October 18
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
October 18, 1997
Worked from 9-close with Jenn and Meri. Went 2 Fair with Karen, Ashley, Kim, Leslie, Amanda, Geoff, Clay, Jerry, and Gary. Jerry took us after, we went 2 IHOP. Me and Kim spent night at Ashley’s. Fun!
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
October 18, 1960
Thot at first it wasn’t going to be such a good day but turned out fine. Had my hair done early. Came back and went to Carries and to Mrs. B.’s but didn’t stay.
Marcy S., age 46, North Carolina
October 18, 1970
Dear Diary — Practiced. Nice day. No chapel. Usual classes. Home for dinner. Usual classes. Read in afternoon. After school talked to Mary, Ella and Betty. B. walked to her back alley with me. Said she like me better than Mary. Practiced at home. At 4:30 went to music lesson. Mrs. Geasland and Mrs. Massey were there when I arrived but they left and Mrs. McClure came as I was leaving. Got home about 5:30. Studied. After supper I was all set for nice long evening when Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Rodgers, and Mrs. Julian came to call. I read in the kitchen. Then at 8:00 they left so from then till 8:30 I played the piano. Then to bed. Daddy home late.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
October 18, 1887
I went over and saw Mr. Olson this morning and engaged him to saw some wood for me as soon as he can find time. Went to the saw mill to see about getting lumber to fix up for winter with; came home and commenced to saw up some wood myself. This afternoon Jessie Neill came over and we all went up in the woods after Beech nuts. I took the baby’s high chair and she sat in that while we gathered a few minutes. I drew up some wood towards evening. It has been a pleasant day. A hard frost last night.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
October 18, 1871
Have been too busy to write. Cleaned the house and wrote letters. Monday washed, baked and made brine for the meat. Yesterday finished the white clothes, dressed a prairie chicken, and wrote a letter.
It still smells of skunk. Had to turn the head of my bed, it prevented my sleeping. There have been three deer around, but too far away to shoot.
Philip took his ox to town and sold him for a cent a pound. He paid $100 for the two, did a little breaking, then one died.
There was a man here this a.m. hunting a girl. His wife was sick and they needed help. They were from N.Y. My first thought was, I must go and care for her, she is ill and so far from home. Then I knew I could not leave here — It was ten miles down the river, and I would not put that distance between brother and me, under present conditions.
He had two fine horses. One had a ladies side saddle on—seated in blue velvet.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
October 18, 1862
Frost this morning in low places. It did not kill the pepper. I pulled up a good deal of it yesterday evening to let it dry on the stalk. We have saved a fine chance of ripe pepper this summer, more than usual. I have knit a little in the evening. Mr. Henry & I went down to see the hogs. They are in pens not far from the mill. We then went by the mill to the sawmill where Wiley Knight is making a molasses mill & then to the dam. Mr. Henry did not seem to be fatigued much. He is improving slowly, does not eat anything of consequence. This has been a bright warm day after the morning was off.
*(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
October 18, 1667
Up, and at home most of the morning with Sir H. Cholmly, about some accounts of his; and for news he tells me that the Commons and Lords have concurred, and delivered the King their thanks, among other things, for his removal of the Chancellor; who took their thanks very well, and, among other things, promised them, in these words, never, in any degree, to entertain the Chancellor any employment again. And he tells me that it is very true, he hath it from one that was by, that the King did, give the Duke of York a sound reprimand; told him that he had lived with him with more kindness than ever any brother King lived with a brother, and that he lived as much like a monarch as himself, but advised him not to cross him in his designs about the Chancellor; in which the Duke of York do very wisely acquiesce, and will be quiet as the King bade him, but presently commands all his friends to be silent in the business of the Chancellor, and they were so: but that the Chancellor hath done all that is possible to provoke the King, and to bring himself to lose his head by enraging of people. He gone, I to the office, busy all the morning. At noon to Broad Street to Sir G. Carteret and Lord Bruncker, and there dined with them, and thence after dinner with Bruncker to White Hall, where the Duke of York is now newly come for this winter, and there did our usual business, which is but little, and so I away to the Duke of York’s house, thinking as we appointed, to meet my wife there, but she was not; and more, I was vexed to see Young (who is but a bad actor at best) act Macbeth in the room of Betterton, who, poor man! is sick: but, Lord! what a prejudice it wrought in me against the whole play, and everybody else agreed in disliking this fellow. Thence home, and there find my wife gone home; because of this fellow’s acting of the part, she went out of the house again. There busy at my chamber with Mr. Yeabsly, and then with Mr. Lewes, about public business late, and so to supper and 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.)