August 11
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 11, 1997
Up at 8:00. Malia picked me and Renee up, she took me 2 work. Stayed ’till close! Had 2 walk home. Chris is grounded 4 smoking. Ha-ha. Showered. Talked on phone some. Watched story. Ashley and Renee picked me up at 6:30 for mall trip. Couldn’t find shit. Ashley spent night. Talked 2 Chris some. Amanda told us about the scary calls she’s been getting. Me and Ashley talked, massaged, and even went outside some! I want Chris.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 11, 1960
Washed, at noon Lo thot we should go to Meadowdale and Elgin. She came home at 4:00. Out to cabin and on our way. Over to pick up Maggie and to Zella’s. Came home around 10:00. Edna A. came in P.M. while I was doing beds.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 11, 1944
Up bright and early at 6:30, feeling like a million dollars, more or less. Kim. and I donned our shorts and set out for the courts up in the park. It was a glorious morn but quite cool. No Pan and Betsy were to be seen. Kim. and I took turns with my racket and ball. Presently Doris Margrove appeared on the scene with a net and after much wailing and gnashing of teeth we succeeded in getting it up. Meanwhile Pan and Betsy arrived with rackets and ball and we had a game of doubles — with Betsy consisting the throng of on-lookers. My serve was commented upon very favorably thought I hit very few balls and even fewer in the proper court! Kim had never played before and spent most of her time patrolling the net. About 7:30 Kim and I withdrew, leaving my ball for further use. Mum greeted us at the door. The blue morning glories over the Winston’s front door were so bright and pretty and made the new day even more beautiful. We changed and I nearly raised the roof with bursts of song. Life was just too wonderful!! Good breakfast and then Kim and I made preparations to depart. Such a glorious morn and I was in a matching mood. The carnival to look forward to at night. Walked down by Kim’s where we found Pan and Doris talking. I went on to work and spent the morning typing the deposition. Around noon some men came in and I took another deposition in another suit. I really prefer to do one thing at a time! On the way home at lunch I espied George ahead of me, lost to the world in a Life magazine. Ah! revenge! I sneaked up behind him and then gave with a “boo” that brought about very gratifying results! He continued to be absorbed in the magazine but we exchanged a few words. George asked if I were going with them Sunday — Christian Education out at Bowman’s. Not having been at Christian Education Sunday I hadn’t heard the news. Well, that was something else to look forward to! At lunch I broached the subject of la carnival again but Mum would not be moved and since Pop had said — when I merely suggested it — “no” and he wouldn’t be back till night — it looked pretty hopeless. (So does that sentence!) Then we got off on the old subject of my being out every night — my goodness! I’m young and I’ve stayed home every other summer. I like to be with people now and heaven knows I ought to get out and do things for a change! Well, Mum got all upset. It really didn’t bother me, though — I mean I didn’t get mad or anything — because I don’t think I’m in the wrong. George and I walked back together and he said he had the same trouble with his mater, so we cried on each other’s shoulders, so to speak. He seems to want me to go Sunday. He wanted to go to the carnival, too. He doesn’t like my hair so long — now I’ll just have to get it cut! Busy all afternoon. Some subtle change took place and I began to feel a bit let down. The carnival menace, no doubt. Met Bobby Jo Reagan on the way home and she told me about the picnic, too. Seems the treasury (??) is paying for eats — we’re to leave at 12:30 (!!) and spend the afternoon swimming. Jeepers! that’ll be bun! I’ll be able to swim, too! Bright, beautiful, but hot afternoon. Got home to find Mum bubbling with new reasons why I shouldn’t go to carnival — the reputation of the thing and the Legion being well mixed and confused. So, all joy having been taken out of the thought, I ’phoned Kim and suggested a quiet (?) evening with Mozart. She said she’d call me later and let me know what the others were going to do, which would influence her plans. So Mum and I were happy once more. Good supper. Kim called about 7:15 to say her pop was going with them and would that make a difference? So I presented the problem to Mum in the new light but she kept insisting that I would be disobeying Pop. I tried to get it through her head that the circumstances were different and I was sure Pop wouldn’t object if Mr. Young went along — but the windows of her mind were closed tight. Being 20, and feeling I was right, I told Kimmie I’d go. Of course, that severed relations with Mum and ruined everything but I’m old enough to make my own decisions! So I ironed with a vengeance, dressed and left about 7:45. Mum preserved a cold and distant silence. Lovely sunset sky but I didn’t fully appreciate, being all of a turmoil within. Found Kim. in the act of dressing. Kay arrived and then Ann Ray and Fritzie with Pan. Mr. Young counted us and we piled into Mr. Lasaster’s car. Stopped by and picked up Betsy. Mr. L. let us out across the bridge and we walked down the dusty river road toward the bright lights of the carnival. Kay and I tripped along hand in hand and were very gay. There was something about the brilliant lights and cars and people and carnival music that restored my high spirits. We were knocked down — financially speaking — for 15 cents at the gate. A grand start. Well, we all stuck pretty much together. Kim and Kay and I had a try at the whip first. Then Kim went on the octopus — not for me, thank you! I have memories of that which will keep me away from it ever more! Kay, Kim and I tried the ferris wheel and at first I had to close my eyes when we started on the stomach-turning descent. But Kay and Kim, between them, finally got me to relax and I had a wonderful time! Rides were 20 cents and 30 cents — highway robbery. The sideshows looked corny and some of them were positively vulgar and sickening. They ruin any carnival. Jimmie Carrall, Bob Stultz and another boy appeared and Pan, Betsy and Ann Ray went on the octopus wit them. Then we were attracted to the bullet and after much mental and physical struggle, Kay’s reckless self prevailed and she boarded the monster with brother Choocey. Pan climbed in the twin bullet with Dewey Cole and off they went. You couldn’t pay me to go in that thing. Pan hung her head on one side and scared Mr. Young to death — he thought she was sick and rushed over to tell the man to stop it. But as it turned out she was merely trying to keep her neck intact. Kim and I braved the ferris wheel again and by then it was nearly 10 and time to go. Mr. Young rounded up everyone and we departed. That dreadful dusty road! We got involved in a minor traffic jam. Left Betsy at her corner and Mr. Young left us at Tarwater’s. The others walked on with me and Pan said she’d send flowers tomorrow to the hospital. I went in with fear and trembling ’cause the car told me Pop was home. Mum said there would be a fight either way. If Pop approved she’d land into him and if he didn’t approve, they’d both land into me. Well, Pop was in blissful ignorance of the whole thing. He looked a bit aghast when I informed him where I’d been but the brow cleared immediately upon learning that Mr. Young had accompanied us. So there! I informed Mum, who was preparing for bed, but she did not soften. Well, I was happy again and retired to bed. Ashley was making preparations for retiring, too. I’m back exactly where I was before he went away, as far as my feelings go. Oh, silly, silly twenty!
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 11, 1887
Irvie went off canvassing with Jimmie and the Buckboard this morning. I did several odd jobs around home during the forenoon. Practiced writing a little also. This afternoon I went up to the Institute and heard a Prof. talk about Penmanship. I liked his writing on the board pretty well, but think he flourished too much for business. Irvie and I went up town thinking there was a lecture tonight, but had to come back as there was none. It has been pretty hot today.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 11, 1862
I changed a dress waist. It had a draw string & I put a belt in. I made it too tight. I will have to change it again. Very warm today. Jim is still drying fruit, gets along very well. Mr. Henry got two apple peelers Saturday in Asheville, gave 75 cts. a piece. They do very well. Tena & the children cut up. Mr. Henry & I were up at the hotel orchard & threw over a good many apples to the hogs. We went over in the peach orchard, got a few peaches that eat very well. They are just beginning to ripen on one tree. I left Mr. Henry at the old store house chatting with Dr. Thrash. I forget whether I have mentioned in my journal that G. W. Candler & his son Charlie are both dead. They both died sometime in July in Va. near Richmond. He had gone to see his sons & took sick & died. Charlie Candler was in the 14th Reg. N. C. V.
*(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 11, 1668
Up, and by water to Sir W. Coventry to visit him, whom I find yet troubled at the Commissioners of Accounts, about this business of Sir W. Warren, which is a ridiculous thing, and can come to nothing but contempt, and thence to Westminster Hall, where the Parliament met enough to adjourne, which they did, to the 10th of November next, and so by water home to the office, and so to dinner, and thence at the Office all the afternoon till night, being mightily pleased with a little trial I have made of the use of a tube-spectacall of paper, tried with my right eye. This day I hear that, to the great joy of the Nonconformists, the time is out of the Act against them, so that they may meet: and they have declared that they will have a morning lecture1 up again, which is pretty strange; and they are connived at by the King every where, I hear, in City and country. So to visit W. Pen, who is yet ill, and then home, where W. Batelier and Mrs. Turner come and sat and supped with us, and so they gone we to bed. This afternoon my wife, and Mercer, and Deb., went with Pelling to see the gypsies at Lambeth, and have their fortunes told; but what they did, I did not enquire.
*(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.)