Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Frank asked me to come down Tuesday. (Jan 3) which I plan to do.; Evening, I played our Christmas records, in particular, the French “Noel” by Caruso & “Stille Nacht” & Vom Himmel Komm’ ich Her” by Schuman-Heinck (sic) – My memory did not prepare me for the beauty of these two voices, and tho my record of Caruso is an old acoustic one, his voice sounds clear & powerful almost as life itself. Surely there are no singers like these today! These two records recall vividly the Christmas of 1917, when we first got our Victrola & we were all at home. That month marked a decided change in my work. If I felt homesick for that time, it was no disloyalty to the present, when I am really happier.; The children, in bed, were quite excited by the Caruso record, much to my delight.December 31, 1938 – ; To Buffalo, to get money and shop a little. A lively fall of feathery snow-flakes. It put everyone in good spirits – on all sides could be heard cheery, even hilarious greetings. A clerk in the 5 & 10 said to a companion clerk – “This is the kind of snow I like. On the corner of Chippewa & Washington stood a very rotund heavy set newshawk. His bulk was exaggerated by a thick wooly overcoat, and around his head was a light dirty, gray “parka-hood” such as the girls wear, which framed in his coarse cold-reddened face. He was truly, an apparition. A rough