September 20
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
September 20, 1997
Worked from 7-10:30. (Supposed 2 work till 1:00.) Showered and took a nap. Ate lunch. Went 2 mall and got Beck a present. Went 2 her birthday party. Fun — I was 1st 2 bed.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
September 20, 1960
Took towels etc. down and put up sheets, by nite they were dry. Mrs. B. came for coffee and to have a letter read. Scrubbed back porch and later did a little ironing. Baked apples for supper and also cookies. Went to Carrie’s at noon to talk more about apt. Don’t get far just talking. Lo and G.B. took Suky and kittens to a place on Pleasant Valley Road. Went to church to demonstration flower arrangements and corsages.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
September 20, 1938
Quite cool again today. Practiced usual half hour. We didn’t go to chapel but we went in Mrs. Geasland’s room and elected Harold Scarborough for class pres., Martha, vice pres., and Anne, sec. and treasurer. I sat with Mary. We then had the usual classes. I gave Mary my buckeye. Daddy came for dinner. Talked with Mary at noon. Good time in English class. Study hall. After school I walked up the hill with Elma. Practiced when I got home and about 4:00 left for town. Walked part way with Anne Buchanan. Went to shoe-shop with shoes and then to piano lesson, which was good. Came home and rounded up Helen and George and we went around in the latter’s back yard and played war. P.S. Arthur Burton has a new streamlined white scooter. (What next?) G. told H. that Clay told him that he didn’t like H. but she doesn’t believe it. I went in and practiced and studied. Daddy came home early. After supper and the dishes we drove down to the movies and saw a newsreel, March of Time (about U.S. Coast Guards) and the main picture was Joan Bennett, Randolph Scott and May Robson in “The Texans.” About Texas after the Civl War and very good and exciting. Came home and to bed. Hurried for once.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
September 20, 1887
I got up at 4:30 this morning and began to get ready to start for the Manistee Co. Fair. I said goodbye to Kate and started about 6:30 got Mr. J.O. Papackard up town and with our writing material we started out. We got here at Onekema about 2 P.M. and put Jimmie in a livery barn and found a comfortable place for ourselves at the Central House. We went to the fair grounds and got our tickets and fixed up our card-writing stand. Things are not in my shape there at all yet and it is a good thing we did not come yesterday. It has been a warm day and looks a little stormy tonight. Tomorrow will tell our story for us.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
September 20, 1862
We have had a little rain today. I finished Zona’s net today & grabbled a basket of sweet potatoes. I got a little damp as it rained some while I was up there. I changed my clothes soon after I came back. Rather cool & fire feels comfortable. I reckon Sister Jane & the others got home this evening. I would like to be with them. I know they are glad to get back once again.
*(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 20, 1668
(Lord’s day). Up, and to set some papers to rights in my chamber, and the like in my office, and so to church, at our own church, and heard but a dull sermon of one Dr. Hicks, who is a suitor to Mrs. Howell, the widow of our turner of the Navy; thence home to dinner, staying till past one o’clock for Harris, whom I invited, and to bring Shadwell the poet with him; but they come not, and so a good dinner lost, through my own folly. And so to dinner alone, having since church heard the boy read over Dryden’s Reply to Sir R. Howard’s Answer, about his Essay of Poesy, and a letter in answer to that; the last whereof is mighty silly, in behalf of Howard.1 Thence walked forth and got a coach and to visit Mrs. Pierce, with whom, and him, I staid a little while, and do hear how the Duchesse of Monmouth is at this time in great trouble of the shortness of her lame leg, which is likely to grow shorter and shorter, that she will never recover it. Thence to St. Margaret’s Church, thinking to have seen Betty Michell, but she was not there. So back, and walked to Gray’s Inn walks a while, but little company; and so over the fields to Clerkenwell, to see whether I could find that the fair Botelers do live there still, I seeing Frances the other day in a coach with Cary Dillon, her old servant, but know not where she lives. So walked home, and there walked in the garden an hour, it being mighty pleasant weather, and so took my Lady Pen and Mrs. Markham home with me and sent for Mrs. Turner, and by and by comes Sir W. Pen and supped with me, a good supper, part of my dinner to-day. They gone, Mrs. Turner staid an hour talking with me … So parted, and I 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.)