Jervis McEntee Diaries

Friday March 28, 1884

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, March 28, 1884, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Friday, Mar 28, 1884 Beautiful morning. Found a note from Eastman telling me that his brother Reuben died suddenly of heart disease yesterday morning about 9 o'clock. Wrote to him. At work all day writing for the Gordon reception. Calvert and I attended Mrs. Thurbers musical party. Mary too ill to go. Mr. & Mrs. Henschel sang and Miss Margelins played. She struck me as a musical genius. I did not enjoy Mr. & Mrs Henschel as much as I hoped to. I presume they are in the eyes of musicians very accomplished but they did not move me which is my fault and owing to my lack of musical appreciation. I knew very few people there. Mrs. Thurber was very cordial and told me there was feeling between the Henschels and Miss Margelins. Musical people are apt to be cranky. I thought Mrs. Wheeler not cordial. She seems absorbed in her own affairs and I had a regretful feeling that she has little interest in me. I think it partly at least my fault, but they are such admirers of Chase and his art that I cannot help a feeling that I no longer interest them as I once did. I came away with rather a dissatisfied feeling with myself that I am unable to make myself agreeable in a promiscuous company. I presume it will end in my staying at home altogether. Dear Gertrude used to be such a comfort to me in being interested in people and able to interest them. I wish I knew how to be agreeable. This Mr. Cummins (or Cummings) whose obituary I cut from the Sun, was in Rondout recruiting for the Mexican War and I knew him at the Mansion House.