August 10
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 10, 1997
Up at 8:30. Had breakfast, got in car and was home by 2:00. Got paycheck. Came home, showered. Renee came over and we went 2 Sol’s with Zach 2 have his birthday dinner. Paged Chris and he said he’d come, but didn’t. Stupid fuck. Came home at 9:00. Renee spent night and we watched “Strictly Ballroom.”
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 10, 1960
Very dark cloudy and cool. Much like fall. Cleaned stove. Mrs. B. came over. Had a letter from her brother, I read it. After morn washed kitchen windows and glass blocks. Almost thru when Bess came. Late for her. Lo came at 5:00 took her home. Went to feed cats etc. Ate and came home to mow and clean up west side awful! Dark before Lo finished.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 10, 1944
One of the best days of the whole summer. I reached a new high. Not so very hot at first — lovely morning. About 9 Mr. H. and I went down to see if Mr. Clinton and co. were ready to go to Kingston. He was standing on the corner talking to some men. Judge Stone was the missing party and was holding up the works. I got in the car and Mrs. Clinton and I talked. She’s nice. At last J. Stone showed up and he and Mr. H. piled in the back seat with me, making quite a load. Drove over to Kingston. Mr. Clinton is such a jolly man. We sat in the courthouse about a half hour till a Mr. Liggett could be rounded up. Then went in a room with a desk and took his deposition. Didn’t take 10 minutes — after all that waiting! About 11 we were ready to make the return trip — but Judge S., who had to see a man. We all could have shot him. I sat up in the front with the Clintons — it was more comfortable. Mr. H. was getting in the back when he hit his head on the top of the door casement and it knocked him backwards. His hat fell off and his pipe disintegrated. He had picked self and appurtenances up before I knew what was happening. Since no harm was done, it was very funny! And on the way back the wind blew Mr. C.’s hat into the back seat! Back about 11:30. Mr. H. went to see a squire. I read over my notes and then read Wodehouse till dinner time. Pop out of town. Got home to find a letter from Rochester, saying I can be admitted in September if my application is accepted and if can find an approved home to live in till the second term. Well, I was so excited I could hardly eat!! Called Kimmie and told her the wonderful news and incidentally asked her to spend the night with me. She accepted and let out several joyous whoops about Rochester developments. Goodness! All the papers that have to be filled out! Then I called Marcia and asked her to go to the show with us tonight. We made plans. I was up about 150 feet on the way back. I’d been planning on not going till February and it seems so funny to think that next month I’ll be off to college again and another summer will be over. The Clintons came back at 1 and we took their depositions around 2. You can imagine what an ordeal it was with skating rink going full blast across the street. Mr. H. said I could leave about 3:30 but I stayed to read my notes. Home about 4. Lovely, hot afternoon. I settled down with the application blanks, etc. Wrote Stephens and Mr. Black and then started on my autobiography. What a pain! I had a dreadful time getting started. I called Mary for Mum and we talked awhile. She has quit working at the project. She and Mum got together and planned the picnic for Saturday. I eventually finished my personal history and read some to Mum in her bedroom. I was afraid it sounded as if I were trying to be funny — honestly, I sounded like Bertie Wooster in some passages! But Mum said not to change a word. She was very congratulatory on the psychological change that has taken place in Paw — which was what my essay centered on. She said, “You can tell the way the girls say good night to you that they just hate to leave you — you can tell that they love you.” Well, that was a new one, but it made me feel like an even newer person. Yummy supper and I left about 7. Lovely evening — I was at the very top. Got down to Kim’s to find that Mum had called, leaving me word to call her. Seemed I’d forgotten the very important letters. So Kay and Kim. went on over to get Marcia and I mushed radly up to Warriner’s corner to meet Mum with the letters. Was to meet the kids at the show but they hadn’t come yet so I walked up and down and espied them in the distance past the bowling alley and went to meet and greet them. We got 4 seats together at the Princess and saw “Guadalcanal Diary.” Pan and Betsy sat in front of us. A man established himself on Kim’s left and smelled to high heaven. We finally got desperate and moved back a row. Very good picture. Out about 10. Walked home with Marcia. She’s ever so nice. I was right on the beam going back and we had a gay time. It was quite uncomfortably cool. Kay went on home but I stopped in at Kim’s. Sat out on porch and talked to Pan while Kim gathered together her over-night necessities. Just as we were leaving the girls approached Mr. Young on the carnival subject and he said they could go if we got up a good crowd. Kim and I planned to play tennis in the morn before breakfast with Pan and Betsy. Kim. and I said “night” and set out for 722 Cumberland. Just as we were passing Mildred Love’s there was a loud “boo” and little surprise — boy George jumped out from the shadows. I hit the nearest star but came back to earth safely. He had been to the show, too. We kidded and had more fun. We conversed in a Woosterly vein. The light was on in Ashley’s room. I told George about my Wodehouse books and we exchanged a few Wooster specials. Rolled in about 10:45 and told Mum of tennis plans. I was in high spirits and even burst into a few measures of song. Hopped into bed. Kim and I only talked a minute. Ashley and George were in the kitchen having a midnight snack and talking. Nothing interesting passed and they eventually ascended to the bathroom. But my heart did a few acrobatics. To sleep feeling wonderful! Best day! I love people as I never really have before and I want to be with them and be friends. Oh! life is good!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 10, 1887
Worked in the store all day. The telegraph line did not work well during the day, but was all right towards night so that I had a talk with the Frankfort operator, and and also sent a message for a traveling man. It began to rain towards night, and Irvie came up to the store and brought me my rubbers and umbrella. I received considerable mail tonight – a card from Prof. T.J. Risinger, and a circular of the College he teaches in.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
August 10, 1871
Baked yesterday, in p. m. fever came worse than ever. P said I was getting ready for the ague, and had better take quinine. So I did, and this a. m. another dose, by tomorrow I think the quinine will help me. I do not have chills. Shall not tell the home folks, it would only worry them. Philip went to W this morning, and will bring me writing paper. Copies of a W paper and their compliments ct. came. I will write another article—as soon as I am free of this pesteriferous ague.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 9, 1862
Very warm this morning & dry. Mr. Henry will start to Richmond sometime this week with some substitutes, Branton & a man named Sutten. He is here now. He is from Transylvania Co. We have mutton for dinner & sundry other things too tedious to mention. Mr. Henry has just came back from bathing in Mill dam. He is laying down in side room. Willie & Pinck went with the negroes to bathe. I want to go to Steph Jones’ after dinner. We would have gone this morning but Mr. Henry expected some men to see him. We did not go to Mr. Jones. We both eat such a heavy dinner, we took a nap. It was a very warm evening. Pinck & I went down to Night’s a short, did not stay long.
*(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
August 10, 1668
Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence to Sir W. Coventry, but he is gone out of town this morning, so thence to my Lord Arlington’s house, the first time I there since he come thither, at Goring House, a very fine, noble place; and there he received me in sight of several Lords with great respect. I did give him an account of my journey; and here, while I waited for him a little, my Lord Orrery took notice of me, and begun discourse of hangings, and of the improvement of shipping: I not thinking that he knew me, but did then discover it, with a mighty compliment of my abilities and ingenuity, which I am mighty proud of; and he do speak most excellently. Thence to Westminster Hall, and so by coach to the old Exchange, and there did several businesses, and so home to dinner, and then abroad to Duck Lane, where I saw my belle femme of the book vendor, but had no opportunity para hazer con her. So away to Cooper’s, where I spent all the afternoon with my wife and girl, seeing him-make an end of her picture, which he did to my great content, though not so great as, I confess, I expected, being not satisfied in the greatness of the resemblance, nor in the blue garment: but it is most certainly a most rare piece of work, as to the painting. He hath 30l. for his work — and the chrystal, and case, and gold case comes to 8l. 3s. 4d.; and which I sent him this night, that I might be out of debt. Thence my people home, and I to Westminster Hall about a little business, and so by water home [to] supper, and my wife to read a ridiculous book I bought today of the History of the Taylors’ Company, and all the while Deb. did comb my head, and I did toker her with my main para very great pleasure, and so 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.)