December 20. We called on Miss Josephine Strong and went to Wallack’s Theater [at 485 Broadway, see Wikipedia page entry below-HJS]: Merchant of Venice. Old Wallack embodies Shylock perfectly; it’s a most intense, vivid, truthful impersonation. Portia was respectable, and in the trial scene something more. Women of genius would do well to study Portia – the noblest of recorded specimen of the intellectual woman (I say recorded, because she is, relatively to us, quite as real as any of the Margaret Fullers and other strong-minded women who were once actual flesh and blood and lived on earth, and died, severally to the great relief of some man or set of men). She shews how lovely intellect makes a woman while it is subordinated to heart and womanly impulse.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
Ain’t gonna touch this one. No way. Uh, uh. No sireee . . .
December 22. William Betts wants to put me on Columbia College Standing Committee, a manifest absurdity while Mr. Ruggles is in the board, and especially just now when the critical work of leasing the Botanic Garden lots is about to begin.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas