March 18
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 18, 1998
One more day. School was fine. Emily picked me up from school and took me 2 work. Chrissi, Sarah, and Kim all came and visited. Mom picked me up. Packed. Sandra and Becca came. Went to The Rathskellar 4 my birthday dinner. Dad, Em, and Cap met us there. Got presents. Came home. Showered. Blowdried. Talked 2 Ash. Soooo nervous!!!
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
March 18, 1997
Today was just “okay.” I didn’t like what I was wearing, though. Ashley talked to Mike C. and he said he’d hook up with me. COOL. He’s adorable. Eddie picked me up. Did homework. Took Lucy on walk. Watched story. Played guitar. Ate. Good dinner. Watched TV. Talked to Karen. Boring day.
Emily M., age 12, North Carolina
March 18, 1990
Laura and I got Baptised today. Dad, Sandra, Rebecca, Eddie, Nana, Trey, Tracey, Wendy, Trudie, Tom, Grammy, Grampy and Rick all came! Mom, Wendy, and Grammy were all crying. I don’t really feel that different. I have decided what I want to be when I grow up, a fashion designer! I’ll design the clothes and Kristin can model them. I have school tomorrow and have to go to bed. Gotta go.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 18, 1960
A beautiful bright day. Cold early but temp. rising. Some thawing. Cleaned dining room closet and did various little jobs, just organizing to make it easier later.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 18, 1944
Rainy and cold but nice sorta. Practice 8-10. No history ’cause Mr. Carson was sick. Betty got H on art test and in excellent spirits. We went to gen. library and she recommended several books for me to get, which I did - Gaudy Night, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Sword in the Stone. Funny how good books make you feel sort of secure and comfortable. Went to tearoom for toast. To philosophy class at 11. Betty so nice! Good outline for term paper by Mr. Berry. All about habits, rules, principles, etc. Stephens special for lunch. Betty and I went to town at 1. Got 2 cans of veg. soup with points Mum sent! Washed clothes upon return. Talked to Mary Jo, Jane and Noreen. Then tackled Chap. III of Dewey and concentrated so hard that when I lay down for a nap before dinner my mind kept on working and I was a wreck by the time I got up!! Good dinner. Studied shorthand and Eng. Lit. afterwards - Betty went swimming. Then settled down with my books. Read part of G.N. and Mutiny. Both good. Jane and Mary Jo came in to mend and curl their hair while I ironed and Betty took a bath. Had fun. After census 1st floor was given a spread ‘cause we won quiet contest. Sandwiches, cookies, milk, etc. Yummy!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 18, 1941
Beautiful, bright, quite cold. In English I gave my story report. Forgot to give the point. Help! History test. Sorta hard. Grace absent. I sat in her seat. Latin so dull. Harold confessed at noon that he hated Latin and didn’t like to sit and talk so much. I’m sorry, but I really don’t like Miss Goodwin anymore. Changed typewriters. I’m right next to Mary L. now at a Royal. Oh! In study hall I copied my story. Junior play cast met after school for first reading. Couldn’t stay because music lesson. At said lesson, Marshy again congratulated me. I went to library afterwards and got a book. Met Grace, Mildred, Anne, Margie, and Dorothy S. So nice to know people. I am Lucy in the play instead of grandma. Came home and studied. Named story “Veni, vidi, non Vice.” Product of Mom’s imagination. Pap home. About 7:00, Mom, Dad, George and I left for movies. Mom and Dad went to Webbo to see “Foreign Correspondent” while George and I went to Princess. Sat with three of George’s cronies. Saw “Santa Fe Trail” with Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan as George Custer, Olivia de Havilland as Kit, and Raymond Massey as John Brown. Very good -- made me think and try to decide for the 100th time. Home late. Fun today.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 18, 1888
I arose at 6 o’clock this morning and began a letter to Kate before I went over for my breakfast. I went to church this forenoon and came back to Neill’s for dinner, then Fred came over to my house for a while, while I did some writing and I went back with him and took a lunch and spent most of the evening. I am back for the night, as I want to get to work early in the morning. I shall hope for a letter from Kate tomorrow but may not get one until Wednesday.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 18, 1887
Did not get up this morning until nearly 6 o’clock. I ate my breakfast before the rest did and went up to the store to work at adding up the columns of figures that have accumulated in the Inventory book during this week. It took me until about noon, I am going up tomorrow to close up the Ledger for them. I received my Detroit Tribune tonight, so I think it will come all right now. Charlie Fitts and Grace are staying here tonight. I wrote a short letter to Kate tonight. Wrote copies for tomorrow also. Fred went to Frankfort today and hauled a load of iron up. He expected work for some days but will not go again. No iron to haul.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 18, 1862
I had the headache all night & no better this morning. Mr. Henry went to Asheville this morning. Mrs. Tom Cook spent the day here. Mr. Henry got us some apples today at one dollar & 75 cts. per bu. He also got me some magnesia pills & lemon seeds for my head. He is ever thoughtful of me. Willie still keeps trying to walk.
*(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 18, 1668
Up betimes to Westminster, where met with cozen Roger and Creed and walked with them, and Roger do still continue of the mind that there is no other way of saving this nation but by dissolving this Parliament and calling another; but there are so many about the King that will not be able to stand, if a new Parliament come, that they will not persuade the King to it. I spent most of the morning walking with one or other, and anon met Doll Lane at the Dog tavern, and there je did hater what I did desire with her … and I did give her as being my valentine 20s. to buy what elle would. Thence away by coach to my bookseller’s, and to several places to pay my debts, and to Ducke Lane, and there bought Montaigne’s Essays, in English, and so away home to dinner, and after dinner with W. Pen to White Hall, where we and my Lord Brouncker attended the Council, to discourse about the fitness of entering of men presently for the manning of the fleete, before one ship is in condition to receive them. W. Coventry did argue against it: I was wholly silent, because I saw the King, upon the earnestness of the Prince, was willing to it, crying very sillily, “If ever you intend to man the fleete, without being cheated by the captains and pursers, you may go to bed, and resolve never to have it manned;” and so it was, like other things, over- ruled that all volunteers should be presently entered. Then there was another great business about our signing of certificates to the Exchequer for [prize] goods, upon the 1,250,000l. Act, which the Commissioners of the Treasury did all oppose, and to the laying fault upon us. But I did then speak to the justifying what we had done, even to the angering of Duncomb and Clifford, which I was vexed at: but, for all that, I did set the Office and myself right, and went away with the victory, my Lord Keeper saying that he would not advise the Council to order us to sign no more certificates. But, before I began to say anything in this matter, the King and the Duke of York talking at the Council-table, before all the Lords, of the Committee of Miscarriages, how this entering of men before the ships could be ready would be reckoned a miscarriage; “Why,” says the King, “it is then but Mr. Pepys making of another speech to them;” which made all the Lords, and there were by also the Atturny and Sollicitor- Generall, look upon me. Thence Sir W. Coventry, W. Pen and I, by hackney-coach to take a little ayre in Hyde Parke, the first time I have been there this year; and we did meet many coaches going and coming, it being mighty pleasant weather; and so, coming back again, I ‘light in the Pell Mell; and there went to see Sir H. Cholmly, who continues very ill of his cold. And there come in Sir H. Yelverton, whom Sir H. Cholmly commended me to his acquaintance, which the other received, but without remembering to me, or I him, of our being school-fellows together; and I said nothing of it. But he took notice of my speech the other day at the bar of the House; and indeed I perceive he is a wise man by his manner of discourse, and here he do say that the town is full of it, that now the Parliament hath resolved upon 300,000l., the King, instead of fifty, will set out but twenty-five ships, and the Dutch as many; and that Smith is to command them, who is allowed to have the better of Holmes in the late dispute, and is in good esteem in the Parliament, above the other. Thence home, and there, in favour to my eyes, stayed at home, reading the ridiculous History of my Lord Newcastle, wrote by his wife, which shews her to be a mad, conceited, ridiculous woman, and he an asse to suffer her to write what she writes to him, and of him. Betty Turner sent my wife the book to read, and it being a fair print, to ease my eyes, which would be reading, I read that. Anon comes Mrs. Turner and sat and talked with us, and most about the business of Ackworth,1 which comes before us to-morrow, that I would favour it, but I do not think, notwithstanding all the friendship I can shew him, that he can escape, and therefore it had been better that he had followed the advice I sent him the other day by Mrs. Turner, to make up the business. So parted, and I to bed, my eyes being very bad; and I know not how in the world to abstain from reading.
*(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.)