Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

74. The whole lake–land seemed to stretch in a long panorama bathed in a romantic evening light – at the back (west) was the smoky city with its wild wind-swept harbor of boats and gaunt elevators,- to the east, past Four-rod road, and Three-Rod road, lies the valley of Cowlesville, indistinct in the eastern twilight- already the whole county-side had the glamour of things experienced from early childhood – the very names had magic, capable of calling to mind visions of late spring evenings, excursions into the dark woods for fragile spring- flowers, ponds with teeming life, and noisy toads & frogs – In one great sweep I went from the harbor over the country side to the mysterious hill- country to the east. Even the harbor has an ancient-ness of experience, as tho I had wandered in it as a boy. A great love of all things all experience fills me tonight-

      I bought “Les Miserables” “War & Peace” and “Beethoven, the Man who Freed Music” – to fortify myself in my isolation – I am reading the last – and I realize anew what a strange unaccountable genius was Beethoven. He will never be explained.