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why he proposed a man he knew nothing about and his reply was "I didnt say I knew nothing about him" when he went away. I couldnt help thinking however that a man who nominated an artist had better know something about what sort of an artist he was. I see Eastman is on the committee of selection of the Society of American Artists and I understand has been soliciting friends for a new society which is a direct rival of the Academy. I do not know that I ought to conclude that he is gong the general drift away from our own but I am afraid the Society he moves in is having its influence upon him and I almost at times have to acknowledge that we are drifting apart.

Sunday Jan. 26" 1890.  Breakfasted at the St. Denis and went home by the 9.55 train. Julia Wilkinson joined me at the ferry as agreed.  It was a beautiful day and the ride up was very pleasant. Brundage the carpenter at Girards request came to look at the wing of my house to estimate what he would move it for. He said he would move it over to the lot in the rear, without taking down chimnies, build the foundation and put the end of the old house in order for $1300 or would move it to Girards lot for $1700 which is too much.  John McEntee came up and spent the evening with us.
 
Monday 27"  The wind come out from the North and a slight rain turned to a fine snow fall and there were every indications of a severe storm which however did not last long. I went down town and paid the last of the [[abbey?]] note $100.  There is still a little interest to pay and a small bill of my own. I also settled with Girard up to date, both for the Estate and for myself. I gave him a check for the Estate account last week and for my own today. I wrote to Mr. Sawyer congratulating him on his 86" birth day which occurred on Jan 9" and came away with the 4.05 train. Joe Cornell, Sam Cuykendall and Charlie Romeyn came down. Joe sat with me a part of the way. He said he was delighted when we heard we had laid out our land and were settling it at such good prices. I told him how after we had it all laid out and the sale advertised an offer from an unknown source came for the whole property which we declined and I asked him if he knew from whom. He said he heard Sam had made an offer for it after he saw its capabilities. I told him I had concluded it was not from him for his wife had told Lucy they never had the least idea of buying it but on one occasion and so I had not since thought of him in connection with its sale. Joe said he was glad he didnt get it and immediately added "because if there was anything to be made out of it you ought to have it"  I think however he takes a secret satisfaction that Sam was not sharp enough to buy it. When he went into the drawing room car to see Sam Romeyn came and sat with me and we had an interesting conversation all the way to town. In the horse car Sam sat next me. He asked me how I feel about having the State Prison over at Fairview.  I told him I did not want it.  He is violently opposed to it, has been to Albany to work against it and says it will not go. I assured him I agreed with him as I do. The more I consider it the more objectionable it seems. I went over to the Century and had a beef steak and staid there all the evening.  Found a note from Annie  Norton asking me to come to dinner Monday with Calvert & Mary as Mr. & Mrs Johnson had an engagement for that day.