Viewing page 428 of 473

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

414

edge. It snowed a little all morning My father, Joe, Gussie and I took a lovely ride out by the Roatina and along the Flat=bush road to the road near the church where we crossed over to the Pine bush road and home. Am very much interested in Fanny Kembles "Recollections of a Girl hood." Nothing more fascinating than such reminiscences of distinguished men and lovely women whose loveliness she has a rare talent for painting.

Monday 12. My father and I took a ride. Went down town and saw the work of the fire. The "Catskill" is an entire loss. Not even the machinery is worth anything except for old iron. They had put her in complete order and the painters were to have begun to paint her today. We drove up to Eddyville, to Greenville and crossed over to Lucas' turnpike and came home by Kingston. I came down by the evening train arriving here at 9. 

Tuesday 13" Feb. 1883. Painted on my small study (12 x 20) of my Jersey picture and finished it. It is very dull and there seems no interest or stimulus for us artists. I get very despondent when I think of all my responsibilities and find the winter slipping away with no sales and no prospect of any. I wonder if there is any other country in the world where the artists are so treated. I think a great deal about dear Gertrude and grieve for her with an inexpressible longing. Reading Fanny Kembles remembrances of lovely and noble women has brought her even more vividly before me, who is so seldom absent from my thoughts. Sometimes I almost fancy I can feel her sweet caress and see the light of love in her loving eyes. What sweet memory to call up at any moment whether I am happy or sorrowful. - Mrs. Abby Sage Richardson and her son dined with us this evening. A cultivated interesting woman with a most sad history. I went to the club at 9 as Beard told me Bierstadt and others would be there to talk about the rotary exhibition, but they were not there. 

Wednesday 14". Painted on my studio interior. Whittredge came in and we talked for an hour. He is going home to paint there for a while. I almost wished I were. A rainy & snowy day. Beard came in. We talked of my dear Gertrude and her sweet winning manner. Beard said she had the sunniest disposition of any one he ever met. He spoke of being here once and she ran up and put her arms about me and kissed me while I had my palette and maplestick in my hands, and of my expression of patience and then my winking to him to show it was not very disagreeable. Spent the evening at Marys and called on Fred Norton. 

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-03-27 11:59:12