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Thursday Feb. 8. 1883. Made the drawing of my Academy picture for the Academy Notes. Darkened the interior of my studio picture a little. Conkey called to talk about the money he owes me and to tell me he expects to bring a friend to my Studio some time this month who he hopes will buy a little picture. I told him I would allow him $50 as a commission on a $250 picture. Poor man. This debt distresses him as mine distress me and I told him not to trouble about it. Dined at Lockwood deForests with Mr & Mrs Church, Mr & Mrs Leroy and Mrs. deForests sister Miss Kemble. Had a very pleasant time with much of the orient intermingled. 

Friday 9. A letter from Booth from Berlin Jan. 25. Saddens and discourages me. Downing and Julia are on their way home. I judge Downing is not improving much and Booth now sees what a mistake it was to send him across the Atlantic only to send him back again in mid-winter. Some things in the letter I cannot understand but I will not judge hastily. Booth has been too good a friend to doubt or question hastily. Calvert and Mary are greatly distressed particularly as Downing went entirely against the better judgement of both of them. I wrote to Booth and endeavored to explain and to show him how reluctant we all were to have Downing go. I went to to Bowyers office and saw him. He had sent a statement of the money transactions to Julia but feared she would have sailed before it arrived and it would therefore be sent back but he told me to tell him he would send it to him in that case. There was a notice of my picture in the Springfield Republican in which it was called the best landscape in the collection. Calvert and I went to Van Warts party consisting mostly of artists. He has a fine house and a studio on the top story where he shows a medallion of fighting centaurs. The party was very pleasant. There were a few ladies which I think added to the pleasure of the occasion. 

Saturday 10. John Weir called for a few minutes just before I left for home by the 3' o clock train. Found my mother looking bright and just as active mentally as ever, but she still has no use of her right side. Found Joe Tomkins there who I supposed had gone home. 

Sunday 11. Snowed about 8 inches last night. Just about day light there was an alarm of fire. It proved to be the Cornell storehouses which were entirely destroyed as well as the Steamer City of Catskill which was burned to the waters. 

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