Worked most of the day in the studio on the 1925 (?-26?) March Wind, with the figure holding a torch racing through the clouds. (for which F.J.L. [Frank J. Lankes] posed) (I thought of it then as “The March Wind Lighting the Fires of Spring” and it still seems a good title.
Cooler, windy — still above freezing — at times. Finished work on the albums, and made a container for the “overflow” albums, which, at Bertha’s suggestion, I put at the end of the cabinet by the stairs. It is a great satisfaction to have this work done —
There is always a sense of relief, mingled with regret, when the Christmas season is definitely over – Relief, because it is always impossible to achieve again the wonder Christmas held for us as children – the failure to do so is too hard to bear.
A.M. letter from F.K.M.R. [Frank K. M. Rehn]– thanking me for my Christmas greeting, and telling me to my surprise that my show went on the 27th - - and that Wednesday N.Y. Times carried a criticism –
B & I had some errands in town, and we stopped at a news agency & procured a copy of the Times. It was by Jewell, and as good a criticism as I could possibly ask for; not too flowery or exaggerated, but showing a genuine appreciation of my efforts.
There is this difference between winter and summer – In summer light always seems to come from above, no matter whether the day is cloudy or clear, but in the winter the sky closes in like a heavy curtain, and the only source of light is the snow –
Now is the time when starry nights and early morning mean the most to us. I was looking for an almanac last night and couldn’t get one in a drug store and I thought with regret that such things mean so little to us anymore. Formerly at this season (they being just issued) I used to pore over some Pain Pill almanac, enthralled by the Zodiacal signs, the eclipse predictions...
All day on “Star” picture – bringing it pretty well to a conclusion altho of course there will have to be refinements later on.
The zero hour of the year – quite fittingly a heavy blanket of clouds obscured the sun and sky from the earth – it is twilight at noon –