Jervis McEntee Diaries

Sunday April 14, 1878

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, Sunday, April 14, 1878, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Went to see Butler Friday who gave me his check to meet my note due tomorrow. Saturday Gertrude and I went to the Union League Club to see the pictures. I sent the "Wings of the Morning". It was in a dark place and did not look well but I noticed that every one looked at it and were evidently interested. We called at the Thurbers but they were out. In the evening went to see the Cottier pictures which are to be sold. Very curious and strange but certainly interesting. One side of Art. Met John Taylor Johnson who asked me about our excursion down the bay with Taylor. Just then Sherwood came up. He, Johnson, in the worst taste and with his usual lack of tact remarked that "this Taylor business had been overdone". "Yes" Sherwood said "too many dinners. Now if they had given him one and then stopped it would have been better. That last affair of the Germans [?] the [?] hurt him. "Yes" Johnson added "that did him no good". I felt myself growing furious to have these men snub me in this way and as soon as they finished their criticisms I said with great warmth that I begged leave to differ with them (addressing myself to Johnson) that Taylor had earned and richly deserved all the honors which were so spontaneously and enthusiastically shown him. That unfortunately the most of the men sent abroad did not get more than one dinner because the did not deserve more, that it was eminently proper that the Germans should show their esteem and their satisfaction at his appointment, that I was glad to contribute my write in honoring him and only regretted I could not have done more. Sherwood went away grumbling, I looked and felt defiant and Johnson felt rebuked and began to talk about pictures. He is an awkward blunderer. From there to the club and staid until after midnight. Wrote to Doll & Richards making a proposition to them to buy my few pictures I have sent them keeping a copy of the letter. I am turning every stone to raise some money and am willing to make any sacrifice. Miss Durfer called with a Mr. Woods of Washington a friend of C. P. Huntington whose attention he had called to my picture and she had brought him to see it but it was at the club. There was a favorable notice of it in the Post by Sheldon who sees but little to praise in the work of American Artists. We went and called on the Pychouskis this morning and from there to Fred Nortons and to Platts who were gone to the country.

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