July 18
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 18, 1997
Up at 7 — trying my hardest. Worked till 9. Went to writing camp and it wasn’t that great. The teacher was kinda a bitch. Screenwriting — blah. Lunch sucked, too. Mom picked me up. Got paycheck cashed ($121). Came home, packed for a week at Dad’s, watched story, cleaned bathroom. Dad picked me up. He went to chill with friends. Me and Becca ordered a pizza. Becca also got a bunny! :) It’s really cute. Becca went to party. I watched TV. Talked to Courtney some. Showered.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 18, 1960
Washed, rained a little but cleared off clothes dried. Went to Mrs. B’s for coffee. Having a busy week. Cleaned up stairs quite a bit after making my bed. Cooked rest of chicken. Made pudding etc. for eve. Lo had shopped at noon.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 18, 1944
Bright, hot day and no sign of showers as the paper predicted. Up at 6:30 and practiced. To work at 8:30. Not very busy in morn. I was feeling rather low in spirits. Mary called once when Mr. H. was in conference. Guess she was taking a chance that I wasn’t busy. She said to call her later. It made life much more interesting, wondering what the news was. About 11:30 Mr. H. left and said that I could leave any time. So I called Mary and she’s having some of us girls down tomorrow night for supper. She hasn’t been to work this week — it’s “that time of the month.” We talked awhile and then I left about 11:45. Pop came in from the fires after lunch with the news that, according to a man he’d met, San Diego had been attacked. Found out later it was an explosion in San Francisco harbor. Another tragedy on the home front. I met Betty Bothwell and walked to town with her. She said that one of Mary Arnold’s brothers had been killed in action. Her youngest, Sid. Got a cinder in my eye and it was most uncomfortable. Oh yes, this morn Mr. H. praised me again because I’d caught on so quickly to my work. He thinks I would be a good court reporter because I’m so calm. I said I didn’t know whether I would be in court! He’s going to take me over some day and try me out! Eek! I’m scared already. As I was passing Mother Lane’s on the way back at noon Calvin McCartt and some other boys were up the alley with the delivery truck. He whistled and I looked ’cause I knew who it was. He yelled “Hi” and I yelled back. He’s so funny! When I got back Mr. H.’s son-in-law, a Mr. Potter and a soldier, also a Potter, were there. I was introduced and Mr. Potter said he’d known Pop 15 or 20 years. He’s certainly a talker but looks very nice. Mr. H. left about 2:30 and was gone 2 hours. I started to type Mrs. Shaefer’s will but decided to do it at Pop’s office sometime. I’ll have to use Mr. H.’s paper but I’ll pay him back in stamps. He returned about 4:45 and let me go. It was awfully hot. When I got home Mum tried to get the cinder out of my eye but she couldn’t. It was very painful and made me mad that such a little thing could cause so much trouble. I washed my hair and then, in shorts and halter, went over to Reeds’ backyard to curl and dry it. My eye hurt so I didn’t enjoy the sun and warm grass as much as I would have otherwise. But it was nice there and quiet. I felt so much older than I was a week ago. Don’t know why. Went home about 6:30 and found Mum and Pop at supper. Letter from Greta — she’s in Washington. We had ice cream for dessert. I did the dishes, Mum called the dentist and decided to go down tonight. Pop left for a meeting about 7:15. George and Harvey were passing and I heard George ask Pop if I’d like to play badminton but Pop said I was going to Y.W.C.A. meeting. Kimmie called and we made arrangements. She and Kay went to see “Lady in the Dark” this afternoon. I saw it in Columbia. Mum drove down with Pop. I had the most awful feeling that Ashley was gone and I’d never see him again. It was silly and selfish but I cried in the bath tub. I want dates — guess it was Greta’s letter maybe that got me started. If only I can have another chance to be friendly to him! Left about 7:40. My hair wasn’t all dry but it looked pretty. I’ve had a pain in my back all day — Mum thinks it’s my kidneys. Oh fine! Kay was sitting on Kimmie’s porch and in a few minutes Kim appeared. We walked to town and talked about homesickness, etc. Kay is sure she’s going to be homesick at Stephens. Mary Lou Beck and Miss Walker were the only ones up in the City Hall rooms. We discussed plans for a party a week through August. Soon Nancy Wallace, Wilda McGaffin and Louise Stewart came. The former had been to see about flowers for Mary Arnold’s brother. Louise is as cute as she can be. We completed our plans about 9. Then Mary Lou, Kay, Miss W., Kim and I went over to the Sweet Shop next to the Webbo. Kim. had had something in her eye, too and I blew it out but she couldn’t blow mine out. It bothered me all evening. We all got ice cream cones (!) and then walked up to Kimmie’s together. Oh! I felt so low and depressed! Mary Lou and Miss W. went on and K. and I went in to Kimmie’s. We went upstairs to Kim’s room and lay on her bed and talked about marriage. Kay is so cute! Then we discussed names that we liked and would name our children. Kim. mentioned Ashley once and we said a few words about Mr. Pace. About 10 we got up to go downstairs and Betsy and Pan jumped out of the closet and made such a racket that I didn’t even scream. They said they’d been listening to us for ages and had nearly died laughing at some of the named we’d mentioned. Pan said Jim Carroll was lying in wait for me — the ice! Pan and Betsy went down and started playing the piano. Kay, Kim and I left for home. There were a lot of people at the Arnolds’. There was a man coming up the other side of the street and I just thought it might be Ashley. Sure enough up by Marsh’s he passed us and it was!! He walked slowly and when we got under the street light at the corner he turned around and recognized me. I said “Hi” in my very friendliest voice. He said he thought it was me but he didn’t think he’d better peer around (and here he peered by way of demonstration) to make sure. I said no, it might have been quite a shock. I was between Kim and Kay and he walked by Kim. We kidded going up the hill and decided to walk in the street by Geaslands! There was a strong, unpleasant odor of smoke in the air. Ashley asked if we’d been to the show. Up on Cumberland hill we were overtaken by Pan and Betsy. Kim and Kay said something together and made quite a ceremony of wishing. George and Harvey and A.B. were still going strong on the latter’s badminton court. I found myself walking next to Ashley then and I could feel him looking at me closely. I looked up at the stars once and he looked up, too. At Clure’s he said “Goodnight” and Pan and Betsy said “’Night,” too in such cheerful tones and whistled — he laughed and whistled back. Pan is a card! We kidded a few minutes and then I went in. I was shot from despair to joy so quickly that it left me stunned. To bed right away. Oh, Ashley, I’m so glad I had another chance and I do want to be friends — really and truly — nothing serious, just friends. I don’t care if he is celebrated for his technique or if he’s a wolf. I hope we can be friends. I’ve never really been friends with any boy except George. I prayed that God would help us build a world where men would not take other men’s lives because life is good. Mum remembered the day they learned of Uncle Herbert's death. She knows how Mary Arnold feels.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 18, 1887
Have been in the store all day working for Mr. Hopkins, who is going to take a little rest. Got last weeks mail tonight, but have no time to read it, or write much either.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 18, 1871
Yesterday went for plums. In p. m. sewed a while, then put the cabin in order, and started down the river waiding from one sand bar to another. So much easier, and nearer than going through the high grass, and not so likely to meet snakes. Today I saw the skelaton of a very long snake caught in the brush. It must have lodged there during the high water.
Mrs. Lane urged me to stay all night, but her brother is with her for company, and Mrs. Merkle is alone again, so I went there, which I knew would please my brother. She was glad to see me. Her baby is too heavy to carry—so she stays at home when he is away working.
After breakfast, I called at Springers, and she went with me to Lanes. Found Mrs. L— in bed shaking with ague. Left Mrs. S— there and went on home. It was almost sun down. I was in the middle of the river on a sand bar—dress up—shoes in hand, when I stoped and looked around. The river made a turn, and the trees seemed to meet over the water. It seemed like a lake. On one side a high bank—the trees coming to the waters edge on the other. O it was beautiful. Think I will never forget the scene.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 18, 1862
Mail brought no news. I finished Lonzo’s pants. Mrs. Fanning warped the negroe’s dresses today. A little rain this morning. I did nothing after dinner. I began a sock for Mr. Henry this evening. Willie got his foot burnt yesterday by treading on a coal Jinnie dropped in the kitchen floor, not very badly. The others all well. My teeth have been troubling me a good deal at night for several nights. Willie sucked his last time today.
*(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 18, 1667
At the office all the morning. At noon dined at home and Creed with me, who I do really begin to hate, and do use him with some reservedness. Here was also my old acquaintance, Will Swan, to see me, who continues a factious fanatick still, and I do use him civilly, in expectation that those fellows may grow great again. Thence to the office, and then with my wife to the ’Change and Unthanke’s, after having been at Cooper’s and sat there for her picture, which will be a noble picture, but yet I think not so like as Hales’s is. So home and to my office, and then to walk in the garden, and home to supper and to bed. They say the King of France is making a war again, in Flanders, with the King of Spain; the King of Spain refusing to give him all that he says was promised him in the treaty. Creed told me this day how when the King was at my Lord Cornwallis’s when he went last to Newmarket, that being there on a Sunday, the Duke of Buckingham did in the afternoon to please the King make a bawdy sermon to him out of Canticles, and that my Lord Cornwallis did endeavour to get the King a whore, and that must be a pretty girl the daughter of the parson of the place, but that she did get away, and leaped off of some place and killed herself, which if true is very sad.
*(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.)