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My dear mother. This morning on getting up the song of the birds, in the court yard, was surprising It might have been beautiful, but our old land lady keeps a rooster a vain fellow, who dislikes the songs of his more cultured friends, and therefore to escape from their charms he makes a tremendous noise. Like some Yankee's he is always crowing. Its a good trait, and by that method he certainly is enabled to remain the prominent figure of our little world. 

Owing to Sargents illness, and the fact of his going to the shore, I thought best to leave for Paris, and study for the next two months in some studio there. Probably Delecluse's.

By the middle of June hot weather is due. By that time I shall have met Gay, and Pierre and shall be better able to tell you of my summers work. Although I plan to go to Normandy- 

Paris is beautiful, it's galleries are marvellous. When you do a good piece of work and express your best, there comes as reward an exaltation of feeling that is sublime, and that for the moment puts you in touch with the infinite. The works at the Louvre, the best of the various master's give me so much  pleasure, that when before them I feel as though I were in company with the Gods of Painting. Such paintings; they must certainly have been created by men immersed in their work. Who loved and lived to work. And held [[strikethrough]]each [[/strikethrough]] their occupation as being the most holy and the highest man could work in. Their lives were consecrated to creating. Their work was their religion. I thoroughly believe that is the spirit by which these many glorious works were produced. Each day have I been there I cannot keep away.  It seems that never before have I clearly known what painting was. 

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E 163 - Sept. 1900 -  1000C
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO.
U.S.A.
11, Rue Scribe (Opéra)

Visitors Writing Room
(Not Official)
Paris, ______ 
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