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woods today and would like to go there in October if  possible. I have written to Royal Reed to see if he could go with me if I decide to go. I have also written a short note to John M. Bailey congratulating him on his appointment as Collector of Albany. Calvert is having a hard time with his boils which are very painful.

Monday Sept. 2" 1889. Today has been a holiday, Labor Day. I went down town after breakfast. Business seemed to be going on but I believe it was more generally suspended this afternoon. I saw John McEntee who was to leave this morning to take Julia Dibbler to the Normal School at Oswego and then he was to go up into the woods of Canada fishing with Lily's husband. I received a humorous note from Harry regarding John Calverts birth day anniversary. When I got back home I went over to my outside studio and got my tent out of the trunk in which Marion returned it to me last year, looked over my camp paraphernalia and fancied myself getting ready for the woods. The air is thick with smoke and it has been pretty warm. I have been pretty quiet this afternoon, looking over my fishing tackle and reading. Julia Dillon took tea with us, and I walked down home with her. She lent me the Sept. Harper with a profusely illustrated article on American art at the Paris Exposition. The thoroughly French inspired tone of it was most palpable. Nothing that does not rain of French methods of thought and execution can possibly be distinguished, whereas to use some of the things he lauds seem to me poor and empty and mere surface work, witness the first illustration the blonde profile, and the vulgar portrait by Beckwith

Tuesday 3. The smoky, dry weather continues. When I was down town I went to see Carter the bill poster to urge upon him the importance of thoroughly posting the hand bills. Calvert is having a bad time with his carbuncles and is a very difficult person for Sara to manage as he is full of theories and whims of his own. I went up to see him this afternoon just before tea. I hope he is on the mend but do not know. I wrote to Harry today. 

Wednesday 4. The weather continues thick, hazy and dry. I received a letter from Eastman Johnson in which he speaks of a wish to go to the Maine Lakes. Curiously enough Sara and I were talking to him while he must have been writing to me. I have written him today and sent the letter so that he will get it before he goes back to Nantucket where he is staying telling him of my hope to go to the Maine Woods and asking him to join me. Calvert is still confined to his room full of boils and theories and most difficult for Sara to manage I went over to the Cemetery today and arranged with Post to build the foundation for the stone at Maurices grave which is at the stone cutters and which he says he will finish next week. It is getting very dry. A short time ago we were grumbling at the wet and now we are beginning to complain of drought.

Thursday 5" Have had Tom cutting trees on the side hill this afternoon opening the view over the river above the Right-[[?]] which is a great improvement. Calvert is getting along comfortably, comparatively. Mrs Lamont Smith and Mrs. Wilson, rather a picturesque, French Marchioness looking lady, called. Sara went out to tea at Gil Harbroucks to meet Lily Philips (I do not know her name now) and Gil. came home with her. He thinks that at the prices we hold our lots we will not sell many. He said John McEntee told him we would not take less than $2500 for the front lots (which is a mistake either of Johns or his as we limit them at $2000) I told him John ought to know but did not contradict the statement. I said there are only four of them and we only propose to offer two. I knew there were not many people in Rondout who could afford to buy them but I thought there were a few. All seem to admit this is the choicest location by far. I have been busy over accounts and Saras memoranda. The smoky weather continues        

Transcription Notes:
Last name of first instance of 'Julia' looks more like Dibbler than Dillon. Not sure which it should be.//agree but think it is Dibbler since Julia Dillon took tea with them later that day after the other Julia would have been on her way to the Normal School//appreciate it// ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-21 12:48:15