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336

Monday Jan 30. 1882. Painted until 2 o'clock when Calvert and Whittredge and I went up to the Union League club to see the pictures by famous modern European Artists. There was a great crowd of ladies and it was difficult to see the pictures. There were three fine Munkacszys which interested me very much. Their art is richer and fuller in technique than ours. No better in inspiration and intention but has always the look of being "better paid". Went to the Council where I heard that Dr. Bellows had died at 11 o'clock this forenoon. No man in New York will be more missed and I can hardly realize that he is gone. It was only at the annual meeting of the Century that I last saw him where he spoke earnestly in opposition to removing the club uptown and thus as he thought inevitably changing its character. He made one significant remark, significant because I never before heard him admit that he was growing old. He said "to us who have but a little while to stay here it matters little" but he was jealous to transmit the club unchanged in its aims and character to the coming generation. After the council I went to Fred Nortons to attend a meeting of the "Larks" and had a most pleasant meeting with the young people. Emma Brace was there and is strongly reminded me of dear Gertrude as she was at her age. She wore her mothers wedding dress and most of the Larks were in quaint costumes.

[[newspaper clipping]]
The death of Dr. Bellows removes one of the most conspicuous figures of New York life during the last thirty years. He was the minister of a very small denomination, but there was no public interest which did not during that period owe something to his untiring activity, his ready sympathy and generosity, and his remarkable powers of statement and persuasion. His sympathy was inexhaustible. No unfortunate cause or man ever failed to receive a patient hearing from him, and as much help as was deserved, or he could give. He first became widely known through his labors as president of the Sanitary Commission during the war, and probably nothing did more than this Commission to make the memories of the war sacred and tender. But the things which made him widely known were but a very small proportion of those which brought him love and honor in private life. He has been happy, however, in having his career close before his natural force had sensibly abated, or he had been compelled to limit the sphere of his usefulness. That he was himself aware, however, that the end was not far off, appeared in some remarks he made at the monthly meeting of the Century Club only a fortnight ago, when discussing some affairs of the club, which he was one of the founders in that old New York - now very old and very distant - of forty years ago, he observed, with some pathos, that the future of the club now concerned him but little personally, and that his interest in it was intended for those who were to enjoy it after him. [[/newspaper clipping]]
Evening Post Jan 30th

Transcription Notes:
Munkaczy - Mihaly Munkacsy