October 29
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 29, 1997
Nuttin’ special in school. But Sean got his car! He took me, Ashley, Zach, Courtnie Wood 2 Ashley’s. Mike was in the car. Chris almost seemed jealous. Mom came at 4:00. Did homework and T.V. Went to Jasper’s with Dad, etc. Did yoga. Showered. Homework.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 29, 1960
Too tired to do much. Did too much yesterday. Helen dropped in about noon. She is going with us to cabin. Having pan cakes and sausage. Came home quite early as Helen going to Heddie’s for coffee, following a dinner she had for her sister. Set our clocks back and gained an hour.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 29, 1938
Up about 8:30. Breakfast. At 9:30 went to Music lesson. Stopped at Mrs. Mildred Lane’s. George walked that far with me. After music lesson I came home, did usual work and then made an attempt at sewing buttonholes for my blouse. Mother had to help me. Just before dinner I washed the dishes. Earlier in the morning Mildred Lane brought some magazines. Daddy home for dinner. While I dressed Mother did part of the dishes and then I finished. About 1:30 we left for Knoxville. Got there about 3:00. Parked the car in a parking lot and then Mother and I went on to George’s. Got some new $8.75 shoes. Very nice. Daddy came so we went up with him to get a new suit. Then Mother and I went down and I got a new brown hat and a tweed jacket. All very pretty. Then about 5:30 after more shopping we went to the S.&W. Cafeteria on Main Street. There was a large football game here in Knoxville today between U.T. and Louisiana State. Tenn. won 14 to 6. That’s about 6 games they’ve won in succession. Looks as though they might get to Rose Bowl in California. The streets were crowded and so was the S.&W. We had a very good supper, though. Met Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. Cummins with their husbands. After supper we walked around the block and then back to the parking lot. Streets still crowded and everyone yelling. We drove out 11 on North Broadway to see Mr. Hopper and wife but when we got there they were having a wedding so we didn’t go in. Long drive home. Have had good time. Home about 8:30. To bed. Nice day.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 29, 1887
It began to grow cold this morning and I went to work and made shelves in the cellar and moved our canned fruit from the wood shed down where I think it will not freeze. I put the potatoes down also and made a door to the cellar way. Taught this afternoon. Went over to the store after school and learned that the stove had come. It is freezing hard tonight and I dug what potatoes I raised this year, about ½ or 2/3 bushel and put in the cellar. Fred Neill was here and spent the evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
October 29, 1871
Lizzie Rose came over on their pony. She had three letters for us and a bundle of papers. In p.m. Mr. S came with two more letters—and another bundle of papers. What a terrible fire they have had in Chicago.
The boys were to the river, and came back with two wild geese. Mr. Stafford stayed for supper. We had turkey, squash, stewed peaches, pie, bread and coffee. He promised to do the plowing next week. It is very smoky. The wind from the North.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 29, 1862
Mrs. Jamison spent the day here. I have not done much on the shirt. The machine stitched the bosom very well. Aunt Patsy brought home some light mixed stocking yarn. It is very nice, blue & white. A great deal warmer today. The leaves are crisped up on the apple trees from the cold. We have had heavy frosts every morning for several days.
*(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 29, 1667
Up, and at the office, my Lord Bruncker and I close together till almost 3 after noon, never stirring, making up a report for the Committee this afternoon about the business of discharging men by ticket, which it seems the House is mighty earnest in, but is a foolery in itself, yet gives me a great deal of trouble to draw up a defence for the Board, as if it was a crime; but I think I have done it to very good purpose.
Then to my Lady Williams’s, with her and my Lord, and there did eat a snapp of good victuals, and so to Westminster Hall, where we find the House not up, but sitting all this day about the method of bringing in the charge against my Lord Chancellor; and at last resolved for a Committee to draw up the heads, and so rose, and no Committee to sit tonight.
Here Sir W. Coventry and Lord Bruncker and I did in the Hall (between the two Courts at the top of the Hall) discourse about a letter of [Sir] W. Coventry’s to Bruncker, whereon Bruncker did justify his discharging men by ticket, and insists on one word which Sir W. Coventry would not seem very earnest to have left out, but I did see him concerned, and did after labour to suppress the whole letter, the thing being in itself really impertinent, but yet so it is that [Sir] W. Coventry do not desire to have his name used in this business, and I have prevailed with Bruncker for it.
Thence Bruncker and I to the King’s House, thinking to have gone into a box above, for fear of being seen, the King being there, but the play being 3 acts done we would not give 4s., and so away and parted, and I home, and there after a little supper to bed, my eyes ill, and head full of thoughts of the trouble this Parliament gives us.
*(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.)