132
exhibits the dreadful egotism commonly attendant on
suicides. Most men seem to think their death s by their own
hand will produce a very great sensation. Herbert s prayer
wont be respected by the press, but Silence will settle down
upon his memory soon enough.
19. Wednesday. Down town. Writing to Hannah, at night.
Gun up. He says he had $1000 in bank some few months
back, of which only $2 remain, the rest having been ex-
pended mainly on the Picayune.
20. Thursday. Harpers. Bonner out of town. Talk
with Nordhoff and two of the firm. They had dealings with
Herbert, lost considerable money by him, and spoke of his im-
perious temper. Post & Pic Offices. Tailors. A letter from
George Bolton. He writes less morbidly than usual and tells
something of Canadian farm life. The hard times and buil-
ding a house left John Conworth without a dollar; his sister
and George s money only saved him from law suits. Next har-
vest will put him right again. With his two brothers and the
rest the work is light. They live roughly and easily, on
their own products, feeding almost exclusively on swinesflesh
and only buying tea and coffee. No beer only whiskey
George gets no pay. Two men can farm 100 acres very
well. Land which ten yers ago could be purchased for
$20 per acre now sells for $80. George projects going fur-
ther west not for a year though. Mentions that Mr
Bezly of Bloxam is about to retire from his farm.
Drawing all the afternoon. Phonography at night.
21. Friday. Drawing &c. Down town in the afternoon.
Gun & Bellew at the Pic Office. Returned up town with the latter.
| Page |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Nine: page one hundred and fifty-three |
| Description: | Describes a letter from George Bolton, in which he writes about his farm in Canada. |
| Date: | 1858-05-19 |
| Subject: | Bellew, Frank; Bennett, Hannah; Bezley, William; Bolton, George; Bonner, John; Conworth, John; Conworth, Sarah Ann (Bolton); Farms; Gun, Robert; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Herbert, Henry William; New York picayune.; Nordhoff; North, William; Publishers and publishing; Suicide |
| Coverage (City/State): | [New York, New York] |
| Scan Date: | 2011-02-02 |
| Volume |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Nine |
| Description: | Includes descriptions of boardinghouse living, a picnic at Hoboken with other New York artists and journalists, his drawing and writing work in New York, attending a lecture by Lola Montez, visits to James Parton and Fanny Fern and the Edwards family, a controversy over Fitz James O'Brien's story ''The Diamond Lens,'' artist Sol Eytinge's relationship with writer Allie Vernon, the suicide of writer Henry William Herbert, antics of the New York Bohemians, the interest of people living in his boarding house in spiritualism, a visit to his friend George Bolton's farm in Canada, a visit to Niagara Falls, and a scandal involving Harbormaster Willis Patten, who lives in his boarding house. |
| Subject: | Boardinghouses; Bohemians; Farms; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Publishers and publishing; Suicide; Travel; Women |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, New York; Rochester, New York; Elmira, New York; Paris, Ontario, Canada |
| Note: | Thomas Butler Gunn was born February 15, 1826, in Banbury, England, and came to New York in 1849. During the Civil War he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune and the New York Evening Post. He returned to England in 1863, and died in Birmingham in April 1903. The collection includes twenty-one volumes of his diaries, including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and various other items inserted by Gunn. Diary entries date from July 7, 1849, to April 7, 1863, and include his experiences with the New York publishing and literary world, his descriptions of boarding houses, his travels throughout the United States, and his experiences traveling with the Federal army as a Civil War correspondent. |
| Publisher: | Missouri History Museum |
| Rights: | Copyright 2011 Missouri History Museum. |
| Source: | Page images, transcriptions, and metadata of the Thomas Butler Gunn diaries have been provided by the Missouri History Museum. |
