February 18
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 18, 1998
I hate school. It makes me feel so stupid! My grades are all going down ‘cause I’m slack. Sandra picked me up & took me 2 work. (Just me & Kim.) Sarah C. took us home. Packed. Dad came. Ate. Did lots of homework. (World Civ.) Rogerses were here 4 dinner.
Laura M., age 14, Colorado
February 18, 1997
Today it snowed like crazy and we went to Vail. So far, Vail has been my least favorite. Too much pole-age. Me, Karen, and Melanie took off this afternoon and got lost. Came back. Showered. Had Chinese take-out for dinner. Watched “Mad About You.” Did homework and wrote.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 18, 1960
Straightened kitchen cupboards. Mrs. B. stopped in on her way home from Maria S. We had coffee. Marvel called earlier. In P.M. after being up to Ole’s washed dining room window and wiped walls etc. and vacuumed thoroly. Looks better. Lo came home about 4:30 after having a perm. Left for cabin. G.B. to C.L. to meeting so ate bacon and eggs. Then to begin the cleaning, plenty of it. Came home about 9:00.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 18, 1944
Bright and cold. Cornbread came in morn. Test in shorthand. Got book on Queen Elizabeth and The Way of All Flesh for Eng. Lit. Good lunch. Miss Omer wasn’t there, thank goodness. Betty went out to lunch with parents of girl from Wenatchee. Mary Jo and Jane went home for week-end. Betty and Mary went to fencing at 2. I read history and washed clothes. Betty studied and slept. Got Life and letter from Mum in afternoon mail. Read philosophy a little. Went with Betty to get papers and helped her deliver them. My picture in connection with blood donors was in it! About 5:30 Mary, Kath., Betty and I went to town. Shopped. Then to Bing’s for hamburgers. Back by dairy for sundaes!! Cold out. Back about 7:15. I took a bath. At 8 Mary and I went to auditorium to see the murder mystery “Ladies in Waiting” presented by dramatic dept. Scary and good! Back at 10:30. Washed my hair and to bed. Had fun this afternoon and evening.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 18, 1941
Another bright, windy, glorious day. Cool. Very. Mary absent. Sorta getting used to empty seats. Bunny not in history class. Everyone thought George’s necklace was cute. No English for tomorrow. Dear Mrs. Cummins is putting the play all on me. I’ve even picked out four which we might use, and she wants me to take a leading part. Help! Music lesson. Afterwards, Mom and I went to town and bought a potted flower for Mary and did some other shopping. Fun at Golden Rule. Mom also bought a suit at the Dress Shop. Home, and then drove over to Mary’s. She had been resting but came downstairs. Mom visited with Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, and I with Mary. Her sister is here from Oklahoma and wants to take her back with her to live awhile and recuperate. Mr. Farmer is actually favorable to it but Mrs. Farmer has not yet been converted.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 18, 1888
It has been a fine day, the sun shining brightly and thawing considerable. Carrie Waters and baby came at noon and spent the day. Fred came and got her at night. I visited with Prof. Harvey a while after school was out. I guess he is about as sick of some things in connection with the College as I am. I have been thinking that if I can’t sell and Kate gets to feeling better that we may stay here another summer. Am afraid I will lose on this place if we rent it.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 18, 1887
I got up rather late this morning. Fred was just starting for the Platt River mill. I wrote copies and finished my letter to Kate. I also wrote to the Penman’s art journal ordering a Writing Ruler for one of my students. It rained some about noon as I came back from my house where I had been to get my nice coat and vest to wear tonight. It turned to a snow this afternoon and has been a storming evening. I went up to the concert tonight and sung a song with Mrs. Waters. There was quite a number out despite the storm. Fred and I walked back together. It is growing some colder, with the wind in the north. Got a letter from Kate tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 18, 1874
What have I done to day worthy of record? — Scarcely any thing. Rather unwell and slept so late in the evening as to miss Chatham train and guess Sister Julia will wonder what is the matter with me. Expect to make the trip to Haywood to morrow. What a forlorn fellow I am.
Met Dr. Grissom and Tim Lee down street. Gave G. the letter concerning investigation of Insane Asylum affairs. Told him I guessed it would not be of much service to him.
Took an evening walk to the depot and back.
Had a chat on general subjects with Mrs. Smith several hours.
Have been sitting here with mind running at large. Would I were settled. Have a free pass to Morehead City, but am so little disposed to use it. 20 min. to 12 M. Good Night. [In right margin] Called at P.O. and got wrappers and stamps. [In left margin] Some snow — Cloudy all day. Falling.
*(Worthy of Record: The Civil War and Reconstruction Diaries of Columbus Lafayette Turner, Ed. Kenrick N. Simpson, courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 18, 1863
Finished that apron & made another. Still cloudy. Atheline making some napkins. All are well. Mr. Henry went to Asheville today. Alston’s negro got 6 turkeys yesterday at 1.50 each, is to get four more tomorrow. Willie is trying to talk, can say any word but can’t frame a sentence.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
February 18, 1862
Cloudy but no rain. I finished Zona’s apron. Had the headache in the evening. Aunt Tena rendered up the tallow today. Atheline moulding candles & will be all this week. Willie will soon be walking, can get up by anything & walk.
*(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
February 18, 1668
Up by break of day, and walked down to the old Swan, where I find little Michell building, his booth being taken down, and a foundation laid for a new house, so that that street is like to be a very fine place. I drank, but did not see Betty, and so to Charing Cross stairs, and thence walked to Sir W. Coventry’s,1 and talked with him, who tells me how he hath been persecuted, and how he is yet well come off in the business of the dividing of the fleete, and the sending of the letter. He expects next to be troubled about the business of bad officers in the fleete, wherein he will bid them name whom they call bad, and he will justify himself, having never disposed of any but by the Admiral’s liking. And he is able to give an account of all them, how they come recommended, and more will be found to have been placed by the Prince and Duke of Albemarle than by the Duke of York during the war, and as no bad instance of the badness of officers he and I did look over the list of commanders, and found that we could presently recollect thirty-seven commanders that have been killed in actuall service this war. He tells me that Sir Fr. Hollis is the main man that hath persecuted him hitherto, in the business of dividing the fleete, saying vainly that the want of that letter to the Prince hath given him that, that he shall remember it by to his grave, meaning the loss of his arme; when, God knows! he is as idle and insignificant a fellow as ever come into the fleete. He tells me that in discourse on Saturday he did repeat Sir Rob. Howard’s words about rowling out of counsellors, that for his part he neither cared who they rowled in, nor who they rowled out, by which the word is become a word of use in the House, the rowling out of officers. I will remember what, in mirth, he said to me this morning, when upon this discourse he said, if ever there was another Dutch war, they should not find a Secretary; “Nor,” said I, “a Clerk of the Acts, for I see the reward of it; and, thanked God! I have enough of my own to buy me a good book and a good fiddle, and I have a good wife;” — “Why,” says he, “I have enough to buy me a good book, and shall not need a fiddle, because I have never a one of your good wives.” I understand by him that we are likely to have our business of tickets voted a miscarriage, but [he] cannot tell me what that will signify more than that he thinks they will report them to the King and there leave them, but I doubt they will do more. Thence walked over St. James’s Park to White Hall, and thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked all the morning, and did speak with several Parliament-men-among others, Birch, who is very kind to me, and calls me, with great respect and kindness, a man of business, and he thinks honest, and so long will stand by me, and every such man, to the death. My business was to instruct them to keep the House from falling into any mistaken vote about the business of tickets, before they were better informed. I walked in the Hall all the morning with my Lord Brouncker, who was in great pain there, and, the truth is, his business is, without reason, so ill resented by the generality of the House, that I was almost troubled to be seen to walk with him, and yet am able to justify him in all, that he is under so much scandal for… I stepped to the Dog Tavern, and thither come to me Doll Lane, and there we did drink together, and she tells me she is my valentine … Thence, she being gone, and having spoke with Mr. Spicer here, whom I sent for hither to discourse about the security of the late Act of 11 months’ tax on which I have secured part of my money lent to Tangier. I to the Hall, and there met Sir W. Pen, and he and I to the Beare, in Drury Lane, an excellent ordinary, after the French manner, but of Englishmen; and there had a good fricassee, our dinner coming to 8s., which was mighty pretty, to my great content; and thence, he and I to the King’s house, and there, in one of the upper boxes, saw “Flora’s Vagarys,” which is a very silly play; and the more, I being out of humour, being at a play without my wife, and she ill at home, and having no desire also to be seen, and, therefore, could not look about me. Thence to the Temple, and there we parted, and I to see Kate Joyce, where I find her and her friends in great ease of mind, the jury having this day given in their verdict that her husband died of a feaver. Some opposition there was, the foreman pressing them to declare the cause of the feaver, thinking thereby to obstruct it: but they did adhere to their verdict, and would give no reason; so all trouble is now over, and she safe in her estate, which I am mighty glad of, and so took leave, and home, and up to my wife, not owning my being at a play, and there she shews me her ring of a Turky-stone set with little sparks of dyamonds, which I am to give her, as my Valentine, and I am not much troubled at it. It will cost me near 5l. — she costing me but little compared with other wives, and I have not many occasions to spend on her. So to my office, where late, and to think upon my observations to-morrow, upon the report of the Committee to the Parliament about the business of tickets, whereof my head is full, and so home to supper and 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.)