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brought from Boston his sketches - Pin them on the screen in the sitting room every one and in that way you can keep studying with me scenes around Paris. The little sketch of the boy, is pleasing - a startling likeness of the landlords son. Give it distance  One is of Notre Dame just before a snow. I painted that same morning a large one, very good in feeling. A cold lonely stillness in the air I wish I might also send it to you. The other three large ones are of the Seine and remember distance lends enchantment. The smaller sketches are of the same subjects, two are rather successful. The one with the red carpet which is  being beaten by a man. The other of three buildings in afternoon sunshine, is a good impression. The rest are ordinary and are forwarded merely to give you an idea of things interesting to me - . 

This week I received a nice letter from Mrs Parks. I hope she is all over her illness, and able to now be at home with her family - Another letter from Norton. Good sort that.
 
Last night I attended a fair, held in many small booths up and down a boulevard with a long name. There were merry-go-rounds. Theaters or shows in which I didn't go. Algerian stalls. Spanish stalls and shooting galleries. The French are great merry makers. Old and young race about and played like [[strikethrough]] st [[/strikethrough]] children. 

Among the whole mob there was no such thing as a poor soul all were so happy. There were a number of wicked
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souls. But we'll forget - The fair runs for three weeks, more. Saw a fascinating Spanish dance, on an improvised stage at this fair. Man and woman twirled about in a dizzy captivating way - Made some sketches, shall forward some later -

Today and Sunday raining great guns - The Luxemburg gardens are still open but the gallery is closed for a week or two. [[strikethrough]] yet. [[/strikethrough]]

You know that for some years I have always longed to see the masterpieces of the Louvre. And it is well I think that I should not have seen them before. For after my experience in failures I am better able now to appreciate and reason out, the successes of the masters. It would be difficult to tell which school or painters work arouses the most enthusiasm in me. So far Franz Hals is my favorite. Fragonard a Frenchman of the time of Watteau is also very instructive. His work appeals to me more than the [[beefs?]] of Rubens 

I could write all day about that gallery but fearing to tire you 
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Transcription Notes:
Reviewer: added a strikethrough to keep consistent with transcription. Complete Meant to read the right page first, then the left. Should the transcription reflect that? I rearranged the transcript so that the pages are in order, and I made notes in the transcript to indicate the original order on the handwritten copy that was uploaded.