Fine autumn weather—Clear skies, warm sunshine—And wonderful cool breezes from the south—A calm settled over all things. The odor of burning leaves—What an intoxication it contains! It is almost an insult to nature to go to school on such days. I long for the woods—The woods!—I often wonder what I am, naturalist or aritst, for the pursuit of one hinders the other—I seem to be deciding which it shall be—Of course it must be an artist, for it [i.e. I] must live, but I am hoping for a day when I can give myself entirely up to Nature.
Charles Burchfield, October 8, 1913