Saturday September 25, 1880
Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, September 25, 1880, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Saturday, Sept 25, 1880 Walked to my studio and had a nice breakfast, then to see Richard Butler 33 Mercer St and talked with him about the Gifford exhibition. Called on Fitch who told me of his worries and troubles. I feel very sorry for him for he is a good generous fellow. We talked of Gifford and both felt very sadly his loss. Went to see Hubbard and together we went to Giffords room to select some of his little pictures and sketches for the exhibition and sent for Menger and Wilmurt to come and confer with us about framing and mounting. I came across a little study on the Mountain House path from Scribners on the margin of which was a tiny sketch of Gertrude in her mountain dress which would have to be cut off in mounting and I took the liberty of taking it. There was another in the Clove with me sketching under a rock and Gertrude sitting near reading, very small but like. I remember Gifford and I looked at this together last winter. It seemed very strange to be looking over his sketches in this way for every thing in the room was just as he left it and it did not seem possible he was never to return. We took down some sketches from the walls which had been familiar to me there for years and it seemed almost like sacrilege to do it. As I entered my room this morning an awful sense of sorrow and loneliness came over me. The peculiar smell as of camphor recalled a thousand associations and it seemed to me I never could bear to go there again. It was very lonely there last winter but what will it be now. While we were in Giffords studio Mr. Pratt from the Museum [?] of our committee came in fortunately and we talked of many things in connection with our duties. I left for home by 4 o'clock train and arrived there somewhat unexpectedly finding my father not very well. Found a letter here from Mrs. Gifford and one from Robt. Gordon about my picture from the Royal Academy which has arrived in N. Y. He sailed for England 23rd.
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