May 26
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
May 26, 1998
No school. Finished interview paper! Talked 2 Sean some. Watched T.V. Casey called me. Picked him up. Me, him, and Née worked on their papers all day. Uh-oh. Still confused about him! He’s so great! Worked with Doug from 5:30-close. Casey called me there, 2. But not Sean. And he’s my boyfriend.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
May 26, 1997
NO SCHOOL. Up at 10:00. Showered. Went out to “Friday’s” with Dad, Em, etc. for Em’s birthday. Very rainy. Went back to Dad’s for dessert. Came home. Cleaned. Slept. Em, Cap and Jill came over. Before that I was job-hunting over the phone. Had BIG b-day dinner. (Steak, chicken, etc.) Had dessert. Got in shower. Talked to Ashley. Braided my hair for wavyness for tomorrow.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
May 26, 1960
Went to Mrs. B.’s she called me but didn’t stay too long. Had lots of things to do. She came into yard late P.M. so we visited. Later Lo went to store had to make 2 trips (no car). Then she mowed front yard. I swept walks. Then we put up swing. Too chilly and damp to sit.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
May 26, 1944
Very warm and rather cloudy as day progressed. Had Eng. Lit. test at 9 and was it ever hard. Mr. Miller really knows how to do it! About the only question I got right was Wordsworth’s definition of poetry which he had told us to prepare for beforehand. Practiced at 10 and 11. Good lunch. Worked on philosophy after lunch. About 2:30 Mary Lou came down and we went to town with her. Did some miscellaneous shopping. Paid for facial at Ledo and said ’bye to Thelma. Stopped at dairy for ice cream. Mary Lou is so cute. She borrowed $8 from me but paid it back as soon as we returned. We went up to Jacq’s room for awhile and Betty and I gave them a show. Then from 3:30 to about 5:30 Betty typed her term paper while I finished mine up. It’s drippy! About 5:30 Val came down and we 3 walked out to the lake for the Senior picnic. Got a lot for a quarter. We sat on the back with Mary Jo, Jane and Eleanor. Later Joan, Erna, and Connie invited Betty and I to a steak dinner tomorrow noon! It was cloudy and there was a lovely breeze. A few dogs attached themselves to us. Later Betty and I went over to the boat house and got a row boat. We rowed over to the dock near where we’d been sitting and picked up Val. She hadn’t taken her swimming test and wasn’t supposed to go boating so we had orders not to go near the boathouse where Miss Howarth was stationed. Tried to get Jane to go but she wouldn’t risk it. Betty and I took turns rowing and had a great time keeping in a straight line. Eventually we came up beside Connie and those kids who had “parked” and were dangling their feet into the water. We’d more than gotten comfortable when Miss Howarth yelled through the megaphone “All boats in.” Well, as might be expected, we were the last boat to get anywhere near the docks and then we had to let Val off at the other dock so Miss H. wouldn’t see her. Well, Miss H. saw us heading for the wrong dock and yelled at us to come over there. We attempted an explanation but she couldn’t hear us and kept yelling. I think everyone on shore was watching us. We finally made it, though. We decided to go back about 8. Walked up the hill by the country club and rested once. Val is nice. We had fun talking. She said she’d write if we would. Passed some soldiers who looked like commandos! Back about 8:15. Borrowed Jane’s typewriter and started right in typing my paper. Betty had to type an act outline. Val came down and studied awhile and ate muffins and raisins. Jane and Mary Jo popped in and out. Then Mary and Kath. came flying in to say that a whole army of soldiers from Ft. Leonard Wood were in town and could be had just like that. Kath. had landed one. I finished my typing about 11 and then to bed feeling much relieved! All work is over now.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
May 26, 1941
Hot, breezy. Clouds. Last chapel in gym to present different awards. Discussed last chapter in Liberty and Life book. Between history and Latin I registered. Had nice little talk in Latin. Hot at noon. Nice lunch. Got extra point in typing for not making any errors in five lines. No good on tests. Lovely in fifth study hall. Cloudy and breezy outside. Looked like blessed rain. I read Whitman’s “When Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and reread “The Perfect Tribute.” I have a strange feeling these days that I can’t just put my finger on and I don’t want to have strange feelings -- I want to have faith and to believe. Didn’t stay in office last period because Viola was there. Somehow I don’t feel I accomplish much unless I study. After school Ruth, Helen, and I struggled home with our arms full of books. Very “close.” After Mom left for Mossop to see the exhibit, I phoned Mary. Her dad is favorable, too, and Margaret is coming from Oklahoma this week. Mary had the choice of Oliphant or Oklahoma and she chose -- Oliphant! Glory be! I practiced joyfully, took Barbey for a walk and studied. Clouds coming up behind a blossoming hedge -- trees and blooming white rose bush and Helen’s. Beautiful. At 7:00 heard Lux Radio Theatre -- “Virginia City” with Errol Flynn. Mom and Dad drove to S.H. No school tomorrow!
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
May 26, 1926
To-day we had to have Hamlet’s speech to the players off for Fr. O’Flynn, but I went over it so many times but when I got up to say it, being nervous, I forgot it all, and was disgraced. I can never exert will-power in such a time. I am an awful fool. Fr. O’Flynn is awfully good: nearly every Wednesday, and to-day again, he sends me home in his lovely Dodge saloon. He is great at imitation and took off Doran for me to perfection. – When I came home I had to go to Mr. Fielding with a message. He is going to Dunmanway to Fr. Pat to write the Choral Society letter to the Committee. On the way there I saw poor old Canon Murphy and Fr. Sheehan coming from Bantry in a car. Canon Murphy is doing great work in Bantry. The whole town is being decorated at his request for the Jubilee Procession. – Got my bike back to-day from Willie Groeger to whom I had lent it to go to Fermoy; He bust, but then got mended, the front tyre, and the brake is not acting properly! I am not very pleased about it, but he couldn’t help it. Margherita [the housekeeper] was as cheeky as the dickens to Pappie to-day after breaking a glass dish. – Went to Arthur, who is still in the same condition.
*(Original Archive Copyright © Estate of Aloys Fleischmann. The Fleischmann Diaries Online Archive by Róisín O’Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Used with permission.)
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
May 26, 1888
Nellie was over this forenoon helping Kate. I spent the forenoon in writing letters and practicing penmanship. Kate and I went to Dexter just after dinner, leaving Una with her grandma Queal. Pa got a postal from ma, written when she was almost to Fremont, so she was safe. We went to the silver wedding at Johnston Backus this afternoon, and had a good time.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
May 26, 1887
I get up about 5 o’clock each morning now, but I don’t get much done in a day, somehow. I went over to Fred Waters’ place and got Mr. James Case’s small drag, this morning. I also loaded my mortar box on, which Bilderback borrowed two years ago. I got my garden dragged in as good shape as I could. Rode Jimmie up town just before noon and bought 25 ft. of rope to tether him out with. I went over to see Mr. Olsen about getting my freight, if he goes to Frankfort tomorrow. Planted a row of potatoes and sowed some lettuce and radish seed this afternoon. Got some more potatoes out of the pot and put them in the stable. I am staying at home this evening. I got very tired by night.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
May 26, 1863
I have had headache for two days, yesterday & today. I have had a very bad spell of it. Bill Miller came here yesterday. He & Harrie went to Asheville yesterday after noon. They did not get back till this evening. I took some pills today & my head is nearly well this evening. I slept part of the day yesterday & a good deal today.
*(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 26, 1862
It was nearly 12 o’clock before I sit down to sew. I ironed & mended some of the children’s clothes, began a blouse coat for Pinck, did but little of it as my head ached badly after dinner from eating onions & lettice for dinner. Mr. Henry & I wrote to Dora & Matt this evening. I done up the mail. He brought no news. The yanks have taken possession of New Orleans some time ago. Betsy McKinnish & Tena washed wool today. Fannie helped after dinner, got nearly done. Tena will finish tomorrow. I had it all taken in the evening & put upstairs, it is not dry yet. My head got better before supper.
*(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
May 26, 1668
To White Hall, where all the morning. Dined with Mr. Chevins, with Alderman Backewell, and Spragg. The Court full of the news from Captain Hubbert, of “The Milford,” touching his being affronted in the Streights, shot at, and having eight men killed him by a French man-of- war, calling him “English dog,” and commanding him to strike, which he refused, and, as knowing himself much too weak for him, made away from him. The Queen, as being supposed with child, fell ill, so as to call for Madam Nun, Mr. Chevins’s sister, and one of her women, from dinner from us; this being the last day of their doubtfulness touching her being with child; and they were therein well confirmed by her Majesty’s being well again before night. One Sir Edmund Bury Godfry, a woodmonger and justice of Peace in Westminster, having two days since arrested Sir Alexander Frazier for about 30l. in firing, the bailiffs were apprehended, committed to the porter’s lodge, and there, by the King’s command, the last night severely whipped; from which the justice himself very hardly escaped, to such an unusual degree was the King moved therein. But he lies now in the lodge, justifying his act, as grounded upon the opinion of several of the judges, and, among others, my Lord Chief-Justice; which makes the King very angry with the Chief-Justice, as they say; and the justice do lie and justify his act, and says he will suffer in the cause for the people, and do refuse to receive almost any nutriment. The effects of it may be bad to the Court. Expected a meeting of Tangier this afternoon, but failed. So home, met by my wife at Unthanke’s.
*(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.)