Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

After they had gone, I wondered why he had come.July 1, 1939 (Saturday)Fiddling around at noon, Oscar Anthony stopped a moment on his way to his cottage at Lime Lake. I was shocked at his appearance. I remembered him, when I knew him at Birge’s, as taller, heavier. He always impressed me as Nathan stolid, snug, and on the beefy side. But today he seemed all shrunken together, shorter, thinner, grayer and old. He told me his wife had died in April, after a five year’s helpless invalidism.At the factory, out relations had been none too cordial – on his part, he was jealous of me, because he had longed for the job I came to fill; and on my part, his gross materialistic outlook repelled me; in addition to that, rumors of his contempt of my design work were continually reaching me. But today as I looked at him, I felt guilty somehow for my past opinion of him, and pitied him.July 12, 1939 (Wed).(1); “The ones I write on my own initiative because of – – – – inclination or inner need. (2); – Compositions inspired by outside, such as request of friend – – – – or commissions.– – – – Experience proves the value of a work does depend upon which of these categories it belongs to.