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 June 1

Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 1, 1997

Up at 11:30! Studied some. Went to O’Charley’s with Cindy Jenkins, her kid, Dad, etc. Baby-sat. Studied. Came home. Watched story. Ate dinner/dessert. “King of the Hill.”

Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
June 1, 1996

Went to pool with Shannon. Had practice. Ate dinner. Watched Woodstock with Dad. Nice.

Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 1, 1960

Did some cleaning up stairs. Mrs. B. came over in P.M. Later ironed and pressed dresses. Mrs. B. went to WSCS. Found out about circles. Carrie stopped had her chk. etc. Disappointed as not our same circle, Mrs. B. too. Lo took Carrie’s money to her in eve.

Marcy S., age 19, Missouri 
June 1, 1944  

I read Evelyn’s letter and looked through my purse to see if I’d remembered everything. We tried to sleep but I had a vague feeling that I’d forgotten something. Then it came to me — my pearls! In the dresser drawer. Well, I had a good worry session, decided on a course of action, and promptly went to sleep. Woke up, every once in a while. We passed a Douglas Air Craft plant and saw oodles of planes. The factory was all lighted up. Pulled into St. Louis at 4 a.m. We struggled up to the rest room and then checked our bags in a locker. Then sat down and rested ourselves on the hard benches and watched the people — mostly soldiers — pass. I bought a little “Fred Harvey” packet containing stationary and envelopes and wrote Miss Omer a letter asking her to send the pearls C.O.D. I felt better then. We sat and sat and I wrote in my diary and then about 6:30 we were consumed with hunger and went into the “lounge” for breakfast. Met Betty Holstein and another girl and sat with them. They were leaving on the bus. Betty and I went up to the rest room again and then we went out for an early morning walk in the city. We walked and walked but never did reach the business district. My feet were killing me again so we decided to return to the station. People just stared at us — we felt like making faces at them! It was almost 8 by then so we sat awhile and then went to the rest room for the last time and prettied up. I felt like the wrack of Jehovah. Got our bags and the train was open about 9 so we got on and had good seats. It was scheduled to leave at 9:30 (the B. and O.) but didn’t get off till 10. Betty went to sleep right away but I tried to stay awake to see the scenery. But not for long. Every time I’d open my eyes they’d close again. Most unpleasant. Took thyroid pills in desperation and I think they worked. At least I stayed awake long enough to write in my diary a little. The train was a half hour late. I got so tired of sitting and it was awfully hot. Betty and I finally got waked up and enjoyed the scenery. We reached the Ohio river not far from Cincinnati and stayed near it. Pulled into Cincy about 6:30 Cincy time — 5:30 our time. We decided not to catch the next rain which was being held. Went to rest room first. Then I left Betty in the ladies’ room and went to find out about the next rain — it left at 9. Then I called Kimmie and she said she’d be out in a few minutes. Went back to Betty and found Ann Stowers there, too. Her plane reservations had been cancelled so she’s had to come by train. She had a berth on the 10 o’clock train. We persuaded her to go out with Kimmie and us for dinner. So we checked our bags, met Kim, sent telegrams and caught the bus for the college. It was cloudy in Cincy but the sky was lovely. We all got off at the dorm and went up to Kimmie’s room. Met Jean Robinson and Helen, whom I met at Christmas. Jean thought she was getting the measles. We tried to persuade them to go out to dinner with us but they thought they weren’t dressed for the occasion. Betty and Ann and I felt filthy. We 4 walked to town and finally came to the Cricket Inn. With a bar! We resisted the temptation though :) and had salad and drinks. Left about 8:15 and caught a trolley. Back to the dorm for our coats and then we went out to wait for the bus. Well, it got nearer and nearer 9 and no bus so in desperation we hailed a taxi and all piled in. It was just 9 when we got to the Univ. terminal. Betty, Ann and I got our baggage and then we 4 mushed radly down to track 10. And what a crowd! Some soldiers told us we’d better go on the next train 'cause we wouldn’t get a seat on that one. Kimmie thought we’d better get a red cap so I cornered one and he said he’d try to get us on. We said ’bye to Kimmie and Ann and ran after the red cap. Sure enough he got us a good seat and we tipped him generously. Whew! was it hot in there. I started worrying about my pearls again but Betty sat on me! Well, we sat and sat and pretty soon it was 10 o’clock. Trains on both sides were pulling out but not us. Betty bought some cherries and we’d saved some crackers from supper. The NYC and other trains pulled in just full of soldiers. Seems we were waiting for a train from Chicago which finally arrived and then soldiers poured into ours by the dozen. We finally started. It was dark by then and we couldn’t see anything except the river when  we crossed it. I got sleepy and put an envelope (Fred Harvey) over my eyes. Presently a soldier came and sat on the arm of my seat and said he’d hold the paper. I protested but he insisted. He was a lieutenant but I think h’ed been drinking — he looked to be about 30. He asked Betty and I where we were going and Betty, in a moment of confusion, said, “Harriman, Kentucky.” I immediately corrected her and that started it — he teased us about that all the rest of the night. He’d leave and then he’d return and he wanted to know who Fred Harvey was. I said he was a friend of mine. Once he nearly shook me out of the seat trying to make me wake up and talk to him and then he whispered “You’ve got something I want” and left. I just ignored him but felt like slapping him! He sat across the aisle with a girl he’d picked up. He’d been in the South Pacific and was a pilot. There was usually a group of soldiers around him listening to his stories. The lights were so bright — I don’t know why they didn’t dim them. Just about that time 2 soldiers appeared with a suitcase which they set down in the aisle just in front of our seat and seated themselves on it. They both looked cute. Of course, the lieutenant told them about Harriman, Ky. and Harriman, Tenn. and then the dark one nearest me spied Fred Harvey and wanted to know who he was. I was very thirsty but didn’t quite see how I could crawl with any dignity back to the fountain — soldiers were all over the aisle. So I asked Don (found out later that was his name) if he’d like to do me a favor. He said of course, so I asked him to get me a drink. He said he’d been traveling since Sunday night without sleep and I offered him my seat. He refused though. I would gladly have given it. I had offered it to the lieutenant before and it seemed to touch him — amazingly! Well, the other soldier — a blond (he reminded me of Jack Wendell) — kept running around, looking for his gas mask, I think. Finally he sat down on the arm of my chair but was very polite about it. Once he hit me and apologized immediately. Some time during all this we reached Lexington and stopped for about 10 minutes. I wanted to get off and walk but Betty was afraid we’d lose our seat. In fact, I think it was after Lexington that the 2 soldiers came in our coach. They were supposed to get off at Lexington but for some reason they missed it. The lieutenant was soon asleep so things quieted down. Suddenly I had a brilliant idea and Betty agreed — I sat on her lap and told the soldiers that someone could have my seat — and added “who ever gets their first.” The blond was there in a flash and Don moved the suitcase so that he was sitting on Mc.’s (his last name was Mc something) feet. They changed seats ever so often and ditto Betty and I — more often ’cause I got restless in one position too long. We soon got acquainted and it was so easy to talk to them! Don was from Seattle and went to high school with Jo MacKay, pres. of our Sr. class this year!! He’d only been in the army 3 and a half months and said he’d give his right arm to be going to the univ. next fall, as Betty and I were going to do. He said I’d like Wash. so much I wouldn't want to come home. Mc. was from Wisconsin and had gone to a small college there. [In upper margin: “They asked what we were going to major in and why I was going way out there to school.”] We got talking about high school and he said he’d live it differently if he could do it over — seems his dad gave him a car and that just about ruined him. His mother is a school teacher. They were both fliers, I gathered, but had gotten a dirty deal with the A.S.J.P. or something along that line. Mc. had gone to gunnery school and had come out an expert. He had his wings. They’d both been home on leave and were going to Greensboro(burg?), N. Carolina — back to camp. They both disliked army life. We teased them about it. It seemed such a long way between Danville and Somerset but we had fun so it didn’t matter. Mc said once that they must be putting us to a lot of trouble and Betty laughed and said it was probably the other way around. I laughingly agreed and Mc. said he was glad we took it that way. [In upper margin: “Once they asked us jokingly if our trip was necessary and we said Well, we couldn’t stay at school all summer, much as we wanted to.”] Then we hit the tunnels and Mc. got out his gas mask. My first experience with one. The boys both tried it on and then Mc put it on me. Well, I’m glad they aren’t the fashion! The smoke from the tunnels was awful but it didn’t seem to bother Mc. and Betty. Don and I, though, nearly suffocated and then just about coughed our heads off. Once when I was sitting in Betty’s lap and Don was on the suitcase I felt him looking at me and I glanced at him — he winked, not flirtingly but just sort of friendly. He has a nice face and eyes — he's only 21. So is Mc. They thought we were about 20. Don asked me how tall I was and I said 5’7.5” and he said that was rather tall. Said his girl friend at home was 5’4” (?) and then he added that he’d had some trouble with her. Later he mentioned her again and said she’d really told him off. I asked him if he were a woman-hater and he said no, but he just didn’t understand them sometimes! Mc had the cutest smile — they were both swell. Once when I was holding Betty and Don had the seat he went to sleep on my shoulder and Mc said, “Don’t mind him.” Going through one tunnel a man up front had a window open and couldn’t get it closed — the smoke just poured in! I never felt so dirty in my life!! [In upper margin: "We offered the boys the crackers and they gladly ate them.”] The lieutenant woke up every once in a while and kidded us. Don asked us how we liked his kind — he called him a wolf in lieutenant’s clothing and Betty and I laughed. He and Mc seemed surprised — I didn’t get it but that was okay. Then we looked over at the girl he had picked up and who was asleep in his arms at the time — Mc said he hadn't even looked at her — Don said he had but… We got that one! We talked about various and sundry things and tried to sleep off and on and went into hiding through the tunnels and thought we’d never reach Sterns. I could feel Don looking at me practically all the time. It was re-barrassing, as Andy says. [In upper margin: “Don and Mc thought I had a southern accent and they’d deliberately get me to say “Hmm?” at a question. Mc couldn’t understand me at all at first. Very funny.”] Once they were talking about going overseas — they think they’ll be shipped out for England soon — and Don said that you either came back better or worse — referring to wolves. Mc asked us how we thought he’d return and Betty jokingly said she didn’t think he could get much worse. Then Don asked me what I thought about him and I said the same. Betty and I didn’t get it till later but they thought we were kidding, I guess. I expressed the wish that they’d dim the lights so a person could sleep but the boys said we wouldn’t be safe if they did, kidding, of course. I had more fun with them than I’ve ever had with any other boys. Well, Oneida was next and then Oakdale, where we stopped about a half hour. It was just beginning to get light -- around 5. The boys spotted my friendship ring and insisted that it didn’t look like any friendship ring they’d ever seen. Then Don asked me if my boy friend would be waiting at the station — and I said “Not at this hour.” And he said “You mean he’s still here?” and then I told them he was in the V-12 and where, etc. Don said “I don't see your engagement ring” and I told him it wasn’t serious that we were just friends. He looked so hopeful — it was so funny. We should have asked them their names and then we all might have struck up a correspondence. Betty and I are so dumb sometimes. Later Don said I’d get educated at the U. of Wash. in a couple of years. Now just what did he mean? Then he asked about my height again and even my weight — that’s a sensitive subject with me so I let him guess. He was polite and said 130 — I raised it to 135 which I hope is right by now. He said that’s just about right and gave me an admiring look as if I were a horse or something! :) Oh yes — there was an ex-Mossop girl in front of us with her mother and she knew me. We exchanged a few words ever so often. It seemed so funny to be coming home. The boys said they envied us the sleep we were going to have and wished they could get off at Harriman, too. [In upper margin: “They said something to each other once about wishing they'd met us sooner or something.”] Mc. kept saying “Silly boy.” Once when I was on Betty’s lap and he was on the suitcase he kept tapping my foot and I was completely unaware of it for quite a while, seeing as how I was talking. I moved it when I woke up. Then later I found myself beating his foot to a pulp! Very funny. Don said I reminded him of a girl in grade school — same eyes, features, etc. Said he never forgot a face. Hmm! Oh yes, and he said she had about the same personality, too. I said “Poor girl!” Don asked what I’d done to my hair on top. I said I’d cut it and explained about the fringe. Mc said no, that it drooped on the sides — and then laughed! The drip! :) Don noted that it was a different color on top and decided the sun was to blame. Once before the lieutenant went to sleep he reached across the aisle, grabbed my arm and commanded, “Look at me — I want to talk to you.” I replied, “I can’t stand it.” Everybody laughed. About 5:30 we pulled in and Don decided to hold the seat while Mc carried our bags for us. At first Don was going to — Mc said “He loves you more than I do” and I said “Yes -- and you’re so weak and helpless you just couldn't manage our bags.” We all had a good laugh. So we took our leave of Don and he smiled so sweetly. I went first and saw Pop among the crowd so ran to greet him. Then Betty took the bags from Mc, we thanked him and that was that. I felt oddly let down. Ann had gotten on our train at Oakdale and Benny was there to meet her. She said she’d been looking for us. Pop thought Betty looked just like her picture. We all piled in the car and drove home. It was lovely at that hour of the morning — the sky was all pink and pale blue. Everything was so green and luxurious. I guess we looked like the wrack of Jehovah when Mum met us at the door. The living room looked so cool and pleasant. We went right it the bedroom and I had a wonderful surprise! There in the corner by the window was the sweetest little easy chair, covered with pretty flowered material. Between the beds was a bed table with a pretty lamp and a vase of flowers. The curtains had been dyed — new shades — walls and ceiling newly Kemtoned and a new Rembrandt on the wall. It looked like a new room. I was thrilled to death!! Betty and I went to the bathroom immediately and decided to take a shower before going to bed. Mum gave us a muff and a glass of milk and went back to bed. Betty and I tumbled in about 6:30 — feeling much cleaner but “plumb" exhausted!

Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee 
June 1, 1941

Quite warm. Cloudy but cleared. Cloudy first thing in morning. I went to Sunday school but Mom and Dad left at 10:00 for Barrville [?] to be gone till afternoon. The three Jones children were at Sunday school with their pop. Bobby, Billy and Betty. Mrs. Regan took our class. Mary F., Ella and I stayed for church. Very good sermon by Mr. Jones. He is so sincere and quiet, just the qualities you expect in a minister. Home about 12:00. Quite warm. Went over to church for dinner. Just three there. John and Mrs. H. Poor Johnny, I do pity him! Went up the Helen’s after dinner. She got word that she was wanted to play the piano at the mission just as we were starting  on our walk. After considerable fussing she decided to go. Mr. and Mrs. McCarter, Barbey, Helen and I went. During a loud and lengthy prayer by Brother _________, Barbey got restless and in due time, not being allowed to run hither and yon, started to cry -- even louder than the man who was praying. She came to me but continued to yell. Finally her mother took her out but brought her back later. She sat on my lap and I tickled her back to keep her from crying. Result -- laughing. I finally hushed her. At beginning of classes Helen and I left. Home and then to Goodmans’ to deliver a note; at corner of Unaka we met Mary and Josephine out walking. Talked a few minutes. 

Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 1, 1926

This morning I had German from 9-11. I got last year’s Senior Intermediate [exam. paper]. The comp. was hard in its vagueness: outstanding men in literature and history, but the trans. at sight wasn’t too bad, the last piece being very beautiful. From 12-2 we had Algebra, in which I did 4 out of 8, half at any rate. It was Scannie set the papers, and they were very hard. Went home for dinner, and like a fool worked at French history until I left for History exam at 4.30. The exam was from 5-7.30. I was very headachy before it. It was last year’s senior paper we got. The first question I did was Charlemagne’s reign as a turning point in the history of Europe, then French expansion from 1661-1714, the causes for calling of States General, attitude of France towards Catholic Church 1789-1815, Napoleon’s maritime and colonial policy, and difference in political systems between Anglo-Normans and Irish. On the whole I think I did quite well. Worked at Latin rest of evening. Read of poor Abd El Krim. He will probably be confined at Madagascar by the French. He wept bitterly on leaving last Moroccan village.

*(Original Archive Copyright © Estate of Aloys Fleischmann. The Fleischmann Diaries Online Archive by Róisín O’Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Used with permission.)

Henry S., age 26, Michigan 
June 1, 1888

Pa, Willie, and uncle Robert went away and washed the sheep this forenoon. I wrote some letters and drew some grass out of the front yard. Kate and I went to Dexter this afternoon. We left Una with mother Queal and Nellie. We made a quick trip as it looked like rain, and did begin soon after we got home. I feel so dull tonight that I can’t study. I got a letter from ma, she is having a good time. I also got letters from Mr. Harvey and Fred Neill.

*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)  

Henry S., age 25, Michigan 
June 1, 1887  

It rained some this morning.  I went over to Neill’s to get Mrs. Neill to bake me a loaf of bread.  I cultivated out some of the strawberries this forenoon.  I think I will plow up some of it; the grass is so bad.  Planted considerable sweet corn this afternoon and sowed more cabbage seed.  I went up town about 5 o’clock this afternoon, got a postal from Kate stating that she would start today if she could, but it has been so stormy I fear she did not.  She will telegraph me from Manistee so I will know tomorrow forenoon if she came.  I took supper at Neill’s tonight.  Fred is going to Frankfort in the morning.

*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)  

Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina 
June 1, 1863

I made Rose a dress today & cleaned out the pantry & smoke house. Atheline spinning. She gets on very slowly as she is slow at any & everything. Mail brought no news more than we have heard. We are closely beseiged by the yanks at Vicksburg. God grant us a victory.

*(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 
June 1, 1862  

Everybody gone to church at the Academy. Mr. Henry took the children. I was too tired to go. My day’s work yesterday wore me out. I have been up to Aunt Tena’s house a good while. It is very warm today, the wind from the South, a strong breeze. Aunt Tena has just brought Pinck & Zona home. Mr. Henry sent them back. She has gone back so has Pinck. It is just after 12 o’clock. Willie is sitting down here on the floor playing with Zona’s little basket. Nothing new going on. Mr. Henry sold the gent cow Friday for 50$ to Bishop in Asheville & yesterday he sold the heff cow to E. P. Knight for 35$. Dear cows I think but money is easy these times. Mr. Henry came back & T. Cook came with him. It was 3 o’clock before we had dinner. We had a cold ham & Fannie baked some bread. Mr. Henry & I took a long walk over in the wheat. It has fallen down a good deal. About the Green house it is very high. It was nearly dark when we got back & as I had not given out supper, it very late supper.

*(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 
June 1, 1668  

Up and with Sir J. Minnes to Westminster, and in the Hall there I met with Harris and Rolt, and carried them to the Rhenish wine- house, where I have not been in a morning — nor any tavern, I think, these seven years and more. Here I did get the words of a song of Harris that I wanted. Here also Mr. Young and Whistler by chance met us, and drank with us. Thence home, and to prepare business against the afternoon, and did walk an hour in the garden with Sir W. Warren, who do tell me of the great difficulty he is under in the business of his accounts with the Commissioners of Parliament, and I fear some inconveniences and troubles may be occasioned thereby to me. So to dinner, and then with Sir J. Minnes to White Hall, and there attended the Lords of the Treasury and also a committee of Council with the Duke of York about the charge of this year’s fleete, and thence I to Westminster and to Mrs. Martin’s, and did hazer what je would con her, and did once toker la thigh de su landlady, and thence all alone to Fox Hall, and walked and saw young Newport, and two more rogues of the town, seize on two ladies, who walked with them an hour with their masks on; perhaps civil ladies; and there I left them, and so home, and thence to Mr. Mills’s, where I never was before, and here find, whom I indeed saw go in, and that did make me go thither, Mrs. Hallworthy and Mrs. Andrews, and here supped, and, extraordinary merry till one in the morning, Mr. Andrews coming to us: and mightily pleased with this night’s company and mirth I home to bed. Mrs. Turner, too, was with us.

*(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.)

Samuel P., age 27, English Channel
June 1, 1660

Up and to the office, where sat all the morning, at noon to the ‘Change, and there did some business, and home to dinner, whither Creed comes, and after dinner I put on my new silke camelott sute; the best that ever I wore in my life, the sute costing me above 24l.. In this I went with Creed to Goldsmiths’ Hall, to the burial of Sir Thomas Viner; which Hall, and Haberdashers also, was so full of people, that we were fain for ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row, to choose a silke to make me a plain ordinary suit. That done, we walked to Cornehill, and there at Mr. Cade’s stood in the balcon and saw all the funeral, which was with the blue-coat boys and old men, all the Aldermen, and Lord Mayor, &c., and the number of the company very great; the greatest I ever did see for a taverne. Hither come up to us Dr. Allen, and then Mr. Povy and Mr. Fox. The show being over, and my discourse with Mr. Povy, I took coach and to Westminster Hall, where I took the fairest flower, and by coach to Tothill Fields for the ayre till it was dark. I ‘light, and in with the fairest flower to eat a cake, and there did do as much as was safe with my flower, and that was enough on my part. Broke up, and away without any notice, and, after delivering the rose where it should be, I to the Temple and ‘light, and come to the middle door, and there took another coach, and so home to write letters, but very few, God knows, being by my pleasure made to forget everything that is. The coachman that carried [us] cannot know me again, nor the people at the house where we were.

Home to bed, certain news being come that our fleete is in sight of the Dutch ships.

*(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.)

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