May 10
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 10, 1997
Up at 11:30. Went to 1:15 softball practice. Left from practice straight to movie “Breakdown.” GOOD! Came home and mowed lawn. Ate dinner. Watched “Romeo and Juliet.” Good as hell. Watched “SNL.”
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
May 10, 1996
Today was awesome! Got tons of compliments on outfit. Kissed Albert after school finally. Kissed again after Baskin Robbins. Albert, Shannon, Luke went to rec game. I did really well! We won. After losing by 12 points we came back! Goodberries.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 10, 1960
Went to attic, took down curtains and washed them. Later ironed them. Washed windows. Got them up again. Picked up everything and mopped floor and stairs. Mighty chilly up there. Glad to get downstairs. Glad we found no colts that eve. too cold for them. Went to see Carrie that is Loie did, took her some chicken we had left.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 10, 1944
Bright, beautiful day. Tennis on courts. Studied and practiced in afternoon. Didn’t get table at dinner — I ate at table where they didn’t stay for dessert so I missed ice cream. Betty and I mushed radly over to courts afterwards but the concrete ones were taken. So we went down to clay courts and hit the balls around until a watchman came and said it wasn’t ready to be used. Of all the dumb things!! It was lovely out there — the sky and the trees and the breeze. So we went back to hall and got our trunk suits. Went over to pool at 8. Betty had to make up a cut. The pool was really crowded but Betty and I played tag and nearly wore ourselves out. As I was getting out a muscle in my leg acted up and nearly killed me — it was so funny. Betty had to assist me. We went to Tuck for some nourishment. Beautiful night. Then took a shower and washed my hair. Got water in my ear.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 10, 1941
Beautiful, breezy. A bit warmer. Music lesson at 9:30. Came home and got right at my essay. Dreaded it but by dinnertime I was there and Mom said it was very good -- “The Grand Rush” on getting ready for school in morning. I shouted for joy when at last it was finished. About 2:30 Helen and I went to town. I took Mary’s Hi-Lite to her. She got her new Elgin pink-gold watch today and it’s lovely. Of course she didn’t bring the note today but promised to give it to me last thing tomorrow night. Then Helen and I went to the White Store. I was feeling wonderful. Jr. Easter came to wait on us and he greeted us with a smile -- “Hello.” Frankly, I was surprised. We stopped at Ruth’s on way home. When we got home we went up to Mrs. Cummins to get the rose for the corsage. The pink roses and green leaves against the blue sky were beautiful and there was a heavenly breeze. She has bright yellow, crimson, deep pink, pale pink, and white roses. Gorgeous. We picked rosebuds to our hearts’ content and then went to Mother Lane’s for some more. Later I took the pin up to Mother Lane and she gave me some cookies. Then I washed and curled my hair and practiced at night.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 10, 1888
I stayed at father Queal’s last night with Kate and Una. We have been cleaning and hauling wheat all day. We are through cleaning, but pa will have a load to draw in the morning. He gets $85 a bushel for it. I have been testing my little World Typewriter tonight, to see how fast I could write with it, and succeeding in making about 20 words per minute.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 24, Michigan
May 10, 1886
It rained some this morning and has been damp and muggy all day. The sand flies bit finely. Kate and I set out 65 peach trees. We are through with the trees. I went up town and got the mail tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 10, 1863
A beautiful bright day. Excellent growing weather. Our people will soon be done planting corn. Our lettuce is just getting large enough to eat, very late at that. We had some last Sunday. It was very small. I wish vegetables would come in fast for I am tired of dried apples & meat. I have not heard anything more of Harrie. I think of writing to him tomorrow by the mail. I have looked all week for him & Mrs. Hilliard as she sent word she was coming over with Harrie this week. My babe’s ear still runs. Poor little fellow. I fear it pains him. It is inflamed on the out side this morning. Jinnie is getting dinner. I guess it will soon be ready. Atheline has the baby & Zona off somewhere. Willie is down with Jinnie & Pinck off with the negro boys. I want to write some letters this evening. One to Lou & one to Sister Jane. Mrs. Cagle has not come yet. Matt spent the evening at Mrs. Willey Knight’s, staid till dark. Three men stay here tonight. Not soldiers.
*(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
May 10, 1862
I finished Zona’s dress before dinner & washed the children after dinner. Got Pinck’s summer pants & fixed them & put them on. Some men came home with Mr. Henry from muster & eat dinner about 3 o’clock. Mr. Henry went to Asheville with them, did not get back till we were done supper. No one here to supper but the children & I. We have beautiful moonlight nights. Hugh Johnston got 200 lbs. of lard & 200 lbs. bacon here last Monday. Mr. Henry got a horse of him. Atheline improving. I have not felt well today. I had the headache last night right badly.
*(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 36, London
May 10, 1669
Troubled, about three in the morning, with my wife’s calling her maid up, and rising herself, to go with her coach abroad, to gather May- dew, which she did, and I troubled for it, for fear of any hurt, going abroad so betimes, happening to her; but I to sleep again, and she come home about six, and to bed again all well, and I up and with Mr. Gibson by coach to St. James’s, and thence to White Hall, where the Duke of York met the Office, and there discoursed of several things, particularly the Instructions of Commanders of ships. But here happened by chance a discourse of the Council of Trade, against which the Duke of York is mightily displeased, and particularly Mr. Child, against whom he speaking hardly, Captain Cox did second the Duke of York, by saying that he was talked of for an unfayre dealer with masters of ships, about freight: to which Sir T. Littleton very hotly and foolishly replied presently, that he never heard any honest man speak ill of Child; to which the Duke of York did make a smart reply, and was angry; so as I was sorry to hear it come so far, and that I, by seeming to assent to Cox, might be observed too much by Littleton, though I said nothing aloud, for this must breed great heart-burnings. After this meeting done, the Duke of York took the Treasurers into his closet to chide them, as Mr. Wren tells me; for that my Lord Keeper did last night at the Council say, when nobody was ready to say any thing against the constitution of the Navy, that he did believe the Treasurers of the Navy had something to say, which was very foul on their part, to be parties against us. They being gone, Mr. Wren [and I] took boat, thinking to dine with my Lord of Canterbury; but, when we come to Lambeth, the gate was shut, which is strictly done at twelve o’clock, and nobody comes in afterwards: so we lost our labour, and therefore back to White Hall, and thence walked my boy Jacke with me, to my Lord Crew, whom I have not seen since he was sick, which is eight months ago, I think and there dined with him: he is mightily broke. A stranger a country gentleman, was with him: and he pleased with my discourse accidentally about the decay of gentlemen’s families in the country, telling us that the old rule was, that a family might remain fifty miles from London one hundred years, one hundred miles from London two hundred years, and so farther, or nearer London more or less years. He also told us that he hath heard his father say, that in his time it was so rare for a country gentleman to come to London, that, when he did come, he used to make his will before he set out. Thence: to St. James’s, and there met the Duke of York, who told me, with great content, that he did now think he should master our adversaries, for that the King did tell him that he was; satisfied in the constitution of the Navy, but that it was well to give these people leave to object against it, which they having not done, he did give order to give warrant to the Duke of York to direct Sir Jeremy Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy in the room of Pen; which, though he be an impertinent fellow, yet I am glad of it, it showing that the other side is not so strong as it was: and so, in plain terms, the Duke of York did tell me, that they were every day losing ground; and particularly that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I am glad, though yet I dare not think myself secure, as the King may yet be wrought upon by these people to bring changes in our Office, and remove us, ere it be long. Thence I to White Hall, and there took boat to Westminster, and to Mrs. Martin’s, who is not come to town from her husband at Portsmouth. So drank only at Cragg’s with Doll, and so to the Swan, and there baiser a new maid that is there, and so to White Hall again, to a Committee of Tangier, where I see all things going to rack in the business of the Corporation, and consequently in the place, by Middleton’s going. Thence walked a little with Creed, who tells me he hears how fine my horses and coach are, and advises me to avoid being noted for it, which I was vexed to hear taken notice of, it being what I feared and Povy told me of my gold-lace sleeves in the Park yesterday, which vexed me also, so as to resolve never to appear in Court with them, but presently to have them taken off, as it is fit I should, and so to my wife at Unthanke’s, and coach, and so called at my tailor’s to that purpose, and so home, and after a little walk in the garden, home to supper and 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.)