March 13
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 13, 1998
Curled my hair so I got a lot of compliments. Wrote a mean, nasty letter about Chris in French profanities. Dad picked me up. Took Renée home & went 2 work. (Carrie & Kim.) Drew myself after shower. Ate. Watched “Don Juan” & painted boards. In bed at 12.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
March 13, 1997
God! Sean STILL ignores me! Can he even STAND the sight of me? What the fuck! :( I want my friend back! Eddie picked me up. Watched “Strictly Ballroom” with Em and did homework. Good. Me and Eddie went to Los Tres. Good. Watched special on Burt Lancaster. Homework. “Friends” and “Seinfeld.” Talked to Courtney earlier.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 13, 1960
Stayed in bed a little later than usual. Doc brot us a paper. Had breakfast then picked Carrie up. Lo got gas then home to do many things. Lo cleaned bath room cabinet her book case then out to feed ponies and cats. Took Jim along. After eating Lo did (washed) kitchen ceiling. I helped then took Carrie home. Lo bathed then picked Bess up, rode for a while, home to have coffee. Lo and Cooks went to funeral home for Mrs. Freeman. Bob and friend, Amy and Del went in to see Ole. Much improved.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 13, 1944
Up at 11 - read history. To lunch at 12. Sat with Kath. and Mary. Betty’s hair looked so funny - didn’t suit her at all. Real good lunch - cottage cheese and raisin bread. Studied during siesta. Betty and I decided to go to show but I couldn’t persuade her to see “A Guy Named Joe” in preference to “Standing Room Only.” Jane couldn’t go so we left about 2. Found out neither show opened til 3 so went to book store and looked around. Betty bought The Prophet. Cold and cloudy out. Went to our separate shows at 3. About half the college was at the Hall, I believe. Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne were the stars. Very good picture but I was not moved to tears as everyone else seemed to be. Wish I could have gotten more into the spirit of it but guess I just wasn’t in the mood. Out about 5:15. Stopped at laundry. Letter from Mum. Much milder and sun shining. Lovely. Good dinner. Betty and I had big fuss about lecture afterwards. She has a habit of switching sides when it is more convenient than following something through and it makes me so mad! We really had a grand mix-up this time. Well, at 8 I went to hear Royal Arch speaker - he was in a Jap. concentration camp for 8 and a half months. Back about 9:30. To bed. In bad mood.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 13, 1941
Snowy, cloudy wind, cold. Helped Jessie Martin get her English. Made 100 in Spelling. Fun in history. Bunny won five cents in a quiz program. I have come to the conclusion that I have a wonderful imagination. (P.S. Sarcastic). Finished “Pudd’nhead Wilson.” Very good. After school went to Ruth’s to Music Club meeting. Hymn program. I played “Nearer My God to Thee”. Then after program Mary Lee had us contestants play one piece each. They applauded me loudly and said something was wrong if I didn’t go to Nashville. Delicious refreshments in keeping with St. Patrick’s Day. Home with Doris M. Snowy, cold, lovely. Mom went to show this p.m. Washed hair and at night prepared for witch trial tomorrow. Can hardly wait.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 13, 1888
My dear wife and baby left on the 5:15 train this morning. I saw them snug in the parlor car and Una was feeling well. We had an awful cold ride back to Benzonia today, [Mo..?] Hubbell, Packard, and Adams rode with us. I went up town and got a telegram from Kate saying she was safe but no one to meet her, which I cant understand. I took supper at Neill’s tonight, but am staying at out house. Everything had frozen.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 13, 1887
I got up this morning and built fires, found a big change in the weather from yesterday as it was blowing and snowing hard. The storm has raged all day, I have hardly been out of doors. I wrote a letter to Kate and one to pa. Read over the Sunday school lesson for today. Have been reading various things today. Practiced singing a little also. Fred and Jessie will be storm stayed. I dreamed last night that my Kate was with me and I felt so happy. I think sometimes I would give anything to be with her. I hope I will never have to leave her again as I have this winter. The wind howls strongly, a wild night.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 13, 1862
Rained all day. I finished the last shirt. Mrs. Common knit one of my stockings. Atheline on the other. She finished one & I the other that night. All are well. Pinck is growing finely. Zona & Willie are dear little creatures. Zona says she is Papa’s pet & that Willie is my pet child. I believe Mr. Henry pets her more than he did the others because she is a girl & we lost our other little daughter. Little Cora was a lovely child but it was best that she died. He doeth all things 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.)
Samuel P., age 35, London
March 13, 1668
Up betimes to my office, where to fit myself for attending the Parliament again, not to make any more speech, which, while my fame is good, I will avoid, for fear of losing it; but only to answer to what objections will be made against us. Thence walked to the Old Swan and drank at Michell’s, whose house is going up apace. Here I saw Betty, but could not baiser la, and so to Westminster, there to the Hall, where up to my cozen Roger Pepys at the Parliament door, and there he took me aside, and told me how he was taken up by one of the House yesterday, for moving for going on with the King’s supply of money, without regard to the keeping pace therewith, with the looking into miscarriages, and was told by this man privately that it did arise because that he had a kinsman concerned therein; and therefore he would prefer the safety of his kinsman to the good of the nation, and that there was great things against us and against me, for all my fine discourse the other day. But I did bid him be at no pain for me; for I knew of nothing but what I was very well prepared to answer; and so I think I am, and therefore was not at all disquieted by this. Thence he to the House, and I to the Hall, where my Lord Brouncker and the rest waiting till noon and not called for by the House, they being upon the business of money again, and at noon all of us to Chatelin’s, the French house in Covent Garden, to dinner — Brouncker, J. Minnes, W. Pen, T. Harvey, and myself — and there had a dinner cost us 8s. 6d. a-piece, a damned base dinner, which did not please us at all, so that I am not fond of this house at all, but do rather choose the Beare. After dinner to White Hall to the Duke of York, and there did our usual business, complaining of our standing still in every-respect for want of money, but no remedy propounded, but so I must still be. Thence with our company to the King’s playhouse, where I left them, and I, my head being full of to-morrow’s dinner, I to my Lord Crew’s, there to invite Sir Thomas Crew; and there met with my Lord Hinchingbroke and his lady, the first time I spoke to her. I saluted her; and she mighty civil and; with my Lady Jemimah, do all resolve to be very merry to-morrow at my house. My Lady Hinchingbroke I cannot say is a beauty, nor ugly; but is altogether a comely lady enough, and seems very good-humoured, and I mighty glad of the occasion of seeing her before to-morrow. Thence home; and there find one laying of my napkins against tomorrow in figures of all sorts, which is mighty pretty; and, it seems, it is his trade, and he gets much money by it; and do now and then furnish tables with plate and linnen for a feast at so much, which is mighty pretty, and a trade I could not have thought of. I find my wife upon the bed not over well, her breast being broke out with heat, which troubles her, but I hope it will be for her good. Thence I to Mrs. Turner, and did get her to go along with me to the French pewterer’s, and there did buy some new pewter against to-morrow; and thence to White Hall, to have got a cook of her acquaintance, the best in England, as she says. But after we had with much ado found him, he could not come, nor was Mr. Gentleman in town, whom next I would have had, nor would Mrs. Stone let her man Lewis come, whom this man recommended to me; so that I was at a mighty loss what in the world to do for a cooke, Philips being out of town. Therefore, after staying here at Westminster a great while, we back to London, and there to Philips’s, and his man directed us to Mr. Levett’s, who could not come, and he sent to two more, and they could not; so that, at last, Levett as a great kindness did resolve he would leave his business and come himself, which set me in great ease in my mind, and so home, and there with my wife setting all things in order against to-morrow, having seen Mrs. Turner at home, and so late 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.)