Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Aug 17, (Thursday) –; A.M. to the first show at the Buffalo to see “Goodbye Mr. Chips” – a fine play, dealing with the human spirit at its grandest and noblest. We all felt we must see it again. ; Evening – Ryans, brought a cousin from Cleveland, to visit the studio. The cousin was a likeable person, and seemed sensitive and appreciative of the pictures, but Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were nauseating as usual. ; ; Aug 18, (Friday) –; A.M. Eben Mantz (Bertha’s cousin from Detroit) came in unexpectedly. They were on their way home, from a trip to the East, where they had had their youngest boy, Phillip, at a school for the correction of stammering, for the past year. (He was pronounced cured, and in fact had in them three days with him, had given no sign of the trouble). We persuaded them to stay and have lunch with us. We all enjoyed the visit. They left for the Falls about mid-afternoon. ; Evening – Holdermillers over, bringing their pastor-friend Rev. Boester & Mrs. Boester. The evening mis-fired, for Boester proved to be not even mildly interested in the records, and Mrs. Boester openly yawned, and begged to go home repeatedly. Boester himself was rather round and comfortable – looking, with a moon-face, on which was a perpetual smile, that verged on smugness. By the time the evening was over, I was in a fine rage, and incensed after the Holdermillers for their lack of judgement.