Viewing page 523 of 607

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

494

in Gertrudes and on my mothers graves grows tolerably well but not with anything like luxuriance. It makes me very sad to go near there. The silence abounds in the very presence of their dust is very suggestive of memories of their lives among us and always makes me feel another dread mystery of their eternal absence.

[[newspaper clipping]]
Tribune July 13. 1888
VINCENT COLYER.
Vincent Colyer, information of whose death at his home on Contentment Island, Conn., was received yesterday, was a painter by profession, but was better known from his connection with Indian commissions and his work in behalf of religion and temperance. He was born at Bloomingdale, N.Y., in 1825 and at the age of nineteen came to this city, and devoted himself to the study of painting. In 1849, he was elected an associate member of the National Academy. From that time till the outbreak of the war he painted in this city, winning considerable reputation.

Moving then to Rowayton, Conn., he devoted all his time to his duties as a member of the  Christian and Indian Commissions. This interest in the Indians he maintained to the last and was always active in promoting plans for their welfare. He was the author of "Johnson Straits, British Columbia," "Pueblo," "Passing Shower," "Home of the Yachamas, Oregon," "Darienshire, Conn.," "Rainy Day on the Connecticut Shore," "Winter on the Connecticut Shore," "French Waiter," "Spring Flowers," and many other works.
[[/newspaper clipping]]

Friday July 13" 1888 The weather is remarkably cool as it was yesterday. I slept under two blankets last night and today it has been a little too cool for comfort in the shade. I went down town and got a letter from Church asking me to come up on Monday. I replied at once and said I would come by Day boat and land at Hudson. I have been at home all day expecting the real Estate agent from N.Y. to inspect our place but he has not come. I find myself alone here a great deal. The rest of the household remain in their rooms most of the time and I find it very lonely. I have to get to work soon and have already written out to Seager on Dry Brook to see if he can take me. I have thought a great deal of Grant Van Deusen today lying dead in his fathers house. They will miss him sadly and such a young life taken from our very midst is a very sad event. His step mother has always been devoted to him and I think his fathers hopes have been centered in him. His fathers brothers are all dead, George having died only a few weeks ago and I think Grant's death will be an almost crushing blow to him. We have not heard from Lucy for two weeks but Sara had a short letter from Jamie today who is confined to the house by a lameness.

Saturday 14". I am sixty years old today. Twenty years ago this day I sat under the walls of Kenilworth Castle on my fortieth birth day and for the first time in my life realized that my youth had gone and that I entered upon the middle stage of life. Today the three score years reached admonish me that I have entered upon the stage of old age. Life is not as attractive as it ought to be. My profession does not yield me the satisfaction I hoped it would when such other of lifes attractions failed. I find I grow to absolutely dread responsibility and long only for quiet and congenial companionship With my peculiar temperament, unable to make new friends I dread the loneliness of the future, should I live, when the old friends are gone. We all attended Grant Van Deusens funeral from his fathers house at 5 o'clock. Downing came up from N.Y. He and I went over and looked at him in his coffin this forenoon. I would not have known who it was. I had not seen him since before he went South last fall. The Episcopal burial service was read and he was buried in Wiltwyck Cemetery although his mother is buried in Montefiore. His death lends a sense of Melancholy to the hill. Crossing my little place to go to his fathers home I realized how death has changed all my plans of life and saddened and made vacant the little home where we hoped to pass our lives - Downing returned to N.Y. by the evening train. We had some talk about selling our property. He seemed to think we ought to put it in Jones' hands although he charges 5 pr. ct while Phillips & Wills in whose hands it now is charge only 2 1/2 p. ct. I have a sense that it makes little difference and that it will have to be sold to some one

[[left margin]] 60" birth day [[/left margin]]

Transcription Notes:
mostly names were left as [[?]] [[handwritten]] [[underlined]] not required, pls read instructions as of 5/19 - 3 [[?]]. NOW DOWN TO 1