September 19
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 19, 1997
Good day at school. Wore my new fat jeans and a comfy white t-shirt. Chillin’. Chris is hangin’ out with my friends now, and he called them nerds! I yelled at him 4 it. Went home with Ashley. Came home and walked Lucy. Dad picked me up and I drove home. Karen and Wayne ate Chinese with us. Courtney picked me up and we went with Thi to the game. Saw Chris’s car after I left and left a note on his car. Fate’s a bitch.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 19, 1960
Washed but no drying day, very damp and drizzly off and on. Hung towels etc. on upper porch dried some. After eating went to get Carrie and look at Dillon’s apt. Could be worse but hi for what its worth.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
September 19, 1938
It is a cloudy, cool morning. Daddy left and won’t be back till tonight. I practiced and about 10 till 8:00 left for school. They let us go into the auditorium before the bell rang since it was so windy and chilly. Mary soon came and we talked till time to take our seats for chapel. Mrs. Moore gave two readings, a dramatic and a humorous one. Mary and I stayed after chapel and met with her. There will be 2 lessons a wk., at 50 cents each. Mary will ask her mother at noon if she can take. We went to the usual classes (although late for Latin) and in Home Ec. class Mildred Norris’s chair had a tack in it so she didn’t sit in it long. We all got tickled. I went home for dinner and when I came back Mary told me her mother couldn’t let her take speaking from Mrs. Moore. Had a good time in English class and then into “Spanish” study-hall. I got a girl to tell me when it was 3:00 and I left. I met Mrs. Moore in the auditorium and then we went down to the 7th and 8th grade coatroom and had a lesson. She said I was getting the breathing good. We didn’t finish till 3:30, after school was out and when I went upstairs to get in the room and get my books the door was locked so I went back down and told Mrs. Moore, who was waiting to drive me home. We went outside and there was Mary so I told her and we decided I’d better go back and find someone to unlock the door since I would not have Study-period in which to get my Latin. We (Mary, Mrs. M. and I) went back upstairs to try the door and it wasn’t locked and said good-bye to Mary and then Mrs. M. drove me home. Mother got after me for being late but I explained. About 4:00 I went up to Helen’s but she had gone to practice for a play or something and George had gone to a Scout Meeting, so I got my books and sat on the porch and studied. When I finished I was looking at the World War when George came over and he nearly tore up the book getting even with the Kaiser. Bart Hagameyer and another boy came and soon Helen. After looking at the pictures, getting rid of the little boys and rounding up the guns, we (Helen, G., and I) went around in G.’s back yard and after finding a few buckeyes, we played war and spy, until Helen had to go. We (G. and I) continued until I had to go in and practice. Daddy didn’t get home till nearly 7:00 so we couldn’t go to the movies till tomorrow night. At 7:00 (after supper) I turned on the radio and heard, on the Lux Radio Theater Program, Barbara Stanwyck, Melvyn Douglas, Ralph Bellamy (I think) and C. Aubrey Smith in “Morning Glory” the story of a Broadway actress. Quite good. I then listened to a guessing contest, washed the dishes and went to bed. Cool and beautiful today. A World War day.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
September 19, 1887
I went over to Neill’s this morning and went with Fred to get some water at the creek. We put the battens I brought at the saw mill in the wagon and brought them home. I fixed the little pictures that go on the Hidden name cards, so they are ready to stick on as soon as the cards are written. I go to Onekema to write cards at the fair this week, shall start tomorrow. I tremble for the consequences of this venture. Kate, baby and I went up town this afternoon and did some trading and got the mail. I got a letter from ma and Kate received a dress for Una from Mrs. Geo. Phelps.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 19, 1862
Mail brought no news this morning, we got no letters. I knit after dinner. I commenced a pair cotton socks for Mr. Henry. They are very fine & smooth. They are the first I have ever knit him. Willie is still loose in his bowels. I attend to him as Hanes is helping about the wheat & Atheline is not able to walk on her foot much. Mr. Henry contracted for two wheels & a reel the other day. They are to be done in a month.
*(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 35, London
September 19, 1668
Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy, and so dined with my people at home, and then to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Silent Woman;” the best comedy, I think, that ever was wrote; and sitting by Shadwell the poet, he was big with admiration of it. Here was my Lord Brouncker and W. Pen and their ladies in the box, being grown mighty kind of a sudden; but, God knows, it will last but a little while, I dare swear. Knepp did her part mighty well. And so home straight, and to work, and particularly to my cozen Roger, who, W. Hewer and my wife writes me, do use them with mighty plenty and noble entertainment: so home to supper, and to bed. All the news now is, that Mr. Trevor is for certain now to be Secretary, in Morrice’s place, which the Duke of York did himself tell me yesterday; and also that Parliament is to be adjourned to the 1st of March, which do please me well, hoping thereby to get my things in a little better order than I should have done; and the less attendances at that end of the town in winter. So home to supper and 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.)