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May 2 [[illegible]]

My dear Mother —

My days are full of work now. This [[circled 1]] week I made four copies in the Louvre (studies from Hals). Took two French lessons, and evening worked at Coloroasis[[?]].

[[circled 3]]Wednesday went to the old Salon, and the impression I received pains me; to think of it fills me with disgust. Room after room full of their photographic portraits, meaningless representations of naked women, and crucifictions[[crucifixions]]. There are thousands of attempts, and a hundred or two good things. A feeling of superiority came over me accompanied by a weary sensation. Thousands of things are there which are works lacking in art, creations by a mob of degenerates. It is evident that photography is eating into the work of the younger Frenchmen.

The greatest work there was a portrait [[circled 4]] full length of an old man. the artist's father it is a masterpiece. I saw Carolus Duran stand for a full fifteen minutes. It could and probably did teach him a lesson. The artist's name is Deschanel, and he is young between 30 and forty. His work made every other single portrait look insipid.

My copies from [[circled 2]] the Louvre were of four babies heads painted by Franz Hals. Each one was successful. I enjoyed doing them. Think I'm rather fond of such subjects.

A letter from you last night telling of [[circled 5]] Sumner Hinckley's visit with three girls. Wish I had been there. When are you going to the shore? Better get there early for June is a splendid month. And after a damp April you all probably need fresh air.

Yesterday with twenty-one other Americans and [[circled 7]] two frenchies we went outside of Paris, to play ball.  The field was in a lovely park in which is the Wallace estate, a beautiful creation archetecticaly [[architecturally]]. Reminds one of Watteau's pictures. We played ball for three hours. I knocked a three bagger, one two, and two safeties. Played center field, and last inning first base, came out of the game with a lame foot and sore hands. Had a grand time. Two of the player have been here seventeen years. Vedder played a fine game.