Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

My mind seemed unusually sensitive to everything I saw. I was impressed with the homey quality of the little homes here, and how the inmates strove to add beauty to them with little gardens and trees. Situated in the heart of the railroad flats, there was little of beauty in the surroundings, but they made the most of things by planting four-o-clocks, morning glories, and other common flowers. One place had a front yard enclosing with a picket fence, and planted with sumac, and flowers, which gave it a secluded feeling.; Arthur wanted to see the saw sharpening, so we went back. He was just working on the second one. After he had finished he grew talkative, and told us of how he had become crippled (a fall as an infant had torn the ball-socket joint apart in his hip) and of his daily struggles. He had an iron “leg” so constructed that when he stood, its top formed a seat under his buttock, so that tho standing, the weight was not wholly on his leg).; P.M. A & I on book rack – I made a preliminary outline drawing of the road sketch made Monday afternoon. ; Evening – all of us to Lorenzo’s – an enjoyable evening. The musicians play for us a trip of Beethoven (Opus1 #3) and later Mr. Lorenzo sang “On the Road to Mandalay” which he dedicated to “The Burchfield Family” – (we met Mr. Berlin there who later told us they had wanted to announce to the restaurant that we had come in. Fortunately he dissuaded them. ; Afterwards, we went for a walk on Main St. The air