Charles Burchfield, Journals, August 13, 1921

Kaiser came down last Sunday, and we took several hikes. He came down to relieve himself of the strain he has been under for several weeks (his wife had undergone a Caesarian birth – with a good recovery) but, if he came to relieve himself he also stimulated me so that it was a mutual give and take. Monday we went to Washingtonville where I showed him Pansy Allen’s stores (I had shown him at home the water-color made from them “Noon-day Heat”)

From here we went to Leetonia. While we were discussing the pamum picture possibilities of the old town hall, a voice hailed me. It was Crawford, one of the boys I went to camp with. I went over to shake hands with him, and we discussed the labor situation. After he had gone & Kaiser & I had continued my our way, my conversation with Crawford recalled to my mind the case of an old schoolmate who is married, has a little baby, and works at the Slag Dump for a living. Labor is plentiful, so he is forced to work until nine 9:00 P.M. for wages he used to get for eight hours. I communicated this to Charlie, who with an exclamation of horror, said that if I was thinking of getting married, that I had better get out of a small town, so that I would be independent of such things. I became depressed, and could not shake it off. Down near the railroad we saw an Italian woman  who was carrying a child almost ready to be born, talking & laughing gaily with a man, who seemed a little embarrassed. We passed the huge furnaces, which standing idle & rusty, looked gloomier & more hideous than ever.

Tuesday we went to Teegarten, and Wednesday to Travis where we stayed all night, and discussed art & music.

Charles Burchfield, August 13, 1921