Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

only we had it: Manure – Manure (pronounced as three syllables) Fifteen Cents a peck, Straw, Straw, rice clean straw. Buy a half- a bushel So you’ll make your garden grow; I remember that I thought this parody supremely clever. Presently, a third figure, an officer of the law appears. He has become incensed at what he considers my ribald shouting, and has come to arrest me. He has a “black–snake whip” in his hand which I contrive to seize. I keep him away with it for a few minutes, but gradually my arm grows more & more weak, so that I can hardly wield the whip. He makes a tackle at my feet & throws me. I suddenly step out “of the part”, and become an observer of the scene. My place is taken by a man, who it seems is a radical of some sort, and the “law” is out to “get” him on any trumped up change. The young woman is his fiancée, she tries in vain to help him – He is carried off to prison, where he is beaten & tortured – Later he writes of his experiences in a book he calls “The Beast,” exposing the evil condition of the prison so that he not only effects (sic) a reform but becomes famous. I woke at this point._______; Work on frame for elevators; B & I decide it suits it perfectly and it does so much for the picture.; Late P.M. for walk. A wonderful air – strong rainy wind out of the south west - the walk was a keen physical delight. It rained a little now & then, but it felt good to me.On my way back I stopped at the meat- market. I was