February 23
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 23, 1998
Uneventful in school, as usual. Sarah C. took me home & her & Kim stayed a bit. Did homework. Ate dinner. (Was supposed to play racquetball, but Eddie couldn’t.) Went 2 writing class from 7-9. Good. Did homework. Talked 2 Ashley & packed for trip.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 23, 1997
Up at 11:30! :) Went to see “The English Patient” with Mom and Kathy. It was O.K. Went to grocery store. Had dinner. Snuck in a conversation with Sean. Oh! :)
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 23, 1960
Up as usual, not getting into much as having my hair done. Lo picked me up before 10:00. Thru at 11:30. Washed a couple of doors etc. So dirty. Couldn’t make the cabin so ate at home. Lo did make it when they went out to feed. Lo worked again until 10:00.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 23, 1944
Cold in morn but got milder and was lovely in afternoon. Right on beam in Eng. Lit. class. Surprised myself by speaking out!! Had cramps somethin’ awful. Read Way of All Flesh during gym. Good lunch. Letter from Pan. Studied during siesta, practiced at 2, library at 3, studied philosophy from 4:30 til dinner. Felt awful!! Never been this bad before! Must have been donating blood last week. Suffered thru dinner!! And I’m not kidding! Gorgeous sunset! Right after dinner I went up to little theatre for class recital. Betty came along, too. I played second and did just simply terrible but I couldn’t help it. Somehow sat thru 3 more pieces, with the tears going ever so often and making me madder than ever. Finally had to leave, most unceremoniously. Betty was very comforting. Back to hall. Decided not to go to lecture but to bed instead. At 8 Betty went to the opera, “Marriage of Figaro” and by 8:45 I was in bed. Both windows open – night so lovely out. Quiet. Thought and then drifted off to sleep. The solution is so simple, I believe.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 23, 1888
Another very fine day with sunshine. I shoveled a path from the barn to the road this morning. It was hard shoveling. A man came to see Jimmie this forenoon and said he would buy him in two weeks if he could sell some notes to raise the money. Mrs. Harvey came over to visit Kate this afternoon and Mr. Harvey came along with me after school was out. We enjoy their company very much. It is a very fine moonlight evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 23, 1887
Got up this morning and ate breakfast with Fred. I wrote a lot of copies and then finished reading Hiawathia [sic] which I think is a beautiful poem and I will want to read it again sometimes. I finished my letter to Kate also. Grace came over this morning and stayed through the day. I didn’t have any trouble in my classes today. The Prof. and Mr. James Case visited my class in Penmanship. I went to the Post Office after school and received a letter from Kate and the Leader. Also a packet of seed from D.M. Ferry & Co. they failed to send the Cardinal tomato I ordered. I shall write to them. I called at Mr. Waters and got my saw. It has been a mild day. Looks stormy tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 23, 1874
Called at Mrs Pullens to see Mrs. Dodd. Day was too pretty to find her at home. Bright and rather warm for Feb.
Visited institution of Deaf Dumb & Blind. Saw Mrs. Ayer one of the teachers, and on my return met Mr Gay and Mr Costner, two blind men who sing well, and after expressing a desire to hear them and the other blind sing, was cordially invited to come at 8 P.M. and they would sing until 9 o’clock. I went and had the class of blind singers to myself. They were very kind and seemed to think a great deal of me pressing me to come again. Names as follows — Misses Brumley, Shank, T.C. Dettmering, Lilly McCarson, Annie E. Huneycutt, Mary Royall, Master Jackson Massey, and Messrs. Gay J.W., J.M. Costner & J.N. Royall. A.M. Page was not in.
*(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 23, 1863
I have been crocheting today on a cover for the candle stand. Mrs. Jamison & Betsey came this morning to warp a piece of jeans, 50 yds. They put part of it in the harness today. Betsey is to weave it. I send after Mrs. Andrews today as Fannie was complaining a good deal. She stays here tonight. Warm & pleasant. I got a letter from Matt tonight by the mail. Pa is not at all well. She says she can’t come if Pa gets no better. The others are all well.
*(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 23, 1862
Sitting in my room by a small fire for there is no need of a large one this beautiful Spring morning. The sun shines warm & pleasant. I have nothing to write so I will wait till evening. Willie is asleep & Zona is standing at my knee begging me for custard so I will give it to her. I took the children & went down to Mrs. Fanning’s. They were not at home so we went on over to the new mill dam & back by the old one & then by the goose nest by way of the meadow where Jim & Guy have been ditching. We had dinner at 12 o’clock & a long evening. Atheline took Zona & Willie up to Taylor’s after dinner. Jesse Jarrit was here a short time in the evening. Pinck, Jinnie & I went up to the Sulphur Spring. I had the headache very bad so I went to bed about dark & went to sleep.
*(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 23, 1668
(Lord’s day). Up, and, being desired by a messenger from Sir G. Carteret, I by water over to Southwarke, and so walked to the Falkon, on the Bank-side, and there got another boat, and so to Westminster, where I would have gone into the Swan; but the door was locked; and the girl could not let me in, and so to Wilkinson’s in King Street, and there wiped my shoes, and so to Court, where sermon not yet done I met with Brisband; and he tells me, first, that our business of tickets did come to debate yesterday, it seems, after I was gone away, and was voted a miscarriage in general. He tells me in general that there is great looking after places, upon a presumption of a great many vacancies; and he did shew me a fellow at Court, a brother of my Lord Fanshaw’s, a witty but rascally fellow, without a penny in his purse, that was asking him what places there were in the Navy fit for him, and Brisband tells me, in mirth, he told him the Clerke of the Acts, and I wish he had it, so I were well and quietly rid of it; for I am weary of this kind of trouble, having, I think, enough whereon to support myself. By and by, chapel done, I met with Sir W. Coventry, and he and I walked awhile together in the Matted Gallery; and there he told me all the proceedings yesterday: that the matter is found, in general, a miscarriage, but no persons named; and so there is no great matter to our prejudice yet, till, if ever, they come to particular persons. He told me Birch was very industrious to do what he could, and did, like a friend; but they were resolved to find the thing, in general, a miscarriage; and says, that when we shall think fit to desire its being heard, as to our own defence, it will be granted. He tells me how he hath, with advantage, cleared himself in what concerns himself therein, by his servant Robson, which I am glad of. He tells me that there is a letter sent by conspiracy to some of the House, which he hath seen, about the matter of selling of places, which he do believe he shall be called upon to-morrow for: and thinks himself well prepared to defend himself in it; and then neither he, nor his friends for him, are afeard of anything to his prejudice. Thence by coach, with Brisband, to Sir G. Carteret’s, in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and there dined: a good dinner and good company; and after dinner he and I alone, discoursing of my Lord Sandwich’s matters; who hath, in the first business before the House, been very kindly used beyond expectation, the matter being laid by, till his coming home and old Mr. Vaughan did speak for my Lord, which I am mighty glad of. The business of the prizes is the worst that can be said, and therein I do fear something may lie hard upon him; but, against this, we must prepare the best we can for his defence. Thence with G. Carteret to White Hall, where I, finding a meeting of the Committee of the Council for the Navy, his Royal Highness there, and Sir W. Pen, and, some of the Brethren of the Trinity House to attend, I did go in with them; and it was to be informed of the practice heretofore, for all foreign nations, at enmity one with another, to forbear any acts of hostility to one another, in the presence of any of the King of England’s ships, of which several instances were given: and it is referred to their further enquiry, in order to the giving instructions accordingly to our ships now, during the war between Spain and France. Would to God we were in the same condition as heretofore, to challenge and maintain this our dominion! Thence with W. Pen homeward, and quite through to Mile End, for a little ayre; the days being now pretty long, but the ways mighty dirty, and here we drank at the Rose, the old house, and so back again, talking of the Parliament and our trouble with them and what passed yesterday. Going back again, Sir R. Brookes overtook us coming to town; who hath played the jacke with us all, and is a fellow that I must trust no more, he quoting me for all he hath said in this business of tickets; though I have told him nothing that either is not true, or I afeard to own. But here talking, he did discourse in this stile: “We,” — and “We” all along, — ” will not give any money, be the pretence never so great, nay, though the enemy was in the River of Thames again, till we know what is become of the last money given;” and I do believe he do speak the mind of his fellows, and so let them, if the King will suffer it. He gone, we home, and there I to read, and my belly being full of my dinner to-day, I anon to bed, and there, as I have for many days, slept not an hour quietly, but full of dreams of our defence to the Parliament and giving an account of our doings. This evening, my wife did with great pleasure shew me her stock of jewells, encreased by the ring she hath made lately as my Valentine’s gift this year, a Turky stone set with diamonds: and, with this and what she had, she reckons that she hath above 150l. worth of jewells, of one kind or other; and I am glad of it, for it is fit the wretch should have something to content herself with.
*(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.)