May 18
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 18, 1998
Good day. Lots of compliments on hair and outfit. Only saw Sean once. But he called me after school. I picked him up from Eddie K’s and took him home, even though his ’rents were there. We had a weird eye contact moment, but I just looked away. Did homework. He called me again at 6:00 ish. Talked 4 over an hour. Said more sweet stuff. Don’t know. Aahh!!
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 18, 1997
Up at 10:00. Helped with lunch. Em and Cap ate with us. Biology. Watched “Real World.” Came home at 4:30. Helped with dinner. Ate. Watched “Simpsons.” Karen.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 18, 1960
Washed rugs from back room and Loie’s. In the midst when Loie called to say men were coming. So stopped washing and brot screens out. She came home of course took about half hour. Insurance adjuster came. He hadn’t realized it was so bad. It will take about two weeks all told. Later washed porch rug and porch, such a good drying day. We came in early Lo mowed front.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 18, 1944
Very warm. But cloudy in morn. Up at 6:30. Betty went to breakfast with me. At 7:45 we were over at the Baptist Student Center waiting for the tests to begin. [In upper margin: “Final test on brief forms in shorthand yesterday.”] They are designed to measure the achievement of Stephens seniors with Univ. sophomores. I had to move to another room with the kids whose credits had not definitely been sent to a univ. The tests for the other kids were different. Betty and Jacq were in 1st group. It’s silly cause most of us in the 2nd group were going to transfer. They do the darnedest things around this place! We had 2 or 3 “mechanical pencil” tests on everything in general and were then allowed a 15 min. recess. Went to P.O. Letter from Clure with one from Mrs. Martin enclosed. Went back in and were out about 11:40. I went right over to Registrar’s and made arrangement to have my credits sent to U. of Wash. Back to hall and the baggage men were there. I got my tags. Good lunch. At 2 we went back over and worked til about 3 when we had a short recess. Free cokes outside. Betty’s group was out quite early but we weren’t through till almost 4:30. Had grammar and reading comprehension tests this afternoon. Went to piano lesson at 4:30. Boy! was it hot!! Afterwards I went up on the roof and found Betty and Jane there, trying desperately to get tan. Jane has a bad burn on her shoulder and Mary Jo is miserable with a very red back. Betty is just waiting. Good dinner. It was a beautiful evening after a beautiful cloudless blue afternoon — but hot! It was glorious up on the roof — in line almost with the tree tops. Things look so different up there. Vespers. Some girls read some student poetry — very good. Studied.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 18, 1941
Beautiful. Not cloud in sky. Warm. Mr. Tomilson’s car was in the driveway this morning. At Sunday School Dorcus Jane said she wished I were her teacher. Sat with the Youngs in church. Dad sang “Lead Kindly Light.” I read a Samson story beforehand. Dr. Carouthers preached a good sermon on loneliness. Walked home with George. Just before we ate dinner (1:00) Mr. Tomilson and Miss Staples drove away together. Ah! After dinner I ran up to see Barbara. She was all dressed for a walk so I rolled her down to the bank while her mom dressed. George and Mr. Tomilson came out and got in his car. He looked up as they were leaving and Barbey waved -- intended for George, of course. I got tickled. When Barbara left, Helen came down and helped me with the dishes. It was after 2:30 and Mary hadn’t come so we left on our walk. I didn’t have any energy at all. Below Tarroter’s [?] I turned around once and saw the Farmers’ car driving up the hill. Helen and I raced up the hill to Walkers’ and when we were sure it was she, we ran down home and met them. Then Mary, William, Helen and I went riding. Stopped at the Norris Creamery but I didn’t have anything. At Christian Education time they drove us to the church and we sat and talked till Davis came. Said bye and went in. Earl led. Helen behaved. Had fun. When we got home I sat out in the car and studied. Soon George returned with Mr. Tomilson, but the latter drove on. They had been to Frozen Head. We sat in the car and I read him a play. Soon we got out and went to his front yard and I read another one. Soon Mr. Tomilson came and he said he wished he had a nice young lady to read to him. George invited me for supper, and so I got some toast and salad and Clure furnished the milk. When the others had eaten, George and I had our milk toast in the dining room. The Gleaves and Mr. Tomilson were talking in the living room. After supper George and I retired to the sun room and I read another play. Soon Mr. Tomilson came in. I finished reading the play. Mrs. [?] Clure came and asked me to give a reading to Mr. Tomilson but I declined because my throat hurt and because I couldn’t remember how “These Women” started. When George and Mr. Tomilson started studying arithmetic I left, although Mr. Tomilson said not to hurry. Did dishes and read paper. Felt wonderful by bedtime.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 18, 1888
It has been a find of a rainy day, and I stayed indoors to avoid taking cold in my mouth. Studied Volapuk some in the lessons of the “Office.” I studied arithmetic this afternoon and practiced writing this evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 18, 1887
I said good-bye to my folks this morning, and I expect it will be a long time, if sickness or some such thing does not call me back, before I will see old Webster again. I think I get homesick each time I have to leave the old homestead and the folks that still remain. We headed up the things, and Willie hitched Jimmie to the jogger and we started for Plymouth, getting here about noon. We fed the horses at a feed stable, ate our dinner, loafed a little, and then Pa and Willie started back for home, and left Jimmie and me to go on the freight train to Manistee. I let Jimmie fill up on grass by the yard and will put him in the car about 6:30 tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 18, 1863
I got a letter from Mr. Henry tonight by mail. He was in Columbia the 12th ult. He had seen Martha Arthur, Virginia & Mollie H. They were all well. I look for him this week. I began the baby another pair stockings. I get along very slow crocheting. Harrie thinks he is improving.
*(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 18, 1862
Cloudy & dull this morning. I slept very late. My head not entirely well yet. Breakfast late. Mrs. Fanning brought up a kitten last night. Willie & Zona think a great deal of it & Pinck is as anxious about it’s good treatment. Zona has been trying to get it to eat some molasses cakes. I will stop for this time as dinner must be got out & my head feels badly. No one here for dinner but the children & I. My head ached very bad after dinner. I went to bed soon after supper. Mr. Henry got home about 8 o’clock. Mrs. Fanning slept in side room. All are well at Uncle Dillard’s & Aunt Welch’s. I was so glad to see him for home is not home without him.
*(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 18, 1669
Up, and to St. James’s and other places, and then to the office, where all the morning. At noon home and dined in my wife’s chamber, she being much troubled with the tooth-ake, and I staid till a surgeon of hers come, one Leeson, who hath formerly drawn her mouth, and he advised her to draw it: so I to the Office, and by and by word is come that she hath drawn it, which pleased me, it being well done. So I home, to comfort her, and so back to the office till night, busy, and so 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.)