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and went over to Marys by appointment and lunched with her. Leta Brace was there. After lunch Mary, Calvert, Julia Dillon, Miss Tuckerman and I went up to the Reception at the Museum of Art and saw the new pictures which have lately been donated to the museum, the "Horse Fair", the "1807" and all the recent additions. There was a crowd of people. Poor Calvert. it must have been a trying day for him, for the Park he did so much to create and the Museum of Art he planned and built are in other hands and his plan of the Museum has been set aside and they are at work on a new design. It was very significant to me, showing for how little integrity and conscientiousness go in this country. He should be now the consulting authority in all Park matters, whereas they will not tolerate him and have actually appointed Mr. Olmsted and left him entirely out. But he is patient and believes his opportunity will yet come. I doubt it. We walked down to 59" St and saw how shabby and neglected were many things. Calvert had to go clear up to Bloomingdale directly after dinner with Marion. I spent the evening with Mary and went around to the club a little while later. Saw Pinchot a moment and came to my lonely room feeling very sad.

Wednesday May 4" 1887. Went up to the Academy. Mr. Galt said my picture had been much liked by the best people but he had had no offer for it. I see the work of unknown and obscure men marked sold and no one wants what I do. Frank Furmis came to see me. I have not seen him since before the war when he was a student here with Hunt. Now he is a middle aged gray haired man. I was very glad to see him and his visit called up many reminiscences of my early life here. I have been painting on my brook picture reflecting some of the greens in the water and I hope it is better. Have written to Lucy who wrote me about material for a screen. I went up to Becks this morning and inquired about Lucretia Walton. I was to dine with Homer Martin this evening and met him at the Century by appointment, but he had some excuse his wife was reading proof, as I expected and was rather glad not to go. Spent the evening at the club reading the May installment of the Life of Lincoln.

[[newspaper clipping]]
MR. OLMSTED TO BE ADVISORY ARCHITECT.

The Park Board received a letter from Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect, on Saturday accepting the position of Advisory Architect of the New-York parks. At the last meeting of the Board a resolution was passed making this position for Mr. Olmsted and empowering President Borden to consult him in regard to changes in contemplated improvements in the parks. If the bill providing for completing the parks is passed the work on them will begin this year and plans for it will be made this summer. Mr. Olmsed was one of the original architects engaged in Central Park.

In his letter he says: "I am especially interested in seeing Central Park completed and the Riverside and Morningside Park improvements speedily and creditably prosecuted."
[[/newspaper clipping]]

Thursday 5" Mary and I went to Mr. Kimballs to look at stamped leather for Lucys screen, and from there to see a collection of American pictures at Ortgies gallery. There was one of mine there a small one, but I do not know where it came from. I came to my room and finished Lucy's letter and mailed it and also wrote a short note to Sara to tell her I would not be up until Sunday morning. Then I looked over my studies and have selected about what I expect to have in my sale, 75 including what pictures I have on hand. I have painted on two of them and mean to work at them gradually until I go home and take with me the remainder to work upon. I wish I were going to some pleasant place to sketch all summer for if my sale is at all satisfactory I think it would be a good plan for me to sell all my pictures in that way as I am such a poor hand to dispose of what I do. I went over to the Grand Opera House and saw Jefferson in "Rip Van Winkle. It is a trashy, miserable play, but he affected me most powerfully especially in the scene where his wife drives him out in the storm and also where after his long nap he returns and reveals himself to his daughter. I had an excellent seat for which I paid a dollar, 

Transcription Notes:
05/11 first FULL pass complete ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-16 00:32:44 . auctioneers Ortgies & Co.