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February, [Centered] Wednesday, 19. [Right] 1873

I think it was to day that I received a letter from Bayard Brasher. He says he is inconveniently busy. This letter is about the shortest he has written to me in a year, or rather since September. This is the anniversary of the birth of Copernicus who is said to have been a very learned Prussian mathematician. “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘t is folly to be wise.” Not a word of truth in that saying at least in respect to this case. Here I am ignorant of what I did upon this day. How I do believe that that line of poetry has got no reference to what I speak about. I am not ignorant of what I did today I am only not able to remember what I did. To tell the truth I am two months behind time. It is the sixteenth of May and here I am trying to think of what I did on the 19 of January. Wasting my time in writing nonsense. A fine way for a Junior who ought to have more sense to be spending those hours which ought to be devoted to the study of Horace Euripides and other delightful writers.

[Centered] Thursday, 20.

I am almost ashamed to write any more after what I have just said. Pardon me you who will have managed to wade through the swamp of nonsense that precedes the writing for this day and I promise at least to try to do better in the future. Like Misses Gummidge I will try to do better in the future and although I have no “old use” to forget nevertheless I shall determine regret no longer on account of having written so much nonsense but cheer up and resolve to be a better if not perfect boy in the future. Writing such a sentence as that does not promise much for my improvement. Hence it is fearing that I may continue writing such bad composition as has already come from my pen I shall cease for a while and by the effect of a good sleep. May it improve the state of my thoughts is the sincere wish of Joley With this wish upon my lips I shall stop writing and shut the book. I am sure with such an Empty head upon my shoulders I shall experience but little difficulty in getting to stop.

[Centered] Friday, 21.

Five days rest since I last wrote in this diary. And yet those days have passed so quickly away that seems but a short time since I last saw these pages. But I must not forget today although I expect to have but little to say about it. The papers of to day say that yesterday a motion to impeach S. Colfax was made in the House of Representatives and only lost by four or five votes 105 yeas 109 nays. Fernando Wood was the mover. Mr. Feuno a well known actor in Booth’s Theatre died today. A short obituary notice in the newspaper and then his name will fade from our memory. How strange that actors those who please us most those who have such power over us should be so quickly forgotten. Hackett, Macready, and Forrest, how soon has your names been forgotten. A short obituary surely repays but little of the debt due to you after your long and busy lifetime spent in pleasing the human race still your names will never die and in after ages your fame instead of growing less will increase.