Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 59, Jan. 2 – Feb. 23, 1959

Another bad siege with the asthma and bronchitis—
Before I became entirely helpless, I managed to make a painting of the Christmas Tree – It was an ordeal, but I had determined it had to be done. Everyone agreed that it did not look like the work of either a sick or an old man.
It has been a beautiful (if very cold) winter – I thank God that no matter how miserable I was, I could always look [59] out the window and find the world beautiful.
Bertha has slept downstairs all this time — and often she plays music for me at almost any hour of the night. I have bought more concertos of Vivaldi (what a wonderful creative artist he is) as well as a new version of the Beethoven Ninth Symphony.
A few days ago I received a letter from the State Dept. — asking me to go to Turkey to talk about American art, show some of my own work and meet Turkish artists — As part of a program to aid in the westernizing of Turkey, & further cement our friendly relations with that country. I have thought of the possibility of my being asked to participate in such a program, and now that I am I cannot go –
Friday John Called – I could not talk so Bertha talked to him. Among other things he said that he had sold “The White Plume” for $2500 – (This is the one Seymour Knox exchanged for “White Violets & Coal Mine #2 – 1918) –
Charles E. Burchfield, Jan. 2 - Feb. 23, 1959