Jan. 30th. Very sore at my heart this morning for some scoundrel did ring me at five saying: "Good morning, Sir. Early Rising Bureau calling. Hope you did sleep well. Good morning, Sir!" And this would continue every quarter hour until chimes went six. Whereupon, sleep from me, I did complete a hasty toilet and thence to review some notings in economics. But soon my eyes did turn to two little sparrows on the window-sill, frequent visitors, who did fight most unlady-like over a crust of bread. And I thought to myself: "Stupid creatures. Know ye not economics: Divide, cooperate; and be happy!" And then I did almost hear them say: "Pray, brother, by what example teach you Marx!"

By and by to breakfast and thence, very serious, to examination which I did write; and, I did feel, very well; but was much disturbed by man at back of me who did grunt and puff and say strong things most violently. "Poor soul," thought I to myself, "the widow hath failed him again." But I to finish.

Thence to Cock Horse to cat, and I was stung exceedingly, and thence to town and to Shubert to see Water Hampden as Cyrano de Bergerac. By good fortune I did get a box seat at balcony fee--so great was the audience--and by more good fortune did seat aside Miss Williams of "Three Men on a Horse" comedy. A pretty one she is and I did talk to her with great pleasure, all the time her gentleman-friend looking daggers at me which I did pretend not to see.

Up the curtain and very pretty and accurate the scene, which did please me much. And it did go very swift and I did soon lose myself in seventeenth century most completely. Indeed, I did imagine many musketeers in the audience and the lady aside me was now dressed in many silks and lace and airs; but the lord still did seem a mean looker. And I was glad at my heart to see Sir Pepys (bless our souls!) who doth see the show for the first time and did laugh much at the lines.

"Hey? What? Call that a nose? Na, na--I'm no fool like what you think I be--That there's a blue cucumber!"

And then again I did see a tear fall from a poet's eye:

"I carry my adornments on my soul . . .

I go caparisoned in gems unseen . . ."

But Lord! this business doth chill my spine and I did wish the over with it lest I show my heart over much. Indeed, methinks the actor Hampden did employ the grand manner too much and unlike the little leaf which a breath of wind doth cause to fall, he did go down more like a log. But all in all this play did bring me great pleasure.

Thence, goodby to the little bird beside me; and I backstage to see Mr. Hampden, who, having a massage did ask me wait. So, I to talking to a pretty one and did comment on her performance but was sore at my heart when she did inform me she was not "in the performance." Whereupon we both did laugh.

Soon I to Hampden, but now my eyes being tired, must postpone the writing until anon. Weary, but very merry, to bed.