June 10
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
June 10, 1998
Up at 9:30. Went 2 Sean’s from 11-2. Watched “The Doors.” GOOD. Tim came. I took them 2 Marshall’s house. Went 2 Ash’s and had Wendy’s 4 lunch. Came home and cleaned room. Went 2 Dad’s. We had FREE O’Charley’s food. Went 2 Ryan’s (the restaurant) with Courtney 2 see Sean, but he wasn’t there. Went 2 Karen’s. Came home. Sean had been at home, looking 4 me.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 10, 1997
We were up at 10:30. Ate breakfast and watched “Rosy.” Layed out some and went on a bike ride — it sucked. We saw Kelly Dixon. Ate big lunch of pasta. Mike, Sean, Aaron, and Chris stopped by. Sean pouted the whole time. Went to 6:30 practice. Home by 9:00. Showered. Talked to Courtney. Mike called me. Boring. So I called Sean and it was nice. Mom yelled at me for having guests. :(
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 10, 1960
Baked, coconut cookies, brownies and molasses ones. Went to Mrs. B.’s for coffee in the A.M. Men painting trim on house over there. Lo and I to feed cats and back here to eat. Geo came up and ate with us. Left here right after six for Beloit to K.J.’s graduation. 425 grads. Rained as we were going in and so hot thot I couldn’t stand it. Came back to Pink’s. Marian made coffee and ice cream. Got home before 1:00.
Marcy S., age 19, Tennessee
June 10, 1944
Up at 7. Hot but nice morn. Mum and I had a tiff over money and Betty’s cough and next year. Went to office feeling a bit down but my spirits soon revived when Mr. H. complimented me on some papers I’d done — Mr. Cassell had complimented one, too. I guess there’s hope. Quite a few people came in. About all I’ve typed so far are divorce papers. Mr. Harris announced that I was to have Saturday afternoon off and he gave me a check for my salary to date — $3! Which was more than I’d expected! He said he’d paid me extra for making that dollar for him yesterday (kidding probably!) and then he burst out laughing again about the notary public. I left at 12, on top of the world — think I’m going to love my job! Pop met me with the car and we drove home — I bubbled over with all the good news and when I got inside there was the box with my pearls! That fixed it!! We had a good dinner — omelet and all the trimmings and gingerbread. Betty’s cough was much better but Mum insisted that she go to the doctor’s. So after dinner we walked down to Dr. Neergaard’s and had to wait a few minutes. It was cloudy and looked like rain. The Dr. gave her a prescription for cough medicine but said she didn’t have to stay in — that meant we could go on the picnic we’d planned! So we went on down to the Acme and Betty got the medicine. Mum ’phoned and asked me to stop for bread at the Golden Rule. I forgot all about it till I got home! We stopped and talked to Mrs. Gallaher on the way back. Washed dishes while Mum and Dad were busy in the back yard. Then Betty and I sat out on the front porch and read and wrote. The rain passed around and the sun came out and it was a lovely summer’s afternoon. Betty read parts of Life magazines which she had torn out of my copies at school and some of them aloud. Later I read the Reader’s Digest and Betty and I tickled each other’s legs! I read aloud some of the articles — on education, the Negro problem, etc. and Betty and I felt weighted down with the problems of the world. She was in a very affectionate mood and we had fun. About 6 we helped Mum put up the picnic supper and at 7 drove up the mountain to the Rockwell tower — where we of the neighborhood have hiked so many times. It was much cooler up there. We spread the picnic on the one and only table near the cabin and feasted. Some funny things happened — Betty and I were right on the beam! At sunset Pop, Betty and I climbed the tower and watched the sun sink in a bank of clouds over the distant mountains. On the other side were small glassy lakes, the highway to the project, the railroad and mountains. The foliage was so rich and there were large pink-tinted clouds in the sunset sky. There was a heavenly breeze. Pop went down but Betty and I stayed a few minutes longer. I never wanted to leave — I felt so free up there and I was thinking about Oliphant and the future — not the past. That is another wonderful result of my “awakening” — memories of the past don’t hurt or make me unhappy in the present any more — instead I look to the future and know that the best is yet to come. And I know this is not idle dreaming! I really feel like a different person! We started back about 8:15 and it was lovely driving back to town. We drove around by the Ayers’ and Mum went in for a visit. We 3 sat in the car and talked about world problems, etc. It was very interesting. I got sleepy and draped myself all over Betty. She started coughing again but Mum wasn’t worried because she’d been to the Dr’s. Home about 9:30. Dishes and to bed. Fun today.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
June 10, 1941
Sunny in morning. Barbey went with me to take Hinky, Dinky, Parlee and Voo up to Mother Lane’s pond. Helen took her yesterday. They will have a wonderful summer and will grow more. It seemed cruel to keep them cooped up in a little bowl. Then I took my big green airplane and some other beloved playthings over to the Jones boys because we never use them anymore. They welcomed all, especially the airplane.
Before lunch I read three years back in my Diary. It seems so long ago and we had such grand times then. I wish I could live it over again -- don’t want to grow up! After lunch (no Daddy) it clouded up. I went to Helen’s for awhile and relieved them of Barbara. Then I went home about 3:00 and cleaned up. While Mother got ready to go to town I went over in George’s front yard and watched him throw his knife at a “target.” Geneva tried it but missed. Finally I persuaded him to let me throw it just once and as I posed to throw a fancy one George exclaimed that I wasn’t holding it right. I paid no attention but let it go and it made a beautiful land in what might have been the bull’s eye. George was quite taken back.
Presently I went in to see how Mother was coming. She couldn’t decide whether to go or not. It started to rain and Helen came down. George joined us and we sat on my porch and talked of the “good old days,” all about our innumerable fusses and funny happenings and it was so much fun with the rain coming softly down as though it were listening and remembering, too. Mrs. Milburn came to see Mother for a few minutes and when she left, about 4:00, the rain had almost stopped. We reluctantly broke up our happy reminiscing and Helen and I drove to Mrs. Whittacker’s with Mother.
While Mom went in to see about the goods for her dresses, Helen and I sat in the the car and talked. Suddenly it started to rain again and it just streamed down the car windows. We though we’d wash away. It stopped in a few minutes as suddenly as it had begun and when Mom came we drove to Cate’s. While Mom and I went in to look at dress material Helen went uptown to shop. She soon rejoined us. Mom got some pretty goods for two dresses and I got material for a halter and a skirt. While Mom was making some minor purchases Helen and I ran over to the library and I got “Little Men”; I have never read it. We espied George in the reading room and offered him a ride home. (Earl was there, too; I think he practically lives in the library.) He gladly accepted and we sat in the car and pestered each other till Mom came. The clouds had broken and there were bits of blue sky peaking through but it didn’t clear altogether.
We stopped at Mrs. Wittacker’s again to leave the material and George tried his best to make Helen mad so we could have a good old-fashioned fuss, but Helen was in too congenial a mood and the poking and pulling only served to get her tickled beyond hope of arousing her anger. When we got home I said goodbye to Helen and reminded her to drop me a card. I sat on the porch and sorted doll clothes. George came over and begged me to eat supper with him but Mom’s no was final. He insisted, however, that I come over at 7:00 and read to him. Daddy came for dinner and we didn’t finish till nearly 7:00. At the supper table I displayed my old habit of resting my left elbow on the table. Mom and Dad violently objected and I was forced to withdraw it. I complained, “But, Daddy, I feel so unbalanced.” Dad replied, “You are unbalanced.” I got the implication and nearly died laughing.
No sign of George, who was to come and escort me over, so I settled down to read. Had not gotten far when George came to the door and invited me to Harvey’s to play Monopoly. Harvey rode ahead on his bicycle and George and I walked in the street. It was cloudy and lovely and I was in a very good humor. Once George called me “Patty” and I felt better than ever. I told him about the funny incident at the supper table. Mrs. Harvey greeted us at the door and we proceeded to the kitchen where the four of us played “Easy Money,” rather like “Monopoly.” Harvey had to be scolded by his mater a number of times. She didn’t really scold but sort of reproached him, which was very effective on sensitive Charles. We had ice tea and peanuts for refreshments. George got so tickled once that the tears actually streamed down his cheeks. It really wasn’t the time to laugh, though, and Mrs. Harvey “scolded” both boys.
I did something I seldom do -- laughed at my own joke. But the others just went into stitches and I joined them. The more we laughed the more funny it seemed. To explain: there was one piece of property that Harvey was considering buying which collected rent of ten times the number on the dice. He decided it would pay him well and he took it. George observed that it would be a real money-maker -- ten times the number on the dice! I remarked, “Especially if the number is two.” Now can you tell me what is so very funny about that, Diary? Well, they evidently could see it ’cause they immediately burst into laughter -- it was partly the look on Harvey’s face, of course.
About 8:45 the telephone rang and I knew before Mrs. Harvey answered it that it was for me. George escorted me home. He thought I didn’t have a good time but I did! I admire Mrs. Harvey more now in fact. I don’t believe I admired her at all before. She is rather affected and inclined to pile the agony on, so to speak. But she’s a better disciplinarian than Mrs. McClure. In fact, I like her tactics better than Mother’s.
After the dishes I was reading the paper when Mrs. Jones called to take advantage of my offer to look after the children. It’s for tomorrow night while she and Mr. Jones go to the wedding rehearsal. Mom and Dad go, too -- also a buffet supper. By the way, we’ve been invited to Catherine’s wedding. Daddy is to sing.
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 10, 1926
Had a curious dream last night, about how I was climbing the rocks of Myrtleville with a few others when I came to a dirty pool in which was the body of a huge crocodile. After turning it over, I tried to jump the pool, but splashed into it, and the blood of the crocodile, mingled with salt water, filled my mouth. When I awoke, I really found that horrible mucus in my mouth which is the cause of all this catarrh. – Scannie gave me a French song, to which Páp must compose an accompaniment, to-day. He thinks it lovely, but it seems sentimental to me. We had a long talk at German about the intensive history course we will do next year. He is inclined to do 1870-1920. – Brought home some Inter. German papers to show Páp. Two of the three of them are a disgrace. They seem to make German obnoxious on purpose. Páp is going to do something about it. Butler is the name of the fellow who set them. – Read with the greatest surprise that there is more trouble in the Riff. Ould Far (ear of a rat) a powerful Djebella chieftain, has captured Setuan, defeated the Riffs, and is preparing to invade all the Riffian territory. He says he is also going to make war on France and Spain. But Mám says he is put on by the French and Spanish, who have thus an easy way of getting rid of the Riff.
*(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 10, 1888
I went to church this forenoon. Took up two boquets [sic] as this was children’s day in most churches, but nothing special was done up here. Kenny and Kate took a drive with us so did Mr. Butler. I wrote a letter to George Martin today. Fixed some photographs ready to send out by mail. Kate and I attended the meeting at the church tonight. It showered some this afternoon.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
June 10, 1887
I did considerable trading in Frankfort this morning and we did not get on our way home until after 8 o’clock. We got a real nice carriage for the baby. We got home about 1 o’clock. It was a big load for Jimmie to draw, but he did nobly. I went up and took Dor with me to the store this evening. Fred and Jessie were here tonight. We are not very well settled yet and Kate is so tired I do not want her to work very hard. It is after 10 P.M., and I must go to bed.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
June 10, 1863
I finished Zona’s dress today. The baby’s neck is sore, chapped I think. I hope it will soon be well. He is a good child. His neck has been sore several days. Harrie has strawberries for lunch once every two or three days when he can get the berries.
*(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 10, 1862
I made Mr. Henry a pair pants today. Did not get them done before he started as he came home at dinner & said he was not going so I did not try to finish. But Capt. Moore came on about 3 o’clock & he went on. Mrs. Lance eat dinner here today, brought some plows to the shop. We had a very heavy rain & a good deal of hail yesterday evening. Mrs. Fanning stays with me tonight. All are well. Cool today.
*(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 34, London
June 10, 1667
Up; and news brought us that, the Dutch are come up as high as the Nore; and more pressing orders for fireships. W. Batten, W. Pen, and I to St. James’s; where the Duke of York gone this morning betimes, to send away some men down to Chatham. So we three to White Hall, and met Sir W. Coventry, who presses all that is possible for fire-ships. So we three to the office presently; and thither comes Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is to command them all in some exploits he is to do with them on the enemy in the River. So we all down to Deptford, and pitched upon ships and set men at work: but, Lord! to see how backwardly things move at this pinch, notwithstanding that, by the enemy’s being now come up as high as almost the Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who has gone down to pay some ships there, hath sent up the money; and so we are possessed of money to do what we will with. Yet partly ourselves, being used to be idle and in despair, and partly people that have been used to be deceived by us as to money, won’t believe us; and we know not, though we have it, how almost to promise it; and our wants such, and men out of the way, that it is an admirable thing to consider how much the King suffers, and how necessary it is in a State to keep the King’s service always in a good posture and credit. Here I eat a bit, and then in the afternoon took boat and down to Greenwich, where I find the stairs full of people, there being a great riding1 there to-day for a man, the constable of the town, whose wife beat him. Here I was with much ado fain to press two watermen to make me a galley, and so to Woolwich to give order for the dispatch of a ship I have taken under my care to see dispatched, and orders being so given, I, under pretence to fetch up the ship, which lay at Grays (the Golden Hand), did do that in my way, and went down to Gravesend, where I find the Duke of Albemarle just come, with a great many idle lords and gentlemen, with their pistols and fooleries; and the bulwarke not able to have stood half an hour had they come up; but the Dutch are fallen down from the Hope and Shell-haven as low as Sheernesse, and we do plainly at this time hear the guns play. Yet I do not find the Duke of Albemarle intends to go thither, but stays here to-night, and hath, though the Dutch are gone, ordered our frigates to be brought to a line between the two blockhouses; which I took then to be a ridiculous thing. So I away into the town and took a captain or two of our ships (who did give me an account of the proceedings of the Dutch fleete in the river) to the taverne, and there eat and drank, and I find the townsmen had removed most of their goods out of the town, for fear of the Dutch coming up to them; and from Sir John Griffen, that last night there was not twelve men to be got in the town to defend it: which the master of the house tells me is not true, but that the men of the town did intend to stay, though they did indeed, and so had he, at the Ship, removed their goods. Thence went off to an Ostend man-of-war, just now come up, who met the Dutch fleete, who took three ships that he come convoying hither from him says they are as low as the Nore, or thereabouts. So I homeward, as long as it was light reading Mr. Boyle’s book of Hydrostatics, which is a most excellent book as ever I read, and I will take much pains to understand him through if I can, the doctrine being very useful. When it grew too dark to read I lay down and took a nap, it being a most excellent fine evening, and about one o’clock got home, and after having wrote to Sir W. Coventry an account of what I had done and seen (which is entered in my letter-book), I 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.)