Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

80. Delight is to him – a far, far upward, and inward delight – who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self … (Moby Dick)(“The Sermon”)

May 10, 1935 – Friday –

     To harbor, painting and drawing. First to Evans elevators; as they came in right, I saw a big boat was moored there – it turned out not to be anything like I wanted; but it was interesting. It was the “Greenland”, flying the British flag, which at once gave it an air of distinction and romance for me. They had cranes set up in the boat, and were unloading the grain, in burlap sacks, a dozen or so to the load. From the top of the cabins in the middle of the boat, fluttered a couple sorts of underwear. The heavy black smoke–stack, with its band of sullen red, jutted up against the front of the second elevator, and was sending forth lazily soft golden-brown smoke. Tremendous activity was going on in the harbor – a great freighter steamed majestically out to the open lakes; small launches were hurrying bussily (sic) here & there; repairs were being made