April 2
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
April 2, 1998
Good day. Wore my new birthday dress. Got lots of compliments. Came home and had 2 go get my bag from Dad’s. Went 2 Courtney’s and hung out with her and Liam. Home at 4:00. Watched the story and talked 2 Jon. Em came and I giggled about Jon. Went 2 Eddie’s. Had good dinner. Dessert and T.V. Paged Jon but he was asleep.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
April 2, 1997
Up at 8:00. Ate breakfast. Mom dropped me off at Camp Canine for me to volunteer from 9:00-12:00. It was really cool. The dogs were adorable. Came home. Did some homework. Took a nap. Watched story. Ate dinner. Mike and Zach called me! :) Talked some. Went shoe shopping and got some really cute ones. Showered. Talked to Mike and Zach more. Blow-dried.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
April 2, 1960
Did a big wash, very windy but hung all I could on porch. Mrs. B. called, after going down town asked her to come here which she did. By then I had finished. Made French toast and coffee for “brunch.” She stayed until noon. Lo ate with Lily. Ironed things that needed it. Took care of all other things. Were invited with Cooks and to Dorothy’s to eat. A nice meal and a lovely home.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
April 2, 1944
Slept til 11:30. Read awhile. Got good book on race relations - Negro problem. To dinner at 12:30. Apple pie a la mode for dessert! Mary Lou Connors is so funny. Beautiful day but quite breezy and cool. Betty and I didn’t feel like staying in so about 2 we walked to town and took the north-south bus out to the barracks. Then stayed on bus and went to other end - the Pennant and airport. Had fun just watching the different people. Walked around a bit when we got back to Broadway but nearly blew away - went to Bing’s for sodas. Stopped at South and talked to Peggy awhile. Back to hall for census at 5. Supper 5:30. Tried to write letters in evening but finally gave up. About 8:30 Betty and I went to Tuck and then for a walk. Picked up a cat that followed us - so funny! Back about 9:30. Took bath. Betty went to bed early. Hall party at 10:00. Lulu’s Scotty played and sang. Had style show, singing, and cup cakes.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
April 2, 1941
Lovely, warm, Springy. Went to chapel just for the exercise. In English had a test and a conjugation. In Latin, Goody had us all march into the library and get a Reader’s Digest to read. She’s been trying to get us to broaden ourselves by reading things outside schoolwork. So we read and learned -- it was fun. No assignment for tomorrow, just read. At noon Mom left for Knoxville to meet the train bearing the Williamses. We didn’t have any 12:15 class but instead at 12:30 went to chapel for a 45-minute movie. Sat with Helen and Roberta. Quite warm. Spring fever day. After school when Mom returned, I went to Miss King’s and helped Mom select a Spring bonnet. Then washed and curled hair. Was late for 6:30 play practice, but it didn’t matter because I’m not in first act. Fun practicing. I drove with Mrs. C. and Miss Alford to take J.P. Ross home. As result, I didn’t get home till about 10:00. It was fun, though. Daddy out late on fires. Country burning up.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
April 2, 1888
I worked at the store the most of the day, making out a statement of the Treasurers account for the Grand Traverse College. Went over to my house for a little while this afternoon. I received a letter from Kate saying Una was better, for which I am glad. I began keeping invoice at the store tonight, working until 10:30. It is clear and beautiful tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
April 2, 1887
It has been quite warm all day and the snow has gone down a good deal. The road was so soft that it was very hard walking when I came home tonight. I took my dinner up to the store today and spent considerable time studying telegraphy. I posted the books too and took a trial balance of the Town Treasures Books and balanced up his Ledger. I went over to Mr. Waters and stayed to supper and went to choir practice at Mr. Green’s with Winnie, they wanted me because Bert Coain had gone away. I had a talk with Mr. Case today and I guess that I will not be wanted at the store all the time this year. I don’t much care.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
April 2, 1862
Stanafer Jones’ wife spent the day here & all the Night’s were in the yard as a young man by the name of Norris has come for Dick Night. He is a deserter from Lt. Col. Coleman’s battallion. They went to take him last Friday night. He says he is not going & Tom Hendrix encourages him in not going. Dick Night married his (Hendrix’s) sister last Sunday evening. Mr. Henry officiating as Esq. We had a very hard rain in the evening. Zona & I took a walk to the mill dam while they were marrying. A good deal of hail fell with heavy thunder. Some men staid here that night. They came to the mill from Transylvania, been buying wheat on New Found.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 35, London
April 2, 1668
Up, after much pleasant talk with my wife, and upon some alterations I will make in my house in her absence, and I do intend to lay out some money thereon. So she and I up, and she got her ready to be gone, and by and by comes Betty Turner and her mother, and W. Batelier, and they and Deb., to whom I did give 10s. this morning, to oblige her to please her mistress (and ego did baiser her mouche), and also Jane, and so in two coaches set out about eight o’clock towards the carrier, there for to take coach for my father’s, that is to say, my wife and Betty Turner, Deb., and Jane; but I meeting my Lord Anglesey going to the Office, was forced to ’light in Cheapside, and there took my leave of them (not baisado Deb., which je had a great mind to), left them to go to their coach, and I to the office, where all the morning busy, and so at noon with my other clerks (W. Hewer being a day’s journey with my wife) to dinner, where Mr. Pierce come and dined with me, and then with Lord Brouncker (carrying his little kinswoman on my knee, his coach being full), to the Temple, where my Lord and I ’light and to Mr. Porter’s chamber, where Cocke and his counsel, and so to the attorney’s, whither the Sollicitor-Generall come, and there, their cause about their assignments on the 1,250,000l Act was argued, where all that was to be said for them was said, and so answered by the Sollicitor-Generall beyond what I expected, that I said not one word all my time, rather choosing to hold my tongue, and so mind my reputation with the Sollicitor-Generall, who did mightily approve of my speech in Parliament, than say anything against him to no purpose. This I believe did trouble Cocke and these gentlemen, but I do think this best for me, and so I do think that the business will go against them, though it is against my judgment, and I am sure against all justice to the men to be invited to part with their goods and be deceived afterward of their security for payment. Thence with Lord Brouncker to the Royall Society, where they were just done; but there I was forced to subscribe to the building of a College, and did give 40l.; and several others did subscribe, some greater and some less sums; but several I saw hang off: and I doubt it will spoil the Society, for it breeds faction and ill-will, and becomes burdensome to some that cannot, or would not, do it. Here, to my great content, I did try the use of the Otacousticon, —[Ear trumpet.]— which was only a great glass bottle broke at the bottom, putting the neck to my eare, and there I did plainly hear the dashing of the oares of the boats in the Thames to Arundell gallery window, which, without it, I could not in the least do, and may, I believe, be improved to a great height, which I am mighty glad of. Thence with Lord Brouncker and several of them to the King’s Head Taverne by Chancery Lane, and there did drink and eat and talk, and, above the rest, I did hear of Mr. Hooke and my Lord an account of the reason of concords and discords in musique, which they say is from the equality of vibrations; but I am not satisfied in it, but will at my leisure think of it more, and see how far that do go to explain it. So late at night home with Mr. Colwell, and parted, and I to the office, and then to Sir W. Pen to confer with him, and Sir R. Ford and Young, about our St. John Baptist prize, and so home, without more supper to bed, my family being now little by the departure of my wife and two maids.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)