Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

In town today to have the car serviced. After leaving the car at Justice’s, I went downtown and paid some bills. Then lunch at the “one-arm” (delicious blue-berry pie for one thing) – I spent the next 1 hour and a half sitting at the base of the Soldier’s and Sailor’s monument with the other loafers, drowsing in the hot sun, watching the teeming human life on parade, as well as the pigeons and sparrows– how these latter relished the bird bath – ; I studied the form of the grass-plot in front of me in sunlight and mentally painted it. ; Later I bought some nuts and amused myself feeding the pigeons. One was quite tame – sat on my knee and even permitted me to pet it. ; In an article on Rubens in the American Magazine of Art, the writer points out that during the 30 years’ war in Europe, Ruben kept himself detached from the conflict and devoted all his energies to his art – as he should, and ended with the advice that modern artists, in view of the fact that when a democracy like our own country supplies arms to Japan and Russia, might well follow his example. June 7 – Friday – ; South of Springville on the Salamanca Rd. sketching – (winding creek and elm) – a very hot humid day – mist arising from the harsh rank yellow-green meadows. Frogs con-