Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, February 10, 1940

Thurs day – snow melting sky murky and heavy – To D-L-W station to make more studies. There occurred an amusing incident, I saw that it was going to take longer to complete my drawings than I had anticipated, so I went into the station to call up home, and say I wouldn’t be home to lunch.

When I dropped a nickel in the slot I heard distinctly “Number please” – but when I gave the number, the ‘phone went absolutely dead. So I hung up and tried again with the same result. Growing irritated at what I thought was carelessness in the part of central, I tried a third time, and when I heard the usual “Number please” I said crossly “Now central, don’t go away, I want to tell you about this phone,” but dead silence was the only result – So, I went to the next booth, which happened to have a dial ‘phone – I put thru my call to home without any trouble, so I then dialed the operator to report my trouble on the other phone. She asked me to test the ‘phone again, which I did with the same results as before. She then called me on the dial phone, and said she could not hear me at all. She asked me if I would get someone at the station to put an “out of order” sign on the booth – At that moment I saw a young lady about the enter the booth in question – so excusing myself, I went out and stopped her – then went back and gave my name and address to the operator so she could send me a refund. I had left my portfolio in the first booth, so having complete my business, I went and got it, and started away, when the young lady who had been waiting all this time for a booth, called to me “I beg your pardon, but that’s my suitcase” – To my complete surprise – in my right hand I was indeed carrying a suitcase, which I had no recollection of either seeing or picking up. For a moment I just gaped at her, and then said inanely “Well, I guess I can hardly explain that, can I” – I think she understood, for she smiled and said “That’s quite all right” – after futilely stammering a few incoherent remarks, I left.

After finishing my studies – I left for home with reluctance, and would not have gone had it not been for the girls’ music lessons & date with the dentist. Rain had set in, in earnest, and the effects about the canal and harbor were interesting and exciting – the bluish rain mist divided the whole scene into ‘planes that are not apparent when the air is clear.

At late afternoon I called for the girls, and found the little scene looking down Stevenson from No. Legion drive very fascinating, and on the return I made a special study of it.
Charles E. Burchfield, February 10, 1940