Tuesday, Mar 30, 1886 A rainy day. Went over to Calverts office and painted over his model for the Grant Monument, a grey, clay color as we were not sure as to coloring it. Came to my room after 2 o'clock. Found a letter from Annie Lee and wrote to her in answer. Marion was to have some company this evening and had dinner in the middle of the day. I had my dinner at the Century and went to Niblos to see the Black Crook. There was a crowded house. Some of the vanity entertainments were very interesting and amusing, particularly some gymnasts who did wonderful things. There were three of them. Two stood face to back, the third got on the shoulders of the front one, turned a somersault backwards and alighted on the shoulders of the rear one, a most difficult feat. Some men came in with square rough blocks of stone about a foot square. They had stone hammers or picks and picking on the stones with these made very good music. Then they came in with long brooms and suddenly put the handles to their mouths and played on them, horns being ingeniously concealed within. A girl behind a sort of Screen though which she had put her head with a tiny body attached sang a song & danced. Then two a man with her sang Nancy Lee and danced a hornpipe with their tiny legs, most absurd and amusing. The ballet was very good with good dancing by two of the leading ones and Stalacta was a fine figure. It lasted until nearly midnight.
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