Wednesday, Jan 29, 1886 My dear Gertrudes birth day who would have been fifty two years old today. I have been thinking of the many changes which have taken place since she died and particularly of our conversation the last time she was here in the rooms where we had been so many years. She came down from Rondout to see the Taylors off for Europe when Bayard was appointed minister to Germany. I said we were on the eve of great changes in our life and that we had outgrown our life here at the studio, first because it was not comfortable to her in her delicate state of health and secondly having so large a circle of acquaintances there were too many interruptions to my work. I remember how sadly she looked at me and with what an expression of regret as she recognised the truth of what I said. Dear Gertrude. She never came here again and looked her last that time on this familiar place. How little I realized the awful change then so very near me. I could not have endured it had I known it. Poor Mrs. Winter is going away today, the anniversary of her she loved and who had always been so kind and considerate to her. I went to see Mr. Asch and Commander Whitehead this morning about Mrs. Winter and was gratified at their affection for and loyalty to her. They will each do all they can to smooth her sorrows. I hope I will be able to do a great deal, for we cannot do too much for her who has given her best days unselfishly to us. It has rained all day and I have been sad and anything but happy in the consciousness of the changes which are going on about me. As Marion had an entertainment at the home this evening I dined at the Century and afterwards went to the French class at Julia Dillons where there were only three of us, Julia Miss Schaffer and me. At 9 I went to the reception of the Water Color Society where there were a great crowd, great heat and smoke and a wilderness of pictures shadowing a most interesting exhibition. I came home early tired and bewildered and having seen nothing carefully.
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