August 28
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 28, 1997
Saw Chris after 2nd period and he was very pleasant — agreed easily to take us 2 Renee’s. But we got in lot and he had 2 others with him — so we didn’t even go near his car. Played pool with Zach. Mom picked me up. Did homework and story. Eddie came. Went to Chinese 35. At 8:30 came home ’cause Nanna’s in hospital again. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Talked 2 Chris on phone. Called him 2 tell him 2 bring my binder, but he just kept talkin’. Watched “Seinfeld.” Read. So much homework…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 28, 1960
Picked Carrie up for S.S. Then Loie mowed back yard, after that went to cemetery then to veg. stand and got dinner. Lo mowed front after dinner. Took Carrie home about 2:30 then to cabin to feed cats. Came home to bathe and get ready for show at Opera House. (“Can’t Take It With You.”) Good.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 28, 1944
Alarm went off at 6:30 and up I got. It seemed a shorter night than when I go to bed late. Cloudy, damp, rainy morn but nice. Sneaked out and went home to practice. Got Mum up at 7. To work at 8:30. The trouble with polishing my nails is that I want to sit and admire them all the time! Well, we were busy right from the start with letters and contracts, etc. It seemed different somehow — not like other Monday mornings, perhaps because it is my last. Then about 10a a whole gang of men came in and 2 of them took the deposition of Mr. Littleton in some lawsuit. They wanted me to take it on the typewriter instead of in shorthand and I didn’t know whether I could do it or not. But they talked slow enough and I got along famously. At the end of the first page one of the lawyers said it was a better job than they’d ever had done. Well, we pegged away till nearly 12. Mr. H. left before we were through. I felt so free and clean and — oh as if I were a tree that had just been revived by a summer rain. I think it’s freedom from the thought of Ashley because it doesn’t matter now whether he’s gone or not. I have at last conquered, although it is no virtue of mine. Home to a good dinner and to tell Mum the news. Back at 1. It still seemed different and I felt different somehow. Was planning to go to Red Cross tonight but found that the rooms don’t open till tomorrow. The men came back and Mr. Smith paid me $2.50. Kimmie called right in the midst of things but it was rather important. Something about Pan and the show. We decided to go tonight. She was all apologies for having bothered me. Mr. H. was in conference most of the afternoon. I finished So Little Time. Then there were some papers right at the last minute and I was late leaving. It was trying to clear. Stopped by Kim’s to tell her about Mrs. Walker. She wouldn’t have minded except that she had a coed and didn’t want to expose Alice Ann. We thrashed it out and eventually decided that she could stay at Mrs. Massey’s just as well, although I wasn’t so happy about the whole thing. Still, it couldn’t be helped. On home to discover it was almost 6!! Bath and late supper. Pop home. About 7:30 I left. Sort of half-way clear. When I was at Mother Lane’s I saw a man coming over the hill and I thought of Ashley but I didn’t really think it was he ’cause he had a hat on. And I didn’t fully recognize him till we passed ’cause it was almost dark under the trees. He said, “Hey, Pattie” and I said “Hi”, rather distantly, I fear, but I had been taken by surprise and my heart was doing the trip-hammer number. Then he asked “How are you feeling?” And I replied, “Just fine” and that was that. I was happy but not as I would have been once. On down to Kimmie’s. Pan was just leaving for band practice. Kim finally issued forth, all dressed for fall. We walked up to Mrs. Marsh’s and Kim. left something. Then down to the show. Sat in balcony. Saw March of Time (British Imperialism 1944) and Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray and Betty Hutton in “And the Angels Sing.” Betty Hutton is so funny — when she sang with gestures (a mild word) “His Rocking-Horse Ran Away”, I thought I’d die!! Well, not really, but you know. Out about 10. Stopped by Kim’s while she got her things for the night. Just as we were leaving Pan and Betsy came in with Jim Carroll and Albert Sissom. Left Kim at Kay’s and hurried home. Light in Ashley’s room. Mrs. Walker had just called so I grabbed everything and ran. She didn’t mind my being late. Wants me to stay with A.A. Friday night. Extra money! Said she had a compliment for me. Her sister Grace said I was very attractive. Hmm! To bed about 11. That beautiful mattress!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 28, 1887
It has been a pleasant day, not quite so cold as the past few days. I went to church this forenoon, but felt rather sleepy during the service someway. Jessie and Grace and her baby were here a while this afternoon. Charlie and Jimmie Case came and made me a short call. I went up stairs and took a very short nap this afternoon. The baby has been better today than for 2 or 3 days past.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
August 28, 1862
Berry & Saunders off to Asheville. Mrs. Charlie Moore & niece (Mrs. Clark) spent the day here. I did some sewing for Mrs. Clark on the machine, two shirt bosoms. They had a great deal of work on them. The machine did not sew well at all. It skipped so much. We had our first peach pie for dinner & several other things. I knit a little today on Willie’s stocking. Striped red & white. Atheline has been knitting on them.
*(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 28, 1668
Busy at the office till toward 10 o’clock, and then by water to White Hall, where attending the Council’s call all the morning with Lord Brouncker, W. Pen, and the rest, about the business of supernumeraries in the fleete, but were not called in. But here the Duke of York did call me aside, and told me that he must speak with me in the afternoon, with Mr. Wren, for that now he hath got the paper from my Lord Keeper about the exceptions taken against the management of the Navy; and so we are to debate upon answering them. At noon I home with W. Coventry to his house; and there dined with him, and talked freely with him; and did acquaint him with what I have done, which he is well pleased with, and glad of: and do tell me that there are endeavours on foot to bring the Navy into new, but, he fears, worse hands. After much talk with great content with him, I walked to the Temple, and staid at Starky’s, my bookseller’s (looking over Dr. Heylin’s new book of the Life of Bishop Laud, a strange book of the Church History of his time), till Mr. Wren comes, and by appointment we to the Atturney General’s chamber, and there read and heard the witnesses in the business of Ackeworth, most troublesome and perplexed by the counter swearing of the witnesses one against the other, and so with Mr. Wren away thence to St. [James’s] for his papers, and so to White Hall, and after the Committee was done at the Council chamber about the business of Supernumeraries, wherein W. Pen was to do all and did, but like an ignorant illiterate coxcomb, the Duke of York fell to work with us, the Committee being gone, in the Council- chamber; and there, with his own hand, did give us his long letter, telling us that he had received several from us, and now did give us one from him, taking notice of our several duties and failures, and desired answer to it, as he therein desired; this pleased me well; and so fell to other business, and then parted. And the Duke of York, and Wren, and I, it being now candle-light, into the Duke of York’s closet in White Hall; and there read over this paper of my Lord Keeper’s, wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy, so silly, and the remedies so ridiculous, or else the same that are now already provided, that we thought it not to need any answer, the Duke of York being able himself to do it: that so it makes us admire the confidence of these men to offer things so silly, in a business of such moment. But it is a most perfect instance of the complexion of the times! and so the Duke of York said himself, who, I perceive, is mightily concerned in it, and do, again and again, recommend it to Mr. Wren and me together, to consider upon remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the King, before the rest of the world, and particularly the Commissioners of Accounts, who are men of understanding and order, to find our faults, and offer remedies of their own, which I am glad of, and will endeavour to do something in it. So parted, and with much difficulty, by candle-light, walked over the Matted Gallery, as it is now with the mats and boards all taken up, so that we walked over the rafters. But strange to see what hard matter the plaister of Paris is, that is there taken up, as hard as stone! And pity to see Holben’s work in the ceiling blotted on, and only whited over! Thence; with much ado, by several coaches home, to supper and to bed. My wife having been this day with Hales, to sit for her hand to be mended, in her picture.
*(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.)