Returned from Philadelphia last night where we have been since Tuesday examining pictures. Pictures were still coming in when we left, and we will probably be obliged to go back again. Were most hospitably treated by the Philadelphians. Mr. Claghorn gave us an elegant dinner at the Union League club on Thursday evening, and on Friday carriages were sent to take us to an elaborate lunch at Mr. Bements and afterwards to visit several private galleries, Mr. Claghorns, Mr. Gibsons, Mr. Whitneys & Mr. Bories at the latter place were many really fine pictures. At Mr. Gibsons a fine example of Couture but our time was too limited to examine them carefully. Saturday we finished up and visited hastily the Centennial buildings and came home at 5.30. Found letters from my wife, Church & Booth. Went to the Century where Huntington soon came. Had a talk with Whittredge and John Taylor Johnston. They stick by our committee and if Bierstadt gets ahead of us he will be pretty smart. I wrote to Church today but before I sent the letter I showed it to Huntington who approved of it and said he would stand by me. I told Church we wanted his pictures, there was still time but on no conditions would any pictures go into the Art Galleries without the approval of our Committee. Went up to Eastmans who has been with us in Philadelphia. Funny time. Cook taken sick and Eastmans fear she was going to die on his hands. Drunk I thought. I always find a catastrophe awaiting me at Eastmans and their housekeeping has passed into the fund of amusement I rely on in this life. He poured out a little whiskey to send down to the cook and Mrs. Johnson took it and hurried down and wanted him to follow. He lingered a little and winked to me and remarked in his dry way that he thought it a favorable opportunity to take a little himself and that it wasn't best to lose ones presence of mind even under so great a stroke as this. Wrote to Gertrude, to Sara, Church, Roberts sending my bill etc. Went up to Bayard Taylors in the evening. Murat Halstead was there. After a little Stedman & his wife came in. We left together and they insisted on my going in to Mrs. Grotes Sunday evening reception. Osgood was there. Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, Mrs. Harry Brown and many others I did not know. After a little Joaquin Miller came in. He acted as though he were drunk but I finally concluded he wished to attract attention by an affected eccentricity. I took a great dislike to him. Bret Hart was expected. It would have been amusing to have seen him and Miller together for Hart cordially detests Miller.
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