Viewing page 350 of 473

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

339

and in the afternoon Mary, Calvert and I went in the storm to a matinee of the great play "Oedipus" at Booths Theatre. Contrary to our expectation we were greatly interested. Riddle the Oedipus spoke in Greek, all the other characters in English. He acted with spirit and profoundly affected me although I did not know a word he spoke. He was particularly fine when he gropes his way upon the stage after he has put out his eyes and in the interview with his children. The costumes were very beautiful and sculpturesque, but after all it seemed more like a modern play than a play of the time of Sophocles and I imagine was but a faint reflex of their manner of acting. The house was full and all seemed interested. Went to the monthly meeting of the Century which was a very thin one in account of the storm. Had a pleasant time. When I came to my rooms about midnight the storm was at its height and I floundered all the way here. The wind was blowing a gale and the air thick with snow.

Sunday Feb. 5 1882. Mary and I went to Dr. Bellows church to hear Edward Everett Hale speak of the life and character of Dr. Bellows. From there to the club where I wrote to Laura and to Sara. Miss Curtis took tea with us and spent the evening.

Monday 6. A letter from Booth from Galveston agreeing to the plan of Downing and Bowyer and in the afternoon another letter from him from New Orleans enclosing his check for five thousand dollars which comes in good time as Bowyer has an opportunity to buy a business already established. How kind and generous is Booth. I knew he would be glad to do it. Attended the Council. A proposition for a winter exhibition was considered. Wood was in yesterday. He thinks my academy picture the best thing I have done. Beard put a kingfisher in for me. I have improved my Humboldt Valley and hope to make a good picture. Came to my room from the Academy and wrote to Booth at Nashville.

Tuesday 7. Have a severe cold. Did not do anything today but sit quietly most of the time in my room. Mrs. Pychowska her daughter and Edith Cook called. In the evening attended a dinner of the G.B. Club at the Florence which I enjoyed in spite of my cold.

Wednesday 8. Breakfasted in my room after a somewhat restless night and went home by the 8 o'clock train. Jamie whose school has been broken up by scarlet fever met me at the ferry. The river frozen over but the ferry boat moving. Dressed myself as soon as possible when we drove down to Ned Tomkins to attend the wedding of his daughter Carrie and Henry Snyder. My father & Mother, Gussie, Gertrude, Sara and I. We remained until 4 and I enjoyed it exceedingly. It was a beautiful