[Boston—Saturday, 10 November 1866]
Saturday. Morning at home. Went to see Ristori for the last time as Elizabeth, perhaps her finest characterization—Longfellow and Whittier had both promised to go with us but the courage of both failed at the last moment. The house was crowded. Mr Graw asked Mr Fields to go and speak with the great actress but he excused himself. Whittier had never been inside of a theatre and could not quite feel like breaking the bonds now—beside he said it would cost him many nights of sleep. Longfellow dares not face high tragedy before a crowd.
