February 24
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 24, 1998
Leslie’s sister told on her about her tongue ring, so Leslie skipped work & went 2 Renée’s w/ us. Left there at 6:00. Had guitar lesson w/ Cap. :) Ate. Me, Renée, Dad, Becca left for Boone at 8:00. Got there at 11:30 ish. Fun ride. Me & Renée chatted a bit, but basically just went 2 bed.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 24, 1997
Today at school was really good. Sean was so quiet but he was also really loving to me — I felt so close to him. Went home with Renee. Came home and did homework till 7:00! :( Ate dinner. Got bad tummy-ache. Watched Melrose. Stayed up till 10:00 'cause of ache.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 24, 1960
So jittery couldn’t work. Lo took me around to Mrs. Beards for Circle. Read a letter for Mrs. B. and a couple of cards. Mrs. Becking and I helped serve coffee. Mrs. Newcourt had very nice devotions. Carlota had sent in games, she had a cold. 16 and 2 guests (Millie and Mrs. Elfers). Mrs. Elfers and I did dishes Mrs. B. put away.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 24, 1944
Cool in morn but afternoon was perfect. Breezy and not too cool or too warm. Just right!! Glorious! Did remarkably well in transcription! Test on Spencer in Philosophy. Not so bad! Have decided that to be genuinely friendly and warmly interested in others is solution to my problem. Hamburgers for lunch. Miss Omer not there, thank goodness! Had fun with Mabel, Dorothy and others. Reviewed shorthand at siesta. At 2 there was Sr. Court meeting in auditorium and Mrs. Bok spoke. She is a beautiful woman. A Miss Leland played violin with great skill and feeling but wasn’t easy to look at! Mrs. Bok emphasized the loving God part of Jesus’ commandment as being most important - then loving others. Felt so good afterwards. Met Mary and Kath. Betty and I went to town. So wonderful outside! Actually loved Columbia for fleeting moment! Bought raisins with points Mum sent us an apple each. Back about 3:30. I practiced til lesson time at 4:30. Apologized about last night. Miss Good Smith understood. Had real good lesson. Ate raisins and filled out advising papers before dinner. Good dinner. Afterwards I typed letter to family and Betty went to library. I went to auditorium at 8. Good seat - next to Dean Shofstall! Saw “Merry Wives of Windsor” - modern dress, no scenery to speak of but singing and acting very good. Funny. Out about 10. At 10:30 had short meeting in Room 68 about war stamps. Ran around upstairs looking for Mary and Kath. and ran in and out of Mary Jo’s and Jane’s room. To bed on stroke of midnight. Felt very good!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 24, 1941
Cloudy, cold. Had sore throat in morning. Mother found out. Result: I had to stay home from school because of scarlet fever scare. To doctor’s about 10:00. Dad took me down because Mom had gone down to Legion Hall to prepare for dinner tonight. Doctor said didn’t think it was scarlet fever but I can’t go back to school till Wednesday. Have to take some pills. Wrote synopsis of short stories in morning, rested after lunch, and then wrote letters till suppertime. Mary Louie sent my lessons by Helen. Cummins phoned. Today is Mary Louie’s birthday. Mom and Dad away most of afternoon. Had birthday party for underprivileged boys in Legion Hall tonight. Therefore I ate and spent evening by myself. Read my “Rilla” again. It gave me courage and strength and a new feeling. Mom and Dad home about 10:00. Throat better. Hope Mary can go to Oklahoma.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 24, 1888
It was so warm and pleasant today that I opened up the cellar for an airing. I have had the Neuralgia in my face and head quite bad all the afternoon; do not feel like doing anything tonight. It looks stormy tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 24, 1887
It was colder this morning and snowed and blowed quite a good deal. I wrote copies and read some in the papers this forenoon. I also examined Fred’s saw setting and filing tools so I would know how to use them in rigging up my saw when I get time and it is warmer weather as it has been so long before today. I called at Dr. Taylor’s after school to get excused from acting in a tableau tomorrow night at the Literary club meeting. I did not want to be out so much. I read Longfellow’s poem, “The Courtship of Miles Standish” today and tonight. Have been writing to Kate also. It is going to be a cold night 4 degrees below 0 now. Well I must fix up the fire and go to bed.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 24, 1874
Hurried up arrangements to leave Raleigh. Made several calls. Attended the funeral of Rev Dr Mason at 11 Oclock. Dr Smedes read the service Bishop Lyman read the scripture lessons, and Bishop Atkinson pronounced the eulogium, drawing lessons from his exemplary life. The church was crowded to overflowing. Many were on the side walks. Numerous places of business were closed. Clergy attended burial with surplices on.
Went home and packed up my scattered baggage before the dinner bell rang. Ate my dinner took a few strolls, and on return supper was not ready but omnibus was — So I hastily bid good bye and took train at 6.40. Had a broken uneasy slumber part of the way to Greensboro.
*(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 24, 1863
Mrs. Andrew’s went home today, also Mrs. Jamison. They both staid till after dinner. Fannie got better. I have been crocheting all day. Nothing new going on. Julia Bonner, a niece of old Mr. Reynolds is expected to die every day. She has consumption. Betsey began weaving today. Night & Cannon got home today, brought some offal of the hogs, not much.
*(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 24, 1862
This is a very blustery day, the wind very high. The children are at Aunt Tena’s house as Fannie & I are scouring my room. She will keep on cleaning up till she gets all the rooms cleaned. My head is nearly well. I took some salts this morning before breakfast. Charlie & Jinnie are ploughing in the garden today. Atheline getting dinner. I have nothing more to write at present. I pieced up Willie an old flannel out of the other children’s old ones.
*(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 24, 1668
Up, and to my office, where most of the morning, entering my journal for the three days past. Thence about noon with my wife to the New Exchange, by the way stopping at my bookseller’s, and there leaving my Kircher’s Musurgia to be bound, and did buy “L’illustre Bassa,” in four volumes, for my wife. Thence to the Exchange and left her; while meeting Dr. Gibbons there, he and I to see an organ at the Dean of Westminster’s lodgings at the Abby, the Bishop of Rochester’s; where he lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being very good; though at present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his Clerk of the Closet’s place. I saw his lady, of whom the ‘Terrae Filius’ of Oxford was once so merry; and two children, whereof one a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat and black. Here I saw the organ; but it is too big for my house, and the fashion do not please me enough; and therefore will not have it. Thence to the ‘Change back again, leaving him, and took my wife and Deb. home, and there to dinner alone, and after dinner I took them to the Nursery, —[Theatre company of young actors in training.]— where none of us ever were before; where the house is better and the musique better than we looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as could be: and I was not much mistaken, for it was so. However, I was pleased well to see it once, it being worth a man’s seeing to discover the different ability and understanding of people, and the different growth of people’s abilities by practise. Their play was a bad one, called “Jeronimo is Mad Again,” a tragedy. Here was some good company by us, who did make mighty sport at the folly of their acting, which I could not neither refrain from sometimes, though I was sorry for it. So away hence home, where to the office to do business a while, and then home to supper and to read, and then to bed. I was prettily served this day at the playhouse-door, where, giving six shillings into the fellow’s hand for us three, the fellow by legerdemain did convey one away, and with so much grace faced me down that I did give him but five, that, though I knew the contrary, yet I was overpowered by his so grave and serious demanding the other shilling, that I could not deny him, but was forced by myself to give it him. After I come home this evening comes a letter to me from Captain Allen, formerly Clerk of the Ropeyard at Chatham, and whom I was kind to in those days, who in recompense of my favour to him then do give me notice that he hears of an accusation likely to be exhibited against me of my receiving 50l. of Mason, the timber merchant, and that his wife hath spoke it. I am mightily beholden to Captain Allen for this, though the thing is to the best of my memory utterly false, and I do believe it to be wholly so, but yet it troubles me to have my name mentioned in this business, and more to consider how I may be liable to be accused where I have indeed taken presents, and therefore puts me on an enquiry, into my actings in this kind and prepare against a day of accusation.
*(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.)