Splendid aurora Glendale
Ther [Thermometer] Monday, Aug. 20, 1917 [August 20, 1917] Wea [Weather]
86 [degrees] Heavy noc. [nocturnal] flight Mig. [migrant] Warblers. Fine
Clear & warm with strong S.W. [southwest] wind.
Cool evening with remarkably fine
display of Northern Lights, 10-11 P.M.
During that period a heavy &
continuous flight of migratory Warblers
was passing overhead. Seldom if ever
have I heard their lisping calls
more frequently within a similar
space of time. No Thrushes were
heard on this occasion nor was
I able to discover that there were
any passage migrants in woodland
near the house to-day.
  Spent forenoon in chamber writing
a long letter to C. [Caroline Brewster] & posting up this diary.
Played Victrola in studio after luncheon.
From 4 to 6 P.M. Dan [Daniel Chester French] & I strolled
about the place & neighboring woodland
picking peaches & plums. Many apple
trees & most hickories infested with large
caterpillars of 2 kinds fast devouring foliage.
Evening spent in parlor until Aurora was
discovered. After that we watched it a full
hour. Dotty Schoonmaker came to luncheon
& took Louise back to Kingston.

Glendale
Ther [Thermometer] Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1917 [August 21, 1917] Wea [Weather] Fair
Partly sunny, largely cloudy. Warm
& humid with light, variable winds.
  Prentiss French took me to Hager's Pond
this morning. We went & returned
via the wood road that leads around
the west side of the high ridge. I
had expected to find passage migrants
rather numerous because of the heavy
flight noted last night but all the
woods we passed through seemed well-nigh
birdless save for a couple of Wood Pewees
singing listlessly & 2 Partridges that
we flushed. Nor were there many birds
of any kind about the pond. I had
a talk there with a man native to this
region & well informed regarding its
forest trees, insect pests etc. He thinks
every chestnut is blight-stricken & must
perish. Prentiss returned to the pond
after luncheon & caught a bass, a
pickerel & a perch.
  Dan & I called on Mackintosh in
late P.M. He is as interesting as ever.
His dirt sifting has progressed
considerably since last year.