July 13
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 13, 1997
Up at 6:30. Worked from 7-1:30. Came home after grocery story with Dad and slept. Went to pool with Becca at 3:00. Stayed till 7:00. Rogers came at 6:00. Ate there. Home at 7:00. Me and Mom went to Chapel Hill. Zach and Sol came over at 9:00 and stayed till 10:00. Good to see ’em. Bed.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 13, 1996
Got doughnuts from Alex. Took Shannon home. Went to Tarboro. Saw “Independence Day” with Bryan. Ate. Came home. Mom, Em, and Robert came, too.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 13, 1960
Didn’t do too much, getting things straightened around. Went over to Mrs. B’s for coffee. Out to cabin. Lo had call from K.J. not to come at 7:30 (too early). Lo had to work at office for almost an hour then we went for K.J. Seemed in good spirits to our surprise. She and I watched Convention. Didn’t get to bed until 1:30.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 13, 1944
Cloudy and very hot and muggy. Didn’t have a bit of work all morn till just before noon when Mr. H. dictated 4 letters. Drove home with Pop. Not very busy in afternoon. I wrote letters. Went to the P.O. once to mail letters and I saw Ashley across the street. I know now where he works. Mr. H. dictated a warranty deed and I finished it in record time without a mistake! He kept saying it was a very neat job. About 4:30 he let me go. I stopped by Kimmie’s. She played parts of Gershwin’s Concerts in F for me (on records). Oh, music! Then we sat out on the porch and talked awhile. I left about 5 and Kimmie informed me that I was going to the show tonight. Felt rather sickish when I got home. Very muggy. The back porch has been painted now so we laid boards across the front porch. Read Record and then took a sponge bath. Had good supper — orange-pineapple ice cream for dessert. I played the piano a bit and washed the dishes. The sun came out. About 7 Pop left to play softball out at school and Mother Lane came to call. I dressed and went over to George’s. He had made arrangements for the cars Sunday and Clure said she’d bake a cake. They came out on the porch and we talked a few minutes. Then I set out for Kim’s but remembered I’d forgotten my pants (!) and had to go back. Mum and Mother Lane thought it was a great joke! Down to Kim’s about 7:30. Pan and Kay (back from Crossville with a sunburn) left ahead of us. We didn’t see them in the show. Went to the Princess and saw “The Purple Heart.” It was splendidly acted. I didn’t cry and I didn’t get mad with hate. I just nearly jumped up and yelled “Why???? Why don’t we learn?? It’s so stupid to want power and to kill and torture and destroy!” Oh, God, will we ever learn — will we ever listen to the Man who showed us the way thousands of years ago?? Out about 9:45 to find it raining rather hard — I could have kissed the wet streets!! Had an awful headache. Met Mrs. Young — Mr. Y. had been dispatched to bring umbrellas. Presently he appeared and then Pan and Kay came out. There were 3 umbershoots (as Jane used to say) and I walked with Kimmie. I borrowed one to take home and walked up to Kay’s with her. Mr. Massey insisted upon driving me home so K. and I hopped in. It was pouring. Home about 10. Oh, the glorious rain!! To bed about 10:30. Pop sang “Without a Song,” “Sylvia” and “Sing Me to Sleep.” I lay by the open window and listened to the gently falling rain. Ashley and George were in the kitchen with Clure, talking. Then the “men” went up to the bathroom. When Pop stopped singing, I could hear them talking very plainly. I suppose I was guilty of “evesdripping” but they practically shouted. And it proved to be most interesting! They talked about Jews in general and then women! George was asking Ashley if he could ever love a woman enough to marry her and he said he had loved a woman once with all his heart and still did love her but he couldn’t marry her because she had hurt him terribly. He said she hadn’t been sincere ’cause she’d changed in her attitude toward him without cause. Then they discussed a problem George had run up against tonight about going with Mr. Stowers to drive an older girl, with whom G. had been playing badminton, home. Bless his heart! he was so serious. I’m glad George can talk to an older man because he doesn’t have a father to discuss things with and I don’t know whether he’d talk over his “heart problems” with his mother or not. Then they discussed petting and George is going to “try something” on the picnic Sunday with some girl — who, to quote the all-knowing George — is supposed to be nice but isn’t. I wonder who. Ashley told G. his “technique” and G. was quite impressed. Clure broke up the bull session about 11:15 so I went off to sleep. It was a lovely fresh night. It came to me at the show tonight that I think I could love a man some day to the depth and breadth and height of my soul. Always before I’ve felt that love would never be for me — just as happiness and friends wouldn’t be — but now that’s all changed, too. Some day I think a man will come and I will learn what love is — not only physical but the love that is of the spirit, that is stronger than life or death.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 13, 1888
I took ma over to Martin’s this morning to get some of Effie’s things, which no one seemed obliging enough over there to bring her and save her the pain of getting them herself. We brought Cora Wooster home with us to visit Vida. We about finished drawing the hay this afternoon. It has been cool today. I feel better today, than I have lately.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 13, 1887
Arose at 4:30 this morning and got ready for Frankfort, which I reached at about 10 o’clock. Did some trading, found that the box had not come yet and started for home about 11 o’clock. I stopped at outlet bay and unhitched Jimmie, fed him and ate my dinner. Reached home at 2:30 this afternoon. Kate and I then went to work putting up window shades. We got 3 of them finished. Mrs. Hubbell called as we were eating supper. I went up town this evening, wore my new suspender coat and vest; they feel very comfortable in this hot weather.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 13, 1871
The warmest day we have had. Between the sand hills and the trees, we get little breeze. I scarcely know what to do, just now I am seeing considerable of the unromantic part of life in Kansas. Even too warm to sleep.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 13, 1862
I feel very unwell today. My head aches & I feel badly every way. My head ached all night. Willie is not at all well. There has been several here this morning for news but we have nothing new. It is reported that there was another engagement last Wednesday. I can’t say how true it is. We have turkey for dinner. We had our first cucumbers last Thursday & have had a few since. I lay out in the front piazza nearly all the afternoon. Harrie was sitting out there reading. Mr. Henry took a nap. Willie sucked this evening. He has not nursed in several days. I am weaning him.
*(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
July 13, 1667
Up, and to my office, and thence by water to White Hall to attend the Council, but did not, and so home to dinner, and so out with my wife, and Deb., and W. Hewer towards Cooper’s, but I ’light and walked to Ducke Lane, and there to the bookseller’s; at the Bible, whose moher je have a mind to, but elle no erat dentro, but I did there look upon and buy some books, and made way for coming again to the man, which pleases me. Thence to Reeves’s, and there saw some, and bespoke a little perspective, and was mightily pleased with seeing objects in a dark room. And so to Cooper’s, and spent the afternoon with them; and it will be an excellent picture. Thence my people all by water to Deptford, to see Balty, while I to buy my espinette, which I did now agree for, and did at Haward’s meet with Mr. Thacker, and heard him play on the harpsicon, so as I never heard man before, I think. So home, it being almost night, and there find in the garden Pelling, who hath brought Tempest, Wallington, and Pelham, to sings and there had most excellent musick late, in the dark, with great pleasure. Made them drink and eat; and so with much pleasure to bed, but above all with little Wallington. This morning I was let blood, and did bleed about fourteen ounces, towards curing my eyes.
*(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.)