December 11
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 11, 1997
All I can do is picture myself all over these guys. Tim, Justin, Albert, even Zach sometimes! So frustrating. Sandra took me to work with Courtney and David. :( Out at 5:30. Eddie picked me up. Had Subway. Did geometry. T.V., Ashley, Karen. Mad at school ’cause schedule changes.
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 11, 1960
Lily wanted to take us to dinner to celebrate our birthdays so went to Lake Lawn. Came home about six. Wanted nothing more to eat so addressed cards and wrote on many of them. Loie had wrapped gifts before.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 11, 1938
Went to Sunday-school. Had different class room. Drove Betty H. home after Sunday-school (Mother did). Stopped at Post-Office. I washed the dishes and then made out my Christmas list. Set table and read paper. Soon Daddy came. After dinner and the dishes I went up to Helen’s but she wasn’t at home. So I sat in the car and read till she came home. Arthur Burton and his cousin Don Parker, who is visiting him came down and tried to get in the car but we locked it. Finally they went up to A.B.’s and got in his car. H. and I followed them and kept A.B. from getting in and Don from getting out. We called A.B. “Doctor Nut” and Don, “Donald Duck.” Grace Rizarddi came by with her little brother and we went across the street and talked to them. A.B. and Don came over, too. Soon Mrs. Stowers called the boys so H. and I walked down to the corner with Grace. Then I went up H. to get ready for C.E. She came down with me while I got ready. We walked to C.E. with Jim. On the way we met Charles Walker who had a bandage across his forehead. He said that he and J.D. Christmas had been riding in Melvyn Davis’s car and Mrs. Moore had backed out of some street and banged into them. Charles hit the windshield. Both cars were damaged. Charles was on his way home. Mrs. Moore didn’t come to C.E. but Gertrude came instead. I led. Had fairly good attention. Marie is to lead next Sunday. Walked home from C.E. with Helen, Marie, Betty and Marie’s sweetheart’s younger brother. I practiced when I got home and after supper did the dishes. At 7:00 I listened to Charlie McCarthy. A good play was on. Scary, though. From 8:00 till 8:30 I read. Then to bed. P.S. At night Mother phoned people about the movies Thurs. and Fri. “If I Were King.” She’s selling tickets to help the Episcopal Church, which is sponsoring it.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 11, 1887
Snow covered the ground when we got up this morning. It has been storming all day and is doing so tonight. I have not been out of the yard today. Fred Neill came over a little while this afternoon. I have been writing to ma and to Irving McColl also tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 11, 1862
Betsey gets on very well with the weaving. I fill quills. Jinnie & Atheline spin every morning till it is warm enough to plow & haul corn. Jinnie has no shoes yet, only pieces. Betsey stays here at night whilst she is weaving. I made some tape trimming today for me a pair pantletts & some for Zona a pair & finish the pantletts after supper (my own).
*(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 34, London
December 11, 1667
By coach to White Hall, and there attended the Duke of York, as we are wont, who is now grown pretty well, and goes up and down White Hall, and this night will be at the Council, which I am glad of. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked most of the morning, and among others did there meet my cozen Roger Pepys, who intends to go to Impington on this day s’ennight, the Parliament break up the night before. Here I met Rolt and Sir John Chichly, and Harris, the player, and there we talked of many things, and particularly of “Catiline,” which is to be suddenly acted at the King’s house; and there all agree that it cannot be well done at that house, there not being good actors enow: and Burt acts Cicero, which they all conclude he will not be able to do well. The King gives them 500l. for robes, there being, as they say, to be sixteen scarlett robes. Thence home to dinner, and would have had Harris home with me, but it was too late for him to get to the playhouse after it, and so home to dinner, and spent the afternoon talking with my wife and people at home till the evening, and then comes Sir W. Warren to talk about some business of his and mine: and he, I find, would have me not to think that the Parliament, in the mind they are in, and having so many good offices in their view to dispose of, will leave any of the King’s officers in, but will rout all, though I am likely to escape as well as any, if any can escape; and I think he is in the right, and I do look for it accordingly. Then we fell to discourse of my little vessel, “The Maybolt,” and he thinks that it will be best for me to employ her for a voyage to Newcastle for coles, they being now dear, and the voyage not long, nor dangerous yet; and I think I shall go near to do so. Then, talking of his business, I away to the office, where very busy, and thither comes Sir W. Pen, and he and I walked together in the garden, and there told me what passed to-day with him in the Committee, by my Lord Sandwich’s breaking bulk of the prizes; and he do seem to me that he hath left it pretty well understood by them, he saying that what my Lord did was done at the desire, and with the advice, of the chief officers of the fleete, and that it was no more than admirals heretofore have done in like cases, which, if it be true that he said it, is very well, and did please me well. He being gone, I to my office again and there late, and so weary home.
*(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.)