Charles Burchfield, Journals, March 9, 1915

A clear brilliant sparkle of a day without a cloud.  The sun shone so warm all the snow is gone except in the cool north – shadows of buildings.

Wenning did a big thing today.  As a result of a spree in which several of the fellows indulged Friday night, Van Bergen & Cornell out of about a dozen were singled out and expelled.  On announcement of this we were all indignant on Van Bergen’s account, as he is such a “kid”, and shows great ability, and moreover to our knowledge and according to his own assertion was not even drunk on that night.  With most of us it went no further than talk.  Wenning however announced his intention of going to Miss Norton and telling her the true state of affairs & pleading for Van.  At four-thirty he was still in her office.  As I say, Wenning did a big thing.

Wilcox was talking today of the downfall of Oriental Art and civilization due to the advent of materialistic Capitalistic and Occidental “Culture.”  Materialism it must seem is the cause of most the world’s ills.  So satisfied with its own way of life it must need impress its belief on other and radically different civilizations of the many crimes committed in the name of “Progress” – exploitation is one of the most horrible as it means the destruction of the great Hindu, Chinese & Japanese arts & cultures.  These nations, once full of the poetry of life, are fast becoming as grossly materialistic as Occidentals.

People, generally, love their follies.  To attempt to lessen our cast of some of your own follies, is admittedly showing that you deem yourself superior to others.

Charles E. Burchfield,  March 9, 1915.