Alps. 5-20 cm high, flowers are of clear violet blue. Flowers June to August. Area of distribution : all over the Alps in grassland meadows and marshlands.
We have added a photo of Eritrichium nanum as it is also a Forget-me-not which grows in the high mountains. .
With thanks to Elisabetta Massardo for the nature notes and photos, May 2022