Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Apr 1, 1922; The eagle is caged- shall his wings become atrophied or shall they become unconsciously stronger & suddenly burst the cage at last? ; ; Apr. 8, 1922 ; A Saturday evening after a dry warm dusty April day – having missed the people I was to meet at Parker’s I went to a grayly lighted restaurant to eat. There was little satisfaction however as all I was offered was food. I came out strongly depressed – The last light was dying back of a tall office building; and the sky was dappled. I thot (sic) I would take a car and go out to Porter St. & walk along the river in the twilight and made towards Niagara Shelton Square. On the way I heard a steam-boat whistle, which caused me to change my mind, and so I went on down Main St towards the harbor. It was dark here on acct of the buildings but suddenly I came out to another open square & the light suddenly strengthened – the twilight had progressed and now threw down from the zenith a cold metallic light the gave the buildings a ghastly appearance. The labor employment station was surrounded by groups of shabbily dressed men, grotesque figures in the gloom- these are our Freemen, I thot (sic). ; When I reached the harbor I was enveloped in a strange melancholy sadness that was at once painful and pleasant. I leaned against