October 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 17, 1997
DAMN. Malia picked up me and Renée, we went back 2 her house. Then we got goofy thanx 2 Malia and stayed that way all day. It was cool 2 see Renée like that. Courtney came 2 see us and we went 2 Coyote Cafe (I think :) ). Came 2 Renée’s. Dad picked me up at 5:30. Rachel, Trudie, Wendy, Eric, etc. came 4 dinner. :)
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 17, 1960
Did get started early to wash but not enough room to hang half. Was at it most of the day. Mrs. B. came so rested while we drank coffee and ate cookies. Washed two spreads and my 3 rugs plus all the rest. Rugs and one spread not dry.
Marcy S., age 46, North Carolina
October 17, 1970
A mature person rejoices in another’s good fortune. With no envy or resentment. A mature person identifies with others so completely that selfish reactions just don’t exist.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 17, 1887
It began to mist this morning and finally wound up with a rain, which lasted about all day; it is clear this evening, and I can hear Lake Michigan roar very plainly, which seems strange when it is so still. I did very little but sit in the house today. Went up town and got the mail, received a letter from Scott, he is looking forward to the time when he will come home from Chili.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 17, 1862
Mail brought no news. Mr. Henry some better, can sit up. Aunt Patsy Jamison spent the day here. Cousin Mary Moore was here a short time in the evening to see Mr. Henry. He sit up nearly all day today. I hope he will soon be well. Sam & some of the others killed a beef this evening, a young one. It is very nice & fat. I have knit a little today. Aunt Patsy took some wool home with her this evening to spin stockings, yarn blue mixed.
*(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 34, London
October 17, 1667
Up, and being sent for by my Lady Batten, I to her, and there she found fault with my not seeing her since her being a widow, which I excused as well as I could, though it is a fault, but it is my nature not to be forward in visits. But here she told me her condition, which is good enough, being sole executrix, to the disappointment of all her husband’s children, and prayed my friendship about the accounts of the prizes, which I promised her. And here do see what creatures widows are in weeping for their husbands, and then presently leaving off; but I cannot wonder at it, the cares of the world taking place of all other passions. Thence to the office, where all the morning busy, and at noon home to dinner, where Mr. John Andrews and his wife come and dined with me, and pretty merry we were, only I out of humour the greatest part of the dinner, by reason that my people had forgot to get wine ready, I having none in my house, which I cannot say now these almost three years, I think, without having two or three sorts, by which we were fain to stay a great while, while some could be fetched. When it come I begun to be merry, and merry we were, but it was an odd, strange thing to observe of Mr. Andrews what a fancy he hath to raw meat, that he eats it with no pleasure unless the blood run about his chops, which it did now by a leg of mutton that was not above half boiled; but, it seems, at home all his meat is dressed so, and beef and all, and [he] eats it so at nights also. Here most of our discourse is of the business of the Parliament, who run on mighty furiously, having yesterday been almost all the morning complaining against some high proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain against him in the House, and run very high. It is the man that did fall out with my cozen Roger Pepys, once, at the Assizes there, and would have laid him by the heels; but, it seems, a very able lawyer.
*(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.)