Jervis McEntee Diaries

Monday November 8, 1886

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, November 8, 1886, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Monday, Nov 8, 1886 Cold and windy all day with snow squalls along the mountains. The snow of yesterday has not melted in sheltered places and the mercury was 12 below the freezing point at 7.30 this morning. I started the fire in the hall stove, in Saras room and in my room. A letter came from Lucy from Niagara Falls relating how she was left behind in the sleeping car which had become disabled and was detached without proper warning to the passengers. John and Sedgwick went on with the train but got out and came back for Lucy. It will make no difference in their arrival at Omaha as they will spend less time in St Louis. A letter from Weir, an invitation to the wedding, at church of Peter Cantines daughter in Saugerties and a [?] from my tailor to whom I have sent my check for $106.50 the amount of my bill. Have been busy putting the weather strips on the doors and fixing locks and latches. Mr. Childs the City Engineer sent me a note telling me the grade of Chester St. I am much interested in my plans for developing that part of our property. Looking over the advertisements in the Century Magazine I saw an architects advertisement and a plan of a tasteful little house to be built for $1150. It occurred to me that if I could build one or two such houses or similar ones over there I might sell them and the land more advantageously. I shall think of it. I also saw Rogers advertisement of his statuettes, and I thought why should not I paint small sketches, frame them simply and tastefully and advertise them at $25 and $50 each. I could paint at least one a day and often two or three and if there were a demand for them could make money and perhaps give a great many people much pleasure. Query ? would it be an improper thing to do for an artist of my position. I can not see that it would. Would it depreciate my Art. I do not know. I have written a note to the Century Co. to ask their terms for advertising. I shall consult Calvert about this. It seems to me a perfectly proper thing to do as I should enjoy painting these little effects and would do them as well as I know how to. All these plans interest me and keep me from despondency.

< Previous Entry | Next Entry >