Tuesday, Jan 27, 1885 Have worked on my winter. Brown brought in a lady and gentleman from Minneapolis who seem to be looking for pictures. He asked the price of my Winter mountain picture and when he went away he said I would hear from him again. This is the first inquiry I have had in a long time but I presume that is the end of it. He did not strike me as a very appreciative man. Whittredge called and was very friendly, seemed somewhat interested in my picture but thought if I painted the sky lower & richer it would be better. This would involve a different treatment all through. Wood called. he thinks I have improved the picture greatly. A Mr. Beally an artist from Pittsburgh called. I sent him four of my studies for his Art school. Mary told me at dinner that Joe had been there. He sent a note from the Union League Club saying he could not call without permission. Mary sent word she would see him at 4 oclock. She and Marion who had been out found him there on their return. The interview was awkward and trying enough as how could it be otherwise. Mary and Marion inquired about all the family and avoided irritating topics. Joe spoke of having taken Laura to St. John for medical advice and intimated that she was in a precarious condition, but later he spoke as though the difficulty were only temporary. He said it was entirely mental and he was going to Cape May to see about having her go there later and that as in his own case it was necessary to get her to think of something else. Evidently as Mary thought trying to lead up to the discussion of all the painful topics of the past which she would not enter into. He finally got up to go and they went to the door with him and bade him good bye. After passing out he came back and with a wave of his hand said "I bid you a long farewell" I suppose he was disappointed that Mary was not more cordial, and cannot see how entirely it is his fault. I feel very sorry for him for he must be a most unhappy man. Now he will go home and stir them all up again and instead of doing something to soothe the unpleasant differences keeps up his irritating and annoying policy. He will be the death of poor Laura if he does not change his course. I spent the evening at Marys and then went around to the club and wrote all this to Sara. When I came to my room I found a letter from her, speaking of having seen John Stebbins about the lady in Washington who once wished to study with me, telling me my father had resigned his trusteeship of the Industrial Home and John McEntee been appointed in his place. She also sent me a Freeman with a complimentary notice of her as a physician. The weather has been cold since Monday and tonight there is a prospect of snow.
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