Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Monday 5th Rainy and very muddy. Took a long walk nevertheless. In the evening continued the Girondists.

Tuesday 6th Pouring rain fell. Drove out notwithstanding and made several calls.

Wednesday 7th Pleasant morning. We walked out early delighting in the rare sunshine. Mr and Mrs Bossange called. Finished that fine story called “Sister Anne” the Dobell’s friends book. It gives a strength and savor to daily life.

Thursday 8th Exquisite day. Walked out early hoping to see the little prince at play. Wandered into the old city through the Faubourg St. Germain gazing into the fine green courtyards disclosed by creaking back of the old gates as if asking in the genial sunlight. Returning we drove out to the...

Friday 9th Another day of wonderful weather. Mild, clear, serene. We drove again to see the brilliant array and the imperial cortèges. Mr Osborne passed the evening with us.

Saturday 10th Passed many hours out in the sunshine and beauty of Paris. In the eve. finished “Girondists.”

Sunday 11th Read Robertson together. Walked out again as usual enjoying everything. Heard Dr Castle lecture on phrenology. Humbug.

Monday 12. Still beautiful weather. Dr Bigelow vaccinated us. Saw the Emperor and Empress out at play with the little prince. It was a touching sight. The child came and peeped through the railing dragging his father after him that he might see all the people and bow to them. Long after the...

Tuesday. 13th Weather changing colder and snowy. Steamer very late, this week. We live much about our warm fireside, reading, writing, and in the evening enjoying long chats with friends. Exquisite French dinner at Bossange’s. Met Mr Schneider there. They were exceedingly kind.

Wednesday 14th Snowy. Busy with French; and Carlyle which grows very interesting. Jamie passed an hour in the evening with the Greene’s. For some reason I feel wonderfully little like writing here in Paris. Letters almost suffice. Received a long call from the Countess de Montemerli, Mrs...

Thursday 15th Saw the rooms of Nadar the popular artist and photographist. Passed the evening at Mrs J. Bigelow’s. Nice time. On our return found a letter from Lissie in London.

Friday 16th How glad we were to hear from L. Sent a note to her to come on immediately.

Saturday 17th Passed the evening with the Cranch’s. Mr Huntingdon  was there. He is a fine just man. Mr Cranch sang very pleasantly while his wife made punch. It was terribly cold but we crouched round the fire and made up for it by a cosy chat.

Sunday 18th Lissie does not come but instead a note. It is a sad day to us. We hear that Brown was executed on the 2d of December. I wept strong hot tears, not for him but for our country. The wound it makes in my heart is as deep as the love I bear her. Our lives have fallen in perilous times....

Monday 19th We began today to look for Lissie and kept seriously at the unprofitable business until Thursday.

Wednesday 21st Called on the Greene’s in the afternoon. They were both at home. He had not been out for a week because of illness. Talking of John Brown and Charlotte Corday, between whose principles, deeds and sacrifice there seemed to me some likeness. Mr Greene branched off to Robespierre...

Thursday 22. Have finished Carlyle’s Frederick but can’t make up my mind to part with it. It is so large a book. He makes Frederick read lessons to us all.

Friday. 23d Busied and wearied with sight seeing. Went to see Viardot with Madame la Comtesse as an addition to our party in the evening. Glorious creature every note and tone dwells close upon our memories.

Saturday 24th Sight seeing again.

Sunday 25th Christmas. Such a pleasant day as we had. Early, we had little surprises for each other later. Lissie and Jamie went to the Chapel of the “Tuileries” and in the P.M. we drove to the pretty “Bois”. Mr Huntingdon [sic] dined with us. He stayed talking until 11 o’clock full of...

Monday 24th [sic] Sight-seeing in the rain.

Tuesday 27th Lovely day. Boulevards gay beyond description with New Year’s trifles. The booths add immensely to the distracting nature of the whole. Met Mr Thackeray just like himself and charmed with Paris. Father Prout (Mr Mahoney) held him by the arm. At night we dined at the “Trois...

Wednesday 28th Au Louvre.

Thursday 29th Visited Hamon’s studio, he was most courteous and showed us all he could find about him of interest to us. Tea-party at Mrs Mountford’s. Pleasant talk with Mr Winthrop and Mr O’Sullivan. They feel sadly about our dear country.

Friday 30th The street frenzy as New Year’s day approaches grows stronger and stronger. We are out in it the larger part of the day reaching home just in season to dine and prepare for our gay tea at Mr Huntingdon’s  in the evening. Such a nice time as we had. Mrs Cranch made the tea, Mr...