Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Thursday 10th Received a visit from Mad. Gorneaux and arranged for lessons the 1st for Friday eve. 11th Nov.

Friday. Took tea last night with the Bigelows, stayed late. Tonight took our lessons with more hilarity I fear than progress.

Saturday 12th The letter for Lissie to make the winter passage and join us goes today. We have been very busy this week writing up to the last moment. I do hope she will come. Rose very early in order to go to Fontainebleau. The day was cold but delightfully sunny and we had a nice run there....

Sunday 13th Read at home today then took a sunny stroll about the fine city; at last we were attracted to the unrivalled Madeleine. We went in awhile and listened to the music & I felt that all was not bad there because the lowly ignorant of the earth found there a palpable foundation of their...

Monday 14th Very busy at French. Mademoiselle Gorneaux comes every other day, is as bright a little trap for ignorance as I have seen and no love of Englishmen (all the worse for her). Spent several hours in the glorious Louvre.

Tuesday 15th Our wedding day. Dear Jamie brought me fresh flowers which he found in spite of the frosty air and a sweet dear poem from the love that is always fresh. We determined to ask Mrs Hoppin &c because we knew them to be a little lonely while Mr H. was away. Madame Busque sent gingerbread...

Wednesday 16th Glad that our letter to Lissie is on its way.

Thursday 17. Cold, and snowy at times. Walked to the Luxembourg and through the strange old quarters St. Germain; we think this by far the most interesting part of Paris because most Parisian. The light was hardly sufficient for the pictures but every visit fills us with purer pleasure than the...

Friday 18th Air lovely. We look a long long walk wondering at the immense amount we always find waiting to be done in this great city.

Saturday. 19. A few hours at the Louvre and a few at home with books and work completed the measure of this short day.

Sunday 20th Read Robertson at home in the morning about noon the fog cleared and we started for a long stroll on the Boulevards. Letters from home greeted us as we descended into the Conciergerie. We were most thankful for them; such comforting comfortable letters they were too!

Monday 21st The weather is still soft and warm like our October days when we walk among the rustling fallen leaves.

Tuesday 22d of November. Still beautiful weather. Walked on the Champs Elysées.

Wednesday 23d The fogs cover us with their impenetrable veils in the mornings and evenings but the middle of each day is a new wonder.

Thursday 24th Thanksgiving day at home in dear old Massachusetts.

Friday 25th Morning visit from our dear excellent friend Mr Greene. He had just returned from Havre. He talked much of the happy time in the life of men when they discov[er]ed the nothingness of fame and how differently this discovery affects different persons. He told a most striking anecdote...

Saturday 26th Misty warm cloudy. Walked on the Champs Elysées and went to the Louvre. Discovered the Gobelins there for the first time in the large hall. We had previously admired these as paintings. Think Guido’s Magdalene one of the first of pictures. It lingers with you teaching great...

Sunday 27th. Lovely weather and a happy day. Read at home a while and in the afternoon heard an excellent sermon from Mr Hoppin at the American Chapel. Received a kind touching letter from Spiridion.

Monday 28th Were to have gone to Compiègne to see the hunt but the weather has changed & it “raineth every day”. Took a long walk about the city to see Notre Dame and the architectural points. In the evening heard Madame Viardot in the “Orphée” of Glück. Incomparable music,...

Tuesday. The inexhaustible Louvre again. We saw the music des Marines which was new to us. Thank the Hoppins for the bough of holly and the lovely moss which they brought to us from Compiégne yesterday.

Wednesday 30th Went to Mrs Greenes in the P.M. She truly overwhelms me with her gentle kindnesses. Mrs Tappan came in quiet and sad as always, in appearance at least. Saw Effie Tudor and Mrs Stevens.

Thursday 1st of December. The days and months fly on increasing our impatience to see Italy. We shall wait to hear from Lissie. Lingered on the Boulevards today and saw some lovely pictures. One at Goupil’s gallery in the Rue Chaptal was very striking. William Brewster is performing the first...

Friday Dec. 2d When we had despatched Mad. Gorneaux we hastened to the “Institut de la France”. Saw some distinguished men I suppose but could not learn their names heard some stupid reports read, and hurried back to read the Girondins. The weather is bright, clear and cold. Letters from home.

Saturday Dec. 3. Visited Babcock’s studio with Mr Huntingdon  who met us in the street just out for a walk. We found the artist full of life and vigorous healthy love for his Art, just returned from the forest of Fontainebleau where he has been busily sketching from Nature. He had but few...

Sunday 4th Lovely day and cold. Enjoyed a short half hour together but were suddenly interrupted by poor Mr Crockett with complaint of his “appartements” &c. He had hardly gone when we found the hour had come for our engagement at Count [d’]Espagnac’s. The Count was courteous and the...