Jervis McEntee Diaries

Monday January 3, 1887

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, January 3, 1887, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Monday, Jan 3, 1887 The mercury marked 8 degrees below zero this morning at 8 o'clock and was 13 degrees below down town. I walked down to the mail and met poor old Robinson with no gloves on this cold morning. I bought some lemons of him which he was to take up here. While I was in Deyo's store a little boy came in to buy half a pound of 6 sugar. He had no mittens and was thinly clad. I took him into a store and bought him a pair of warm mittens and told him to come up on the hill and I would give him some stockings. When I got back home Robinson was here warming himself by the hall stove. I gave him a pair of my fathers buckskin mittens lined with flannel. I told him I knew him when he [?] the High Falls mill. he said he ran it [?] years for his mother and 15 more for himself [?] Cornell in those days, he was poor as a [?] ever [?] him now. He said "yes. He gave [?] day and I am going to him again today" [?] He answered "wherever night overtakes me" [?] "Oh" he said "I have plenty to eat. My friends [?] me a pair of pantaloons John McEntee [?] some one else gave him. Poor old fellow. He [?] see how. he is one of the tough fibred, [?] too cold to work in my studio. I have [?]. My taxes are due $350 on the 12th [?] where they are coming from. No inquiries yet [?] I could hardly expect any yet. Now word from [?] some way out I am sure. The Tobogganeers [?] tonight. My badge for the club was [?] me today although I have had no official notification that I am a member. I shall decline unless I am able to pay my fee as the rest do. I want no honorary membership. It looks too much like expecting pay for the privilege of allowing them to build the slide on our land. Sara had a long letter from Lucy today. Her things from us had arrived apparently in good order and she was greatly pleased with them.

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