November 3
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
November 3, 1997
Boring except Renée found out Leslie got up with Travis 2 weeks ago. But she’s over it. Em picked me up. Worked with Ann and Jason. Came home and went on a walk. Did homework 4ever! (Dinner break.) Practiced guitar — frustrating. Talked 2 Renée and Ashley.
Marcy S., age 46, North Carolina
November 3, 1970
One reason I feel so immature is that I have no confidence (or very little) in my own gifts and talents. I seem to be always taking from others, as a child would, and rarely giving because I have such a low opinion of my ability to give. I feel compassion and understanding and empathy but I don’t seem to be able to give them with any ease.
And when people compliment me it makes me very uncomfortable because I can’t accept my own good qualities. This is something to “work” on.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
November 3, 1960
It surely was good to see the sun come out. Washed all but the sheets and cases. Sorry I didn’t do them too as it turned out to be such a good drying day. Too tired to do it later. Ole came in P.M. We out to cabin and back. Lo and Helen to go to Edith Bohn’s.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 3, 1938
Nice day. Practiced. No chapel. Spelling. Usual classes. Mrs. Cummins made me very angry but I didn’t say anything. Home for dinner. Usual classes. Before 3:00 I took my lesson from Mrs. Moore. We went in the auditorium and practiced a dance step. Was through before school was out. Waited for Mary. We walked over to her house. Her mother helped me with my last button-hole. Talked awhile. Mary walked to the railroad with me. Mother was talking over the ’phone when I got back. I practiced and studied. After supper and dishes I got ready for bed and at 8:00 listened to Major Bowes. P.S. From 7:30 till 8:00 I read “Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.” It is very good. Daddy not home all night. Out on fire.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 3, 1887
I sawed up some wood this morning, but it seemed to tire me a good deal someway. I got ready and went up town early this afternoon, took some blocks to raise the tables in my class room so the students’ knees would not touch and bother them. I drew the money on the Postal order and paid for the stove and pipe I got at the store. Have been writing some this evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 3, 1862
I went to Mrs. Fanning’s this morning to get her to weave some flannel for us. Mrs. Knight looked very sad. She has heard the report of Knight’s death. I made two shirt bosoms today, did not get quite done. Frosty this morning but warm after the sun got up. Bets McKinnish got some rolls to spin this morning for flannel. Several letters went off this evening from here.
*(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
November 3, 1667
Up, and going out of doors, I understand that Sir W. Batten is gone to bed on a sudden again this morning, being struck very ill, and I confess I have observed him for these last two months to look very ill and to look worse and worse. I to St. James’s (though it be a sitting day) to the Duke of York, about the Tangier Committee, which met this morning, and he come to us, and the Charter for the City of Tangier was read and the form of the Court Merchant. That being done Sir W. Coventry took me into the gallery, and walked with me an hour, discoursing of Navy business, and with much kindness to, and confidence in, me still; which I must endeavour to preserve, and will do; and, good man! all his care how to get the Navy paid off, and that all other things therein may go well. He gone, I thence to my Lady Peterborough, who sent for me; and with her an hour talking about her husband’s pension, and how she hath got an order for its being paid again; though, I believe, for all that order, it will hardly be; but of that I said nothing; but her design is to get it paid again: and how to raise money upon it, to clear it from the engagement which lies upon it to some citizens, who lent her husband money, without her knowledge, upon it, to vast loss. She intends to force them to take their money again, and release her husband of those hard terms. The woman is a very wise woman, and is very plain in telling me how her plate and jewels are at pawne for money, and how they are forced to live beyond their estate, and do get nothing by his being a courtier. The lady I pity, and her family. Having done with her, and drunk two glasses of her meade, which she did give me, and so to the Treasurer’s Office, and there find my Lord Bruncker and [Sir] W. Pen at dinner with Sir G. Carteret about his accounts, where I dined and talked and settled some business, and then home, and there took out my wife and Willet, thinking to have gone to a play, but both houses were begun, and so we to the ’Change, and thence to my tailor’s, and there, the coachman desiring to go home to change his horses, we went with him into a nasty end of all St. Giles’s, and there went into a nasty room, a chamber of his, where he hath a wife and child, and there staid, it growing dark too, and I angry thereat, till he shifted his horses, and then home apace, and there I to business late, and so home, to supper, and walk in the garden with my wife and girle, with whom we are mightily pleased, and after talking and supping, to bed. This noon, going home, I did call on Will Lincolne and agree with him to carry me to Brampton.
*(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.)