Jervis McEntee Diaries

Friday May 18, 1888

Jervis McEntee Diary Entry, May 18, 1888, from the Jervis McEntee papers, 1850-1905, in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

Friday, May 18, 1888 I went over to Brooklyn to buy some fishing tackle [?] half the price one pays in Broadway. I have been at work packing my things to go into the country tomorrow. I have spent a winter here and have not sold a picture except two or three very small ones and two of those to Calvert and Mary. Eastman Johnson came in this afternoon. He was rather provoked I had not been there. He and his wife went down to Nantucket last week. They have rented their house there for the summer but he has kept his studio and says he hopes to do some work there but he makes no plans. Says he gets no pleasure out of life. I told him he ought to. He was making money all the while and people wanted his work. I asked him how he would feel if he had been here all winter as I have and had not sold a thing. That is the way it goes. No one is contented. I think I have been more contented than usual and it is because even from the very poor results of my sale I have been able to pay my bills and have a little ready money. [?] it would not take a great deal to make me as happy [?] can reasonably expect to be in this world. I was around at the [club a?] little while this evening. It is raining again and has been [rainy?] all day.

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