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on the people among whom I have lived for the past thirty five years and that if I never went back I would not be missed. Perhaps I never will go back. The city has little attraction to me. The generation I knew is passing away and I have little facility in making new friends. I must either make some new effort or sink out of sight and I have arrived at that time of life when it is difficult to enter upon a new career. My idea of art has always been very clear to me. It may not be absolutely correct but it has not changed much. I think however I am not in accord with the popular idea

[[left margin]] Calvert & Downings visit [[/left margin]]
Sunday Apl. 20" 1890. Downing and John Van Ettan went over the river to take a look at Mr. Luckleys place with a view of Van Ettans doing some surveying for them. Calvert and I went over over to Hussey Hill via of the South Rondout ferry, and walked up the valley behind the hill. We met seven young men each with a quantity of arbutus but we could find only one or two sprays. I feared I could not walk so far and climb the long hill but I did. I found my self very tired however and doubt if it was wise to go so far. Calvert & Downing went back to N.Y. by the 6.10 train.

[[left margin]] Planted melons and cucumbers under frames. [[/left margin]]
Monday 21" Pleasant day. The apple trees begin to show the budding foliage. It seems strange to me that I am not going back to N.Y. I went down town after breakfast and got some seeds for the garden and had my hair cut. I heard in the barber shop that Mary (Mollie) Delavergne was attacked with heart failure in the street yesterday and was carried to her home where she died soon after. John McEntee came in while I was there. He was in Stamford yesterday where he bought a horse. The barber shop is a great news exchange. I feel the effect of my walk yesterday but I slept very soundly. I got a letter from Lucy in which she says the Sec. of War has ordered the abandonment of several posts and among them Fort Bridges. This will be a blow to the Carters and John and Lucy are very much troubled about it. They do not of course know when they will have to leave nor where they will go. Today I planted water melons, musk melons & cucumbers and put frames over them. Sara and I attended a meeting of the "Question Club" at the Forsyths this evening. The subject was "Cortes" There was not a very full meeting.

Tuesday 22. Raked up the leaves again along the fence on the side hill and burned them. It is very hard work and I cannot do much of it. We planted today Beans, onions, Beets, carrots and also Nasturtiums. I went up to Kingston after dinner to see Kenyon to ask him if we could oppose the paying of the heavy assessment on our property on Holmes St. but neither he nor Sharpe were in. I rode down to the W.S. Depot and walked from there via of the cemetery. Mrs. Schryver came up to see Sara, about noon to find out whether we would take a family from Florida to board for three months, consisting of three adults (ladies) 2 boys 12 & 15 1 boy of 4 and a man and baby. Sara and I discussed it and at first thought we might take them for $100 a week but concluded we do not want to undertake it at any price. It would be a great responsibility for Sara and I don't see why we should be compelled to make so great a sacrifice

Wednesday 23. The air is filled with smoke and dust. I am loth to go from the top of this hill but have to. I went down town after breakfast and then to Kingston to see Kenyon about our assessment. After a long interview with him and Sharpe he having meanwhile looke up various decisions, He advised me to appear before the Common Council when this matter comes up. He thought I had better have some one to appear for me legally as I might be asked quesions I could not answer, and it was arranged that Sharpe appear with me, and that this afternoon Sharpe was coming down and we would drive around there and take a look at the property. I was over at Girards on a matter of business when he drove up and missed him meanwhile he drove down there and looked at the situation and then came back. He had stopped at the City Hall and ascertained that the matter would not be called up at the Council meeting on Friday night. He is to be there

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