Friday, Jan 17, 1890 Very cold this morning but a bright typical winter day. Mr. Conant has been ill here at his studio for a few days. I called to see him yesterday and found him much better. Today Nichols came to see me and told me he was worse and he was to be taken to the hospital. I have been overhauling a little shaker rocking chair we have had a number of years and it has brought dear Gertrude so vividly before me. The seat was covered with a piece of Worsted embroidery and I well remember seeing her put it on. I do not know how many years ago. When I think of her in this way I have an overwhelming longing for her dear presence. How different life is without her. I sometimes wonder I can be at all happy when I think of her and of the inestimable loss she was to me. The least thing connected with her is precious to me. In my bureau drawers are many trifles and useless, faded things connected with her, but other hands will scatter them, not mine. I received the resignations of five or six of the members of the Artists Mutual Aid Society and today De Haas' came. I think they make a mistake. I consider it selfish and unwise for there is any thing valuable in artist life it is the very sentiment this little society represented. Whittredge was in today. He thinks if four or five stick to it he will. I told him I would never resign and intended to die a member of it, even if I am the last and only one. Edith Wilkinson came down today to spend a day and night with Marion. She and Leiut. Guy were at dinner and they were all to go out in the evening. Mary, Calvert, Sedgwick and I went to see Mansfield in Richard III. The play was very well acted and he is a man who does exceedingly well, certain things but whose elocution is very faulty and who has no power of facial expression. Altogether I call him a clever actor but by no means a genius. I could not help constantly comparing him to Booth. The more I see other Actors the more I appreciate Booths rare qualities and his incomparable genius. Mansfield in certain scenes was very satisfactory. Notably in the scene with Buckingham where the latter is importuning him for his promised rewards & favors; in the tent scene before the battle, and in the final encounter with Richmond.
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