October 24
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 24, 1997
Good day. Zach bitched at Chris about his tape and I think Chris is scared. Me and Chrissi and Zach went home with Ashley. Zach told me that Tim wants 2 get up with me again ’cause I remind him of a bisexual. WHAT?! :) Tim’s a weirdo. Mom came and I went 2 “Poetic Explosions” workshop in Durham (Duke) from 4:30-9:00. It was really fun. Cool teachers. Came home. Courtney, story, homework.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 24, 1960
Bright day but cold and windy. Went to Carrie’s she doesn’t look very good. Mrs. B came over didn’t stay too long.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 24, 1938
Nice day. Cool. Practiced. Went to chapel. Usual classes. Home for dinner. Asked Mrs. McClure if I could sew on her machine after school. Back to school. Usual classes. Read in last s.p. After school Mary (who was going to my house) and I walked up the hill with Mary Lou Beck. Freshened up at home and Mother gave us some grapes. Then Mary and I went over to her house and Mrs. Farmer helped me sew on her machine. Got a lot done. At 5:10 I left. Mary walked to the corner with me. Home about 5:25. Practiced and got lessons. Daddy came. After supper I 'phoned George for him to come over and stay with me while M. and D. went to see Mrs. Carr. He asked me to hold the ’phone and forgot I was holding it. I held it about 5 mins. until he suddenly remembered me. I washed the dishes. About 7:30 M. and D. left. G. got his lessons. I told him if a burglar came to send him in to me with the news that I had a .22 waiting for him. Got ready for bed. George was scared. At 8:00 we listened to Lux Radio Theater Program “Babbet” starring Edward Arnold. Fair. M. and D. came. G. went home. I sewed. At 9:00 I went to bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 24, 1887
It has not been a pleasant day, being windy and chilly. I have been digging for a cellar all day, and am rather tired in consequence of so going. My front teeth have been very tender today and pained badly at times. I don’t like to have toothache and such things just now if I am to teach. I am going up in the morning to see what is to be done about it.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 24, 1862
Mr. Henry a good deal better. Mail brought several letters but none for us. The report of the battle in Kty. is true. The Confederates whipped them badly. I cleaned upstairs today as I hear Sister Jane will be in Asheville tomorrow evening. I think she will be here soon after she gets to Dr. Neilson’s. I hope she will stay some time with us. I did not scour, only moved the wool & arranged things generally. Mr. Henry, Pinck, Zona & I went to the mill dam this evening so he is getting well.
*(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 24, 1667
Up, and to the office, where all the morning very busy, and at noon took Mr. Hater home with me to dinner, and instantly back again to write what letters I had to write, that I might go abroad with my wife, who was not well, only to jumble her, and so to the Duke of York’s playhouse; but there Betterton not being yet well, we would not stay, though since I hear that Smith do act his part in “The Villaine,” which was then acted, as well or better than he, which I do not believe; but to Charing Cross, there to see Polichinelli. But, it being begun, we in to see a Frenchman, at the house, where my wife’s father last lodged, one Monsieur Prin, play on the trump-marine, which he do beyond belief; and, the truth is, it do so far outdo a trumpet as nothing more, and he do play anything very true, and it is most admirable and at first was a mystery to me that I should hear a whole concert of chords together at the end of a pause, but he showed me that it was only when the last notes were 5ths or 3rds, one to another, and then their sounds like an Echo did last so as they seemed to sound all together. The instrument is open at the end, I discovered; but he would not let me look into it, but I was mightily pleased with it, and he did take great pains to shew me all he could do on it, which was very much, and would make an excellent concert, two or three of them, better than trumpets can ever do, because of their want of compass. Here we also saw again the two fat children come out of Ireland, and a brother and sister of theirs now come, which are of little ordinary growth, like other people. But, Lord! how strange it is to observe the difference between the same children, come out of the same little woman’s belly!
*(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.)