October 21
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 21, 1997
Chris had a big zit on his face. HA. Gave out pics and received some, too. Went 2 Renee’s with Ashley and Amanda. Zach and Mike stopped by for about 5 minutes. Dumb. Ashley’s mom took me home. Did homework. Ate and cleaned kitchen. Did art homework for an hour. Ashley called and I called Karen.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 21, 1938
Nice day. Cool. Went to chapel and had pep meeting. Usual classes. No Algebra. Went in library for study hall. Got Mon.’s Latin and then Mary and I wrote notes back and forth. Had fun. Home for dinner. Back to school. Usual classes. Some of the pupils had gone to Severville to the football game. Harriman won 13 to 7. After school gave Mary another note which was very funny. Walked up the hill with George. Helen came down when I got home I asked her to go to town with me. Her mother had her get some things for her. We went to the 10-cent stores and the library. I got “The Witness” by Grace Livingston Hill. Met Ella on the way home. Walked a little way with her. Rest of the way with Bobby and Ruth Butler. Couldn’t play when I got home but I dusted and practiced. About 5:30 (just as I was finishing my practicing) Mr. Kirwin and Mr. Nelson (the Episcopal minister) came to call. Mother talked to them while I went in the kitchen and read. When they left I read in the living room till suppertime. Then got ready to go to church. About 7:15 we left. Daddy drove around and picked up Mrs. Winslow and then we got Mrs. Mother Lane and Mrs. Julian. We went to the Episcopal church. They had a very nice service. The bishop gave the address and there were 2 other ministers. One was Mr. Nelson. After the service we went over to the Williams’s reception. Had fun. Had ice cream and cookies. Lots of people. Home about 10:00. Cold at night.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 21, 1887
It turned cold last night and has been squalling all day; sometimes the snow became quite visible on the ground. I finished my job of bookkeeping at the court house this forenoon and received my pay for the same. Went up town tonight and got the mail. Called at Mr. Waters a little while to see Fred about getting some potatoes of him. It is a rather rough night out.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
October 21, 1871
This a.m. Philip shot a rat at the foot of my bed. That is the third he has shot here. They call them wood rats. One day when crossing the upper branch among the scrub trees, I saw one fussing in the crotch of a tree with little sticks. Our cat is still down at the Hall.
Baked pies this a.m. out of pie mellon. Mr. Rose gave me the seed last spring. I dont care for them, and there are enough to supply the whole settlement. Our squashes are fine and good to bake. The fire scorched the garden badly.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 21, 1862
Quilted after the cool of the morning was over, will get it out tomorrow. I sold 6 lbs. of butter yesterday evening for 3$. Dear butter surely. Mr. Henry continues to improve very slow. Has no appetite for anything. I hope & pray he may soon be restored to perfect health. He is a dear kind husband to me & a fond father to his little ones.
*(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 21, 1667
Up, and betimes got a coach at the Exchange, and thence to St. James’s, where I had forgot that the Duke of York and family were gone to White Hall, and thence to Westminster Hall and there walked a little, finding the Parliament likely to be busy all this morning about the business of Mr. Bruncker for advising Cox and Harman to shorten sail when they were in pursuit of the Dutch after the first great victory. I went away to Mr. Creed’s chamber, there to meet Sir H. Cholmly, about business of Mr. Yeabsly, where I was delivered of a great fear that they would question some of the orders for payment of money which I had got them signed at the time of the plague, when I was here alone, but all did pass. Thence to Westminster again, and up to the lobby, where many commanders of the fleete were, and Captain Cox, and Mr. Pierce, the Surgeon; the last of whom hath been in the House, and declared that he heard Bruncker advise; and give arguments to, Cox, for the safety of the Duke of York’s person, to shorten sail, that they might not be in the middle of the enemy in the morning alone; and Cox denying to observe his advice, having received the Duke of York’s commands over night to keep within cannon-shot (as they then were) of the enemy, Bruncker did go to Harman, and used the same arguments, and told him that he was sure it would be well pleasing to the King that care should be taken of not endangering the Duke of York; and, after much persuasion, Harman was heard to say, “Why, if it must be, then lower the topsail.” And so did shorten sail, to the loss, as the Parliament will have it, of the greatest victory that ever was, and which would have saved all the expence of blood, and money, and honour, that followed; and this they do resent, so as to put it to the question, whether Bruncker should not be carried to the Tower: who do confess that, out of kindness to the Duke of York’s safety, he did advise that they should do so, but did not use the Duke of York’s name therein; and so it was only his error in advising it, but the greatest theirs in taking it, contrary to order. At last, it ended that it should be suspended till Harman comes home; and then the Parliament-men do all tell me that it will fall heavy, and, they think, be fatal to Bruncker or him. Sir W. Pen tells me he was gone to bed, having been all day labouring, and then not able to stand, of the goute, and did give order for the keeping the sails standing, as they then were, all night. But, which I wonder at, he tells me that he did not know the next day that they had shortened sail, nor ever did enquire into it till about ten days ago, that this begun to be mentioned; and, indeed, it is charged privately as a fault on the Duke of York, that he did not presently examine the reason of the breach of his orders, and punish it. But Cox tells me that he did finally refuse it; and what prevailed with Harman he knows not, and do think that we might have done considerable service on the enemy the next day, if this had not been done. Thus this business ended to-day, having kept them till almost two o’clock; and then I by coach with Sir W. Pen as far as St. Clement’s, talking of this matter, and there set down; and I walked to Sir G. Carteret’s, and there dined with him and several Parliament-men, who, I perceive, do all look upon it as a thing certain that the Parliament will enquire into every thing, and will be very severe where they can find any fault. Sir W. Coventry, I hear, did this day make a speech, in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke of Albemarle, concerning the good condition which Chatham was in before the enemy come thither: declaring his simple intention therein, without prejudice to my Lord. And I am told that he was also with the Duke of Albemarle yesterday to excuse it; but this day I do hear, by some of Sir W. Coventry’s friends, that they think he hath done himself much injury by making this man, and his interest, so much his enemy.
*(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.)