Tuesday afternoon
My dear Sister,
Though I am very tired and
rather sleepy I will not defer writing another
day – yesterday I had nervous headache –
Henry came home last Wednesday night after
Willie and Fred and I had been asleep some
time – it was a very cold night – Henry has
come to a conclusion that travelling in the
winter is not exceedingly comfortable – I have
been of this opinion some years – He was in
New York 4 days without coming to any definite
conclusion about the portrait until the day he
left – Of course the opinions were some more various
at a personal interview than on paper – Each man
had employed at least one artist whom
he preferred to all others – Henry was made to
visit many different studios and look at
pictures of men women and children innumerable
in private houses – Minturn preferred Page
and appeared so much hurt that none of the
others would agree with him that he finally

asked Henry if he would consent to have Page paint
his portrait on condition that the Common Council
should not take it unless generally approved – he
said he would guarantee Page's accession to such
a proposition – consulted Page who agreed – then
some of the party said that every artist ought
to be willing to paint one on the same con-
ditions – each man visited the artist he preferred
and all agreed to the condition – the merits of
the pictures to be judged by three Artists of
acknowledged celebrity – one Sully of Philadelphia
the other two not yet determined upon – It was
thought Inmans reputation was such that he
would not accede to the terms but he did
He, Harding, Huntington, Page, Gray are the 5
selected – The four pictures not sent to the com-
mon councils are to be kept by the different
paper layers who contributed a large sum
to remunerate the artists and as there are more
than 4 they draw lots for the pictures – is it
not 'funny' as Willie says – All the artists are
to come here and abide with us while painting
I think we have a prospect of a regular Boarder
for a year to come – Mr. Harding of Massachu-
setts (the only one not of the city of N.Y.) made his
appearance last Sunday – He is Weeds and Drapers
favorite – he is a very plain man not far from

50 – has spent some time in Europe – very unpretending
and as little like a young artist in appearance as
you can imagine – Inman comes next – I hope not
until Harding leaves – Mr. Harding is to paint Pa
and Judge Conkling also – So I have occupied my
whole letter with this one subject, which has been the
subject of letters innumerable for this last month –
I have not been out of the house since I wrote to you
before – it was so cold Sunday that I did not
venture – have heard nothing more from Augustus
poor boy his disappointment will be very great
if he loses his nomination appointment as is most
probable the bill I mentioned having passed
both houses – I suppose Spencer has sufficient influence
to get him appointed by the President but doubt
whether he will use it for that purpose – He will
be at home the 1^st of April – I hope you will come
out – I cannot reply to your last letter in
a very circumstantial manner as Henry has taken
it off and is not here to tell me where – Fred
has finished Bear we had quite enough of it but
I think it much better reading for young people than
the mawkish sentimental books which were the
fashion in our young days – Gurnee came to day
I have not seen him except at dinner – Willard also
added his agreeable society and delicate appetite –
Henry brought home Mrs. Bulwers new novel which I shall
not read – it is wasting time – Bulwers last is said to
be very good – have you read it – Willie's eyes are
not matinally better this is one of his best days so he

can play about the house – yesterday he hardly looked up
either lying flat on the floor, on his face or burying
his eyes in the cushion of a chair – poor little boy
it makes me very sad to see him suffer so much –
The first question he asked about Mr. Harding was if he
had eyes that he could see with – Clara was at Mrs.
Millers Saturday to tea – heard nothing more – Mrs. Miller
is engaged in keeping lent and indulging uncharitable
thoughts about those who do not likewise. your own Sister
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
MAR 7