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to my room early and wrote to Mrs. Weir, to whom I have not written in a long time.

Friday Jan. 17" 1890. Very cold this morning but a bright typical winter day. Mr. Conant has been ill here at his studio for a few days. I called to see him yesterday and found him much better. Today Nichols came to see me and told me he was worse and he was to be taken to the hospital. I have been overhauling a little Shaker rocking chair we have had a number of years and it has brought dear Gertrude so vividly before me. The seat was covered with a piece of muslin embroidery and I well remember seeing her put it on, I do not know how many years ago. When I think of her in this way I have an overwhelming longing for her dear presence. How different life is without her. I sometimes wonder I can be at all happy when I think of her and of the inestimable loss she was to me. The least thing connected with her is precious to me. In my bureau draws are many trifles and useless, faded things connected with her, but other hands will scatter them, not mine. - I received the resignations of five or six of the members of the Artists Mutual Aid society and today De Haas' came. I think they make a mistake. I consider it selfish and unwise for there is any thing valuable in artist life it is the very sentiment this little society represented. Whittredge was in today. He thinks if four or five stuck to it he will I told him I would never resign and intended to die a member of it, even if I am the last and only one. Edith Wilkinson came down today to spend a day and night with Marina. She and Lieut. [[?]] were at dinner and they were all to go out in the evening. Mary, Calvert, Sedgwick and I went to see Mansfield in Richard III. The play was very well acted and he is a man who does exceedingly well, certain things but whose execution is very faulty and who has no power of facial expressions. Altogether I call him a clever actor but by no means a genius. I could not help constantly comparing him to Booth. The more I see other actors the more I appreciate Booths rare qualities and his incomparable genius. Mansfield in certain scenes was very satisfactory - notably in the scene with Buckingham where the latter is importuning him for his promised rewards & funds; in the last scene before the battle, and in the final encounter with Richmond.

Saturday 18" Very beautiful weather, bright and bracing and every one feels better. Sedgwick and Edith Wilkinson came over to my studio and I took them to Woods and to Beards Studios. I have been reseating my little Shaker Rocking chair. A man came in to measure for fire escapes. I conferred upon him the importance of having them put in as soon as possible. Went to the club in the evening and saw a number of other artists. Murphy told me he heard, I had one of the most interesting water colors in the exhibition from a "good man" on the hanging committee. Presently Maynard joined us. He shook my hand and congratulated me on having one of the best water colors in the exhibition. Said he was on the hanging committee, that it was hung in a good place and would be sure to sell the first day. I told him this was quite unexpected to me and therefore very gratifying as I had been far from satisfied with my picture.- Saw Eastman, and we had supper together. Altogether this generous praise from the artists, so entirely unexpected, made me feel quite happy.

Sunday 19" Had my breakfast at the St. Denis. Downing & Jones came in just as I was about to leave. Came home by the 9.55 train. A beautiful day going grey as we neared home. A very little floating ice in the river at Krom [[Crum]] Elbow. Boys skating on a pond at Eropus. Had to walk down from the station. A car dashed past just as the train arrived and did not stop. I find it very hard now to walk and particularly to go up hill. It rained in the night.

Monday 20. Went down town and got my hair cut. Left a check for Girard for his bill for insurance &c against the estate of 89.58. The foundation of Mr. Jones house is finished and they are ready to raise it. I sent for a cab and came away by 1155 train. It was raining. In the train were Tom Evans & his mother. Went directly to Dr Patchins after dinner, Mary, Calvert, Marion and I went to Dalys and saw "As you like it" We had front seats in the balcony. Ada Rehans 

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