March 30
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
March 30, 1998
Ugh. School sucks. Me and J. went off for lunch. It was cool. Took Zach to work, me and Ash went 2 Manda’s. It was so sad. She looks so different. Talked 2 John a bit. Took Ash 2 Lisa’s. Ate. Homework. No writing class. Called John. Turns out we had 4th grade 2gether. I remember him!
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 30, 1997
Up at 9:00. Had breakfast with Julie. Watched “Simpsons.” Came home at 7:00. Went over to Courtney’s to spend the night with her. Shannon W. was there. We watched TV and bonded. FUN.
Emily M., age 12, North Carolina
March 30, 1990
I woke up at 11:00! I could have kicked myself! I meant to put up recycling bins. But I didn’t have time cause Dad picked us up around 12:00. We went to pick up Rebecca at day care. She is sleeping on a mat instead of in a crib. We spent the rest of the day at Dad’s office watching Rebecca. She is quite a handful! Her favorite word is boogidy boogidy boogidy! After Dad got off work and Sandra came we all went to the Baciks house. Gotta go.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 30, 1960
Rained off and on all day very gloomy. Talked with Mrs. B. Mary M. called. Baked small cake. Did odd jobs. Wrote letters to Mary and Harry. Went out so. in our car. Ruts on gravel of course.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 30, 1944
A lot to look forward to. Didn’t mind getting up. At 6, too, to review. Bright morning. Still cold. Good breakfast. To history at 10. Test awfully long but not particularly hard. Betty said it was the worst paper she ever wrote. I felt on top of the world - but just wait for the grades to come out!! Report in philosophy. Mr. Berry ranted around about the educational system. He’s wonderful! Good lunch. Freedom! Typed for Betty during siesta. Mary Jo left to go home for vacation - her Pop came. At 2 we went to auditorium to hear Mrs. Grace Sloane Overton. Very good speaker - Betty and I decided we were abnormal, seeing as how we don’t have dates! Went to library at 3 with Betty and we stocked up on good books to read. Practiced at 4. Jane left around 4 - home, too. Piano lesson at 4:30. Good one! Vacation started officially at 5!! Read a bit. Dinner at 5:30. What a meal!! Waitress was in a rush, tho. Read then til around 7 when Betty and I went down to Missouri to see Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey and Gail Russell in “The Uninvited.” Jeeps, was it scary!! The house - Windward - was the answer to a prayer. Betty was captivated! Picture very skillfully handled. Nearly jumped out of our seats once. Still felt weak in the knees when we came out about 9:15. Stopped by bus station but they were fresh out of rolls. So we went to Tuck for sandwich. Washed my hair. Betty read. To bed about 12. Vacation!!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 30, 1941
Nice, milder. Didn’t go to Sunday school (George Custer) but did go to church. Morton Lane drove me down. Just in time to keep Ruth and Mary F. from going home. Dr. Garnlon from Knoxville preached. Very good. Paid Daddy a compliment. After church, Mrs. Miles told me that Dorcus Jane said she’d like to come to Sunday school every Sunday if I were her teacher. My goodness! Walked home with George. He’s in love again. Mary and William drove up just as we were arriving home. I got in and we went riding. So good to see her again. She isn’t very well according to the doctor. When we got back, we sat in the car and talked. Helen came down. About 1:00 they left. Mom and Dad came. Rushed through dinner and dishes, and at 1:00 Helen, George, and I went over to Mary’s. Sat in car and talked. William drove us to church in time for conference at 3:00. I had to play for them to sing. Sat with others in discussion group -- Miss Davis’s. Then went downstairs and got acquainted by means of matching Bible books. A grand scramble. I got a boy from Spring City. Then supper. No good as usual. Went outside and ate. Lovely. We girls helped with the dishes -- fun. Everyone except Ella -- she went walking! Helen had to leave early. Lovely walking home. Daffodils beautiful. Ate supper again at home. Listened to “One Man’s Family.”
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 30, 1888
I went to the chapel exercises, and then helped some at the Hall where they were making preparations for the entertainment which came off tonight. I had to sing in their pieces and just made a fool of myself in them all. I feel as though I never want to be before the public again.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 30, 1887
The thermometer was 2 degrees below 0 when I got up this morning. It has gone up to 30 degrees above now 10 AM. I went over to our house this morning and measured for the cow trough, which I want to get the lumber for. I called on Mrs. Morrow and talked about my little daughter. Went up to the store right away after I ate dinner and practiced telegraphy. After teaching I studied some more and posted up the books. I got the most of a telegraphy message going through I think I can improve each time trying to read the slow messages. I received a letter from Nellie tonight telling me that Kate and the baby are doing well, but as it was written last Saturday it seems rather old, but I was pleased at the news it contained. Cooler tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 30, 1862
Cloudy with occasional sunshine, very warm. Sam has been gardening some for the last week. I staid alone last night. Atheline slept in the house. Jinnie is getting dinner. She has been staying with Ruth (George’s wife) since last Tuesday. She has been confined. Fannie is sick with headache. The negroes gone to prayer meeting at Academy. Tena has Willie. Pinck gone up to Taylor’s with Tom Tidwell. He came back with Taylor last Thursday.
*(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 30, 1668
Up betimes, and so to the office, there to do business till about 10 o’clock, and then out with my wife and Deb. and W. Hewer by coach to Common-garden Coffee-house, where by appointment I was to meet Harris; which I did, and also Mr. Cooper, the great painter, and Mr. Hales: and thence presently to Mr. Cooper’s house, to see some of his work, which is all in little, but so excellent as, though I must confess I do think the colouring of the flesh to be a little forced, yet the painting is so extraordinary, as I do never expect to see the like again. Here I did see Mrs. Stewart’s picture as when a young maid, and now just done before her having the smallpox: and it would make a man weep to see what she was then, and what she is like to be, by people’s discourse, now. Here I saw my Lord Generall’s picture, and my Lord Arlington and Ashly’s, and several others; but among the rest one Swinfen, that was Secretary to my Lord Manchester, Lord Chamberlain, with Cooling, done so admirably as I never saw any thing: but the misery was, this fellow died in debt, and never paid Cooper for his picture; but, it being seized on by his creditors, among his other goods, after his death, Cooper himself says that he did buy it, and give 25l. out of his purse for it, for what he was to have had but 30l.. Being infinitely satisfied with this sight, and resolving that my wife shall be drawn by him when she comes out of the country, I away with Harris and Hales to the Coffee-house, sending my people away, and there resolve for Hales to begin Harris’s head for me, which I will be at the cost of. After a little talk, I away to White Hall and Westminster, where I find the Parliament still bogling about the raising of this money: and every body’s mouth full now; and Mr. Wren himself tells me that the Duke of York declares to go to sea himself this year; and I perceive it is only on this occasion of distaste of the Parliament against W. Pen’s going, and to prevent the Prince’s: but I think it is mighty hot counsel for the Duke of York at this time to go out of the way; but, Lord! what a pass are all our matters come to! At noon by appointment to Cursitor’s Alley, in Chancery Lane, to meet Captain Cocke and some other creditors of the Navy, and their Counsel, Pemberton, North, Offly, and Charles Porter; and there dined, and talked of the business of the assignments on the Exchequer of the 1,250,000l. on behalf of our creditors; and there I do perceive that the Counsel had heard of my performance in the Parliamenthouse lately, and did value me and what I said accordingly. At dinner we had a great deal of good discourse about Parliament: their number being uncertain, and always at the will of the King to encrease, as he saw reason to erect a new borough. But all concluded that the bane of the Parliament hath been the leaving off the old custom of the places allowing wages to those that served them in Parliament, by which they chose men that understood their business and would attend it, and they could expect an account from, which now they cannot; and so the Parliament is become a company of men unable to give account for the interest of the place they serve for. Thence, the meeting of the Counsel with the King’s Counsel this afternoon being put off by reason of the death of Serjeant Maynard’s lady, I to White Hall, where the Parliament was to wait on the King; and they did: and it was to be told that he did think fit to tell them that they might expect to be adjourned at Whitsuntide, and that they might make haste to raise their money; but this, I fear, will displease them, who did expect to sit as long as they pleased, and whether this be done by the King upon some new counsel I know not, for the King must be beholding to them till they do settle this business of money. Great talk to-day as if Beaufort was come into the Channel with about 20 ships, and it makes people apprehensive, but yet the Parliament do not stir a bit faster in the business of money. Here I met with Creed, expecting a Committee of Tangier, but the Committee met not, so he and I up and down, having nothing to do, and particularly to the New Cockpit by the King’s Gate in Holborne, but seeing a great deal of rabble we did refuse to go in, but took coach and to Hide Park, and there till all the tour was empty, and so he and I to the Lodge in the Park, and there eat and drank till it was night, and then carried him to White Hall, having had abundance of excellent talk with him in reproach of the times and managements we live under, and so I home, and there to talk and to supper with my wife, and so 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.)