March 23
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
March 23, 1998
Me and Ash got up at 10:00. Tim called me about going on a trip. Said no. Took Ash 2 work. Came home and watched “Chasing Amy.” Good! Mom came and we went 2 insurance co. meeting. Came home and argued about the trash. Cried. Went 2 writing class. Then went 2 Brittany’s. Drove around. “Chasing Amy” again.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 23, 1997
Up at 8:30. Hiked around Lake Johnson. Wendy and Eric ate lunch with us. Went to softball at 2:00. Shannon W. was there. :) Came home. Slept. Worked on yard. Ate dinner. Watched TV.
Emily M., age 12, North Carolina
March 23, 1990
Today was a teacher work day so we did not have school! Dad and Sandra both had to work so me and Laura stayed by ourselves until Dad came to get us at lunch. Then, we got Rebecca at daycare, and spent the rest of the day at Dad’s office. We took Rebecca outside, played with her and then it was her nap time. When Sandra came Dad got off work and we all went to the store and then came home!
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 23, 1960
Circle here today. Worked every minute till the women came. Lo picked Carrie up shortly after 12:00. All set for 20 only 12 came including Carrie and myself. A little later Ethel Lind came, then Carlota. I was very disappointed as no more chance to have this group all together. Carlota stayed and visited, did only part of the dishes at that time later Lo wiped and put away.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 23, 1944
Advising Day. Beautiful, breezy, rather cool. Slept till 9. Then studied Eng. Lit. To practice about 10:30. Cornbread came. Back at 11:30. Talked to Jane. She tried to persuade Betty and I to go down to bus station with she and Norene for lunch but Betty was set on washing her hair. So Jane left - but managed to talk Betty into leaving her hair till later. We went down to Bing’s for a hot dog. Back for siesta. Read Dewey and filled out papers. At 3:30 had conference with Miss Good Smith. Along line of former conversations concerning my growing and maturing, etc. I always come away with great hopes, that are not ungrounded! Back to hall where I went thru the agony of composing a letter to Jim - with Betty’s help. Went to P.O. Letter from Mum with glorious news that Mr. D.O. Harris wants me to work in his office this summer!!!!! Betty got a Vmail letter from a friend of a friend (Bill) of Mary’s in England. Mary had sent Bill Betty and my addresses and they were going to write. I was more thrilled than Betty, I think. Anyway we rushed up to Mary’s and showed her the letter. She read us part of Bill’s letter - saying Ross (the other friend) was going to write me that night so I should hear soon!! Washed my hair. Was so excited about job that I kept emitting gleeful yells which greatly disturbed Little Betty! Then settled down (?) to Dewey until Vespers at 7:40. Mr. Harris gave good talk - “The Cow and Johnny Jones.” Betty and I went to practice our voice afterwards. She was amazed at my volume - I was, too!! I left before she did. Read Gaudy Night. When Betty came we talked about religion. Then read and to bed.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 23, 1941
Cloudy, rainy, cooler. To Sunday School and church. Sat with Elle. Dr. Ore delivered sermon. Very good -- first one I’ve heard in a long time that had a point to it. Then had congregational meeting to vote on new minister. Decided on Mr. Jones. Hope he is the right one. After good dinner, Helen came -- just in time to help with dishes. About 2:30 we left for Mary’s. Took shortcut via railroad. Had to crawl under freight train. Hit my shoulder -- clumsy! Mary not home. Decided to walk over near Missop. Started to rain a little. Went up to pool. Daffodils and violets in blossom. Tender young leaves first coming out on trees and bushes. As we were coming back down the road we were teasingly talking about Clay and Earl, and who should we see walking past but Earl, Clay, and Jimmy French. Nearly fainted. We exchanged waves and a few teasing words. They passed on and Helen and I sat down by the stream and threw rocks in. Presently, the boys came back and joined us. We talked and all threw rocks in. So much fun -- seemed so strange. We waited till 4:00 but no Miss Davis, so Helen and I left for Christian Education while Clay and Earl waited for Jimmy. Got there first. Soon Earl came. At 4:20 Miss D. and Elle showed up. Miss D. had overslept. We teased her. At 6:30 Dad, Mom, and I went to the Baptist Church with Helen. B.Y.P.U. Dad sang in adult group. I stayed with Helen. Home at 7:30. Listened to radio. Dad left for Nashville. Dread this week. Had such fun today. It was so different. Gert and Spencer here today.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 23, 1888
It was 14 degrees below 0 this morning. Fred Neill took my goods away; he is taking them to Manistee. I ate my last meal at Morrow’s today noon, and came to Mr. Waters to board tonight. I received a letter from Will Stevens saying he was to be married last Wed. I expect to visit him on my way home. I went over to my house and got some things after school. It is cold tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 23, 1887
It was cold this morning, the thermometer indicated 2 degrees below zero soon after 5 o’clock. I went to the store and studied telegraphy post up the books and waited for a few customers. It was a very fine forenoon. Some politicians from Cadilac were at the store the most of the forenoon, spouting around. Mr. Nutting came up and took a picture of the College this afternoon, but he told me tonight that I was cut into in the edge of the picture, so I am no ornament to it. I went up to practice singing for the Mass meeting tomorrow, but they had only the words and I couldn’t sing. It warmed up today and is very cloudy and storming a little tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Illinois
March 23, 1871
Olive P. O. Ill. Here I am at last. The bus left for Danville at 6 a. m. Monday just two weeks from the time I had expected to leave. We had only gone a few miles when it began to rain and blow. I could hardly hold the umberela. I had to use it, as the bus had no top.
The Vermillion was still high, the water going over the hubs when we crossed. There were only three passengers, I was surprised to hear one of them discuss Greek mythology with the driver. Spent the night in D—and next morning went as far as Toulon, where I changed cars to the Ill. Central and waited three hours for the south bound train. From Toulon to Oden is a grand prairie, the most extensive I have seen. When night came we could see away to the East a prairie fire. Beached Oden at eight, and spent the night there. Next morning took an east train, and reached Bridgeport after twelve p. m.
The cousins had been in twice to meet me, not knowing about the high water—they had decided I was not coming.
A friend of theirs—who knew of my coming, secured passage for me with a man who was going on past their home. He was an elderly man, and very talkative, so by asking a few questions, I learned much of the country and the people who live there.
The cousins thought I had given up coming, and were surprised to see me. They have two children, and we have already become good friends.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 23, 1862
J. Frady staid here last night. He came to settle about hauling that corpse. Cloudy & cold with a little snow occasionally. Atheline is down with toothache. Willie is up at Tena’s house. I must go & make Mr. Henry some apple dumplings for dinner. He is sitting here before the fire reading a cultivator. Pinck & Zona are out at play somewhere. Old Mr. Boyd’s little boy staid here last night. He came to mill & it was too late for him to get home. It will soon be 12 so I will go to make the dumplings. Jinnie’s Sunday to cook. Mr. Henry eat hearty of dumplings, said I must not make any more for he indulged too much. We did not take a walk this evening as it was so cold.
*(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
March 23, 1668
Up, and after discoursing with my wife about many things touching this day’s dinner, I abroad, and first to the taverne to pay what I owe there, but missed of seeing the mistress of the house, and there bespoke wine for dinner, and so away thence, and to Bishopsgate Streete, thinking to have found a Harpsicon-maker that used to live there before the fire, but he is gone, and I have a mind forthwith to have a little Harpsicon made me to confirm and help me in my musique notions, which my head is now-a-days full of, and I do believe will come to something that is very good. Thence to White Hall, expecting to have heard the Bishop of Lincolne, my friend, preach, for so I understood he would do yesterday, but was mistaken, and therefore away presently back again, and there find everything in good order against dinner, and at noon come Mr. Pierce and she, and Mrs. Manuel, the Jew’s wife, and Mrs. Corbet, and Mrs. Pierces boy and girl. But we are defeated of Knepp, by her being forced to act to-day, and also of Harris, which did trouble me, they being my chief guests. However, I had an extraordinary good dinner, and the better because dressed by my own servants, and were mighty merry; and here was Mr. Pelling by chance come and dined with me; and after sitting long at dinner, I had a barge ready at Tower-wharfe, to take us in, and so we went, all of us, up as high as Barne-Elms, a very fine day, and all the way sang; and Mrs. Manuel sings very finely, and is a mighty discreet, sober-carriaged woman, that both my wife and I are mightily taken with her, and sings well, and without importunity or the contrary. At Barne- Elms we walked round, and then to the barge again, and had much merry talk, and good singing; and come before it was dark to the New Exchange stairs, and there landed, and walked up to Mrs. Pierces, where we sat awhile, and then up to their dining-room. And so, having a violin and theorbo, did fall to dance, here being also Mrs. Floyd come hither, and by and by Mr. Harris. But there being so few of us that could dance, and my wife not being very well, we had not much pleasure in the dancing: there was Knepp also, by which with much pleasure we did sing a little, and so, about ten o’clock, I took coach with my wife and Deb., and so home, and there 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.)