Thursday, May 23, 1889 Like an October day. I have put on my winter clothes and last night I slept under as much clothing as in winter. Our new Katy continues to be homesick and we are on the "ragged edge". I went down town as usual and did some errands. Saw Mrs. Gregory in Girards office, to whom we have sold the lot. She seemed disappointed to find the assessments on the lot will be somewhere near $40 instead of $25. She did not include the curbing and gutting. After dinner I went down town again to show Genl Sharpe Wards letter, on the Soldiers Monument. It is quite clear to me the people would not be satisfied with a single figure. Sharpe proposed that we go to Kingston together and look at the designs, which I have really not seen. I came home and joined him in the 3 oclock car and we went to the Court room and looked carefully over the designs and I think we both came to about the same conclusion that it lies between Maurice J. Powers design and the Fredericks & Field. I staid there until after 5 oclock and we walked down together. When we got opposite his house he pressed me to go in for a "cocktail" which I did. He showed me his daughters (Mrs. Davenports) bed room with a fine old carved bed stand and other nice old Dutch furniture and an original etching of Rembrandts which Mr. D. gave her before their marriage. He wanted to show me his room but Mr. Davenport who is an invalid was in there. He showed me what I think is his wifes room with much old fashioned furniture and his mothers and his portrait by Vanderlyn. He allowed Shegogue to paint a cap on his mothers head over a turban which Vanderlyn originally put in and which he now wishes he had not allowed. He is building two or three bed rooms in the wing. The house looked prosperous and he showed me over it with a good deal of commendable satisfaction. I walked home in time for tea. In the evening we had a little fire in the sitting room and I read in Madam D' Arblays diary while Sara wrote to Mary from whom she had a letter today.
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