March 31
Laura M., age 16, North Carolina
March 31, 1998
Went off lunch with Casey, Justin, and Zach. Wore my cute yellow dress. Took Zach 2 work, Karen home, and Chrissi 2 the library. Me and Jon went 2 Melinda’s 4 my dress. Jon got hemp. Brought him back 2 meet Mom. God! Took him home. No kisses. Mom said he was cute. Ate. Did homework. Talked 2 Courteny. Talked 2 Jon.
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
March 31, 1997
We got up at 10:00. Got shower. Ate breakfast. Watched TV. We went to Winn Dixie and got fake nails and put them on. They look good. Mom picked me up. Chilled some. Went to Brittany’s. Maura and Ali spent the night, too. It was really fun. We gave back scratches, talked, did nails…
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
March 31, 1960
Cloudy and cold no spring in the air today. Hemmed dish towels and fixed under pillow cases and various little jobs. Fixed chicken for nite and rice pudding. Water around had settled quite a bit. After we’d been home awhile Dwight called. Glad we were coming down. Filled in ruts in drive earlier, after being down to Carrie’s.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
March 31, 1944
Quite a bit milder but still cool. Up about 10:30. Betty and I went to brunch at 11:10. What a mix-up. We had everything backwards, but it was a good breakfast - scrambled eggs, Ralston cereal, ham, chocolate rolls and toast! Betty had to leave early for her voice lesson. Slept awhile in afternoon. Then we went to library to renew books and get others. Went to town. Somewhat milder. Beautiful blue sky. Back for census at 5. Dinner at 5:30. Read Robert Nathan’s “One More Spring.” Depressing. Betty got involved with “Arrow Smith” and couldn’t put it down. I also finished “Trial of Mary Dugan.” To bed fairly early. Most of the A.S.T.P. left last night and this morn - a lot of “broken” hearts today!!
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
March 31, 1941
Cloudy. Nice, rather cool. Mary came -- William drove her. I nearly fainted. Doctor said she shouldn’t come back to school this year, but there she was. Classes so much more interesting. Test in history -- made 96. Mary came back in afternoon to bring her excuse, and she stayed. Got mad at her in fifth study hall because she started to tell me the secret and then didn’t. But in office last period, she did tell me most of it -- I promised not to tell even you, Diary. Sometimes I don’t understand Mary at all. She rather frightens me. After school, since I wasn’t in the first act, I drove around with Helen, Ralph F., William and Mary. Took the first two home and then they took me back to school. Had fun. Practiced play in Junior room. Through about 5:00. Walked uphill with Laurence and G.L. Teased and had fun. Ruth rescued me just in time. Didn’t feel like practicing, but did. In hilarious mood. Sang “Alexander is a Swoose” till Dad told me to put on another record. About 7:30 we took Helen, Mrs. McClure, and George and drove over to school to Birmingham -- Southern College a capella choir concert. Raining. Lasted (concert) till about 10:00. Wonderful. Best accompanist. Sat with Helen, Ruth, and Hudsons. Fun today.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
March 31, 1888
I went down to Mr. Barnes’ this morning, and he paid me on account $20. It has been a very fine day. Mr. Harvey went over to my house with me this forenoon. I fixed some window casing caps while we were there. I worked over at my house all the afternoon, getting cans ready to sell, and doing some chores. I went to the store after supper and Charlie’s and I took off a Trial Balance of the books. I am tired tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
March 31, 1887
I got up and built the fires this morning. I went out to Fred’s farm with him and helped him to cut and saw up some Banwood trees. It has been thawing some today. I went up to the store after dinner, took up some butter for Mrs. Neill and got her some things. Taught my classes as usual. The writing class is dwindling away. I can’t keep up the interest someway. I guess I won’t ever teach again if I can get something else to do. I work hard enough but it seems to be for naught almost. I studied telegraphy some. [Cha…?] Case told me he should want me to work in the store while he went to Milwaukee next week.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
March 31, 1862
My head felt very badly before dinner but after dinner Atheline & I went up to hotel place & got some shrubery & planted it out that evening. I began to work my other pillow slip after dinner, did nothing at it. Atheline hemmed on her quilt before dinner. Warm & pleasant. Mary Taylor came down with us.
*(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 31, 1668
Up pretty betimes and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon I home to dinner, where uncle Thomas dined with me, as he do every quarter, and I paid him his pension; and also comes Mr. Hollier a little fuddled, and so did talk nothing but Latin, and laugh, that it was very good sport to see a sober man in such a humour, though he was not drunk to scandal. At dinner comes a summons for this office and the Victualler to attend a Committee of Parliament this afternoon, with Sir D. Gawden, which I accordingly did, with my papers relating to the sending of victuals to Sir John Harman’s fleete; and there, Sir R. Brookes in the chair, we did give them a full account, but, Lord! to see how full they are and immoveable in their jealousy that some means are used to keep Harman from coming home, for they have an implacable desire to know the bottom of the not improving the first victory, and would lay it upon Brouncker. Having given them good satisfaction I away thence, up and down, wanting a little to see whether I could get Mrs. Burroughes out, but elle being in the shop ego did speak con her much, she could not then go far, and so I took coach and away to Unthanke’s, and there took up my wife and Deb., and to the Park, where, being in a hackney, and they undressed, was ashamed to go into the tour, but went round the park, and so with pleasure home, where Mr. Pelling come and sat and talked late with us, and he being gone, I called Deb. to take pen, ink, and paper and write down what things come into my head for my wife to do in order to her going into the country, and the girl, writing not so well as she would do, cried, and her mistress construed it to be sullenness, and so away angry with her too, but going to bed she undressed me, and there I did give her good advice and baiser la, elle weeping still…
*(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.)