August 14
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 14, 1997
Up at 10:00. Talked 2 Ashley — she woke me up. :) Sandra took me 2 work at 12:30. First, Karen stopped by! :) Then Kristin Rudy, and then when I was closing with Ann, Chris stopped by. He made me happy. Didn’t kiss him. Came home and Ashley called — she switched into my lunch! Showered. Eddie came. Went 2 Los Tres. Watched T.V. Talked 2 Karen. We may have Geometry 2gether.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 14, 1960
Cool and cloudy. Took Carrie home about 3:00 then to cabin to feed cats. Home a little while. Lo to bathe etc. and the folks around. Cooked corn and made coffee. To bed late.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 14, 1944
Bright, beautiful day. Called Mrs. Buchanan before work and accepted invitation. Was beginning to think it might not be so bad. Also made an appointment with Jane’s B.S. for a permanent Saturday. Typed deposition all morn and all afternoon. Will finish them up tomorrow, I hope. I like to be busy but not too busy. Off about 5. Walked home, trying to convince myself that I had a stomach ache and couldn’t go after all, but Mum wasn’t to be fooled. Cleaned up, dressed and departed, feeling like a lamb being led to slaughter, at 6:30. Alice Ann hailed me in passing. Dark clouds coming up in west — I took them as an ill omen. Just Mildred Norris and Ruth Jean Irwin and Audrey were there when I arrived. Soon Anne’s visiting roommate, Jeter, came down and we were all introduced. She’s just a painted doll like all those corny kids at Stephens — my first impression. But after while I decided she was really rather sweet and not quite as much sham and put-on as Anne. They all smoked, of course, but heaven knows I’m used to that. But let me say a world about the Irwin monstrosity. She was clad in a sleeveless black crepe cocktail dress with a large sparkling clasp at the low neck plus some kind of rather dingy white pumps. Add an uneven, shiny tan and peroxided hair and you have it. And you should have seen the show she put on — it was as amusing as a movie. The sophisticated cigarette and the sham, sham, sham!!! Amazingly enough, it put me at my ease. June Smalley, Nancy Wallace and Sarah Jones arrived soon. We had tomato juice and crackers on the porch. About 7:15 went in a served ourselves buffet style. Yummy supper! There were tables in different rooms. I sat with Audrey (Anne’s older married sister — 3 children — who is very sweet and not sham), Mildred and June and hardly opened my mouth but to eat. I just felt miserable ’cause I can’t feel at home with them. A girl from Kingston arrived late and she and Anne sat near us. We went out on the porch and talked some more and then Anne suggested the show. So we piled in different cars and drove down. Mildred and I went up to the rest room first. It was about 9 when we all went in and got seats way down front. I sat between Audrey and Nancy. Betsy, Anne Ray and Marcia were behind us. Saw an excellent short (not very short, though) on the battle of New Britain and found out later that one of the doctors in it was our Dr. Louie Killifer! It was so realistic and one felt that the picture that followed, although cute, was trivial and out of place. “What a Woman!” with Roy Russell and Brian Aherne. I had seen it but enjoyed it again. Out about 11:45. Anne drove me home and I said I was glad I had met Jeter and gave due thanks for everything. Never was so glad to get home. Found Mum and Pop retiring to bed. I really wasn’t depressed, though, and felt very good and free, as if I’d just been for an invigorating swim. Didn’t curl my hair but plopped into bed.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 14, 1887
It has been cool and cloudy all day. Fred waters came over here this morning to see Irvie and we got ready for church and walked back with him. He goes back to his work in the morning. There was a stranger occupied in the pulpit today; he gave us a good sermon. Irvie went to Mr. Waters’ this afternoon and will spend the night there. I wrote a letter to pa this afternoon. It tries to rain tonight, but don’t think it will succeed.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 14, 1862
I finished the shirt & made a napsack after dinner. Mr. Henry has concluded to start Saturday. The children are all well. Pinck started to school yesterday morning but got sceered for fear the teacher (Miss Nelly Jones) would whip him. It is a free school & there are a great many scholars. Pinck can spell a little & prounounce only a little. He likes his book tollerable well. He does not spell every day for I forget it.
*(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
August 14, 1668
Up, and by water to White Hall and St. James’s, and to see Sir W. Coventry, and discourse about business of our Office, telling him my trouble there, to see how things are ordered. I told him also what Cocke told me the other day, but he says there is not much in it, though he do know that this hath been in the eye of some persons to compass for the turning all things in the navy, and that it looks so like a popular thing as that he thinks something may be done in it, but whether so general or no, as I tell it him, he knows not. Thence to White Hall, and there wait at the Council-chamber door a good while, talking with one or other, and so home by water, though but for a little while, because I am to return to White Hall. At home I find Symson, putting up my new chimney-piece, in our great chamber, which is very fine, but will cost a great deal of money, but it is not flung away. So back to White Hall, and after the council up, I with Mr. Wren, by invitation, to Sir Stephen Fox’s to dinner, where the Cofferer and Sir Edward Savage; where many good stories of the antiquity and estates of many families at this day in Cheshire, and that part of the kingdom, more than what is on this side, near London. My Lady [Fox] dining with us; a very good lady, and a family governed so nobly and neatly as do me good to see it. Thence the Cofferer, Sir Stephen, and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury about business: and so I up to the Duke of York, who enquired for what I had promised him, about my observations of the miscarriages of our Office;1 and I told him he should have it next week, being glad he called for it; for I find he is concerned to do something, and to secure himself thereby, I believe: for the world is labouring to eclipse him, I doubt; I mean, the factious part of the Parliament. The Office met this afternoon as usual, and waited on him; where, among other things, he talked a great while of his intentions of going to Dover soon, to be sworn as Lord Warden, which is a matter of great ceremony and state, and so to the Temple with Mr. Wren, to the Attorney’s chamber, about business, but he abroad, and so I home, and there spent the evening talking with my wife and piping, and pleased with our chimney-piece, and so to bed.
*(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.)