February 25
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 25, 1998
Up at 6:00! We all went 2 Beech Mnt. & skied from about 9:00-4:30. Renée did really well & we had a lot of fun. Went back 2 the Karauses’ & ate pizza, & watched “Simpsons.” Piled in car & came back home. We had 2 write essays & were so tired. Home by 11:00. SLEEP…
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 25, 1997
Really good at school again but I don’t know what’s up with Sean. He’s the same as yesterday. I went home with Renee today and Mom picked me up at 5:00. Had breakfast for dinner but called Courtney before (secretly). Did homework till 9:00! Read in Bio in bed. So much make-up work. I really like Sean…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 25, 1960
Predict snow and it is ever windy. Drifting in the country badly. Jim and Lo went out to do chores early P.M. Walked from Hil. Corner. Not going out tonite. Washed under things and nite clothes. Mar called in forenoon. Has had a bad cold.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 25, 1944
Advising Day. Slept til 8:30. Had funny dreams. Raining out but mild and lovely. Went to practice at 9:15. Betty had to see her advisor at 9:30. Back at 10:15 - me, that is. [In upper margin: “Had good practice in morn - really felt it was good.”] Cornbread and Life came. Looked at latter and ate former. Then read Way of All Flesh. When Betty returned we talked about future and I told her what I thought she ought to do - and that she had ability and talent and must not shut herself up in a book and not do anything. Her advisor, Miss Search thinks she should get into a small community and become a leader. I read her great long sermon and we nearly died laughing. Then she professed being worried about my future - which always follows any manifestation of my being interested in hers! :) She thinks I should go to Europe and get in on the rehabilitation. Said she felt she was ahead of me in some ways - especially in expressing opinions and speaking out in class, but she said I was far ahead of her in every other way - sense of humor, sympathy and understanding - and we were off again!! I read my book til lunch. It’s very good although not fast moving. Sky blaring at noon. So mild! Didn’t seem like Friday or any other day! Good lunch. Miss Omer not there. Lime sherbet for dessert. Washed clothes during siesta. Betty slept. At 2:30 went for advising conference. We talked about plans for next year and then about my development again. Miss Good Smith enumerated some of my good points that I must be honest about and not under estimate. Nice disposition, ambition, etc. She said there was a difference in my eyes and mouth that indicated my development of poise and self-confidence. In 3 months I am to continue to grow and by June my parents should be able to see results! Well, I’ll try my best. Miss Good Smith is so encouraging! Said it wasn’t what talents or how many you had but what you did with them! She told me not to be a door mat - toward which I have a tendency but to stick up for my rights and speak my opinions - at the right time and place, of course. Already I feel out of myself in a very small way but it’s a beginning and I don’t have that entirely hopeless feeling anymore. Oh, I felt so good!! Went back and read history. Afternoon clear and heavenly! Helped Betty deliver papers at 5. Mary and Kath. were asleep so we went on to town. Went to Bing’s for hamburgers. Cloudy again. Mabel and Joyce W. came in and sat with us awhile. We left soon and it was raining. Ran back to hall and got umbrella. Then went down to Peck’s for soup, ending up at dairy for ice cream. Mary and Kath. passed. Lightning when we came out but still so lovely and mild. Found cookies Clara had brought. Devoured them! Betty went to library. I studied history. Spring night!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 25, 1941
Slept late. If only I knew about Mary! Mother so sweet today. Read and worked on stories. Mary Louie phoned. Had to write poem for tomorrow. Terrible history lesson. Sneezed. Nearly blew poor nose off. Am writing poem about my red nose. Dad away all day.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 25, 1888
I spent a bad night with the neuralgia last night and so I determined to see if pulling a certain bad tooth would cure it and walked over to Frankfurt after leaving word that I would not be there to teach. It was very bad walking and I was over 3 hours going down. I got dinner of bread and milk at the Forest Avenue Hotel and then had the tooth pulled. I expected to ride back with Fred Neill but had to walk back as he did not go with his load of lumber. It has snowed some all day is much colder tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 25, 1887
The thermometer registered 6 degrees below zero this morning but the wind went round into the south east, the sun shone clear and it grew rapidly warmer. It was pleasant most of the day but is very cloudy and stormy looking tonight. I finished a letter to Kate this forenoon, and wrote some copies. I took my saw and Fred’s tools for rigging saws over to my house about noon intending to file it but could not find my file. I presume Fred Waters lugged it off. I got a new one tonight. Took some butter up to the store from Mrs. Neill when I went to my house. Old Mr. and Mrs. Adams of Eden visited the classes. I read a good letter from Kate tonight. I expect to get to the Literacy this evening. Expect to subscribe for the Detroit Tribune and Mich. Farmer tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 25, 1874
About 1:30 A.M. got off train at Greensboro to take coffee and a snack. Mr. Woodward of a paper published in New York called The South came up with me, and insisted on paying for coffee & eggs, which I took, he having feasted on oysters.
So began my birthday.
Reached Statesville about 7 intending to go to the Simonton House but the inevitable Shields who always seems to be so good a fellow, insisted on me stopping at the St. Charles. So I let him have my valise & check. At this latter place young Elliot had killed a Mr Neal formerly of Richmond about a week before, and that was my only reason for going to the other House. Habeas Corpus case to day. Hope bail will not be allowed. Expected _____ to send me out. He did not look me up as usual. Slushed through mud & snow in a 2 H Carry all. [In right margin] Reached home about 12 M. Went to bed at Statesville till 10.
*(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.)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
February 25, 1871
I expect this will smell of calomel, oil, ct. The children have been quite sick with lung fever, are a little better but very restless. They both had fly blisters on their chests; now we put on bread and milk poultices, which must be changed often. It is after midnight. Katura has laid down, brother and I will be up the rest of the night.
I sewed until I got sleepy—now I am trying to write.
It is almost a week since we had the mail.
Brother Philip came west, about time I did, but went farther. Had a letter from him last week. He is in Kansas. I wrote to him the other day. Told him my school was out, and after visiting the cousins I supposed I’d go home, but would like to see more of the west; did he think I could get a school out there.
He is in some out of the way place, and I suppose it will be two weeks before I hear from him.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 25, 1863
Finished the cover of candle stand today & made fringe & put it on & began the tidy for the rocking chair. Mrs. George Jones & Mag Morris took dinner here. Mrs. Jones came to see Mr. Henry on business. Warm, looks like Spring was with us.
*(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 25, 1862
I made nearly two aprons today. One of Willie’s & one Zona’s. Finished Zona’s at night. I would have got it done before night but Harrie Deaver came. He is looking a great deal better, has a cough yet. Is helping raise an artillery company. He brought Zona a doll, Pinck a ball & Willie a marble. Jennie Hopson sent Pinck some glass marbles & the children some candy. Mrs. Fanning staid with me at night as Elijah Night has got home.
*(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 25, 1668
Up, having lain the last night the first night that I have lain with my wife since she was last ill, which is about eight days. To the office, where busy all the morning. At noon comes W. Howe to me, to advise what answer to give to the business of the prizes, wherein I did give him the best advice I could; but am sorry to see so many things, wherein I doubt it will not be prevented but Sir Roger Cuttance and Mr. Pierce will be found very much concerned in goods beyond the distribution, and I doubt my Lord Sandwich too, which troubles me mightily. He gone I to dinner, and thence set my wife at the New Exchange, and I to Mr. Clerke, my solicitor, to the Treasury chamber, but the Lords did not sit, so I by water with him to the New Exchange, and there we parted, and I took my wife and Deb. up, and to the Nursery, where I was yesterday, and there saw them act a comedy, a pastorall, “The Faythful Shepherd,” having the curiosity to see whether they did a comedy better than a tragedy; but they do it both alike, in the meanest manner, that I was sick of it, but only for to satisfy myself once in seeing the manner of it, but I shall see them no more, I believe. Thence to the New Exchange, to take some things home that my wife hath bought, a dressing- box, and other things for her chamber and table, that cost me above 4l., and so home, and there to the office, and tell W. Hewer of the letter from Captain Allen last night, to give him caution if any thing should be discovered of his dealings with anybody, which I should for his sake as well, or more than for my own, be sorry for; and with great joy I do find, looking over my memorandum books, which are now of great use to me, and do fully reward me for all my care in keeping them, that I am not likely to be troubled for any thing of the kind but what I shall either be able beforehand to prevent, or if discovered, be able to justify myself in, and I do perceive, by Sir W. Warren’s discourse, that they [the House] do all they can possibly to get out of him and others, what presents they have made to the Officers of the Navy; but he tells me that he hath denied all, though he knows that he is forsworn as to what relates to me. 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.)