October 30
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 30, 1997
Zach’s starting 2 get on my nerves with his complaining and criticizing. It scares me. Good lunch. Failed an English test. Dad picked me up. Went 2 work till 5:00 with Jenn and Brooke. Ashley came and saw me. Eddie picked me up. We had Los Tres. Did homework and T.V. Talked on phone. Typed up poems. Came home. Mom got her hair cut! Awesome. :(
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 30, 1960
Up early. GB came for a little breakfast. Went out to Anderson’s to look over what was left in house. Picked over some things. GB plans to have sale soon on what’s left. Came home and they went to ponies. Gone so long, afraid she wouldn’t get back to get Dwight. He had called from City coming 11:17. She made it. Carrie came after church. Ate and stayed until 3:30. Dwight went to bed slept until 10:30. Helen came at 8:30.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
October 30, 1938
Up late. Breakfast. Dressed in new outfit. Drove to Sunday-school. Feeling fine. An old man in S.-s who talked out loud when he wasn’t suppose [sic] to and spit on the floor. I didn’t stay for church although M. and D. did. I went home and practiced. About 11:30 some men came to see Daddy and I told them he’d be back in about a half hour. They waited in front of Waterhouse’s in a car. When D. did come he saw them. It was about getting a new state truck for Mr. Moore. An airplane came over and dropped some papers. Mother, who was up at Mrs. Julian’s got some. Read paper and book. After dinner as I was starting to wash the dishes Mother told me to go out and play. I asked her if she was feeling ok. I went out and talked to Jim, Helen, George and Allan. Jim went to the game yesterday and saw L.S.U.’s mascot, a 3 yr. old tiger named Mike. About 2:00 I had to leave and M., D., and I drove down to the church where C.E. was to meet to go to Kingston for a C.E. Converence [sic]. There were about 4 cars besides ours. I went in Mr. Johnstone’s car with he, another man and Audrey Goodman and Fay Riddle. Helen didn’t go. When we got there I went around with Betty and June, Ella, Marie Grace and Jean went together. Sat with Gertrude and Betty. Daddy sang and then he and M. left. We met in one of the school buildings with a lot of others. Then we went into a classroom and heard an address by Dr. Oar. Then back to the auditorium until 5:10. Then we had supper. I sat next to Betty and we had a good time. Then, about 6:00 we saw some moving pictures and I enjoyed them most of all. All C.E. (girls) sat together, up at the front away from the others. I sat with Ella. Then at 6:30 (about) we left. Mr. Johnstone drove like the wind going back. I sat in the front seat because the other man didn’t come back. Got home about 7:00 and Mr. Moore was talking to Daddy and Mrs. Martin (who had come for a few hours) to Mother. Both left soon. I ate cake and milk while I listened to Charlie McCarthy. Mrs. Moore came but only for a few mins. After C.M. I read till 8:30. Mother said Mary had come this afternoon to see me (just the luck) and left a Sunday-school paper and a note. Then to bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 30, 1887
The thermometer stood 19 o above 0 this morning and the ground was frozen hard. It grew warmer during the day but the wind has blown hard and it has been chilly. I went to church this forenoon. Have letters to ma and Scott Williams. We put a lock of Una’s hair in the letter to ma.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 30, 1862
Finished one shirt today & made bosom & wristbands for the other linen one. Mr. Henry went to Asheville today. No war news of importance. He got a set of cups & saucers, also six very nice mugs with covers. The children are delighted with them. We eat in my room now and have all this week as it is too cold in the dining room for the children. The wool that was mixed at the machine is not done very well. It is blue & white, one third blue. It makes a very pretty light suit. Mr. Henry had a suit last winter.
*(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 30, 1667
All the morning till past noon preparing over again our report this afternoon to the Committee of Parliament about tickets, and then home to eat a bit, and then with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we did a very little business with the Duke of York at our usual meeting, only I perceive that he do leave all of us, as the King do those about him, to stand and fall by ourselves, and I think is not without some cares himself what the Parliament may do in matters wherein his honour is concerned. Thence to the Parliament-house; where, after the Committee was sat, I was called in; and the first thing was upon the complaint of a dirty slut that was there, about a ticket which she had lost, and had applied herself to me for another. … I did give them a short and satisfactory answer to that; and so they sent her away, and were ashamed of their foolery, in giving occasion to 500 seamen and seamen’s wives to come before them, as there was this afternoon. But then they fell to the business of tickets, and I did give them the best answer I could, but had not scope to do it in the methodical manner which I had prepared myself for, but they did ask a great many broken rude questions about it, and were mightily hot whether my Lord Bruncker had any order to discharge whole ships by ticket, and because my answer was with distinction, and not direct, I did perceive they were not so fully satisfied therewith as I could wish they were. So my Lord Bruncker was called in, and they could fasten nothing on him that I could see, nor indeed was there any proper matter for blame, but I do see, and it was said publicly in the House by Sir T. Clerges that Sir W. Batten had designed the business of discharging men by ticket and an order after the thing was done to justify my Lord Bruncker for having done it. But this I did not owne at all, nor was it just so, though he did indeed do something like it, yet had contributed as much to it as any man of the board by sending down of tickets to do it. But, Lord! to see that we should be brought to justify ourselves in a thing of necessity and profit to the King, and of no profit or convenience to us, but the contrary.
We being withdrawn, we heard no more of it, but there staid late and do hear no more, only my cozen Pepys do tell me that he did hear one or two whisper as if they thought that I do bogle at the business of my Lord Bruncker, which is a thing I neither did or have reason to do in his favour, but I do not think it fit to make him suffer for a thing that deserves well. But this do trouble me a little that anything should stick to my prejudice in any of them, and did trouble me so much that all the way home with Sir W. Pen I was not at good ease, nor all night, though when I come home I did find my wife, and Betty Turner, the two Mercers, and Mrs. Parker, an ugly lass, but yet dances well, and speaks the best of them, and W. Batelier, and Pembleton dancing; and here I danced with them, and had a good supper, and as merry as I could be, and so they being gone we to bed.
*(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.)