July 24
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 24, 1997
Up at 9:30. Watched some “Simpsons” and at about 11:30 me, Ray and Shellie left and drove to Lake Norman. Me, Albert, Talia, Dylan went out on the boat. Mom, Kathy, Steven, and Bryan came and we went out on boat again and went tubing. We had an OYO dinner after I took a shower. Albert and Dylan started a bonfire and ruined it when they tried to “fan it.” Me, Talia, Julie, and Lauren slept in mobile trailer.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 24, 1960
Down as usual to pick up Carrie, ready and willing! Took her to cemetery. Took her home quite early. Later K.J. called wanted us to come up so did. K.J. not feeling too good. One more week. We are to pick her up Wednesday nite. Kids were cute including Larry. K.J. showed us thru house.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 24, 1944
Nice day. Getting hot again. It all hit me again this morning and I felt deflated before the day started. Mr. H. announced that we had a busy day ahead but people came in all morning and we didn’t get much done. I wanted to be busy, busy, busy and forget. It was an awful feeling, Diary. The mind is an odd thing but if I had controlled my thoughts and feelings before, I wouldn’t be in this state. Home at noon, trying not to think about it but not being able to help myself. Pop was out of town. Mum in good mood. By way of conversation I mentioned that “the young man” at Clure’s was going to Arabia. And that reminded Mum of Saturday night when she was over at Clure’s and he came in the kitchen. Clure introduced him to Mum and they made some remarks about Clure’s cooking. He said Clure was his second mamma. Then he made some phone calls finding out distances to Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga. Said his boss was sending him there on business. Then he told them about Arabia. He’ll have been within 100 miles of around the world when he’s there. Mum told him he’d better go the other 100. Well, whether it was talking about him or knowing why he was going to Memphis or what, I felt ever so much better and wasn’t afraid of my thoughts going back. Busy most of the afternoon but I read a good detective story. Off a little early. Met Pop with car. Mrs. Rodgers came and we drove her home. She gave us some bananas. Pop gave me something new to think about — stay home and work for a year and try to decide what I want to train for. Now somehow I don’t think that would work and I might not want to go back to school. I hardly see how I can decide about my vocation unless I try different things, but I hate to go on wasting precious years. Oh! these decisions! Talked to Mum while washing my hair. Went over to manse backyard to dry it — in halter and shorts. Had felt fine all afternoon but began to feel like a punctured balloon again. So thought about the grass and the trees and the sky and all living things and the mind of man which is different somehow and which surely cannot die with the body. And about God who made it all. The mind is a wonderful organ. It’s something you can never touch or replace or kill as a physical thing. Home to supper about 6:30. Just as we were finishing George came over and wanted to borrow my encyclopedia E — for Einstein. So I took my life in my hands and opened the closet door :) — of course, the box was under other things but we dragged it out and for once the desired book was reasonably near the top. So George settled down with Einstein’s theory and I took a bath. He left meantime for band practice. He’d gotten Max to order “Rhapsody in Blue.” I got dressed and left about 7:30 for Red Cross. I didn’t want to go but not having anything better to do to pass the evening, decided I’d do my patriotic duty. Mum and Pop went to the ball game at 8:30. Pop made some runs — the Legion is ahead now. No one was in Red Cross rooms but I found the key, opened up and started to work. Few minutes later Bea and Katherine Rockwell came. I had my hair up in pins and a scarf and felt like a skinned onion — no doubt resembled one, too. We talked and had fun. The band sounded much better than usual and the skating rink actually had some new records. By 9:30 they’d make 62 and I 58 so we packed up and left. Met Harvey and discussed him. Beautiful night. I walked up to their corner and then on home. Reggie had a date with Anne B. tonight. Mum and Pop home. To bed and felt quite wonderful, free and at peace.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 24, 1887
Kate went to church today and I stayed at home and cared for the baby. It has been a pleasant day. Fred Neill brought us a chunk of ice this afternoon, and we went back with him and stayed a little while. Kate has a headache again this afternoon. I don’t think I can let her go to church if that is the way it always ends up. I picked up enough raspberries for our lunch tonight. I ought to write some letters but feel almost too tired some way.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 24, 1871
I wanted to wash but it was cloudy. I baked however, and sewed. J. R. will not be here this week, he will help Jake make hay. It is much pleasanter for me, when brother and I are alone. Jake rode by this eve with a big bunch of onions, when I asked for my pennys worth, he said it was up at the house, and if not worth coming for, I could not have it. Then he threw a big onion at me, and rode on.
I am to help Mrs. Rose with her sewing some day this week. Mr. R wanted to know who Observer was that wrote up the picnic foot the paper.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 24, 1862
Finished Sam’s pants. My teeth trouble me a good deal. They have not been easy long at a time for a month. Willie is no better. My head aches badly this evening. No news from Richmond. All quiet.
*(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 24, 1667
Up, and by water to St. James’s, having, by the way, shewn Symson Sir W. Coventry’s chimney-pieces, in order to the making me one; and there, after the Duke of York was ready, he called me to his closet; and there I did long and largely show him the weakness of our Office, and did give him advice to call us to account for our duties, which he did take mighty well, and desired me to draw up what I would have him write to the Office. I did lay open the whole failings of the Office, and how it was his duty to find them, and to find fault with them, as Admiral, especially at this time, which he agreed to, and seemed much to rely on what I said. Thence to White Hall, and there waited to attend the Council, but was not called in, and so home, and after dinner back with Sir J. Minnes by coach, and there attended, all of us, the Duke of York, and had the hearing of Mr. Pett’s business, the Master-Shipwright at Chatham, and I believe he will be put out. But here Commissioner Middleton did, among others, shew his good-nature and easiness to the Masters-Attendants, by mitigating their faults, so as, I believe, they will come in again. So home, and to supper and to bed, the Duke of York staying with us till almost night.
*(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.)