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picture on the easel, which I really am painting in hopes he will buy it. He spoke in praise of it and I told him laughingly I was painting it for him. He did not like a half fallen tree I had in the foreground and I myself was inclined to paint it out. He has some crude ideas but still he has his likings some of which I sincerely respect - for instance I can see that he recognizes character in the landscapes and wants it to look like some place. Finally he asked my price. I told him my price was a thousand dollars but if he wanted it I would sell it to him without frame for $500. I hated to do this but feeling the imperative need of selling I concluded to make the sacrifice. He did not decide but said it was cheap and I think is inclined to accept. He insists upon paying me to work on his smaller picture which I told him the other day I would not charge him for. After he was gone I painted the tree out and put in a birch in a different position and I am glad I did it. In the evening went around to the Century and met with Perry, Beard, Bristol Wm Hart, Jas Smillie and Wood to consider the Rotary scheme. Perry presented a draft of a constitution and we did nothing more than to discuss the plan. 

Thursday 8. A note from Fuller asking me to come up to his place this morning to go to Pinchot's to see the picture I painted for him 16 years ago. The family have gone to Fortress Monroe and we had a good chance to look unmolested. It is certainly a good picture and I was glad it looked so well to me, although as far as mere painting goes I can do better now I think. He walked down to my studio with me, looked at the picture again which he said grew upon him, and after looking over all my studies said he would take it. I told him I would finish it to the best of my ability and I hope to make it still more interesting. This is a relief to me and I hope he will not change his mind. Mrs. Rossiter Johnson called with Mrs. Prof. Torrey of Burlington. In the evening attended Mr. Robert Gordons annual artists party which was as pleasant as it always is. A beautiful house, to which he has added a fine music room, plenty of money and a genial, cordial disposition. Life at least seems easy under those conditions.

Friday 9. Today was to be the beginning of Wiggins great storm, of which however there are not the slightest indications. Painted on my picture. It lacks something which I cannot quite determine but I hope soon to finish it. Julia brought Margaret our fat black cook over in the afternoon and I made a full length sketch of her in about an hour, greatly to her delight. She said she "didnt know she was so good lookin" and repeated over and over "now that's a good picture. She was afraid I was going to make "one of them funny pictures." That was what I wanted to do but I was afraid of offending her. I wanted to paint a "black woman in white" for the "Zig Zags". Eastman telegraphed me to come up and see his portrait of Mr. Archibald and to dine. I rode up to 36" St and walked up Broadway & 7 Avenue from 

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