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when I got back to my studio the fire had gone out and it is a cold night. No wood to kindle it but I broke up a cigar box, found some hickory sticks upstairs and soon had it going. Wrote to Gertrude. Received a letter from her yesterday with bad accounts of Maurice. Mrs. DeForest wants me to dine there until Gertrude comes. Have promised to go tomorrow but I think that will do.

Sunday Feb. 7" 1875. Yesterday morning went to Gonpils to see Boughtons picture of the "Heir Presumptive" It has all of Boughtons excellence but I think it is lifeless in action and spread over too much canvas, besides there is an inclination to mannerism in modeling his flesh and every thing else in color by plastering it over so thick. There was also there a very clever picture by "Kamerer" [[Kaemmerer?]] a Dutch watering place, sparkling and realistic but not beautiful. Spent an hour in the Water Color collection where there are many good things which however I only looked at hastily. Mr. Hurlburt of Cleveland called. Church spent some time with me and spoke in praise of my figures. Mrs. Holt called while Eastman Johnson was here but came back again shortly after with her sister in law and Miss Norton. They made a long call and she invited me to dine with them on Thursday. Mr. DeForest called to see my pictures and I rode with him up to his house where I dined with him and Mr and Mrs. Church and Mr and Mrs Harris the latter author of Rutledge and seemingly an interesting woman. From there, Church, Lockwood, DeForest and I went to the Century monthly meeting. There was a crowd there. Saw Bayard Taylor for the first time since his return from Europe, and had a talk with him, Whitelaw Reid and Whipple of Boston. Mr Whipple was very complimentary to me concerning my pictures and said he could always know them even when out of my usual style, in proof of which he knew my figure picture in the Gallery (Burning the Christmas Greens") although he did not know I painted figures and had never seen one of mine before. I thought that showed vastly more appreciation than to say as some did "that reminds me of Boughton" whose manner and mine are so widely different. It was a good opportunity for me to see a great many people who did not know I was in town. I staid there until after 10" clock. Dined with the Taylors at half past one. It was very cold and I walked up. Had a delightfully social time as I always do and remained to tea. Came home at half past nine and wrote to Gertrude.

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