1903 From Oct, 1st to May 8, 1905
Diary from Jany 1st 1903, lost or stolen - stolen I am convinced (Found at S.S. in July) Apart part of the winter at home. On Feb 14, went to Florida with Mr. Childs, stayed ten days at Manatee with Mr. Aiken. In Washington Mch 4th to 8th. At home till Mch 26th when I went to N.Y. and then to Washington. On April 1st started with President - Roosevelt in his western town. Reached Yellow Stone Park April 8th.
-In the park till 22nd or 3d. Left the President on 24th for Spokane with Mr. Gilbert. In Spokane with delightful people till May 10 or 12th. Start for mountain to visit Abel Gill, spend 3 or 4 days with
Gill at his ranch near Landusky 60 miles from R.R. Leave Gills on 16th or 17 return home through St. Paul and Chicago. Reach West Park May 22nd. Country very dry, both West and East, no rain here for 2 months.
-Great forest fires. Go to M. May 31st stay 2 days. Rains begin middle of June and continue all summer. A cold wet summer [Go home] Write much in June on annual life and instinct, stay at S.S. Go home late in July; stay three weeks or over. Write much of the time. Then go to Twilight Park to set
for portrait to Mr. Rowland for 10 days; portrait a great success then home. Aug 26 go to P.B. and spend a week. then to East Hampton for a week, then to Veconia for a week with Rowland then home. Home again about Sept 20. Fine weather, at work again writing on "What do animals know?" Oct, fine and warm till the 8th when the great rain began. Rained nearly 24 hours about 10 inches water; terrible floods in many places and R.R. washed away or buried. the heaviest rain fall I ever saw.
for so long a time - two storms met one from N.W and one from South. Such meetings and crossing always make a flood, it is a kind of cross fertilization - what a robust storm the union makes, each alone would not have yielded 1/2 the amt of water. When the two united wind changed to N.E. Wind continued N.E. for four days with clouds and some rain. 12th. cloudy and chilly.
13. Clear and bright at last and cool. Not much frost yet - corn untouched. Nearly 20 inches more than the average rainfall this year. No hot weather to last more than two days all summer. Became a grandfather Aug 12th.
14 and 15. Glorious days; spend them at Slabsides. Mr. and Mrs. Childs come on 15th and stay a day and night.
16.
Overcast, warm misty.

17.
Overcast, rain in p.m.

18.
Clearing, cooler.

19.
Growing milder.

20.
Bright and lovely, maples all golden.


-To me much of Jefferies writing about nature is child like - vage and formless highly colored masses of vapor, no tangible thought or fact. He is poor in ideas, poor in science but rich in feeling and in fancy, no intensity of pungency or phrase but a diffused kind of gladness in nateure.
Oct 20, 1903
-You look in vain for a man's style in his language, what is called good English does not make a good style, on the want of it a bad style. Style is a quality of mind. If a writer's relation to his language is vital and not second hand and mechanical, if his words carry his own fresh personal quality, he is near to a good style, whether he uses Latinized English or Saxon English.
-There is probably more literary culture in the world today than ever before, more knowledge of books of style of all the technique of literature and yet or no great literature is being produced, why? Because this literary talent is no longer associated with great
types of men, great and original persons. The current skilled and learned men are light weights. The amount of nature force available in them is small. Without your great character to begin with them can be no great poet or artist.
How clever Mr. Howells is, how skillful, how delightful his style and yet it would not do to call him a great novelist or a great writer. There is nothing great about him. He makes me admire his delicacy and depthness, his lightness and sureness of touch, but he does not make me love anything he portrays. I do not want to meet the people he portrays, or see the places he describes, or read the books he discusses, or take the journeys he takes. He cannot give himself
he can only give you his talent. He looks heartiness, breadth, richness of the fundamental human traits and qualities. His work is often photographic and lacks just what the photo lacks
-the man is not in it.
-How often I try to forecast the fare distance future and to see how it will be with us then - five hundred or a thousand years hence. How completely the world of today, with all its names and fames, it questions and its triumphs will be forgotten, buried beneath the accummulation of the centuries, like the leaves upon the trees that today fill over eyes, but next year are dust. I fancy that even most of our cemeteries will be obliterated in less than a thousand years, and as for books - think of the millions and billions of books that will by that time be pressing down upon those of today. If science and material progress go on for the centuries as they have gone on during the century just past our world and its achievements can verily be found at that time, by the diligent students digging down as he does now to find Egypt or Rome.
-Let me define God in my own terms as the active vital principle of the universe, without which nothing is or can be, then I agree with the god makers. Everything is of God and for God and by God, not a sparrow falls or can fall to the ground without his cognisance, not a bud unfolds or seed sprouts without his ordering. You and I are a part of God in a literal sense.
21 and 22d. Lovely autumn days and mild, 23d. Rain from N.E., not very heavy.
24.
Cold and rain, with streaks of sunshine. the "Castle" crowd comes.

25.
Cold. the first severe frost last night; killed all the leaves on the grape vines.

26.
Clear with increasing cold this morning. Wind N.W. flurries of snow in p.m.


-Saw Bishop Patter yesterday.(Sunday p.m.) at the station, the door swung open [and in it] authoritatively and in the door way stand the bishop "Gives me a check to N.Y., will you sin?" Spoken in a proud commanding tone and looking at me as I turned from dropping a letter in the box, Another answered and I went my way and he a fellower of the mick and lovely Jesus! He looked like a rich
mans' bishop - the N.Y. rich man. There was something imposing and metropolitan about him. I would not like to see him at Slabsides.
27. Cold windy, snow yesterday p.m. and at night. Severe cold wave for Oct.
-down to N.Y. this morning.
28.
Warmer and fine.

29.
Warmer and fine like Indian summer.

30.
Go to N.Y. lovely day, Indian summer

31.
In N.Y. Lovely day, Indian summer. Nov 1st. At Englewood with Chapman. Ideal weather. 2d. In N.Y. at the Bronx. 3d. Warm as Sept. Indian summer.


4.
Return home, Indian Summer.

5.
Slow warm rain from S.W.

6.
Colder, snow squalls all afternoon.

7.
Clear with increasing cold.

8.
Bright cool day; spend it at S.S. with company.

9.
Lovely day an unforgettable walk through fields and woods in Orange Co. A cloudless sunset with the sky all glowing, gradually deepening from yellow flame to crimson [ruckers]. It seemed as if the sky was full of still deffused vapors that slowly burned up, what a spirit of tranquility - broaded over the landscape all day. 10,11,12,13,14. Indian Summer weather continued, perfect days, severe nights.


15.
Cooler, and some cloud.

16.
Warmer with slow rain.

17.
Still raining and warm.

18.
Colder, the ground full of water again.

19.
Cold, down to 21 at night, snow in the north.

20.
Clear and cold. Pine grosbeaks here some weeks.

21.
The coldest night yet; down to 17 or 18 Finishing my papers on animal life and instinct. 23d. Cold, dry. To N.Y. to Miss Dwight.


24.
Cold, dry. See the Van Bs' off for Italy, at 2 meet C. at Hotel. Go for lunch then to Miss D's, to see portrait, then to Rowlands studio. Dinner at little Romer Cafe on 6th ave.

25.
Cold, dry. Lunch with Johnson at Players Club, then to 5th ave Hotel to meet C, - to lunch, to Reader office then to museum, Natl History.

26.
[To Dr. Johnsons at] meet C. at Drs, at 10 1/2, then to

Dr. Johnsons; thanksgiving dinner there then all p.m, with C, and the family, in evening go with C to Dr's; then to the Circle.

27.
Reception at Miss D's; many friends; all like the portrait. Vanamee and Sister there, C. comes at 5, stays to lunch then goes to Dr's, at 8 1/2 join her and we go to Little Hungars to meet Vanamees, a delightful memory; home near midnight.

28.
To Phila, with Dantons to see football game; pleasant day, cold, with light snow flurries. 29th. Sunday; make several calls, an hour with Gilden.


30. Cold dry, all day at Miss D's. R. paints mother portrait of me. Good.
Dec 1st. Clear, little warmer, meet C at 9 1/2 at drug store; then an hour with Miss Earl and R. at his studio. Then meet
C. and stay at studio from 12 to 1. The old bitter cup again; less bitter this time, may it prove a cordial to us both. Lunch at R. Cape. at 1. C, bright and happy; then to 14th street; leave C, at music store, with sunshine in her face. Rowland goes with me to train ta 4 p.m. Reach home at 7. 2d. Poor sleep last night; many long, sad thoughts, cold clear. 3d. Winter upon us; 8 inches of snow in the night, clearing in p.m.
4.
Clear, down to 20, good sleighing. Better sleep. Go to S.S. in p.m.

5.
Cloudy, looks like more snow, sad inspite of all my efforts to be glad, selfish.


6 and 7. Calm, partly clear winter days. The snow slowly evaporating. The Old Adam very rank in me [since] the last 10 days- like Florida.
8.
Sad today and full of vague longings, something seems to have gone out of my life. One year ago tonight came that crushing letter, and another drought from the same bitter cup has been mine this Dec, I must see to it that there is never a third. My span of life is too brief to be thus wrenched and broken.

9.
We go to P. Mike and I go to board at Mrs. W's snow in p.m. and at night.

10.
Five or six inches of snow; good sleighing. 11 and 12. Cold sharp days.


13.
Rain from S.W clearing off. Colder in p.m.

14.
Cold wave; down to 10.

15.
Cold and partly overcast; come up home and dine with Julian and E. Find a letter from C. much is in river. But little of my life in this record.

16.
To N.Y. today, stop with Miss D. Clear and cold. 17,18,19. Cold and dry, mercury 8 below at home on the morning of the 19th.


20.
Warmer; hard rain all day.

21.
Clearing and colder, Miss H. comes in p.m.


22 and 23. Cold and dry. Still at Miss D's. Each day with Rowland, whom I like more and more. On 23d I and my portrait are given another reception at Miss D's.
24.
Still cold.

25.
Xmas; rains gently nearly all day. Dine with Miss D. and her sister R. at 6 1/2 p.m.

26.
Clearing and colder. Return to P. Snows nearly all day.

27.
Cold and more snow - about 6 inches since yesterday morning.

28.
Come up to W.P. to try to do some work. Sleep in study and board at Huds. Fairly happy, cold near zero.

29.
Cold, good sleighing, answering letters. More snow - 3in,

30.
Fann above this morning, sleep well here in solitude, no work yet.

31.
Up to 12 this morning, partly overcast, shady, cold winter weather, its steadiness is omnious.


The last day of 1903, an eventful year to me - pleasure and pain, health has been above the average; weigh 168; have written more and [gadded] about more than in many years many new friends - still my heart is with the old ones.
1904 Jany 1st Bright lovely day, spend it in P, with Mrs. B, walk up to Haggerties in the morning and see the Chickadees feed from Mrs. H's hand, then to call on K, back to W.P. in p.m. 2d. Cold, down to zero, snowing from the north. Quite happy in my while solitude.
-Cold and storm increased all day two below zero at noon, a driving gale in p.m. as near an approach to a real blizzard as we even have. 3rd. All night the wind and storm roared like an express train. The worst night I ever remember to have [seen] or heard, managed to keep warm in my lonely study, but had to fight for it, the wind hummed and howled like a maniac not much sleep. Three below this morning, storm spent, wind subsiding, sun appearing, only 4 or 5 inches of snow, the wind aninhilated it, snow all piled up such a spell of weather as I remember in my youth at the old home, when we used to stay home from school. The mild open winter I had predicted has not yet turned up.
4.
Clear and cold - 4 below this morning. My old friend of Ravens nest and J.B. Aiken died at Jacksonville, Fla, on the morning of the 21st of Dec.

5.
Cold wave - 20, 30, 40 below zero this morning in plane in Hudson River Valley, a record broken. I stay in P. with Mrs. B. The air stings your nose and cheeks. See a school girl on the street with the end of her nose as white as a piece of cheese.

6.
Still 12 and 15 below.

7.
A little milder [with]

8.
Milder and fine snow all day, and 1 1/2 inches. Julian and Emily come home from Cambridge. I go up home, warm their house and stay in the study.

9.
Mild, fine day, write in my study.

10.
Still fine and a little colder, stay in Julian's house last night and am now taking my meals there. News of my neighbors Mr. Midlinger's death comes today, my favorite among my wealthy neighbors.

11.
Mild, winter weather.

12.
Mild, winter weather.

13.
Snow turning to rain in p.m.

14.
Colder, excellent sleighing. See harvest begins.

15.
Clear, mild.

16.
Colder with 2 in, of snow.

17.
Clear with cold leave near

18.
Clear, down to 4 below this morning

19.
Cold, down to 16 below this morning


See men can't work. Writing these days on the old subjects animal life and instinct. 20, 21, and 22d. Snow, turning to rain.
23.
Go to N.Y; rain nearly all day, air Jany, though floods in some parts of the country.

24.
Clearing, colder, return to W.P

25.
Clear and much colder.

26.
Snow from N. about 4 inches, well and at work again.


29. Mr. Mifflin from R. comes. Light snow, cold. 30 and 31 Milder, go to R. Feb 1st. Snow in morning, clearing and colder in p.m. 2d. A cold wave, down to 6 below. The arctic doors still wide open!
-We lived in those who went before us, we shall live in those who come after us. Is [that] there anything else? any other immortality? I frankly confess that to me the belief that there is, is childish. 3d. Cold, finish meeting and send Mr. to Dr. B. 4th. Cold
5.
A day at S.S. alone, cold, clear, an enjoyable day.

6.
Rain and hail in the night. Go to P. in p.m.

7.
Warm. rain, thunder storm. Melts snow on river.

8.
Clear, cold wave in the night. Health better than a few days past.


10.
Cold, go to N.Y, with Mr. Page to see "The Pit" - a strong play in parts and some good acting.

11.
Cold and dusty; home with Mr. P.

at night.

12.
Back to N.Y. and to Rowland and Miss D at night.

13.
To Middletown in p.m. C. meets me at train at 5.30. To Mr Vanamees in evening, music, talk, refreshments and a good time. Stay in Mr. V's delightful study.

14.
To Hospital at 11 for the day, a soothing comparting time.

15.
Cold, To Goshen to tea with Miss Vanamee, a fine company (at the Sayers) C, looks her best. Back to M at 9, a cold walk up to hospital.

16.
Cold, 8 below and a howling wind. To Mrs. A's and to Capt. C's. at 5. Then to hospital, company there, sit by open fire in R. room.

17.
Cold, meet C. at Mrs. As, and go to dinner at the Canfields.

a pleasant family and an excellent dinner. Take C. back home at 9.

18.
Milder, work some in Mr. V's study, a long walk alone from 3 1/2 to 5, returning through "Snake Lane". Spend evening with C.

19.
C. ill with grip, go up to see her at 5, has high fever and a tearing cough, stay till 8 1/2.

20.
Run up in morning to see C. find her better, stay one hour, my best and most helpful friend among women kind. Return to N.Y. at 11. In evening go to dinner with R. and Miss D. to Colgates, a big fine affair.

21.
Much milder, return to P. in p.m.

22.
Raining, return to West Park.

23.
Clearing and colder, work again.

24.
Milder, snow and rain, C. is on duty again

25.
Colder, go to P.

26.
Down to zero.

27.
8 above, warmer in p.m. clear, out of sorts today.

28.
Rain nearly all day. Back to W. P

29.
Overcast, windy, near freezing. Half a dozen big white gulls going North this morning - the first of the seasons. No open water probably between here and Hudsons Bay - a blue bird in p.m. and a chipmunk running briskly over the snow above the mountains.


Mch 1. 2 1/2 inches of snow last night, mild, mercury at 40 in p.m. blue bird calling, spring like.
Mch 2d. Fair, colder, go to N.Y.
3.
Rain in N.Y. [Cold, down to 4 here]

4.
Cold windy. Dined with Markham last night at Miss Burts. Down to 4 here.

5.
C. came last night, dined at Dr. J's with her. At R's Studio with C, all day. Attend camp fire diner at night and speak very poorly on animal intelligence; disgusted with myself

6.
Rainy, dine with Garland.

7.
Heavy rain all day.

8.
Clear, warm and spring like. Reach home on 4.20 train snow [nearly] half gone.

9.
Cold - down to 20, at work again.

10.
Down to 18.

11.
Light snow and hail at night, a fearful wind keeps

me from sleep. Delightful letter from C at night, write a little.

12.
Clear and cold, but March like, a musical reunion of gold finches in maple by the spring; the earliest in the season. I ever knew it to occur, they keep it up for an hour or two. Go to P in p.m. and to Vassar to dinner.

13.
Clear, sharp, sap runs a little. Return from P. at night.

14.
Partly overcast, cold, not feeling well.

15.
Light snow last night - 1 1/2 inches. Small brown warms on snow near the apple trees, out of sorts.

16.
Bright day, windy cold, freezing in shade, sap runs well at noon. Go to P. in p.m. am better, ground getting bare. Two papers to Harper.

17.
Down to 16 this morning, clear cold, Robins in song.

From a book published in London in1783, entitled a new Geographical Historical and Commercial Grammar and the present state of the several Kingdoms of the world. By Wm Guthrie Sqr. Trusting of Norway It says this of the white and red foxes there; "they have a particular way of drawing crabs ashore by dipping their tails in the water which the crab lays hold of."

18.
Snowed till p.m. - about 4 inches, clearing in p.m. Begin hailing sap.

19.
Warmer, mercury at 30 in morning. A sparrow morning. Boil sap and write on Instinct till noon. Snow goes rapidly, fox sparrow here.

20.
Warm, spring like; last snow nearly gone, birds vocal. Blue birds have taken a box.

21.
With the mercury 40, wind N.W. frost in the ground, snow here and there. Why will sap not run? Give it up. Mrs. B. returns today. Fine day.

22.
Misty all day, with fog. Boil sap in p.m. a fox sparrow jubilee this morning, birds very musical all day.

23.
Cow bird this morning, trying to clear off.

24.
Phoebe here, health at low tide.

25.
Misty, mild, Rowland comes in p.m. and we go to S.S.

26.
Warm, wind S.W. sprinkles of rain, mercury near 60, Mr. Riosdan comes in p.m. an interesting Arizonian.

27.
A jolly day at S.S, in three, cooler and cloudy, health much better,

28.
Froze last night, cloudy and rain today, my guests leave me.


30.
Fine clear day, 5 Vassar girls at S.S.

31.
Start for home on early train; reach home at 11 a.m. all well, Curtis looks better than he was for years. Begins snowing about noon. Boil sap all afternoon with Johnny; breath much smoke and steam, wind S.E. April 1st. Ground white; begins raining early and rains nearly all day. Boil sap till noon, 7 pail, syrup. 2d. Colder, windy snow squalls. 3d. Colder, light snow squalls all day, spend only an hour in sap house; a cold coming on syrup off in p.m. 8 pails, sit indoors most of the day. So goes my 67 birth day.


4.
Clear and cold, down to 14, Curtis and

I go to Edens on morning train, find Eden better - looks good like himself, though he does not go outdoors, May well and as active and cheerful as ever. We stay all night.

5.
Clear lovely day, getting warmer, good sap day, I walk down to Hiram's grave, at 8 1/2 we take train. Leave Curtis at


R. and come on to W.P. warmer here and roads dry and grass starting.
6.
Warm, smoky; storm coming. Feel pretty well - cough some.

7.
Mild, first peepers today

8.
Walk over to S.S. The trill of the first toad, a fine day.

9.
Cloudy, rain at 4 p.m. warm grass starting rapidly. My M. visitors do not come much dissapointed.

10.
Clearing, cooler, fine day, Miss Best comes, a very pleasing and intelligent woman, much talk from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m.

11.
Cloudy and cool, 50 years ago today I began my first school - in Tongore, what a green homesick boy I was!

12.
Cloud and sun, cooler at night. Loafing these days and trying to get strong again.

13.
Warm in middle of day when sun shines.

14.
Chilly and partly cloudy.

15.
Cloudy and cold - feels like snow.

16.
Snow last night through which the green spears of the grass show here and there, squally and blustery this morning. Clear and cold in p.m.

17.
Froze hard last night and down to 22 this morning. Clear and bright.

18.
Pleasant day and mild, fox sparrows still here.

19.
Cloudy, threatening showers, but only a sprinkle of rain, wind change from S.W. to N.W, clearing and colder in p.m. nearly over my cold.

20.
Cold, cold, down to 22 this morning. Ground frozen like a rock. The past winter has been the coldest in the memory of the oldest inhabitant and the spring is off the same piece. Getting dry. Flying snow flakes in the air all day.

21.
Milder, the p.m. a clear superb day. Walk to SS twice. 23d. Go to N.Y. to dinner of. Institute of Arts and letters, a pleasant day and an agreeable dinner at night. Stedman, Matthews, Makel, Prof Lowanbury, Prof. Royce, St Gardens and others present.


24.
Fine day, walk in Park with Addie and the boys, a song sparrow with 5 distinct songs, due of them very striking. To Plainfield at 5.

25.
Warm, 76 in shade; walk over the hills with Anna Haviland. Light rain at night.

26.
In N.Y a dinner at night with Riordan, Dwight, Rowland and Fenno and a "Joram" afterward.

27.
Rain and wind from N.E heavy nearly all day. Home in p.m.

28.
Rain and mist today, cold.

29.
Cloudy and warmer.

30.
Fine warm day with threatened rain in morning. C.B. and Miss S. come in p.m, much time in Highland; then to Esopus and a walk to S.S. through the woods a charming walk an arbutus walk


May 1st. A fine May day, warm, very happy at S.S. We walk to Sunset Rock, a memorable walk, shad blow just opening, my guests leave at 5 p.m. 2d. Clear, cooler, very fine, maples just ready to shake out thick tassels, currents ready to bloom, the willows down by the old manning house are green chucks, apple tree leaves the size of the mouse ears. A great many high holes calling this morning all forenoon. Season now about one week late.
3.
Fine, warm an ideal day.

4.
Fine, warm an ideal day.

5.
Fine, to Vanstykes today, ideal day. Cherry trees blooming, wood thrush.

6.
Perfect day

7.
The 8th day of ideal May weather. Clear warm, tranquil.

Trees in the woods and groves again outlined by opening foliage. I spent each night at S.S. and enjoy it much.

8.
Warm and fine, a mist of the yellow green off new foliage fills the woods.

9.
Cloudy, threatening, warm, all the birds here, apple bloom just opening, maple leaves half grown. Health very good.

10.
Clear, cooler, dry; the storm passed without rain; acts as it did last year. In fairly good heart these days.

11.
Light shower in p.m.

12.
Clear, cool, light frost at S.S, this morning.

13.
Warmer, clear, calm, lovely; the night of the apple bloom, all the birds here but the indigo bird, grape shoots begin to show.

14.
Warm and lovely - Vassar girls and pupils from New Paltz - normal school at S.S. at 3 p.m. comes Miss V and C, a delightful evening.

15.
Raining, rained slowly all day much needed, over an inch of water. Mr. V, Miss T and Mr. H, came on morning train, a jolly day at S.S, all leave on 5 p.m. train and I am desolate again.

16.
Rained slowly in the night. Charmy today and cooler. The world very fresh and green, Owen Johnson comes at 4.20. 17,18 and 19. Cloudy, with very light rain.


20.
Clearing and warm, O.J. leaves today, a fine fellow sure to make his mark in literature, as a child he was disagreeable, as a man he is charming.

21.
Ideal day, clear, warm; lots of company at S.S.

22.
Perfect day, summer heat.

23.
Go home on morning train, find them all well; Country very green, day warm. go on Old Clump in p.m.

24.
Bright lovely day - go down to the village with Curtis.

25.
Hot clear day, Curtis and I go over on Rolls Brook fishing; had not net my line in those waters for over 20 years; take 23 trout of fair size. The valley flooded with the very spirit and essence of May. The orchards everywhere sheets of pink and white bloom; the bobolinks very jubilant, nearly all the people I had known among the farmers here dead. At noon Curtis and I sit with over backs up against a farmer wagon house in the shade and eat over.

lunch. Then home, at three just as we reach home a sudden downpour followed by hail, a fine shower.

26.
Warm, go down to Olly's and spend the day and night.

27.
Go fishing in Millbrook, no luck at all. Home at night.

28.
Fine day, company at S.S.

29.
Warm, lovely day.

30.
To M, heavy shower at 3 1/2.

31.
To Mt. Holyoke, Miss D. meets me at train. At night hear Higginson lecture before the college girls; elegant and pleasing, but slight, stand up with him and Miss W. the president, after the lecture and receive the girls. Many of the girls greet me with more emphasis than they do H.


1904 June 1st. Cloudy, go to lunch with H. at the house of Boston family, H. is well preserved for a man 81, I do not feel the veneration for him I ought to.
Still threatening rain, walk with the girls and on p.m. climb Mt. Holyoke with 90 of them.
2.
Milder with gleams of sunshine. Go to Smith College to lunch with Miss Peck, Jordan and Mrs. Lee. Then to Hankinson to see Clifton Johnson; then back to Holyoke.

3.
Clara Reed comes up. We lunch with the president, Miss Woodley and in p.m. go to Springfield and spend night at home of Clara, a fine time.

4.
Clearing and hot; home on 4.20 train from P.

5.
Warm day, above 84, a brisk thunder shower at 4 p.m.

6.
Hot, 88, more rain at night.

7.
Hot, Go to Vassar class day; a heavy shower at 4, Mrs. B. goes to Hobart.

8.
Clear and warm, a walk to S.S. R, a heavy rain at night.

9.
Raining from S.E.; rained all day heavy at times; ground full of water.

10.
Clear and fine, Mrs Childs and her friend.

11.
Ideal June day; at Dana Natl, History Club from Albany, 67 of them.

12.
Fine day.

13.
Fine day, Binder comes.

14.
Fine day, Miss Richardson and friend.

15.
Wedding at S.S, Rowland and Minnie Dwight, day perfect.

16.
Johnson comes, shower south of us.

17.
Fine warm day, company in p.m.

18.
Hot day and dry, company in p.m.

19.
Hot day and dry, company in p.m.

20.
Hot day and dry

21.
To Floral Park - fine day

22.
Go with Mr. and Mrs. Childs to the Wyendancher Club, cool and fine. 23d. Back to F.P and to N.Y. at night.


24.
Cool and fine; home today, saw Gilden today nearly well again.

25.
Mrs. Judd and Miss Luddington enjoyed their company, hot, 92 degrees.

26.
Fine hot [warm] day, mercury 92 to 6, no rain yet.

27.
Cloudy and cold rain.

28.
Light rain last night. Boat races today; sprinkles of rain.

29.
Light rain.

30.
Fine showers today, heavy at 6. July 1st. Clearing and warm, wind S.W. Dr. B and friends at S.S.


July 1904 2d. Lovely day, Miss Boxter comes today.
3.
Lovely day Dinner at S.S, Mrs. B. there.

4.
Ideal weather, all go to Riverby to eat ice cream.

5.
Rain at night.

6.
"Interview at Herms" Fine day.

7.
"Interview at Herms" Fine day.

8.
Charming day

9.
Charming day, all go to Mohank. Mrs. B. with us.

10.
Rain all day slowly.

11.
Fine day.

12.
Fine day, go to Long Level.

13.
Fine day.

14.
Lovely day, go to Black Pond for pond lilies an idylic day long to be remembered; heard swamp sparrow.

15.
Still fine, Dr. B, leaves today.

16.
Beautiful weather, Julian leaves for S.H.

17.
Go to Sunset Rock with Addie J.

18.
Rain last night nearly all night.

19.
Join Julians party in Snyder Hollow reach there at 10 - Camp Betty, near the cold Wittenburg Spring. Stay with Julian one week, enjoy it much, sleep at Larkins.


24.
Light rain today, after 3 days of cloud.

25.
Warm and partly cloudy.

26.
Return to W.P. today, Mrs. B. at Hobart since the 13th.

27.
Florence Wilkinson comes today, meet him at Esopus and walk to S.S, a very pleasing young woman - simple, serious human, genuine; like her much. We all go bathing in Black Pool in p.m.

28.
Miss W. and the children leave for Utica today.

29.
Warm lovely day, Julian and his family back today.

30.
The Johnsons and Miss B. leave S.S, today


-Loth to have them depart one of the happiest months ever spent at SS.
31. Sunday, start for Hobart; find Eden better than I expected - looks pale but does his chores and walks to the village. Aug 1. Hot day, rain at night - heavy. 2d. Hot day, with showers at night.
3.
Fair; go out to Homar's, Jane well, H, slowly failing - home to Roxbury at night.

4.
Curtis well, old place fresh and green, done haying.

5.
Warm day, threatening rain at night.

6.
Warm day, very smoky


-
A chippy at Edens with a song like a little tree whistle, - Robin bowing for grubs in the turf.

-
A little green heron on the wall near the house; the robins much disturbed by it; follow it to some trees and scream vociferously - is it then enemy?


7.
Brisk shower last night - Return to Eden's today, warm.

8.
Cooler and partly cloudy. Walk over to Willies to dinner - across the hill. In the morning with a little on the robin. Read with keen intellectual pleasure Wm James essay on Herbert Spencer in July Atlantic. The most satisfactory discussion I have ever read of Spencer Claims.

9.
Cool and clear. Home to W.P. today.

10.
Began raining in the night, rained till nearly noon, heavy at times, cool.

11.
Rained nearly all night; the first rain for many weeks that wet down to the roots of things.

must have fallen nearly on quite 2 inches of water, warm and muggy today with gleams of sunshine.

12.
Clear and cool, alone here since the 9th.

13.
Fine warm day, go to H.


15.
Mrs. B home today.

16.
To slide hut, to Mrs. Hinkley's stay till Saturday.

17.
Fine shower at night.

18.
Clear and cool, go to top of slide, see my native hills - Old Clump.

19.
Drive down the Neversink, a very enjoyable drive.

20.
Rain last night; and nearly all day. Reach home at night.


22. Start for East River; stay there till 29th, an enjoyable restful time.
29.
Go to B. to see Smith and Eunice.

Spend the night with them, nine years since we met, I seem to have found them again.

30.
Home this p.m. Bright and dry, no rain fro ten days. Sept 1st. Fine day, at S.S. 3d. Go up to Winnisook again, hot up to 80.


4.
Rain nearly all last night, only light shower at W.P. Walk down throu Woodland valley, a fine cool day.

5.
Partly cloudy.

6.
Clear and cool. The thought that has quickened my pulse all summer is the thought of the Japs, when I begin to read the morning paper my heart hits ip up from 70 or 72 to 85. What a wonderful people


May they break the last bone in the body of the Russian bear, is my prayer. Sept 7. Fine and warm - Go to West Nyack and spend the nigh with Miss Leonard, a pleasant time.
8. To Atlantic City to the Vanamees stay till 15th. Fine warm weather nearly all the time. Bathe in Snap 4 times - good for me. The Va' very kind, a tremendous wind and rain on the night of the 14th almost a hurricane. Severe all along the coast, six inches of water in many places. Very heavy rain at West Park, probably six inches.
16.
Visit Walts grave with C. and V. and H.

17.
Home today from Plainfield, warm and fine.

18.
Warm and fine.

19.
Warm and fine. Start for Roxbury

20.
Meet Gandy Smith today, after a separation of over 45 years, I go over to Tom's at 9, see Gandy slowly walking up the road in his shirt sleeves. He sees me and turns about, his beard is longer but not so white as mine, his eyes fill with tears as we clasp hands, I should have known him, though not had I met him in a strange place. I spend the day there. Curtis and Ann come over to dinner, at 4 p.m, walk back home over the hill, Gandy walks part way with me. A great pleasure to meet him again. He went to Iowa and settled in 64, a large land owner now.

21.
Some rain last night! Colder, Gandy and his wife and Tom and Mary Ann come over to dinner, another good half day with Gandy. His eyes easily fill with tears, he is 74, curts folks all well. The old place looks better to me than it did at my other visit in Any. In p.m. Gandy and I walk down to


the village, he is slower than I am, eye sight not so good as mine, we part at the crossing of the R.R, he to his brother Robs, I to the train, we part as if we might meet again soon but my thought is that we are parting for the last time. I reach home at 8 1/2. 22nd. Severe frost last night, kills tomatoes, corn, squashes etc, mercury down to 28, clear cold day.
23.
Hard frost again ice 1/4 inch in places, leaves of grape vines scorched. The coldest snap I ever remember in Sept; a month a head of time. Warmer today. Go to H. to walk to S.S.

24.
Warmer and light rain.

25.
Much warmer. Rain in the night.


-Found a drone or a male bumble bee fast to a queen bee in the road near S.S, the male was about 1/3 the size of the female. They were being together like a dog and bitch. The queens stinger was thrust out and curved up in dangerous
proximity to the abdomen of the male. It required some force to pull them apart; they separated with a little snap. The male organs were not extirpated as is the case with the honey bee, they protruded but were soon drawn in, the queen ran away a few feet and then flew. The bumble bee does not lose his stinger either, when he strings, as does the honey bee.
-
The next day found a queen bumble bee trying to bore a hole in my path in the woods, she had penetrated about half an inch and was gaining very slowly, the ground was hard, I had supposed this bee always went into a mouse hole or something of the kind, an hour later the bee was gone.

-
The secret of style is not in the language as such, it is in the substance - not the substance of the subject - but in the substance of the aothors mind,


Sept 30. To N.Y. and then to Statue Island to the Evans's. Oct 1st. Fine but windy day.
2. Cloudy, cold, drive to the grave of Geo Wm Curtis in the Moravian cemetery, spend some time by his grave with long sad thoughts. We never met. 3d. Begin setting for Mrs. Johnson at 29, 33d St. West, sit for her 4 or 5 hours daily till Oct 13th a hard time of it. Meet C. on Saturday 8th and again on the 9th at the Js'.
11.
Go out to West Hills with Mrs. Cook, a lovely warm day like early Sept. Mrs. C. an artist a clear blue eyed woman. Drive to Walts birth place and drink at the well - very poor water. Then to a farm house for the night.

Oct 1904 Go to the school house where he taught school about the year I was born.

12.
A cold driving rain from the last pours till noon, sit in doors with Mrs. C. then back to N.Y. in p.m.

13.
Home today. Fine but frosty weather nearly all the month of Oct, build a new chimney in my study.


21. A heavy rain - 3 or 4 inches, clear, lovely weather for 2 weeks, 3 or 4 degree of frost nearly every night, a cold but dry and lovely Oct. Nov 1st. Lovely day; health good, feel like writing. 2d,3d and 4th. All lovely days.
5.
Cloudy and chilly, go to West Point to football game. Rain at night light.

6.
A white made of snow this morning


Ten flocks of wild gees go honking South - never saw such a flight of wild geese in my life in the Hudson river valley. Probably means severe and cold further month. Now book, "Far and Near" came over a week ago.
-She is perpetual woman to my peace of mind and the detachment necessary to my literary work. Every hour in the day she is liable to break in upon me, or break out upon me and scatter my thoughts and break the spell of my literary mood.
8.
Election day, clear, calm, not a film in the sky, walk up to vote in p.m. Never saw a finer election day.

9.
Cloudy but a tremendous Republican victory, overwhelming, too great, no reform of the tariff now.

10.
Still cloudy and threatening and cold. Writing on Protective Coloration.

11.
Light snow in morning, clearing in p.m and warmer, company at S.S.

12.
Clear, lovely, mercury 25 this morning, warmer in p.m.

13.
Cloudy, higher snowing at 10, a wet heavy snow from North, not cold. Julian and his family in their house, boat on the river.

14.
Storm of wind and snow continued all afternoon and into the night a gale in some places, nearly a foot of snow must have fallen - 3 or 4 inches of wet sudden snow on the ground this morning, clearing and colder this morning.

15.
Bright and lovely, mercury at 25 degrees, this morning, snow still on the ground.


-What a neat verbal fit he gives his subject, every word touches the right spot and the sentences bring out the subject matter perfectly, such literary tailoring is hand to heal.
17. To N.Y, Julian and I and to Duch Day Page and Co's reception. Clear and cold, much snow still on ground. 18 and 19. In N.Y. at the Rowlands receptions, C. there on 19th. To the Manic dinner on the 18th.
20. Dry and cold. 21 and 22nd. In N.Y. on 22d go to the John Marley dinner at Carnegies. Morly a pretty strong man - large fine head; fine color, beardless face, a man without vanity or affectation, spoke a moment with Sec, Root, like him much and able and a sincere man, my seat at table is between the president of Yale and of Columbia. 23rd. Clear and mild; home on 10.20 train.
24.
Fair and cold, wife and I go to Hobart. Curtis and Ann get on the train at R, and Jane at the station, all look

well, Eden is at the station at H. as we arrive, looks very pale and yellow but seems much better than when I last saw him, Wilson's widow, Mariah Badle is at Edens, not much changed, Mag is well and happy in getting up her thanksgiving dinner, a fine dinner to which we all do justice, I think of Hiram constantly there under the winter turf so near us, but I do not go to his grave. Much snow on the mountains and patches of it in the fields.

25.
Snowing and blowing this morning from N.W. Delaware Co. weather, an inch of snow. We take morning train for home, no snow here, roads dry.

26.
Cold and dry, with snow in the air. 27,28,29,30. Dry cold days, roads dusty, writing on Protective Coloration of animals.


Dec 1st. Fair and cold - down to 17. 2d. Cloudy with increasing cold. 3d. Cloudy and cold and dry, wind North. Snow on passing times from N. Quite content in my new study three days; big fires of maple and hickory.
4.
Still cloudy and cold, down to 17 degrees.

5.
Colder, down to 12, some thin ice in river.

6.
Fair, Mrs. B goes to P. for the winter.

7.
Fair and milder, slept in study last night, low tide with me after 3 weeks of writing.

8.
Flurries of snow last night, and this morning, no thoughts these days.


10.
Threatens snow, to Phila to Harvards, meet C. at J. City, - Snow all day in Phila, 6 or 7 inches and cold.

11.
Clear and writing, good sleighing all day indoors, reading Whitman Mrs.


C. very happy, I am too.
12.
Snowing again, come with C. to Eric Depot in morning. Reach home at 4.20 snowing. Zero here on Sunday.

13.
Snowed till noon, 10 inches.

14.
Clear and cold, zero this morning. River steaming, shut below and above.

15.
Down to 4 below this morning. River closed, very quiet, no wind yet this winter. A robin here calling near the gate, Mrs. B. in P. since the 6th.

16.
1 1/2 inches of snow last night.

17.
Cold, dry, no wind yet, the snow on the trees.

18.
Clear fine day, walk to S.S. in p.m. a winter wren in the woods by the road.

19.
Flurries od snow, Mr. Findley from Oregon, a young bird enthusiast. Still writing on Colors of animals

20.
Milder, snow flurries, country very dry - 10 inches of snow on the ground.

21.
Windy and snow flurries.

22.
Milder, cloudy. gone up the open fire today and set up the ugly stove chimney "went bad" a day or two ago could only check the smoking by opening the door or window, I fear my inspiration has gone with the open fire. Blue-birds here every day and an occasional robin.

23.
A thaw go to P.

24.
Colder - [3 below zero]

25.
Much colder - 3 below zero, snow in p.m.

26.
3 inches of light snow, cloudy and cold all day. We keep Xmas at Julian's.

27.
Raining nearly all day.

28.
Still warm - mercury 35, clearing signs of cold wave.

29.
Colder.

30.
Milder, go to P.

31.
Milder, write letter on Beavers to S.S. McClure. 1905 Jany 1st. Soft Indian summer day no wind, no cloud, a soft dreams haze; ground nearly bare. Hive bees must be out today. Does this day break the back of winter? I think so. Write in forenoon; in p.m. walk on College Hill. 2d. Raining slowly all day, return to West Park.


3.
A blizzard from the North; wind and driving snow all day, mercury 18 this morning. The fall of part Arthur makes me forget all my woes. God damn the Russian Government.

1905

4.
Six or seven inches of snow all blown in heaps this morning.

5.
Cold, down to zero.

6.
2 below this morning.

7.
Rain at night and today, mercury at 40 ground bare in many places.

8.
Colder - 20 icy.

9.
Bright and clear. Good in boating.


12.
To Chapmans at Englewood, meet Thomson Seaton at dinner. We talk over natural history matters and he agrees with me on nearly all points, but has no stomach for long.

13.
To N.Y. not very well, at Mr. Heffley's party at night.

14.
Bright and fine.

15.
On my back all day, no food, a kind of winter Cholera.

16.
Still on my back, Dr. Leo prescribes for me, better in p.m.

17.
Fine day, appetite returns. To M. in p.m, much better, meet C. at 4 1/2, a walk by moonlight along Snake Lane. The fields shine in a coat of white mail.

18.
Warmer, water runs in streets, walk again with C.

19.
Still thawing, muddy and sloppy; drive with W. to state Hill, walk with C. at night.

20.
To N.Y. and to the Rowland party at night.

21.
Saturday, back to P.

22.
Up to W.P. to see new grand daughter 4 days old, ugly as a Choctaw.

23.
Colder, write in room in P.

24.
Colder threatening room in P.

25.
Big snow storm, the boss storm of the season, snowed and blowed all day like great geese and nearly all night.

26.
About 22 inches of snow, streets.

blocked, mercury 10 below zero.

27.
Cold, side walks shoveled off, go up to W.P

28.
Cold

29.
Milder

30.
Clear and colder

31.
At zero this morning; storm coming, send off paper to Atlantic, "Gay Plumes and Dull". Up to W.P. yesterday, new baby looks much better - getting into shape. Feb 1. A few degree below zero this morning. I think it highly probable that an animal's capacity to suffer pain is in proportion to its intelligence, or the size of its brain; or as some one has said in proportion to its ability to avoid pain, more has the largest brain and no doubt feels pain much more keenly than any other animal.


5.
The end of a cold dry week, sky clear since Monday and mercury below zero nearly every morning, ten below one morning, and [from] 10 to 14 below this morning. Snow evaporating. Here in P. at work writing every morning. Go up to Julian's every other afternoon. Have secured passage to Bermuda for wife and self on the 11th. Health good.

6.
snowing - 5 or 6 inches at 10 a.m.

7.
Cold.

8.
Go up home, all well, leave on 12.15 train. In M. all night.

9.
In N.Y. all day, cold.

10.
In N.Y. all day, meet Mrs. B at 6. To Mr. H's party. C. there looking as attractive as usual.

11.
Colder, leave on Steamer Trinidad at 10.30. No sea sickness all day, sea not rough, lose sight of land at 2 p.m.

12.
Sunday at sea, fairly comfortable all day, Mrs. B. takes to her berth after breakfast. White cups begin to show in p.m. increasing discomfort at my part. Go to dinner at 6 and then to the deck at 8, lose my dinner overboard, then to my berth. Rain and wind all night; fairly comfortable.

13.
All day in my birth but no sickness, eat a little. Reach entrance to Harbor of Bermuda at night, but do not enter till morning.

14.
Land about 9. warm 72. Take room at the Kenwood, [8] 14 per week. Head a little wrong all day.

15.
A two hours drive with Miss S. beautiful country, very Englishy. 72 degrees, rain at night.

16.
Colder, 62, in p.m. walk over to the sea on East side, very interesting cool like Oct.

17.
Cool; go back to N.Y. discarded winter clothing overcast. Mrs. B has rheumatism.


Mch 1st. Stay in Bermuda till today, one week at Bailey Bay with a Mrs. Stuart, a bad time for Mrs. B. Sick with bad cold and rheumatism, I am well and have a few pleasant days, some rain, cool. Take Bermudian at 11 for home. Sea sick at night, steamer rocks a good deal. 2d. Fair and steamer running quietly, Both keeps over berths. 3d. Fair, a smooth sea, the cold air feels like home, land at noon, take train for P. ant 2 O'c
4. In our old quarters again and glad to be here, Mrs. R, still wretched plenty of snows. Go to West Park today, all well there. Feb has been steady cold, often below zero.
5th. Fair day and cold.
6.
Fair day and cold.

7.
Fair day and cold, but sun thaws the snow in middle of day.

8.
Rain all day, not hard.

9.
Clear and colder, plenty of snow yet. At mark on ways of nature since my return. Health good, Mrs. B. better.


16.
Up to W.P and tap some trees. Morning cold - down to 20.

17.
Sap runs in middle of day.

18.
Fine sap day, boil all day and make some fine sugar. Robins sparrows and Phoebe here. Dr. B comes in p.m. to Poughkeepsee. a warm day, 48 degrees.

19.
Rain all day, great pleasure with Dr. B. she leaves at night.

20.
Rain slowly all day.

21.
Rain and snow.

22.
Storm over, 1 1/2 inches of snow mild sap rains as a jump. Boil all day and J. boils at night till 9,

23.
Mild, overcast, - sap runs faster than we can boil it down, met very well a fever last night, Malaria?

24.
Cloudy, misty, mild, all day boiling sap, a sparrow day, boil sap till after 9 p.m. sleep in study.

25.
Rain nearly all night, clearing in afternoon, mild, very spring like old Norwich broke up the ice in the river last night and this morning - had hard work to get through it.

26.
Fine spring day [Boil sap] all day

27.
Lovely day, boil sap.

28.
Day of great warmth and beauty - 4 Vassar teachers. Boil sap and sugar off. Bush sparrow and high hole here, mercury 70, clear, calm soft.

29.
Still warmer, 81 in shade under a tree; the warmest March day of which I have a record, now at 5, it is 76, boil the last of the sap, Mr. Sickley here, last night.

heard the first "peepers", the troll of the toad and the sound of the "Clucking" frogs. River full of floating ice. Grass greening, very happy days, oh, the old thrill and longing of the spring.

30.
Little cooler - about 75.

31.
Mrs. B. comes back today from P. Hepatica in bloom. April 1st. The "heel" of the last snow bank has vanished. Still warm. Off for N.Y. today at 12.15, stop by the way, see C. at night.


2. Windy March, like day, cool a delightful hour on V's literary. 3d. My 68th birthday, clear and cool and dusty, getting warmer in p.m. Walk to "Perdition" with C. and Mrs. A. soft maples in bloom, a birthday cake at W's, a delightful evening.
4.
Sit all day for Mrs. Johnson and return home at night, a light rain in morning.

5.
Cloudy, light rain, grass greening everywhere. Elms on bloom, walk to S.S. in p.m. 6 and 7. Bright cool; down to freezing in the morning.


8.
Fair, cool; found bloodroot and decantra in bloom on the rocks back of the hill; liverwort just opening.

9.
Fair, cool, frost this morning.

10.
Fair and warmer - near 70.


13.
Fine April weather.

14.
Cool - light frost. I seem to feel older this spring than ever before. Is this old age this lassitude, this want of strength, this fatigue in back and limbs, this constant retrospection? Burn over Mr. Allen's field this p.m. and enjoy it much, if the world is ever to be burned up I want to be allowed to set the fire.

15.
Light rain with thunder last night, clear and cool this morning, a light frost, Vassar girls at S.S, Trout lily, trillium, marsh marigold in bloom.

16.
Frost again last night, - fair today unusual longing for C. these days. Snow flakes in the air in p.m.

17.
down to freezing this morning, or below. Windy and snow flakes in the air at times all day, not so cold as one year ago.

18.
Cold and dry.

19.
Cold and dry.

20.
Warmer, S. wind, smell my wild perfume in the air today. Is it from

the elms? a few branches of pussy willow today gave out a marked odor suggesting that I have attributed to the elms. But there are not enough of these in this locality to so perfume the breezes. Light rain in p.m. and at night.

21.
Warmer, smoky, moist South wind, things growing rapidly. Rain in p.m.

22.
Cooler, clear, Vassar crowd.


24.
Clear, cool dry days, frost every night.

25.
Lovely day, walk to Black Pond after my boat. Boat too leaky, leave it in water and return by S.S, where I eat my lunch, a lovely walk through the leafless woods. The myrtle warbler and one of the views, many swallows around black pond, violets blooming and dandentious beginning. My old maple shaking out its fringe.

26.
Milder, hazy, the brown thrasher here this morning performing on a tree top beyond the station, shade blows just out.

27.
Fine warm day, stay at S.S, company from N.C.

28.
Still fine, stay at S.S,all night.

29.
Cloudy, light rain in p.m. More company at SS. Maples in bloom. Health much better than last month.

30.
The last of the April days has come again. Foggy in morning clearing hazy but cool, need much more rain. Cherry trees in bloom the past 3 days, sparrows nest with one egg. May 1st. fine day off to N.Y. meet C. at 1 1/2 5th ave. To Mrs. J's at 4 1/2. C. returns to M. at 7.30 stay at R's. 2d. To Summit at the Porters. 3d. Dine with Mr. Chubb, Mr. Mabie calls. Dry and windy. Frost at night.


4th. Return to N.Y. and sit for Mrs. J. In p.m. go to Plainfield to Knox Taylors, stay all night.
5.
A long walk in woods along the terminal morain of old ice sheet. In p.m. go to Havilands and stay all night.

6.
A walk in blooming orchards with A. Many warblers arriving. To N.Y. in p.m.

7.
Sunday, return home, no rain, dry, warm, 80 degrees.

8.
The perfection of the orchard bloom a deep mist of green in the woods maple leaves half grown. Feel better than when I left home and more like work.