Table of Contents
IntroductionDescendants of Edith Draper and Montgomery BlairII
Introduction
Edith (Draper) Blair; b. February 18, 1874, Hopedale,Massachusetts; (daughter of Gen. William Franklin Draper and LydiaWarren Joy) m. age 21, February 26, 1895, in Washington, D.C.; (m.(2)SusanPreston) d. stroke, age 65, November 7, 1939, Mt. Kisco, New York.Her diary, written 1892-93, at ages 17-19 describes girl'sboarding school in Farmington, Massachusetts; home life with brothers andstep-family; friends, society, and escapades. In 1892, her father,Gen. William Franklin Draper was nominated to Congress. Edith attendedmany society functions and became a debutante after graduation. Sheentertained numerous gentlemen callers. She was devoted to her brothersOtis, Arthur, Frank, and (step-brother) Clare, as well as her sister-in-lawLily. (Otis and Lily were married that year). She enjoyed music andplayed piano skillfully.Edith Draper Hollyday never knew her grandfather, Montgomery Blair II,other than as an invalid with a trained nurse always in attendance. However, her mother, Minna Blair Hollyday,related the following about him:Spouse: Montgomery Blair II; lawyer; b. March 14, 1865, Washington,D.C. (son of Postmaster General Montgomery Blair and Mary ElizabethWoodbury, grandson of Frances Preston Blair and Eliza VioletGist); d. April 28, 1944, Washington, D.C.; bur. Rock Creek Cemetery,Washington, D.C. Edith and Montgomery had sevenchildren.
The following notes were related to me by my mother, EdithDraper Hollyday, granddaughter of Edith Draper Blair and MontgomeryBlair:
Edith D. Blair was quick tempered, charming, very intelligent,loving, decisive, and much beloved by her family and friends. Shewas very talented musically; loved books, gardening, and wrote poetry. She adored her grandchildren.
Edith and Montgomery
Edith and Montgomery Blair lived at "Falkland" in SilverSpring, Maryland. The property was previously owned by Montgomery'sfather, Montgomery Blair I, Postmaster General for Abraham Lincoln. The house was burned down in the Civil War, and rebuilt. Theylater moved to an apartment in Washington, D.C. on 16th Street, downtown. The building had a courtyard, so the apartment had windows on both sides.
Falkland became a run-down boarding house for women. The firedepartment eventually burned it down, and Edith Draper Blair oversaw thecreation of Falkland Garden Apartments.
Edith D. Blair became an invalid from high blood pressure and strokes.
They moved to a large rented home in Bedford, New York and had a summerhouse in East Hampton. All of their children and grandchildren visitedthem there. Their grandaughter, Edith Draper Hollyday remembers hersummers there and getting to know her cousins, aunts and uncles. With no TV, they had music, games and play-acting. Her grandmotherEdith served them tea, played piano and sang with them. She alsoread 19th century popular novels to them, such as "Oliver Twist" and "DavidCopperfield."
Edith D. Blair developed heart problems. She died of a stroke. Her husband survived her for many years, completely bed-ridden and comatose. Minna and her husband purchased the Bedford house after Edith D. Blair'sdeath, and lived there for many years.
Edith Draper's Siblings
Minna was very fond of her maternal uncles. Clare Draper wasa "very sweet person," Otis Draper was a "colorful character," and FrankDraper played the violin but died young, an alcoholic. Edith D. Blair's half-sister Margaret Preston Draper at age 25,married 32 year-old Italian "Papal" Prince Andrea Boncompagni. According to family lore, the elder Prince Boncompangni had little money,so he pawned a cherished tapestry then-Ambassador to Italy, William FranklinDraper. He regretted this and wanted to get the tapestry back, sohe arranged for his son to marry the Ambassador's daughter Margaret, whenshe was old enough. He was devoted to his mistress and their children,however, and the marriage was annulled, apparently never having been consumated. The cherished tapestry was returned,andMargaret was allowed to continueusing the name, Princess Margaret Boncompagni.
Minna and her sister Edith were bridesmaids attheir elaborate wedding in Washington, D.C. on October 25, 1916. They wore velvet dresses with mink trim. Butterflies from South Americawere released into the winter air.
"Princess" Margaret Boncompagni, was very rich and didn't have to lifta finger. She had servants to do everything for her, including brushingher hair, and bathing and dressing her.
When she was young, she was a tall Junoesque beauty, but became veryobese and was used to being served. One winter she visited Minnaand Virginia Brook(Minna's sister) in New York. They met at a restaurant where Margaret arrived in a long fur coat andgaloshes with fur trim. Minna and Virginia were chagrined when theyhad to go under the table to pull off her boots.
Margaret gave some preposterous gifts. Blair Hollydaywas given a huge rock crystal Eiffel Tower as a wedding gift. ForMinna Blair Hollyday's husband R.C. Hollyday III,who was away on military duty in a hot climate during World War II, shesent an imitation leopard throw, addressed to "Mr. Minerva Hollyday." Edith Draper Hollyday received no gifts, but Margeret hosted her weddingreception.
Margaret was also known for saying, "The thing about turkey is thatthere is too much for one person, but not enough for two."
Minna and her siblings were very solicitous of Margaret because shewas lonely and rather pitiful. She died in a nursing home and herentire estate went to her favorite nephew on her mother's side of the family.
Draper Geneology
"Le Drapour" of Brittany, 11th century weaver and clothfuller, followed William the Conqueror to England. He settled inStansfield in the West Riding section of Yorkshire and was a pioneerof the textile industry in that district. At least one of each succeedinggeneration followed in the textile industry.1. Thomas Draper, b. c. 1600, Heptonsall, Yorkshire, England; ownedwater-powered fulling mill & several hand looms; employed weavers toproduce textiles.2. James Draper "the Weaver", English Puritan, 1st colonial toengage in weaving and selling cloth in America; m. Miriam Stansfield,"the Belle of Stansfield Hall", Stansfield Hall, Yorkshire, England,settledat Roxbury MA, c. 1649.
3. James Draper b. 1654, soldier King Philip's War, m. Abigail Whiting ( 1663-1721).
4. Capt. James Draper (1691-1768) m. Abigail Child (1698-1767).
4. Maj. Abijah Draper (1757-1780), served Am. Rev., m. AliceEaton.
5. Ira Draper, b. 1764, founded Draper Corporation, Hopedale,MA in 1816; m. Abigail Richard.
6. George Draper b. Aug. 16, 1817, Weston, MA; d. June 7, 1887;m. March 6, 1839, Uxbridge, MA, Hannah Brown Thwing, b. Jan 1, 1817,Uxbridge, MA; d. Dec. 30, 1883, Hopedale, MA; dau. Benjamin Thwing and Anna Mowry
7. William Franklin Draper b. April9, 1842, Lowell, MA; d. Jan 28, 1910, Washington, D.C.; bur. Hopedale,MAWilliam Franklin Draper Georgiana Thwing Draper b. June 30, 1844, Lowell, MA; d. July 23,1844 Helen Louise Draper b. July 11, 1845, Lowell, MA; d. Aug. 10, 1847 Frances Eudora Draper b. July 26, 1847, Ware, MA; m. Feb. 20, 1868,Hopedale, MA, Charles Henry Colburn son b. Dec. 15, 1850, Ware, MA Hannah Thwing Draper b. April 11, 1853, Ware, MA; m. Jan. 20, 1881,Hopedale, MA. Edward Louis Osgood George Albert Draper b. Nov. 4, 1855, Hopedale, MA; d. Feb.7, 1928; m. Nov. 6, 1890, Lexington, KY, Jessie F. Preston, sisterof Susan Preston Eben Sumner Draper b. June 17, 1858, Hopedale, MA; d. April 9, 1914;m. Nov. 21, 1883, NY, NY, Nannie Bristow m. 1st, Sept. 15, 1862, Hopedale, MA, Lydia Lilla WarrenJoy b. Aug. 31, 1843, Nantucket, MA; d. Feb. 15, 1884, Hopedale, MA;dau. David T. Warren and Lydiia Downs Bunkerm. 2nd, 1890, Susan Christy Preston (d. 1919)William Franklin Draper b. Dec. 17, 1865; d. March 18, 1909, Paris,France; m. Susan Welsh George Otis Draper b. July 14, 1867, Hopedale, MA; d. Oct. 20, 1938;m. April 28, 1892, Lily Duncan, Lexington, Fayette, KY Edith Draper, b. February 18, 1874,Hopedale, MA; d. Nov. 7, 1939, Mt. Kisco, NY; m. age 21, Feb. 26, 1895,MontgomeryBlair II, Washington, D.C. Arthur Joy Draper b. April 28, 1875, Hopedale, MA; d. April 26,1932, Charlotte, NC; m. Sept. 7, 1899, Lily Voorhees, Lexington, Fayette,KY Margaret Preston, b. 1891, m. Oct. 26, 1816, Andrea Boncompagni,Washington,D.C. Clare Hill Draper b. Oct. 4, 1876, Hopedale, MA; d. Nov. 27, 1940,Boston, MA; m. Feb. 5, 1902, Matilda Grace Engman, Lexington, Fayette,KY
Descendents of Edith Draper
and Montgomery Blair
Edith Draper Blair; b. September 6, 1896, Blair House,Lafayette Square, Washington, DC; m. July 28, 1917, Silver Spring, MD;d. June 30, 2001, age 104, of kidney failure, at home, Cambridge,Boston, MA.During World War I she did volunteer hospital work. As Girl Scoutsof the US education subcommittee chair, in 1922, she incorporated the Brownies,originally a grass-roots program, officially into the Girl Scouts. She was a teen pregnancy counselor during the 1950s and 60s.
In 1972, when her daughter Lucy became ill, she moved to Cambridge tohelp with her large family.
In Boston, she worked in the soup kitchen at her Episcopal church, andwas a consultant to a church committee to combat racism.
At her 100th birthday party at Cambridge City Hall, Edith said, "Alot of us at 90-odd moan and groan about all the things we can't do butthe answer is to stop thinking about ourselves and think what we can dofor other people."
Spouse: Adolphus Staton (b. August 28, 1879; Navyrear admiral awarded medal of honor at Vera Cruz before WWII by the NavySecretary, Josephus Daniels. d. June 4, 1964)
1 Child:
- Lucy Staton; b. March 6, 1928; d. cancer, May 21, 1973, Boston,Massachusetts.
Spouse: Bernard McCabe.eight children, 12 grandchildren.Mary Elizabeth Warren Bunker (Minna) Blair b.11/20/1897, Washington, D.C.; m. October 16, 1920, Washington, D.C.; d.Sarasota Florida, age 72.
Spouse: Capt. Richard Carmichael Hollyday, III, b. 1897 (Son of Adm. R.C. Hollyday II and DaisyKing) Navy Captain, Real Estate Partner in New York, New York;d. January 28, 1986, colon cancer. Ashes at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia.four children:
- Edith Draper Hollyday; artist; b. January 29,1924, New York City;
m. June 10, 1944, div. 1970. (m.(2) Oskar Elbert)
Spouse: Joseph Lane Kirkland, b. March 12, 1922, Camden,South Carolina (son of LouiseRichardson and Randolph Withers Kirkland); president of AFL-CIO; d. lung cancer, August 14, 1999; Ashes interred at Arlington Cemetery.(m.)2) Irena Neuman-d. 2007)five children; six grandchildren; two great grandchildrenDr. Montgomery (Doc) Blair; b. November 9, 1898; d. November28, 1974; pediatrician, medical director at Children's Hospital in Washington,D.C.;
- Minna Blair Hollyday; b. October 8, 1925.
Spouse: Arthur Meeker Gray; b. November 2, 1917.three children; two grandchildren
- Richard Carmichael Hollyday IV; lawyer; b. April 14, 1927;
m. December 18, 1954.
Spouse: Jane Perry; b. April 26, 1930.
three children
- James Hollyday; b. December 1929 or 30; div., remarried.
Spouse 1: Carol Nasonseven children
Spouse 2: Carol Powers
m. February 9, 1929; d. November 24, 1986.
Spouse: A. Virginia Augusta Mason, (sister of WilliamDraper Blair's wife, Mary-Eula Mason).four children:
- Beatrice Blair; Episcopal minister; div., remarried.
- Judith Blair div., remarried.
Virginia Lafayette Woodbury Blair; b. December21, 1899; d. August 27, 1986, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
- Elizabeth Blair Douglas; Mormon librarian, genealogist; lives inVictor, Montana; div., remarried.
one child
- Edith Blair (living in Florida as of 1997.)
Spouse: Robert Clymer Brooketwo children:
- Robert Edward Brooke
- Virginia (Ginger) Brooke; b. July 26, 1927; d. October 25, 1993.
Spouse: Ramsey Pennypackertwo adopted childrenWilliam F. Draper Blair; b. December 13, 1902, Washington, D.C.;Princeton graduate; m. January 22, 1926, Washington, D.C.; worked in familyreal estate investment and business development business in 1930s; directeddevelopment of Falkland garden apartments in Silver Spring; WWII: ArmyAir Force major; banking career at Bank of Silver Spring, 1946-58; memberChevy Chase and Metropolitan clubs. Home on Bradley Blvd., Chevy Chase,Maryland. d. February 2, 1993, Williamsburg, Virginia.
Spouse: Mary-Eula Mason (sister of Dr. Montgomery Blair'swife, Virginia Mason)one child:
- William Draper Blair II; b. May 3, 1927.
Spouse: Jane______two childrenEllen DeQuincy Blair; b. May 25, 1905, Washington, D.C.
Spouse: Benjamin Loundes Jackson, Jr.two children:
- Benjamin Loundes Jackson, III
Spouse: Jill3 children
Charles Woodbury Blair; b. May 14, 1913, Silver Spring, Maryland;d. July 3, 1954, Charleston, West Virginia; m. May 14, 1934.
- Ellen Jackson; b. June 17, 1928
Spouse: Carterone child:
- Charles Woodbury Blair; Jr. b. November 11, 193_;
d. December 28, 1982.
The Draper/Blair/HollydayConnection
Draper Family Crest (above)
Diary of Miss Edith Draper
Farmington, Jan. 17, 1892
This year I am going to try a new plan in trying to keep a journal.So many times I ave failed utterly, but this time I shall only write oncea week and in that way put down the most important things and not try tokeep every dayÌs doings. Life is so at school anyway and one dayis as much like another that it doesn't pay.
Last Sunday I was in Boston visiting Aunt Fannie, the end of the Christmas.We went up to call on Mrs. George Colburn in the morning but she wasn'table to see us, so we walked up the Avenue and back and were back at theVendome for lunch. At the Arlington Street church with Annie King.Brooke HerfordÌs next to last Sunday there. Curtis Build,Robert Batcheller, and Clement were calling when we got back and theretill nearly dinnertime. In the evening, Mr. Hoyt, John Thompson andthe Hal Roberts of HelenÌs church, the one I had thought so brightand entertaining who proved to be a perfect bore called. He offered totake us over the Institute Monday, and Helen accepted, as she couldn'tget out of it. Howard, when he came, we fled into the bedroom and waitedthere while Aunt Fannie told we ladies much shopping to do before goingback to school, that we had been obliged to go out and she didn't knowwhen we would be back. That evening Helen and Alice went to Mrs.Well's reception and Aunt Fannie took me to the museum. Saw Caste, a mightypretty play.
Tuesday, came back to school. Reached here at six, found a lot of newgirls, not many old ones, and none of our set but Sue. The others havestraggled in during the week though, except Katherine, Frances and HelenStewart.
Wednesday unpacked, hung pictures, and went to classes between times.Had music lesson, and hereby register a vow that I shall practice faithfullyat least four divisions a day. Classes come as follows - First divisionFrench, second Psychology, third, fourth and fifth, practice, and sixthGerman. The new French teacher is a Russian baroness, they say. She toldme I was very far advanced & had a good accent, which swelled me withpride for a time. She is thorough, and will make us work, I imagine. Ilike her well enough in class, but outside she babbles like a running brookand I can't get away, as I sit next her at table. However, good practicefor me.
Wednesday night Prof. Winchester lectured on The Lake Poets. Fine ashis lectures always are.
Friday, snowstorm all day. In P.M. Sue, Gina, Sarah Hard, Alice &I walked out through the drifts to the creamery in rubber boots, trousers,etc. and had a grand feast & loads of fun. The last for us though.Hereafter no forbidden fruit. I am going to write this down & see howlong I keep it.
Saturday P.M. Sue & I had a long sleigh ride three hours and camein almost frozen. Began work on Jargon. Are going to write the first numberall ourselves, have it printed and then show it to the others as a surprise.In the evening an impromptu German, Clara Barton, Cornelia Welch, GinaWoodbridge & Jamie Cunningham, leaders. Danced with Alice, and hadjolly time. Slept with Maure & Cornelia as Alice had Lily Girbe withher. Today did not go to church but wrote on Jargon with Sue. It is gettingalong finely & we are deft on the subject. Wrote letters, walked afterdinner, went to singing & read aloud and fooling in evening as usual. I miss Bessie Knox so much, & Katherine & Frances too. Thosetwo are coming soon, but Bess is out of school now & I miss her fearfully.That has always been my trouble. I am with one or two girls all the timeand never look at anyone else, so if my friends leave before I do, I amentirely out of it. I wish I could be fond of good many at once, but Idon't seem to know how. Letters this week from Fannie, Angie, Papa,& bill from Wood about pins. Prof. LaddÌs first lecture on PsychologyFriday. He is to give one each week. Very interesting.
Monday, Jan. 25
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Sue and I shut ourselves up every afternoonand evening and wrote on Jargon. Never so tired of anything in my life.Worst of it was, the girls got first curious, then jealous, and then boiling,and we had to tell all kinds of things to keep out of a downright quarrel.They think now we are desperate crushes. I think the paper is pretty good,but weÌve read it over so many times, and are so tired of it, wecan't judge.
Monday night Frances came with her brother Charlie and he called inthe eve. Jolly time. Awfully glad to see her again. She is a stunning girl.That word just expresses her somehow.
Tuesday night Katherine came in upon us. I had missed her fearfully,and was mighty happy when she appeared on the scene. Slept with her thatmight, and talked till the wee small hours naturally. Tuesday also hada very good music lesson, and correspondingly happy. In fact a red letterday all around.
Wednesday quartettes in P.M. Learned for the first time that I was toplay a solo in next concert besides my duo with Mabel Pettit. Wednesdaynight finished Jargon, and sent it.
Thursday ill. Stayed up all morning but went to bed after dinner anddidn't get up till Friday night for tea. Just what I needed, a day off,for I was tired out. Fine skating, coasting and sleighing all the week,which I did not enjoy.
Saturday it all wetted but today it is snowing again, so I hope to havesome fun out-of-doors next week. Saturday short walk with Sue, then practiceall P.M. Played for Harriet to sing, & duets with Lucy a little while.Madame Van Taube the French teacher is going to get up some plays in oneof which Ethel Hartshorn & I are leading lights. The trouble will bethe girls don't understand enough French to enjoy it much, and I fear itwill fall pretty flat. We are also going to get up an English play soon.So our hands will be pretty full. Saturday letters from Bess, Arthur, Papa,May Rice, & bills ad libitum.
Mrs. Dow's talk in Bible class today was lovely and hit me as usuallike a sledgehammer. It was about John the Baptist giving up his placeand work to Christ. She said often and often we see others going aheadof us in this life being more popular, more brilliant, more accomplished,and more loved perhaps from no qualities of their own. It is hard not tobe envious and jealous, and it is useless to shut ourselves up in stoicismsay we don't care for we do. We must simply go our own little duties andnot think about our place in the world, simply help others along &in so doing help ourselves. I can't express all she said, for the way shesaid it was half, but it was all so true & helpful.
Sunday, Jan 31
Last Monday practiced until ten then coasted with Alice, then back forbanjo club practice in Helen William's room. I playing the mandolinwith the other two which is perfectly ridiculous as I know hardly anythingabout it. Read Lorna Doone part of P.M. & all evening, as therewas a lecture in Town Hall.
Tuesday night Fanny Bloomfield Geisler gave a piano recital. Wentwith Mame & Katherine. She plays with wonderful technique &a very soft touch. Her hands are so bony they look like spiders &she herself is a common-looking little Jewess, but oh! The music she coulddraw out of that same piano I thump on was simply marvelous.
Wednesday had fine coasting with Katherine. Pretty fair musiclesson, but not so good as last week. Fingers too cold. Read JamesLane AllenÌs stories aloud all through study hour, and dreamt ofSister Dolorosa. Got books of plays Friday night, and decided on"A Box of Monkeys." Ethel and I are going to get it up immediately. It will be a good deal of work, but if successful, quite an event.
Saturday German danced with Katherine. Prettiest decorated yet. Playedfor dancing twice - once with Lucy, and again accompanying Anna Peck &Louise Davis with mandolins - a new idea and very pretty.
Sunday, today. I have been going through the usual.... Stayed home fromchurch with Sue and wrote valentines, and had a long talk with Katherineduring singing. Have not seen much of her lately. I am so busy I neversee a soul. It is perfectly maddening. Mary Ann was in the room a gooddeal today and we had quite a long talk. She is so fascinating. I wishshe weren't so bound up in her set, for I do not care for the rest of themparticularly. Read Lorna Doone again this eve. Slept with Harriet.
Monday, Feb. 1
I feel like writing tonight for some unknown reason. Probably becauseI ought to study, and want to put off the evil hour. Jargon didn'tcome today & we are wild, for all the point will be gone out of thejokes. Didn't practice much today though I mean to always Mondays. Playedour duo with Mr. Bock & it went abominably. We hadn't tried itfor so long. Concert is to be Monday, & I am down for quartette, duoand solo, so I shall be glued to the piano stool the rest of this week.
Read over play today, & gave out parts. Also took short drive withKatherine.
Sunday, Feb. 7
Tuesday practiced most of the day at different things.
Wednesday Jargon came, and also Haas Bros. man for Spring orders, sospent first part of P.M. ordering shirtwaists, & last part readingpaper to the other girls. It was a grand success, and we were delighted,for we had worked mighty hard on it. At half past five went up tothe Estate. Anna, Norah, Harriet Lowrie, & Jean gave a supper up thereto sixteen of us, and it was a perfect circus. They cooked most of thesupper themselves & it was perfectly delicious - griddlecakes and syrup,baked potatoes, hot chocolate with whipped cream, & cake & fruitgalore. Harriet, Louise Davis and I with first one, then another of thecooks, when they could get away sat at a little table and went off on aterrible tear. I never laughed so much in my life. After supper we allsat around on the floor around an open fire and told ghost stories andsang. It was simply dreamy.
Thursday and Friday practiced and wrote valentines all day, besidesbeginning to learn any part. I am almost too busy. It is something terribleall this rush.
Saturday A.M. had another tear. Went out coasting with Katherine andwe were invited by the small boys to go with them on their bob. Coastedall the P.M. the only school girls there, and had a grand time. Came inabout five & wrote valentines. German given by Grace Barbour,Helen Perrier, Flora Smith and Bert. Danced with Harriet Barrows.Played most of the time. Short German because favours didn't come.
Lazy Sunday as usual.
Sunday, Feb. 14
Worked on valentines all A.M. except when at music lesson for concert.In P.M. another music lesson on quartette.
Tuesday was five hours at piano, and played three times in evening.Was not satisfied a bit with my solo. It went pretty well, but not muchspirit somehow. Was horribly disappointed for I had worked mighty hard.However, better luck next time. Flowers from Alice, Katherine, Helen, Bertha,Anna Peck - and Frances.
Wednesday lecture in eve. which I did not attend, but wrote valentinesand read Lorna Doone aloud.
Thursday changed plans of study. Dropped Psychology and took up Englishhistory instead. Then take private French instead of class. there's noearthly use in taking Psychology in this indefinite way. it's a thing thathas to be studied and not fooled over. At any rate, I don't think I ama shining success as a philosopher. Saturday night was Valentine's nightand loads of fun. I got a collection of bright ones. The German was givenby Rice & Tulleree, and strange to say, was the success of the season.Red hearts, cupids, and flowers galore. Danced with Jean, and had a finetime.
Sunday, Feb. 28
Two weeks ago Thursday Feb. 18th was my birthday. Eighteen years old.My goal is reached at last, but it doesn't seem to make any material difference.
Went home the next day over Sunday for Washington's birthday. didn'tdo much of anything, but had a good time seeing the boys.
Saw "La Cigale" Monday night with Clare. Otis' house is going on likea breeze. It is going to be beautiful. Everything is so original and sowell planned.
Came back Tuesday and began work again. Oh, I forgot my birthday presents.Had flowers from Katherine, Bertha, Mame, Emily, and Ethel Hawthorne andglove buttons from Sue. Stick pin from Alice, stickpin from Auntie Weston;hatpin form Frances, MammaÌs solitaire ring and a fearfully andwonderfully made card case from Saml.
Wednesday started work again. Took music lesson, practiced, etc.
Thursday rehearsed play in P.M.
Friday was a day & a half. Rehearsed play till half past three,then to Prof. LaddÌs lecture. Then back to house to wait for stagewith Angie and Bess. Bess is changed terribly since her fatherÌsdeath. It does seem so hard. She just left school Christmas with a lovelywinter all planned for her and her father suddenly died. That girlhas more character! It has brought her out in on way, though it has changedher fearfully. I don't know what to say to her at all. I don't want totalk about it, and yet I hate to seem unfeeling. She is certainlythe finest girl I ever knew. Angie is prettier than ever and just as sweet.We all went of to the fair and oyster supper at the Town Hall, which wassport. Had the Punch and Judy show, Art Gallery, fortunetellers, and allkinds of booths beside the supper. Had fortune told, the same old thing.Am to marry an older man for money. I shall really believe it by and by. Slept with Katherine.
Saturday rehearsed in back study for first time. Went pretty well. Helencame at five, and saw her awhile, then went over to ... & helped alittle. Practiced with mandolins and then dressed for study hall tea. German was given by Harriet, Jean, Stella and Mary Ann. Danced with Emily,played twice. Once with mandolins and once with Luce.
Today has been mighty blue. it's hard enough anyway, but with Bess heregoing & everything, it was fearful. Singing was ghastly. The girlswould persist in giving out mournful hymns, and Bess sat there weepingall through. I tried hard to keep giving out cheerful ones, but it wasno use. Called on Mrs. Dow afterward and she surprised by talking abouthome. She said she knew it was hard for me as she had been in the sameposition herself, and she was simply lovely about it. I was taken aback,but it did touch me, for it showed she cared something about me. PlayedAnagrams with Bess and Belle in eve. And then had a long talk with Katherineon the sofa.
Sunday, March 6
Monday took Bess Harriet Lowrie and Anna out driving. Had a feast atGerman and grand fun. In P.M. rehearsed for play we are reading, SilasMarner in eve. Pretty busy day.
Tuesday was my red-letter day. Nothing wonderful happened, but everythingdid go so smoothly. In the first place had a grand music lesson and finetalk with Mr. Bock. Then play went splendidly in P.M. and Mrs. Dow letus have everything we wanted, stage, Katherine for ...to announce the thingFriday, and tickets. Interesting French lesson (am reading Giroudinsnow) and no reading, so made all the tickets. It is going to be soswell what with orchestra, ushers, stage, tickets, and all, that I am beginningto hug myself. If only it doesn't fall flat. Programmes today and are great.
Wednesday. Bess and Angie went on early stage and got up to see themoff, so correspondingly sleepy all day. It has done Bess lots of good beinghere and I am glad she came. She got herself back again before she left.
Thursday had dress rehearsal for Harriet dick's benefit. Went like adream.
Friday morning came news of President PorterÌs death. Miss Porterwent right down to New Haven. We spoke to Mrs. Dow about giving up theplay and she said it pleased Miss Porter immensely. I am glad ofthat, but it really was hard to give everything up. However, we will haveit next Saturday and it won't make much difference except that it willbe rather warmed over, I'm afraid. Prof. LaddÌs lecture in P.M.& Mr. Winchester on Antony and Cleopatra in eve. Both fine.
Saturday P.M. went off on a tear with Katherine & Sue. Started togo to German but got stuck in a drift, & had to be dug out by Dr. Wheeler& an unknown man. Were bound we wouldn't be thwarted so wentround the other way. Had to walk fully half the way as it was, all mud!Got our feet soaking & took off our shoes to dry them & naturallycouldn't get them on again. Got the giggles & we really didn'tknow what we were doing. Fooled around the piano awhile with Luce &then singing with Mame, Sue, Bert & Alice in eve. All the girls sataround in the studio and sang with banjos and guitars. It was great fun.Played Frances accompaniments awhile beforehand.
Today went over to New Britain for the first time to Episcopal Church.Am going every time. It makes you feel much more churchified.
Sunday, March 13
Beautiful week. Last Mon. A.M. Sue, Jamie, Cornelia, Mame, Clara, Luce,Alice & I went off on a lark. Walked way up in the woods & wenthitching on ... across the fields. First one we met stuck on a rock &broke the axletree. We offered our hair ribbons to patch it up but thatso rattled the poor boy that he was very long about fixing it, & wefound another..., & basely deserted! Came back to Miss Adgate's andgot chocolate & tin horns, which added greatly to our bliss. Composed a new song & new cheer.
Practiced in A.M. Tuesday. Fine music lesson.
Wednesday began again on play Worked hard Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Saturday was the most crowded day. In A.M. The division started to fixup box office in Gym. Weren't through by German time, so asked Miss Loeschto excuse us after reciting poetry & she was fine. Arranged it in grandstyle with photographs of the actors arranged on a big screen. Appropriatesign and a place for Luce and I with our stage plan arrayed before us.In the middle of dinner, however, there was interruption. Some of the girls,Madeline, etc. had gotten excused from dinner and had calmly gone out asto get first chance at seats it was a pretty mean thing to do. Iasked Mrs. Cowles to, and marched out to interview. Fortunately I keptcontrol of my temper for once in my life, though the girls did look prettyflat. It was much more effective than if I had gotten angry. They weremighty nice about it afterward and begged our pardons. They didn't thinkhow it would seem. What made us furious though was Helen & Evelyn.They had carefully climbed in through the window in spite of our sign onthe door. That was the last straw. We gave out that the tickets would begiven face down, so that no one would know what seat she was taking sothe ladies who went without theirs simply got laughed at and went hungry.There was a great rush for seats and it was grand fun selling. After that,carried things in and watched Mr. Mason putting up stage awhile, then wentover to get chocolate & while waiting Ethel & I went down to MasonÌs& ordered some violets for Mrs. Dow from Troupe. Then back to fix upstage which took till 4:30 then rehearsal. Then went out for a little walkwith Bertha before. Her mother didn't come for the simple reason that Berthainvited a girl to come up to & she telegraphed to Mrs. Dow "Tell BerthaI am not leaving." It was the meanest thing, after Bertha was all brokenup too over something else. That girl has more character. She goes aroundwith the most ... face and nobody would suspect that she had ever had acare and her life has been just full. Dressed, fixed chairs, lamps, etc.and finally play. It was a grand success. Went without a hitch. Flowerswere showered on us allthrough, and everyone was wildly enthusiastic. Mrs.Dow said it was the best thing ever in Farmington.
Thursday night, Mrs. Dow gave us Main House girls a talk about beingmore quiet, not going to the Creamery, getting to bed earlier, behaviorin the town, and more lady-like deportment, generally. It hit every oneof us in some weak spot and we were as meek and mild crowd when she finished.I must reform. Have been down to prayers for one thing ever since the talk,and am trying to be quieter. This week new girls all got ... but thingsquieted down again.
Sunday, March 20
This week nothing special happened here at school. Monday andTuesday tired out so grand failure in music lesson, classes and everythingelse. Alice went home Monday to Mrs. George ColburnÌs funeral andthe same day I heard from Papa of Grandma Joy's death and from Otis thathis wedding is to be April 27 instead of in June, and I am to be a bridesmaid.
Wednesday went down to New Haven to the funeral. Papa and Frank metme at station and we went up to the house immediately. The funeral wasghastly. We sat very near the open coffin, and her face was so distortedby agony it was frightful. I kept my eyes steadily on the floor. She wasinsane at the last and thought everybody was trying to torture her andmurder her in most fearful ways. Saw Ellen, and had quite a little talkwith her. Met Alice on the train coming back, and reached here starved- no breakfast or dinner.
In bed Saturday and most of Sunday. Copied Jargon, which we had writtenup Thursday and Friday. Read the ColonelÌs Opera Cloak and EdgarAllen PoeÌs life. Had lots of callers and enjoyed life generally.A day off is such a blessing sometimes. Mina Goodloe appeared on the scene,and I thought she would never go. I have tried to be good to that girl,and have done a good deal, but she is the worst pill.
German in studies tonight as Annie the maid has rheumatic fever outin the Gym and we couldn't dance there naturally. Music sounded lovelyup ire in the room. Katharine staid up with me.
Today copied Jargon most of morning, then Harriet, Alice, Jean and Iamused by making beautiful curly bangs with fluffy fedoras, Rushed intoNorah's room to show her our beauty and stumbled on prayer meeting in fullsession. Beat a most hasty retreat. Lovely talk with Mrs. Dow tonight.She is so sweet to me, and helps me so much.
Anna Whitehead left Saturday A.M. to sail for Europe next week. Couldn'tget up to see her off and was glad of it afterwards, for the girls allsaid it was horribly mournful. She will be more missed than almostany girl who could leave, I think. I wish I had known her awfullywell. I know so many girls in that surface way that I'd like to just havefor real friends, but I am so fearfully reserved after I go just so far.I build a little wall all around myself & then am angry because peopledon't break it down. However, I am better than I was about it, and that'sa consolation. Just for fun I am going to put down the girls thatI know at all and see how many they come to. Alice, Harriet, Jean, Stella,Norah, Harriet Lowrie, Julie Bush, Mary Sprague, Louise Griffith, MolliePrescott, Bertha, Helen, Luce, Lina, Woodbridge, Jamie Cunningham, Emily,Clara Barton, Sue, Mary, Cornelia Welch, Katharine, Ethel, Belle, Ray,Mabel, Jeannette Childs, then in outside houses - Reba Williams, LeonolaBorden, Sassie Brooks, Emma McClintock, Louise Davis, Frances, Anne Peck,Marie Goodloe, Ella Morgan, Eva Palmer, Jo Tyler. 39 out of 100.Pretty poor, methinks.
Oh, I forgot an event of this week. Louise Davis asked me to go homewith her this vacation. I was perfectly stunned, for I don't know her atall well, and of course I couldn't go on account of Otis' wedding, butI wish I could. I'd have a circus. She's been so funny ever since. Sherather avoids me, and looks rattled. I wish she wouldn't.
Wednesday, March 23
I must write this tonight for today has been one of the happiest ofmy life. I went down to New Haven with Miss Gray to hear Paderewski play.Mr. Bockelman it for me when I went over to take my lesson yesterday. Isaid it would be my last chance to hear him, as he sails next week andhe went up the hill and asked Miss Gray if she would let me go down withher. It was mighty nice of him.
Well this A.M. we started in pouring rain. Reached New Haven at oneand went right up to theatre to get tickets. Pretty poor seats, but didn'texpect... so were thankful for small mercys. Saw Proctor there and hada little talk with him. Then Miss Gray and I puddled around in the rainawhile, looked at college buildings, got soda, etc. and finally reachedthe theatre a little early. Miss Gray was lovely and I enjoyed it so muchgoing with her. She knew so much about everything. I wish I could describehis playing. I never was so carried away in my life. You forgot the manand the piano entirely. Everything was idealized for the time. His techniqueis so perfect you don't think of it unless you make yourself notice howwonderful it is. His interpretation is so wonderful too, so calm, but sopowerful, and not a bit of show about it. He doesn't let off any fireworks,or make you think he is saying "See how wonderful I am." He just makesyou hold your breath. And his tone, every note even the softest, had sucha singing to it. It was so clear and perfect. It was a Chopin recital,and he played all lovely things - the Funeral March, Berceaus, two lovelynocturnes, tow of the waltzes, one of the..., and the Polonaise with theChromatic Bass. Then two perfect Etudes, and a lot more. I had heard DePachomanplay lots of them before and it was so fine to compare the two. DePachoman was the best I had heard before & it shows the difference.He was a wonderful pianist, but this man is a perfect genius of music.Oh, I just walked on clouds the rest of the day.
Sunday, March 27
Paderewski's life is mighty sad. He is of good family, but they werewretchedly and just lived from hand to mouth. His first music teacher wasa violinist, who couldn't do anything with his violin, so gave lessonson piano. Naturally, though, of course his genius showed, I suppose. Histechnique was wretched and nobody thought he would amount to anything.Then he was married at nineteen, a widower at twenty, with a sickly babynot expected to live, and now a crippled boy about ten. Some say his wifedied of starvation, but I imagine that's an exaggeration. He threw himselfinto his music then, and devoted all his thought & energy into it &this is the result. He is only thirty now, and everybody is crazy abouthim. He goes back to Europe next week with a good many American dollars.They say he has made quite a little fortune over here, and I certainlyhope he has. What Wouldn't I give to hear him again! That music has beenringing in my ears ever since. After the concert the simply got up andhowled. Everybody stamped, shouted, and waved handkerchiefs till he cameout three or four times. Proctor waited for me outside and walked downto the car with us. Saw Beth Shapelle in the station a minute. She hadbeen to hear him too. Had three quarters of an hour to wait so Miss Colton,Miss Gray & I perched up on the stools at the counter & got somethingto eat, and then walked up and down the station platform looking for Paderewski,but in vain. Finally Miss Colton went off to get on the train, as it wastime for it to start. Miss Gray and I went into the station as a last hopeand there he was. We took him all in, in a long look out of the cornersof our eyes, of course and then ran for the train. His hair is perfectlyabominable. It sticks out like a feather duster all over his head, butit can't spoil his face. He has a very sad expression, but there is somethingmagnetic about him. He has power written all over his face. Well, I mightas well stop raving about him, but I wish I could express how he inspiredme. Had a fine talk coming back on the train. It seemed soqueer to be with older people and talking sense again. I hadn't any ideamuss Colton was such a linguist. She knows 45 languages, and studiesnew ones all the time. It just shows what people can make of their lives.Here she has been in Farmington for ten years teaching singing and allthat time when people would think she was just vegetating she has beenstudying all kinds of things.
The rest of the week I have been working 4 hours a day at piano, andnot much of anything else. I wish I could hear a concert every week. Ithas a mighty good when you get over the first disgust at your abominableplaying.
Last night was Fancy Dress German in studies. Alice & I went toAnnie Rooney and her Joe. I had a curled bang down to my eyebrows, a Psycheknot stuck with tremendous hairpins and a little ... velvet ... with alight blue rosette perched wryly top. Then a lilac waist, pink skirt, redbelt with blue streamers in back green ribbon round neck. Chewing gum tiedon with yellow ribbon, dirty gray gloves with my solitaire outside andwhite slippers and black stockings. I had the most elegant time being ...It was quite refreshing. Had long trousers, a colored shirt, tremendousplaid necktie, and derby with green ribbon around it and wooden pipe. Thebest were Lucy Christy as a Baby & Ethel Todd as nurse. The prettiestAdele Barrett as Faust, & Harriet Dick in old-fashioned costume. Theyhad a sailor's hornpipe by four Mame Lisa, Margaret Kittridge, & AdeleCoring at first, & Madeleine Forrest danced the skirt dance in costumebetween the figures. The whole thing was mighty pretty. Talked till aftertwelve with Alice. Have decided not to go to Europe with Aunt Fannieafter all. It really seems as though I ought to be at home. In the firstplace, Lily Duncan being up there, and then Arthur and Clare at Narragansettalone. I go away from them enough in the winter and I do want to be somethingto them. There isn't much I can do, but I can be with them and keep themout of some things I hope. I was talking with Mrs. Dow about it today andshe said such a lovely thing "We women can't do much in this world butbe good ourselves and love hard." Wrote to Aunt Fannie today that I couldn'tgo. Walked with Katharine instead of going to singing, which was prettyblue. Harriet Dick's last Sunday. Long call on Mrs. Dow and sing with thegirls.
Saturday, April 3
Pretty good music lesson Monday. Took Mabel's lesson as she was away.In P.M. went to the Casino to a German Mary Sprague gave. There were eighteengirls and loads of fun. Between figures Miss Harvey and Eva Palmes recited,and then we had ice cream and cake, and played games. Started home at sixand dressed for concert Kuesel quartette which was fine, as usual, anda pianist, Busoni, who didn't amount to much. He banged so hard he fairlyset your teeth on edge. Went with Harriet Barrows and had a fine time.We have a great scheme for rooming next term. Harriet and Stella, Aliceand I in the four room at the head of the stairs. I wish I could go upin the third hall. Belle asked me to room with her, and Jeanette &Mabel with them in the front room the room of the school, but I can't leaveAlice, of course, even if she is going early.
Tuesday concert again in A.M. then marched down to Brothers to haveour fancy dress pictures taken, then back to study hour and practice. Prof.Young's lecture on Astronomy in eve. Jean & I went up & talkedwith awhile afterwards. He is so interesting, and has such a beaming kindlyexpression. I am dead in love with him.
Wednesday Harmony in A.M. drive with Mabel & Jeannette in P.M. Perfecttear. Quartette & duo concert comes Monday night. Play duo &solo. Practiced all eve. as couldn't get away in daytime. Lettersfrom Margaret & Lily Duncan all about wedding asking me to be bridesmaidetc. Wedding is fixed for 28th of April. Grandly exciting!
Thursday Miss Pope gave a kind of tea with little hot biscuits &honey as refreshments. About fifty girls were up there & it was jolly.In eve. right after early tea Harriet, Mame, Lice & I went down tojetty to watch sunset. It was dreamy, the lovely clouds reflected in thewater and the new moon in sky above us. Sang for about half an hour thenreturned much eased in spirit.
Friday, everybody blue, tired and cross as usual just before a vacation.Frances told me something which Mr. Bock told Marge which made me blissfullyhappy, however I hate to put it down it sounds so conceited, but it cheeredme up so, as he never by any chance says an encouraging word. Thinks it'sgood for me I suppose. Well he said that I was one of the most musicalpupils he had ever had, and if he could keep me two or three years, hewould make a fine pianist out of me.
Saturday practiced from ten to one without a break. Cut German to doit. In P.M. went driving with Mabel, Jeanette & Bertha till 3 &then played duo to Mr. Bock then fooled around with Mabel awhile, practiced,walked up & down boardwalk etc. then played solo to Bock then cameupstairs & read aloud in Lowrie's room till study hall tea to Julia,Lowrie, Norah, Mollie, Jean & Stella. Sang all eve. In studies.
Sunday, April 10
Monday perfect spring day. Drove with Mabel part of A.M. then took lastmusic lesson for term. Got card "Almost perfect." In seventh heaven naturally.In P.M. short drive with Katharine & Frances, then cooled off had hairwashed, & practiced a little. Didn't work hard or very much about concertfor first time & never will again. Doesn't pay to get all worked up.You don't play half as well, besides losing your temper & getting blue.Concert in eve. went off mighty well. Played much better than last time. Duo went better than ever before. Miss Porter hugged us, and congratulatedus twice, nearly all the teachers congratulated, and Mrs. Dow came andate her ice cream with us in the parlour. That capped the climax. Mabel& I were both so excited we didn't know what we were doing. Lovelyflowers from Mabel, Frances, Eleanor, Katharine, Luce, & Bertha.
Stayed up pretty late finishing packing & left with Harriet on earlystage next A.M. Met Auntie Weston in station New York, and we were bothso worked up we simply stared at each other. She looked much the same,but improved from her trip. Walked up to the hotel & on the way NellieTaft stopped us on the street for minute. She looked pretty, but I didn'tlike her manner. It was too affected. I would like to know her real history.Got a room & sat down & talked for two hours & a half withouta break. Then lunch, a little shopping & play in eve. The Forresters"at Daly's. Very pretty. On train read character Jean gave me. We each wroteexactly what we thought of each other as train notes. My character waspretty good, though flattered. I am wild to know what she will think ofhers. I do wish she were coming back. I shall miss her more than any ofthe girls that leave.
Wednesday looked for hotel A.M. & finally got one very pretty, metHarriet Barrows at lunch & went to hear Faust with her & her sisters.Stood up in dress circle, but got seats after first act by bribing usher.Emma Rames & the De Reezke brothers. It was simply grand!!! Went tobed tired out.
Thursday more shopping, over to Brooklyn to lunch with a Mrs. Wells,friend of Auntie W. then up to see Ida. She came back to the Windsor withus, & we had a very disjointed talk. She is as lovely as ever. I dowish we saw more of each other. In eve some of Auntie W's friends cameto hotel. Nice enough but pretty queer people I thought. I must be carefulif I go with her again, that's all.
Left for home in A.M. Friday. Fearful time with foot. Went tochiropodist just before starting who called it a neuro-vascular excrescence,charged me $5.00 and made it worse than ever. Had a fearful time with itin cars. Reached home lame & tired. Went over to Guild fair a littlewhile with Otis. Boston in A.M. with Clare to see about bridesmaids dressetc. Went to see .... Came home to Papa's birthday dinner. Fourteen here.Usual round of indigestible stuff & stale anecdotes. I wish I wereof some account at home. Nobody seems to care much about me. It'stime for me to make a place. It does seem queer that Susie [Susan PrestonDraper, Edith's step-mother], stupid and impassive as she is, should haveeverything she wants without stirring a finger. I verily believe she neverthought of any other person's interests in her whole life, but other peoplethink of her just the same, and she isn't even personally attractive. It'sa puzzle. Quiet Sunday. Church in A.M. then up with Otis to his place &all over the house. It's beautifully ... and getting on like a breeze.He is mighty happy.
Saturday, April 30
On the train going back from Lexington. I'll try to write everythingdown while it is fresh in my memory. Last week at home didn't do much ofanything but shop. Papa, Susie & the baby [half-sister, Margaret] leftfor Lexington Saturday the 16th had quiet Sunday with boys.
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday in Boston trying on dresses which arelovely.
Thursday packed, & Friday got up to Exeter at 5:30 met Arthur atstation, and went up to the Faulhabers to stay all night and go to theassembly. Had a grand time but the boys have degenerated since last year.There aren't half as many nice fellows. The ones I liked best were Sayre& Armstrong. Had to split lots of dances. After the dance went up tothe Faulhabers & had a little supper we girls, our escorts, and a Mr.Spalding one of Otis' old classmates, bright but married. The Faulhabergirls were lovely to me & we had a fine time. After the boys left wentback to the dining room & dawdled around awhile then bed.
Up early, & got down to Boston about eleven. Met Clare at AdamsHouse, had lunch, then down to station and met Otis there. Frank came tosee us off. Had stateroom so were all to ourselves & jolly. Playedcards in eve. Beautiful scenery all P.M. Berkshire Hills.
Sunday read The Little Minister by Barrie. Pretty story. Stopped atCleveland about an hour & drove up Euclid Ave. Magnificent houses.Had fine time together all day. Wildly hilarious. Spent night in. &on to Lexington next morning. Reached there at noon. Otis rushedaway from us to Lily, & S. Mrs. Davis & Preston met us. Wentup to the house, rested, dressed, had lunch & then Clare & I wentup to call on Lily. Found Otis there & the whole family. She is thesweetest, loveliest girl I know. I can't express how I feel about her,and I won't try, but I am mighty happy at having her up there. If she onlyis fond of me.
Staid up at the Duncan's all P.M. came back to dinner at the Preston's& from there to the theatre, Modjeska in Marie Stuart. Highly tragic,& not much good except the last scene. Support was wretched but shewas fine. In a box I felt horribly conspicuous. Everybody was staring MargaretThornton and her seven girl visitors with men were in the boxes opposite.I hate that girl. She makes me crawl whenever she comes near me, and she'sgoing to be in Narragansett all summer. Spoils the prospect for me.
Tuesday A.M. staid in and received callers. loads of people. In P.M.dressed after long lunch & went to Mrs. Woodward's reception. Was oneof the receiving party, but didn't do much receiving. Skipped off withHenry Duncan to supper when I first got there, and talked a steady streamto two or three at once all eve. The house was beautifully decorated& supper delicious. Lily looked sweet. Otis was too proud of her forany use. He is very much in love & I am so glad. It is just what heneeds to bring him out. Didn't get home till about two.
Wednesday A.M. went up to the Duncan's a little while, then down toMargaret Thornton's to breakfast at twelve, & staid there till five,playing, singing, gossiping, etc. I like one of the girls, a Miss Bruce,very much but the rest of them I don't care for. They are too much man-catchersto suit me. The way they lop around lackadaisically till a man appears,& then brace up is slightly sickening. I don't mean it of all of themdown here, for some are lovely, but these Louisville belles. At five HenryDuncan & a Mr. Falkner took Miss Green & myself for a long driveout in the country. Very lovely, but dreadfully late back. Had to dressin ten minutes for dinner, a big affair of twenty-four people lasting fivesolid hours. Worn out & miserable. Most of the men had been drinkingtoo much & it was painful. Otis & Arthur were all right and alwayswill be Thank God!! And our end of the table was away from it but it waspretty bad.
Thursday A.M. went up to Duncan's to rehearse for wedding & stayedall morning. Frank came looking pretty badly. He is very sick & hashard work to keep up at all. From rehearsal went to Mrs. Voorhas to lunch,& got back just in time to dress for wedding. Got there early wentin & helped the girls dress, saw Lily & flew around, generally.There were four of us bridesmaids dressed in white silk & gauze withlong trains, & tremendous bouquets of Mermets (?) & lilies of thevalley. They had one end of the parlour roped off like a chapel &we walked through & stood there during the ceremony. It was awfullyimpressive. Otis & Lily looked at each other all through and theirfaces were beaming & Lily was beautiful. It is too much to describe& I'll give it up, but I never was so thrilled in my life. After congratulations,went in to supper. The bridal party sat at a round table in the centre. There were fourteen of us, and we had the jolliest kind of a time withtoasts, & songs of every description. It was just perfect. I sat byMr. Sturges & liked him immensely. He was the life of the party &kept us all roaring. We were wildly hilarious. After supper danced &talked all eve. Saw a lot of Mr. Sturges. Margaret Thornton tried hardto get him away from me and wasn't in it which pleased me to death. ThenLily got up on a stool & threw her bouquet. She was a perfect pictureas she stood there waving it with Otis holding her. It was planned beforehandthat Nannie should catch it, as the sister's wanted to keep it, but MargaretThornton distinguished herself by deliberately snatching it out of Nannieshand. It was the most unequalled piece of brass I ever saw even her. Got home about two. It was and always will be the night of my life.I heard of such a perfect wedding. Oh I forgot. Toward the end ofthe eve we all kept around Lily in a circle & sang in the little roomwhere the presents were.
Thursday, April 28
Friday got up early & made calls. Went out to Mrs. Wisklaffe Preston'sto lunch didn't get back till six. Had an engagement to go driving withHenry Duncan at five but of course didn't go, which was mighty mean. Otis& Lily left at two. A dinner tonight to some ladies relative of somekind & from there to the German. Henry Duncan my partner sentme lovely roses, a tremendous bunch of American beauties, & I tooksplendid care of us all eve. I am awfully grateful to him for allhe has done for me.
Sat. went to Laura Brand's - a brilliant affair - aboutfifty couples. My first big German. Grand time danced every time but one& everybody was lovely to me. Packed my trunk after getting home.Not in bed till 4:30.
Saturday April 30 up early this A.M. Lots of callers & a big lunchbefore we went. Margaret & Henry Duncan down to see me off. Left at2:45 & on the train now.
Am going to sum up a little for this week will probably always standout in my life as my first dissipation. Of the girls I liked Margaret &Nannie Duncan, Laura Brand, Miss Bruce. Of the men, Mr. Sturgis, HenryDuncan, Mr. Falkner, Mr. Sims. Of married, Mrs. Voorhas, who remindedme of Mamma. The girls as a rule are superior to the men, I think.They are very pretty & very bright, great flirts, & terrible flatterers.The trouble with the men is drink. It's everywhere & the worst of itis people laugh at it. I think a girl has no right to treat such thingslightly. She ought to use all her influence against it instead of passingit over. I am afraid flattery isn't good for me. If I had staid any longerI would have been an idiot. It is a blessing I am going back to schoolI think.
Wednesday, May 18
Reached Boston Sunday the 1st, got home at 2:30 in pouring rain Monday.Took home, then got carriage and drove over to call on Aunt Ba & AuntFannie and prepare them for Lily's arrival. Mighty good thing I did, forthey were not particularly prepossessed in her favour. Think they willbe now though.
Packed in eve & reached Farmington Tuesday at 6. Alice & Harrietin cart to meet me. Had great time seeing all the girls again. Harriet,Stella, Alice & I are in the four room. Don't like it much, but can'tbe helped. Found I had been unanimously elected to news club & wentinto it for first time. My topic World's Fair & Science. Very interesting.Sit at Mrs. Dow's table between Belle & Ella Morgan. Second hall terriblychanged. Unpacked & tried to get settled all week. Pretty dismal atfirst. Everyone seemed different and queer.
German Saturday night danced with Mame.
Sunday a queer day. Alice all tired out, and exploded against Harriet& me, scaring us almost to death. Then went & wept.
Miss Porter's talk in A.M. forbidding secret societies, so had meetingin eve to decide about it. Some in favour of giving up everything, someof going n just the same. Pretty hot discussion & nearly everyone onverge of tears. Finally appointed Sue & I to go tell Mrs. Dow everything& then see. Then I told my plan of going off on a picnic each Monday& choose to each time to plan the day & surprise the rest. Everythingfinally settled down to peace and learning again. Walked with Harriet &went to jetty with Katharine in P.M.
Monday a day and a half. Lena Farnam & that set were back at thebridge & challenged us to play base ball. Practiced awhile then wentoff and decorated the cart with dandelions & green. We called oursthe Dandelion and drove down. They had the field fixed style with benchesfor players, scorer's table, lemonade, chewing gum and two surgeons withhut, etc. Boiling hot. I played shortstop & couldn't do a thing inplaying, but stood at first base & coached & did some good thatway. I shouted everything I could think of and succeeded in rattling thepitcher. Got hit on the head with a ball but didn't amount to much. Score16-5in our favour. Wildly exciting. In P.M. asked Mrs. Dow about society- told her about the paper & everything & she was lovely. Allowedeverything - even pins. Then our seven went off to the river &had a feast of strawberries. Went off on a terrible tear. Everything smilingagain. News club in eve.
Rainy week. Thursday eve a forlorn concert of Hartford artists. Poor.
Friday Sue & I started off to arrange for Monday. Decided to gofishing in river, then to German woman's for dinner. Ami cut us poles &we took them with us & left them by the bridge. Pouring rain &lost our way, but found the house at last & made arrangements. EdithStuart's birthday spread just before study hour. In eve worked hard onGerman favours. Saturday P.M. Bert & I trimmed Gym for our German &it was simply lovely in lavender & yellow. The favour table was ropedin with tennis nets stuck full of apple blossoms & green. Then theFaculty corner was a bower of apple blossoms & the rest done aboutas usual except a big auf Wiedersehen on the curtains. We carried wandswound with lavender ribbons & big bunches of violets & had violets,cookies little silver paper animals, calendars & tissue paper bowknotlampshades for favours. Everyone new. Clara Childs & all that set back.
Sunday dawdled. Lovely call on Mrs. Dow & talks with Mabel &Katharine. Read aloud in eve.
Monday we started off on our tear at ten in the two carts. Went to thecider mill & hitched there. left horses & went down to river tofish. No luck. One or two bites & one fish pulled out of the waterbut got away. Katharine & I went in wading. Rambled around till one,then drove to German Woman's & found our delicious dinner out underthe trees. Had some lemon cake with lemons brought with us & had troutbiscuit, ice-cream, cake & doughnuts. Had a terrible time unharnessinghorses. Had Gypsy all tied to the fence with his collar still but it lookedso heavy. Katharine started to take it off. She didn't turn but pulled& first thing we knew Gypsy reared back pulled the fence rail rightoff it struck Alice & I and threw us about four feet into a brush heap.Then for a wonder she stood still, trembling all over. If she had run,she might have been yet. Nobody was hurt, & everything was all right,but might have been pretty thrilling. After dinner lay around under trees& fooled & got back about four. Study hour was changed today fromtwo to four now, but Mrs. Dow told us we could stay out. Lovely of her.
Tuesday P.M. played tennis with Sue & Cornelia. Can't play at all.After tea lovely drive with Mabe.
Wednesday eve about thirty of us asked down to Teedwell House. Playedgames awhile, then danced, sang & had fine Virginia reel. Anelegant supper then more dancing then home. Loads of fun. Katharine& I walked home together. Staid out awhile and watched the processionwith the new hook-and-ladder go by from the E. McKeen yard.
Today Thursday May 19. Played tennis with Alice, Stella & Sue, thenwith Alice, Bertha & Reba from study hour ti8ll tea, then went downto take Miss Stocking driving, but sprinkled, so staid in & had longgossipy talk with her & a second supper, which she positively forceddown me. Staid up from reading. Pretty tired.
Saturday, June 4
Friday May 20 played tennis with Sue & Stella. Slept with Katharine,and started off on early stage Saturday for home with Bert & Katharine.Met an old gentleman in the stage who had been to see Miss Porter, andhe talked with us in a benevolently amused kind of way. He had lived inEngland most of his life and was back here on a visit. Was lovely to us.Had a jolly ride to Boston. Got there at one, found Arthur and Frank atAdams House, had lunch, then theatre a box. 1492 which was perfectly fine.Reached home at six and found house all trimmed and everyone dressed forthe reception to Otis and Lily. Had tea up in red room, then dressed, andstaid up in billiard room playing pool till people began to come, thendown and talked a blue streak till twelve to the assembled crowd, introducing,etc. Girls seemed to have a good time. Everybody liked them at any rate.After people had come all the family went out and had supper. Lily lookedtoo lovely for words, & was mighty sweet to me. Wants me and anothergirl to go up to the graduating hop at West Point. Shall ask Frances.Danced awhile then bed.
Got up about ten, Sunday A.M. Helen called while at breakfast, thenafter she went, we drove over for Otis and Lily and went all over the house.Had loads of fun.
I forgot to say that Saturday at the theatre we were taken for the Eight-BellsCompany and I was the souvrette. Frank overheard this conversation in thesmoking room.
Sunday P.M. drove up to Mendon in two loads. Clare & I in a buggywith a stable horse & the others in buckboard. Tried to sail, but therewasn't much wind, and it began to sprinkle so started home. Tried to raceand our horse got excited and ran. Got right on the electric tracks andit was terribly dangerous. Clare pulled on one rein and I on the otherand we just ... before we could stop him. My hands were a sight and mynerves were slightly shaken, but it didn't amount to much, it might have.After dinner, Otis and Lily were over, went up in the billiard room, turnedout the lights and told ghost stories, Otis told some fine ones. Got very creepy so went down and played while Otis and Lily went foragedaround in the dining room and had supper. Then packed, talked, & bed.
Got up for 8:30 train. Aunt Fannie & Aunt Bea were on it, so talkedwith them awhile. Arthur went down with us. Rushed around shopping in A.M.got book of Grace Farniss plays and various things. Met Arthur for lunch,then drove up & called on Miss Hersey. Liked her immensely. I am afraidI shall have to work pretty hard, but it's a lovely school, and I shallbe nice and independent and near the boys so it's just what I want. Katharinemay go there too. If she does, it will be fine. Took the train backto school. Arthur went to station with us. Hated to say goodbyeto him. He is mighty good brother, and I am terribly proud of him. Read play going back and decided on the Jack Forest. It is awfully bright,and will take. I think. Reached Plainville, and decided to drive over,but the man wouldn't take the trunk, so started for the train which hadjust gone. After that there was nothing to do but pack into the carriage,so we three sat on the back seat with the driver and the trunk in front.Didn't get in till nearly eight. Went off on a terrible tear, shouted,giggled and made general fools of ourselves.
Tuesday slightly tired. Abominable music lesson didn't add to the daymuch.
Friday Aunt Fannie came, went in to dinner. Reunion day, so in A.M.six of us drove down to Lodge in pouring rain to decorate. Trimmed it allup with lilacs, wild cherry, dogwood, buttercups, etc. and made it lookmighty pretty. Miss Wickham was there, and asked us to come downand pour tea in P.M. so did. Cleared up and was lovely, so had lots offun, talking to all the old ladies. Grand crowd there. After the tea wasover, practiced awhile then dressed for concert. Kniesel quartette, simplyperfect.
Saturday lots of girls went away over Sunday. Alice took ten of us outto German in eve. Helen and Lizzie Taft with a Mr. Slade & Lizzie'sbrother drove out. We weren't allowed to meet them so staid inside whilethey ate outside. Drove home about eight. Songs, etc.
Sunday rather blue day. Alice packed in eve. Kept up pretty well.
Monday A.M. walked down & had a last tintype taken. Alice went outat ten. She sails for Europe next week. I shall miss her fearfully. Hadto go to Boek directly after she departed. Was slightly worked up and hadan abominable lesson. The worst of it was he said some lovely things tome before the lesson began and then I played so badly. He had asked Kneiselabout the teachers in Boston for me, which was pretty thoughtful of him.Played tennis in P.M. and had first rehearsal of play in eve.
Going to be a grand rush this week. Concert next Tuesday night in whichI play three times, play Wednesday night and off to West Point Thursday.
Tuesday night had a frightful experience. Lina gave a Straw-side ofthirty out to German woman's and when we got there found there was spontaneouscombustion in the hay and it might have broken out any minute. Didn't tellthe rest of the girls, as we were afraid they would get frightened andwe had to go back on it. But that ride back was simply awful to some ofus. We were all in thin dresses, and if we had caught fire on that lonelyroad I don't know what would have become of us. Girls back from over Sunday.Mighty glad to see them. Made things a little more lively.
Wednesday rehearsal in back study. Didn't go very well. Lots of workin it. Took long drive with Jean in eve. Oh Jean came back Monday to staya week and room with us.
Thursday boiling hot. Rehearsal during study hour, then started offon our second through. Helen and Mame gave it this time, and sent us offto the Lodge. Sue, Bert, & I went on ahead. Terribly hot climb, andthe worst of it was we lost our way, and wandered around about an hourwithout knowing where we were at all. Finally found it, and so wornout and hot we took off our dresses. Slightly scared at first, but so comfortable,we staid that way and had a beautiful time. Other girls came up with supper.Had sandwiches, olives, lemonade, ice cream & cake and strawberries.Simply scrumptious. Came down about eight o'clock. She & I didn't feellike going in, so strolled about the town, gazed in at girls in heading,and decided finally to play a trick on Katharine. Rigged up a ghost onan umbrella, and were going to wave it before her window, but when we climbedout on the balcony, she heard us and poured her whole water pitcher downon us so we rather got the worst of it.
Friday ill but too busy to go to bed, so stuck it out through prettybad pain. Practiced all A.M. rehearsal at three till tea. Bess and Lowriecame back this eve. Grand to see them again. Took Bell, Ethel and Lucearound to see about clothes for the play and drive afterward. Had an awfullyfunny time interviewing the old villagers. Luce fell out of the cart goingover a hummocks and we had various adventures, but the funniest was ourgoing to Miss Maxwell for our picture of George Washington, which we hadseen in a dim religious light, and discovered it was the Pope. We didn'tdare offend her by not taking him so he is reposing in my room now.
Thursday, June 11
Saturday A.M. writing programmes etc. Got up for rehearsal, then bedagain. Pretty bad pain.
Sunday wrote programmes and read "First Violin" all day long.Monday A.M. rehearsal right after breakfast, then practice till dinner.Wrote programmes in study time, then played concert piece to Mr. Boek.Then quartette, then duo for the first time. Went well, and he said weshould play it. Then eighteen of us started in two big wagons for the GermanFran's. Got out there early. Strolled off in the woods, and read aloudunder the trees then in for supper. Trout, iced tea, hot biscuit, ice creamand cake. Jolly time. Drove home by Unionville road in moonlight. Dreamy!!!!Practiced duo after reached home till quarter of ten. Tuesday practicedtill eleven, then lesson, then quartette and duo till one. In P.M. Dressrehearsal without Belle who had gone down to New Haven to a dance and didn'tget back. Pretty mean of her I think. Drove around with Luce and collectedproperties. Concert in eve. Went pretty well with exception of quartette,which was vile.
Wednesday collected properties, trimmed stage etc. all day, made tickets,finished programmes etc. Play went like a breeze. Everyone did well andit as a grand success. The audience clapped every chance the got, and wehad loads of flowers. Today staid in bed till nearly noon. Bess, Lowrieand Jean all left. Packed, and took things back.
Monday, June 22
Packed Thursday eve and left Friday A.M. on early stage for West Point.Ethel, Luce and Miss Taft went down to New York too. Met Otis and Lilyin station but Frances Wasn't there. I had telegraphed her first to meat 3:30 and then afterward at 11:30 but she didn't get the second one asit turned out. Hunted all over the station for her, and finally gave herup and went up to Murray Hill for lunch. Just caught train. Boilinghot, but jolly journey. Reached there about 5. Most beautiful place I eversaw. The river, the mountains, the old buildings and the uniforms are certainlypicturesque. A ball game was going on as we drove by on the bus and itwas the prettiest thing, the girls in their giddy gowns and parasols andall the brass buttons made us eager to join the fray. Found that they hadn'tkept our room at the hotel, and couldn't get a carriage, so Otis went offto Cranston's in the wagon with the trunks and we started across the paradeground to meet Daniel Duncan. Met him and two friends and took awalk around, learning something about the place and the rules. It is certainlyis unique. Everything is under the strictest military discipline, of course,and the life just trains those boys down. Their faces look old andmanly, and they have so much more character and so much more to them thanboys anywhere else. It may be a hard life, but it makes men out of them.Walked around till Otis came back then down to Cranston's for supper. Gaswent out while at supper, so dressed by two candles apiece. Up to danceat drive and danced till one. Glorious time. They all danced superbly,the room was lovely, the brass buttons were dazzling, and the moonlightwalks outside were simply entrancing. "There was a sound of revelry bynight" kept running through my head but the funeral knell didn't striketill one when they beat the drum, which meant twenty-five minutes for thecadets to see the girls home, and be back in barracks. My partner PayneB. was simply fine - one of the best dancers. Had a simply dreamytime. Frances looked stunning as usual, and was mighty popular. Talkedpretty late, and woke up pretty early.
Had coffee in bed, then dressed, leisurely breakfast, and up to paradeground again for graduation exercises. Speeches under a big tent brass,band, diplomas etc. But the thrilling part was when they all formed ina long double line afterward and they read off the officers We didn't knowit at the time, for we couldn't understand a word said, and the cadets'faces looked like blocks of wood for all the expression there was in it,but knew it the minute "Break ranks" came. The graduating class rushedto get on civilians' clothes for the first time, the newly-made officersto get on their chevrons and everyone was shouting, congratulating andgenerally going crazy. We went over to barracks awhile to see thefun and Payne P. came rushing up with is new chevrons, also on Daniel,Mr. Howy, Mr. Fleming and a lot of others. Then we went back to hotelfor dinner and had a jolly timer all together on porch. Lily andOtis are the loveliest chaperones I ever saw and we went off on tears togetherall the time. Packed up and took trunks up to the other hotel where atlast had rooms, then went to barracks for Daniel, and all went down to... Lily Otis and Daniel ahead Payne C.H. and I and Smith and Frances ona lovely walk and didn't get back till suppertime. In eve Daniel, Mr. HoneyPayne CH, and somebody else I forget his name, came over. We listened tothe band on the lawn awhile then sat on back porch and gazed at moon. Mostbeautiful thing imaginable. Daniel and I perched on rail and had lovelytalk. He is a mighty sweet boy. Makes me think of Arthur. They had to goat ten and we were glad to go to bed.
Sunday A.M. Frances and I got up at 6:30 and went down to the hedgeto meet our cadets and see guard-mounting. Very pretty but boiling hot.Then back for breakfast and over to visitor's hour with Lily and Otis.Watched cadets form for church and followed after procession to churchourselves. Then one last farewell, pack trunks and off. I never had sucha ... time before!!!!!!! Boiling on cars and caught my trainat New York. Horrible crowd on train. Flirtatious youths and tough girls.uncomfortable time. Drove over from Hartford and got to Farmington abouteight dead tired. Bed early, after showing my buttons and telling my experiencesabout sixty times.
Up for early stage, and Bert, Sue, Helen and I off for New York. PerfectPurgatory on cars. Bert and I went down to ... and had photo taken, thenPurcell's for lunch and iced tea, then a little more shopping, then downto station to meet Katy the Pettit's maid, and off to Orange. FoundMrs. Pettit and Janet there to welcome us. Mabel already gone to Princeton.Seemed so queer to be there without her, but other girls had been thereoften and not a bit stiff so I didn't mind. Mrs. Pettit rather awe-inspiring.Mr. Pettit fine and very good to me. I was disappointed in Roland but thensure didn't see much of him. He was terribly blue and disappeared afterdinner. Then there was William Spenses and Mr. Smalley. I fell in lovewith Wilbur. He is one of the finest fellows I ever met, but it made mefeel terribly cheap and subdued to be talking to older people and suchremarkably clever people. I never felt so insignificant and school-girliein my life. It's a fearfully cheap feeling. Went down in the summer houseand sang while Mr. Smalley played banjo, then back to music room and Mr.Smalley and Wilbur played duets. I played and we had a generally musicaltime.
Tuesday dawdled in A.M. Went over house and place which are both simplygorgeous. After lunch started for Princeton with Mrs. Pettit, but tookwrong train and had to drive from Trenton, boiling and caked with dust.Reached hotel, dressed in ten minutes, and went to tea. Mabel met us there,and met lots of men and had a good time generally. Back to supper, thenover to campus awhile to hear boys with Mr. Ceaster, Mr. Adams, andMr. Words. Then back to dress for dance. Perfectly torrid. Went to danceabout 10:30 and danced till five. Mr. Carter a senior and Mr. Conklinga sophomore, made each a half of our cards, so we were well taken careof. I didn't know a soul and expected to be quite out of it but Wasn'ta bit. Hall was all trimmed in pink bunting, with one area fixed up withsofas etc for patronesses. Mrs. Pettit was one and we came to herbetween dances so our partners had no trouble finding us. It was indescribable.Downstairs they had a place with chairs and Japanese lanterns with awningsaround to screen you from the vulgar crowd and it was very stately. Theones I liked best were Mr. Carter, Mr. Woods, Mr. Jenney, Mr. Elmer, andMr. DeYoung. Mr. Minot, but there was such an everlasting incession ofblack coats that I couldn't tell one from the others. Mabel looked stunningand was a great belle. She knew so many youths that she made out her owncard and had a fine time. The last dance was in broad daylight and theeffect on the girls' bedraggled and tousled hair was not pleasing and everyonejumped and tore. I danced straight through from beginning to end with Mr.Minot and the effect was demoralizing, for I went over to the window togaze at the daylight with Mr. Woods and suddenly my nose began to bleed.It was terribly embarrassing, for the men were altogether too sympathetic,but fortunately we went right down to the carriage so it was all right.Went to bed at six and up again at eight to go to graduation exercises,but instead of going, Bert & I walked all over college grounds withMr. Elmer. Saw campus curiosities and various points of interest, thenback to lunch and train. Got back to Orange about four, took baths andnaps, then dinner. Same ones there. Sat by Mr. Smalley during dinner thenRoland Pettit began playing cornet to Mr. Smalley's accompaniment, andWilbur & I took a little walk on piazza, then back to more music, thenothers ran off and left us outside and so we staid on bridge and talkedtill pretty late, then bed. I like Wilbur better than any man I ever met,but I know he thinks I am a silly fool. Why can't I talk decently to peopleI like I wonder. He is twenty-six, and not very well off, I imagine, atany rate, he has to earn his living, when he is intensely musical and naturallyluxurious. It must be pretty hard for him to see his friend have everythingin the world he wants. Oh me. I am afraid I am going the way of most sillyschool-girls and meandering on about men. Dissipation is not good for me.It makes me conceited. The stuff I've been talking this past week makesme sick to think of. Miss Draper, you've got to take a brace and not letyour little head be turned quite so easily, if you know what's best foryourself.
Back to school Thursday. Long talk with Katharine in eve.
Friday slept all A.M. In P.M. just before tea Mabel and I startedfor German woman's. Terrific thunder shower, which we just got there intime to watch from cafe shelter. Delicious supper and by the time we hadfinished it had cleared off and we had a lovely drive home, and a niceserious talk. I am so glad Mabel took me home with her, for I've gottento know her now. And She's a friend worth having. She and Katharine I'ddo anything in the world f and that's not sickly sentiment. It's dead earnest.
Saturday, no school in A.M. Tennis tournament all day. Not very exciting.Sallie Clark & Emma, McShutock won first prize and Reba Williams &Juliet Barrett second. No particularly good playing. Had some mighty-goodsingles after tea. In eve had party up in Helen William's room. Jolly time.
Talked in A.M. Went around saying goodbye all day. Mabel "bound" onpicture. She thinks I'm stuck on him and I'm afraid I am. Let's hope itwon't last long. It's not a pleasant feeling. Had a lovely talk withKatharine and long sing with Harriett. Lovely walk with Mrs. Dow.
Sunday, June 26
Tennis tournament went on in A.M. Pauline Schultz won singles.Not much excitement. Boiling hot. Left at noon after saying goodbye allA.M. Pretty awful to think it's all over. It has been an ideal year,and I suppose I shall look back on it all my life. Well so it goes. Goodthings can't last forever, more's the pity.
Got home Monday eve. Lily and Otis were over. Bed early.
Tuesday A.M. Frank, Clare and I went to Boston on 8:20 en route forExeter. Shopped a little, then lunch and Exeter at 2. Arthur metus at station with fine pair of horses and took a lovely drive over toHampton Beach, then left Frank at station, and up to hotel for supper,and went to dance at nine. Fine time, and danced all the time till half-pasttwo, when got in back with Valene Faulhaver, Arnold and Arthur, and wentup to Campus to see bonfire. Funniest thing to see sudden change of costumein boys from dress suits to sweaters. After fire bed. Up again abouteight, and after breakfast, down to Arthur's room, then train. Harrison,Thayer, Armstrong, and Brent saw us off, and McKee and Diven went downwith us. Became deathly ill after started and made a wild rush toladies toilet, where proceeded to get rid of breakfast. I never felt soutterly miserable. Would no sooner get back to seat in car, then wouldhave to make a grand rush. Terribly rattling but so sick I didn't thinkof it that much. Got room in Adams House and lay down till four, when upto dressmakers and back to train. Miss Covelle gave me stuff thatmade me feel better, but had to hold on to the wall all the time I wasbeing fitted, I was so weak. Lily and Otis came in cart and took Clareand I all over house.
Thursday A.M. Lily came for me, and went up to house, then over to callon Aunt Jessie and Mrs. Brown and daughters. Very nice girls. Staidwith Lily awhile, then to dinner, then went upstairs to the room awhile,but got interested in trashy novel, and read all P.M. Browns andLily and Otis over to dinner in eve. Jolly time and sing.
Friday A.M. went into Boston with Lily and chose tablecloths and linenfor new house. Lots of fun. Went up to dressmakers, and round generally.Out on 3:30 and packed in eve.Saturday A.M. started off again with Auntie Weston and Clare. Had head shampoo and shopped in P.M., then lunch and then theatre. Leftin middle of first act and rushed for train. Mame and whole family on train. Reached Farmington at eight. Perfectly forlorn. Everybody gone but twentyand none of my friends left at all. Went to bed out of sheer loneliness.Today went to church with Jeanette, up in Mame's room for lunch and thenwent into Bette's room, fell asleep, and slept till dinner. After dinnerfooled around, wrote letters and bed.
Sunday, July 3
Left F. on early stage last Monday A.M. with Stella, Emma, and Mrs.Farnham for Wilkes-Barre. Had two or three hours in New York forshopping and lunch. Went around with Emma and had a fine time. Then ferryand train. Telegraphed ahead to Frances and she, Elizabeth Detwiller, andWilber came to station to see us. Wilbur had evidently come to seeher. Had a fine little talk for the space of five minutes, then on againtill 9:15 when got into Wilkes-Barre. Mrs. Ricketts met me station. Sheis one of the loveliest persons I ever saw. Jean was in her old red wrapperand nobody else at home, which thankful for as tired and car sick.
Tuesday staid in A.M. fixing programmes for a Farmington spread Jeanis going to give. The girls all came in and called. In P.M. wentdriving with Helen Pease. Beautiful scenery all around here. The mountainssurround the town, and the river goes right in front of the house. In evewent over to the Davis's to a porch party. All sat on the porch. Then therewas music inside and we all went in and danced. The only trouble was notknowing anybody. I had to cling wildly to the man I was with until he introducedsomeone else. Being in the dark that way, I only met a few. Those wereMr. Davis, Mr. Turner, Mr. Williamson, and Mr. Ames, who is visiting heretoo and is Clara Ames' brother. Insignificant. Had a mighty good time.Danced almost all eve.
Wednesday got up late, and had breakfast upstairs. Worked hard preparingfor spread all day. Callers. In eve girls came and sat around on the flooron sofa pillows. Had the room decorated in Farmington style and had regularFarmington refreshments. Played guitar and sang awhile, then went out onthe porch and told ghost stories the rest of eve. Oh I forgot. ThisA.M. Helen Peese gave a tea to us Farmingtonites on her porch. She is amighty sweet girl. I am glad I know her better.
Thursday A.M. breakfast in bed, and got up just in time to receive callersas usual. Mr. Phelps and Mr. Jones. Then Stella gave us a lovely lunchand we came home from that just in time to go driving with Mr. Turner andMr. Williamson. Had a lovely long drive were caught in the rain and hadto stop over awhile in a little candy store where we spent the time devouringcheap peppermint sticks. Had to tear home, dress in five minutes and flyover to Martha's to dinner. Bess Swift and Margaret Kitteridge had justarrived. From there we went to the Davis's a minute then down to say goodbyeto a friend of Jean's who sails for Europe. Then home dead tired. Sat upand talked awhile with Mrs. Ricketts, then the sleep of the just.
Friday A.M. started down street to do some shopping, met all the girlsthere, tore around awhile, then up on the Bennett's porch. The boys appearedon the scene. Sat around and talked awhile, then home for lunch. StellaRustling, Jean's other visitor, came right after lunch. She is a mightysweet, attractive girl. Rested awhile, downstairs to Jean's tea given tothe usual crowd. They staid till dinner time, then right after dinner tookthe train for Mountain Park picnic. A whole carload of us. Mr. Hilman andMr. Turner joined Stella and I as we left the train, and we did the placeup. Swings, camel back toboggan, slide view and all. A lovely place righton the side of a mountain, with Wilkes-Barre just below and a gloriousview. Had supper then dancing. A perfect floor under a high roof withoutwalls, a campfire burning outside and a fine orchestra. Danced steadilythe rest of the evening. Not still a minute except when a crowd of us wentdown the toboggan thing in the dark, which was quite dangerous and thereforeexciting. Danced most with Mr. Hilman, Mr. Davis, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Turner,and Mr. Mines. They all dance beautifully and right straight through tillthe music stops which is hard on a short-winded person. Had some glorioustwo-steps with Mr. Hilman. Reached home about one after a jolly ride downon the train.
Saturday arose about ten, and started to return a few of our calls.Found everybody out except the Bennetts, so got a lot in. Back to lunchthen a grand sing, Stella Rustling has a fine voice and she and Jean sangwhile I accompanied. Mr. came and took me to drive at half past three,then to the Davis's tea, then back to dinner. After dinner, the usual crowdcame, then down to the river, and into small boats to listen to the bandconcert. I got third party with Alice Smith and Geo. Davis so took refugein rowing, and rowed all the time. Music sounded fine on the water. Cameback, sat on the porch and sang. Jean's father and brother talked quitelate with Stella and Jean. Mr. Hilman sent me a box of candy. Wishhe hadn't. Today got up to breakfast and am now about to go to church.
Tuesday, July 12
Went to church then Davises stopped in awhile after then after luncha steady stream of callers the whole P.M. Jean and I had five apiecefor awhile. Stella went out to walk with Geo. Davis, and left usto do the entertaining alone. Mr. Hilman came to take me, but showeryso didn't go. Took a short walk with Jean and her brother beforedinner. In eve went to episcopal service. Caught in rain andhad to wait there awhile Fred Hilman and John Turner walked home with us.Beaumont was calling and talked in a perfectly fascinating way. Heis a fine handsome man with soldier written all over him. Went upstairsearly, but when we got there sat up and told ghost stories till late. Monday up early and went off to Glen Summit for the day. The Farnhamsand Davises were going too, and Geo Davis had asked us to join in withthem, but we soon discovered that this was unknown to the rest of the party,so promptly decided to go off by ourselves, so took a carriage and droveof to Bear Creek where called on Jean's aunt awhile, then on lovely drivehome through the woods. at the hotel, and a walk up to a little lake near,where we roamed around, got flowers etc. then went back to wait for trainand Jean sketched us. Had jolly time all day. Got back justin time for dinner, after went over to call at the Bennetts, and foundthem starting off on a barge-ride, so went along too, and drove aroundsinging till after eleven. Fun, but too tired and generally usedup to enjoy it much.
Tuesday staid in bed pretty late, then other two went out shopping,while I staid in looking at photographs of North Mountain with Will, tillMiss Stirling came in to call, when he deserted and she staid for agesboring me stiff. In P.M. Helen Pease took me driving and got backjust in time to dress for General Oliver's. Went up there on the train,a lovely place on the side of a mountain great big grounds, with rusticpaths around, and a little artificial lake, besides a small place for dancing. They had a big fire lighted right in front of the pavilion, and all thepaths were lighted by pine knots in iron standards. Then the mooncame up and whole effect was simply ideal. When we first arrivedwent down by the lake, a crowd of us and sang, then came up and dancedand walked around the rest of the evening. Left at twelve. Mr. Mines came down with me. I like him immensely. Got up and hada supper of oranges and apollinaris, then some of us a bit tired so satby a little coal fire in the parlour and talked till after two, then saidgood-night to Will and we three idiots sat up till daylight. We hadall of us taken big cups of coffee, which kept us staring wide awake,and besides we wanted to talk over things.
Wednesday A.M. got up about ten, and were just going out to pay someof our calls when Martha Bennett kidnapped us and made us go down and havea big group picture taken with the rest of the crowd. Didn't wantto go a bit, but had to submit, and dawdled there for ages. Then had tojam in our calls before lunch. In P.M. packed, mended, and fixedfor North Mountain, then dressed and started for Glen Summit in our eveningdresses with long coats over them to Stella's dinner dance up there. Jean didn't go, as her father wouldn't let her do so much, so Stella andI went together. Had Alec Hodge for partner at dinner and for agesafter that. Everybody was tired and nobody danced at all, but just wentand sat off on that big piazza where there was a chance of mixing up. I was bored to death but finally John Farnham rescued me, and after thateverything went beautifully, and things waked up, till it was fair at last. Had a pretty long wait for the train and didn't get home till two. Mr. Hilman came down with me and it was all I could do keep awake and talkto him.
Thursday started for North Mountain. Stella, Jean, Will, AndreBeaumont and I. Went in the cars for an hour in a four-seated wagon upthe mountain. Beautiful views and a fine drive. Lunch at alittle spring on the way. Had guitar and banjo, and sang most ofway up. Reached hotel at half past three. Queer bar of a housewith woods all around and a perfect lake. Got into our old clothes,and went down on the bank till supper time exploring. In eveningwe were singing with piano when a girl rushed in from porch and said shehad heard agonized screams in the woods. Of course everyone thoughta man was lost and they all got out their guns and started off in differentdirections shouting and firing, but finally decided it must have been afox. A pretty weird introduction to the mountain, though.
Friday A.M. went off with guitar, sketchbook and novel for A.M. Found a lovely place in woods and camped there, had an ideal morning andnot back till after two, then off again to woods in P.M. In eve ourparty with Mr. Butler went off on the lake and sang in the moonlight. Then in to bed, but after got upstairs decided it was too lovely to stayin, so got out on the roof with pillows, and camped there singing, andgenerally moonstruck.
Saturday A.M. boys all went off fishing, and we finished our book. Then in P.M. walked over to view with Mr. Butler and Col. Reynolds. A place on the edge of the mountain where you can look off for miles. Explored around there for awhile then started to come back through thewoods in imitation of our lost hero but the walking was horrible, so gaveup and went in swimming awhile. Found John Turner and Fred Hilman therewhen we came back to supper. I do wish they had staid away. They were all well enough down in Wilkes Barre. But up here decidedly inthe way. In eve. went out again on lake, then came in and had a littledancing, then Stella and I sat up and talked a while with the youths, andfinally followed Jean to bed. Fred Hilman brought his mandolin upwith him, and I am crazy over it again. I really am going to workon it next winter.
Sunday started off on a long walk. Col. Reynolds, Adam, the guide,Stella, Jean, a little girl Louise somebody, Mr. Mines, Mr. Butler, Will,Andre, and I walked down the Sicklar Branch, and back up the Pond Branch,which means an eight mile walk through wild woods by beautiful streamswith all kinds of falls and cascades one hundred and twenty feet high. It was simply indescribable, I never enjoyed a walk so much in my life. Stopped and had lunch on the way and got back to the hotel about four.Went off for a walk with Fred Hilman right way as I had promised him, andwe have been just mean.
Sunday, July 17
Sang hymns last Sunday evening, and up to bed early, where sat and talkedthings over, and decided that we had hurt the boys feelings terribly bygoing off alone so much, so would hang around Monday and give them enoughof our society, then go off for a last time Tuesday.
Slept late Monday morning. Hung around porch awhile, then Stellaand I went off with John Turner and Fred Hillman till dinner time. Mr. Miner and Mr. Butler left after dinner. Sorry to have them go. They were mighty nice. Went off to Gretchen for a while then Willand Andre came for us and we fished all P.M. In eve. we all sat onporch. I played mandolin and Jean guitar, then we sang till latein the moonlight.
Tuesday A.M. shot awhile but couldn't do anything as cartridges werepoor, then we three went up the other end of lake to read and write awhile,and got caught in a shower. Boys came after us with macintoshes etc.and were disgusted to see us sauntering calmly along without them.
In P.M. packed, had a last sing, and then it cleared up and we wentout on the lake till supper. Twelve youths came up this eve. andafter supper we sat on the porch awhile, we three girls feeling decidedlyswamped in men. Had banjos, guitar, mandolin and violin. Dancedawhile and sang, then slipped away. Stella and George Davis in oneboat and Will and Jean and I in another went out on lake and waitedfor moon to rise. Girls sang, and then we told ghost stories tillnearly twelve, then in again. Said goodbye and upstairs, but toowide awake to go to bed, so out on roof and sang till 1:30.
Wednesday A.M. up at six. Will, Andre and Lawrence Jones up to see usoff. Lawrence Jones gave me a miner's lamp. Lovely drive down mountain,though pretty hot. Got home in time for lunch, dirty and tired. In eve. Ben Phelps and Mr. Miner called. Walked around with Ben andMartha, dropped her and went to Davis's where found Jessie Davis playingdivinely on harp. Then walked home with Ben Phelps and Mr. Miner.
Thursday A.M. went shopping, and P.M. calling. Busy day. Mr. Miner asked me to go driving in eve. but the stupid maid didn't understand,so I missed it. Saw him in eve. though. Mrs. Woodward calledwho knew all about Lexington, and also asked me all about Auntie Westonin regard to Margos Hancock.
Friday packed and shopped all day. In eve. took a ride over toWyoming on electric car. Had quite an exciting time with a drunkenman.
Saturday A.M. Helen Pease, Jean and I started with Stella for Lawrencevilleand reached there in time for dinner. Lovely little country place. Took a walk in eve. and bed early.
Sunday, July 24
Last Sunday A.M. country Methodist church with melodeon crazy choirand minister. Dawdled around all day, singing playing, etc.
Monday Stella was taken sick with terrible pains, and was in bed Tuesdayand Wednesday which made it hard all around, as she was miserable becauseshe was afraid we Weren't having a good time and we knew we were in theway, but couldn't go because then they'd think we were bored, so bad allaround.
Left Thursday A.M. and reached New York at six. Met Arthur atWindsor, and while getting ready for dinner he was taken with a fearfulpain and had to chase all over the city for a doctor, so he couldn't gohome with me next day as planned but back to Narraganset instead, and Icame home alone. Otis and Lily over in eve. And Gen. and Mrs. Preston.
Saturday helped Lily pack up for Narra - over Sunday. Then inP.M. up to Upton to see Auntie Weston with Maude and staid there to dinner.
Today Frank home, church, and driving and dinner with Aunt Ba. The village is lovely now, and I think I shall just stay here quietly aweek. Margaret Thornton is in full sway at Narra - which takes allthe pleasure out o9f it for me, and I dread even being in the same hotelwith her. Then Otis and Lily are going to move into the house thisweek and I can help there. Besides Narra - doesn't offer any inducementsanyway. I am just the wrong age. Arthur's set is too youngfor me, and bores me to death, and the rest of them are too old and I borethem to death. If Margaret Thornton wasn't there I would go downand have a good time, but as long as she is I'll leave her the field.
Sunday, Aug. 7
Last Monday went up to Otis house and helped Lily move in all day. Tuesday Boston shopping. Fearfully hot and all used up. Backgammonwith Papa in eve.
Wednesday and Thursday at house most of time, putting up curtains, unpackingtrunks, watching carpenters and admiring everything. The house islovely already, and Lily is so happy.
Saturday Papa went to Narra but I begged off till next week as Otiswas going off to class dinner and I wanted to stay with Lily over Sunday. Otis and Mr. Sturges came out Sunday night, and we had a lovely dinnerfor them. Frank was up and a jolly eve.
Monday went around with Lily in P.M. In P.M. took Mr. Sturgesdriving but pretty gray and doubtful day, so didn't go far. He ismighty nice. Papa came up to dinner Tuesday A.M., entertained Mr.Sturges while Lily rushed around. He left at 11:30 and I went homeand packed for Narra -
Reached here Wednesday P.M. Susie was at station to meet me in Victoriaand drove out to Point Judith, then hop in eve. Had pretty good time,but don't see anybody I care to know well at all, and in fact don't carefor it much. Uncle George gave supper after hop, he and Aunt Jessie,Susie, Margaret Thornton, and Frank and Robert Batcheller. I'll takeback what I said about the sets. Arthur's crowd is much more interestingthis year, but I am not interesting to them evidently. I foreseethat I shall be fearfully out of it, just as I expected. I have togo to all these older things, where I feel like a fish out of water, andI don't get a chance at the others.
Thursday had a fine bath, but staid in too long, and pretty limp. Went driving in P.M. with Arthur and his lady-love Kate Hains. Sheis a sweet girl but young. Played chaperone. In eve. Over toCasino with Arthur to hear music. Friday another good bath, up toCasino to sit around and talk awhile, in P.M. bowled with Clare & made132. In eve. Uncle George's dinner at Sherry's. Frank Batchellertook me in. Col. Johnston and Mrs. J., Susie, Margaret Thornton, the Batchellors,and a Miss Buckner down here over Sunday with Col. Johnston, a mighty nicegirl. Fine dinner, but made me deathly sick. Up all night withfearful pain, finally roused Marie, and got a Dr. at five O'clock. He gave me something, which made me sleep till two.
Took Miss Buckner driving in P.M. Hop in eve. Mighty pretty. Danced every dance, had some glorious two steps with Arthur. Papagave supper afterwards. Col. & Mrs. Johnston, Miss Buckner, MissDavis, Margaret Thornton, Uncle George and Aunt Jessie, Frank Bachelor,Mr. Tilford, and Mr. Dean who sat by me. Gray old bachelor, but verykind, infinitely bored by having to talk to me. Didn't eat anything, butsame pain again. Had some of the medicine left, so all right.
Church this A.M. with Arthur then met Kate Harris. Went in bathingwith her. This P.M. dried hair and read aloud to boys awhile. No, I don't enjoy it. I should like it immensely if I were here with Otisand Lily, say, but I cannot with all the Preston element. Susie triesto do everything she can for me. I don't mean that, but to keep thepeace, I have to be with her, which means near Margaret Thornton, and itdoes seem as though I couldn't breathe freely when that girl is near. It is perfectly maddening. However, if all goes well, I leave forWest Point Wednesday and I ought to stank it this week.
Sunday, Aug. 19
Well, if I haven't had the best time of my life, never mind. Pa'sgrew worse the last few days, but I left Wednesday A.M. for West Point. On cars all day. Boiling hot. Thunderstorm toward the end,which cleared things off a little. Found Margaret and Mrs. Allenat supper. Had just time to rush through that and dress for German. Mr. Springer was my partner, and I liked him immensely. Lots of prettygirls there, and cadets as fine as ever. Most of those I had metbefore came up, and I met lots of others besides. Grand time.
Thursday called at half-past six and down to drill and guard watching. Sat there on camp stools, and held a reception between times. Watchedartillery drill awhile but began to rain again, so back to hotel. David up in P.M. Rainy in eve. So couldn't go to band concert, which Ihad with Springer, but sat on porch and talked with Mrs. Smith and LieutenantsTate and Denning who are both mighty nice.
Friday rainy again & in hotel most of day with crowd there: Mrs.Smith, Mrs. Dillaway, Barbara Dillaway, one of the brightest young thingsI ever saw, and the lieutenants. Hop in eve. Went with Mr.Stout, and had a perfect time. Cleared off, so we could walk outsideand it was simply grand.
Saturday at last clear. Drill and guard mounting in A.M. withcadets between times, Mrs. Briff's reception in P.M. given to the girlson the post, and cadets. Lovely time there. Oh I forgot. In A.M. we wrote a permit and sent it in to Papa for an extension of leave. Got it up in time military style and got a lot of signitures to it. Lieut. Tate endorsed it and we sent it off. Perfectly sure it wouldn'tdo any good, but it was mighty bright and had lots of fun over it. Dress parade at six. First time I'd seen it on account of rain. A mighty pretty sight. Jumped nearly six feet when the cannon wentoff and nearly demoralized the whole of Co. D. We were sitting oppositethem and it was all they could do to keep from laughing in ranks they saidafterwards. Waited till after they marched to supper, then David& Mr. Panick took us through camp. Had jolly time trying on captain'shat, ransacking tents, and generally on a tear. Then we five wentdown to Denton's and had a jolly supper out on veranda looking over river. From there up to band concert, and who should we find there but Lily, littleFanny and Mr. Duncan come up to surprise us. Great excitement andjolly time at hotel.
Sunday A.M. up to drill again, and loads of cadets round our camp stoolsafterward till time for church. Margaret & I went and walkedback with David afterward. Mr. Penick was on guard who walked downto reveille to speak to him on sly. Saw him a minute but didn't darestay. In P.M. two walks down Flirtation. First with Mr. Hawkins,then David A. H. Enjoyed first, but last was an awful bore. Hawkins was mighty nice. Got back to supper, and our usual circleof lieuts. In eve. Lily left in P.M. to come back again Monday.
Monday A.M. up as usual to drill, then Margaret & I down Flirtationwith Penick & Lowland, Lowland and I sat by Koscinskis well allA.M. and had jolly time. In at one in time for dinner. In P.M.Lily and Laura Brand came. Laura had no dress for hop so took mine. A lovely night so walked down to dance with partners. Darrah wasmine, and had a perfect time as usual. Sat up late and talked itover with a terrible fit of giggles till we were afraid we had kept everybodyin the hotel awake so finally subsided.
Tuesday A.M. fine time at camp. After guard mounting went overto watch Plebe drill with Lieuts. Tate and Dunning then Lieut. Dunningtook us down to band practice and soldier's barracks to see the cannon,then back to help Lily & Laura pack & depart. Just as theywere going got telegram from Papa saying I could stay. Grand jubilee. Never was so glad of anything in my life. In P.M. Dillaway called,then dress parade, and afterward Lieut. Dunning took us through camp andback to officers' quarters luxury row. In eve band concert. Went with Springer. Plebe concert afterward. Sat off with himover visitors tent & had lovely talk.
Wednesday drill & guard mounting as usual then staid to artillerydrill, and talked with Honey & Wheeler who were here on O.S.P. Penick & Springer were on guard but came over and talked to us on thesly. Hawkins ditto. Jolly time. After artillery Margaret& I went to call on Mrs. Buff. Found other Hawkins furlough manthere. Coming back stopped at guard tent and had loads of fun handlingthe color guns and beautiful time generally till O.D. came in sight andwe skipped. They scrambled into the ... just in time. Germanin eve. Went with Wheeler an awful pill, but had a grand time whenI wasn't with him. He was too B.G. for any use. Officers' clubafterward with Lieut. Dunning and grand tear.
Thursday A.M. drill guard mounting then met Penick & Springer ontheir O.S.P. Went down to Denton's & had ice cream. Scared blueall the time I was there for fear we'd be caught, but thank goodness weweren't. Flirtation all A.M. with S & lovely time. In P.M.had group picture taken on Battery Shore then parade then Spring &Henson took us through camp & showed us the Commandant's picture Herranhad made for illumination. They walked up to hedge with us. Band concert in eve with Daniel.
Friday missed drill but got down in time to see Daniel take first colors. Packed up in A.M. In P.M. went out with Daniel and watched companydrill, then parade for the last time. Lieut. Dunning gave me a button. Great surprise. Last hop in eve. Lovely time but horribly mournful.Split my dances up and cut some entirely but last night so didn't care. Walked way up to new athletic building with little Herrin, and he spentthe time telling me trade-casts from Springer which delighted my heart. Went over to Officer's Club afterward for lemonade. Penick was my partner,and didn't treat me very well. I know he wanted to be with Margaret,but he might have been nicer to me. However, I revenged myself bysplitting his dance.
Saturday A.M. got up for weekly inspection the Commandant and all theofficers in full dress. Mighty pretty. Cadets came around tosay goodbye. Springer bought me a lovely little vinaigrette madeout of two buttons and just as I was going to thank him my stool brokedown, and I fell flat. Slightly embarrassing. Left at 9:30and on cars all day till 6. Mr. Nick Preston on train from New York. Arthur met me at station and began telling me about a dinner he'd giventhe night before, where one boy got drunk. I felt the change rightaway. I hadn't heard how much a thing cost, or how much a man dranksince I'd been away, and it seemed painfully natural. Hop in eve. Five two steps with Arthur. He is lovely boy, but I do wish I hadmore influence over him. Met MalcolmChase, the tennis player. Stupid supper afterwards downstairs. Bored stiff.
Today went in bathing but surf too high. Knocked me down and couldn'tdo anything at all. Mrs. Roelbe gave a clam bake at her house toSusie, Papa, Uncle George, Mr. & Mrs. Sibley, Nick Preston, MargaretThornton, and I. Bored again. Am now writing before supperand still dreaming of West Point. Never had such a perfect time. Mrs. Allen is so lovely. She will be one of my ideals after this. We three did have such tears together especially at meals, sitting oppositethe Lieuts. Margaret Duncan is one of the sweetest girls I know too.Quieter but lovely. Let's see which cadets I liked: Springer first,then David, Pague B., Stout, Howland, Darrah, Herran, Hawkins, Penick,Purdy, Dillaway, Smith, M.F. Nelson, Croutts, Cavanaugh, Fleming, Gurney,McGrew. I always am so much nicer when I am away from home. It's funny, but I can feel it myself. Up there I was natural andlively, and had a good time. Here I am stupid and quiet, and peoplethink I am horribly uninteresting, I'm afraid. Well don't you care. I'll just stand it for another week and then home again to Lily and allof them. Oh me I am in the blues tonight. I miss Mrs. Allen,and Berkley, and Danny, and my beloved Springer, and Flirtation, and O.S.P.and N.P.B. and buttons and the giggling and pumping and all the rest ofit. I hate this place. If this is society, I'll keep in school allmy days. They never say anything with any sense whatsoever, Theygossip and tell doubtful stories and drink champagne and eat boiled livelobster, and that's all. I could stand it if it weren't for MargaretThornton, but if I see her it's enough to spoil my day. Well I won'twrite any more of this stuff. I'd give anything in the world to bein West Point tonight, but I'll have to push dem clouds away, methinksand resign myself to an intensely uncomfortable week. I ought notto complain I've had such a good time, and it's only a few days. there's one thing this place takes the conceit out of me. I beginto think that I'm a pretty nice kind of a girl, but I come back here andfind out soon enough that I'm mighty unattractive.
Tuesday, Sept. 6
Dragged out week at Narragansett in room most of time reading.
Left Friday with Arthur. Got into Boston at eleven, went to call onHarrison and to please him, asked the two girls out over night. Theycame, and had a fearful time entertaining for Arthur went off and spoonedwith Kate, and left the other one on my hands entirely.
They went back Saturday A.M. and I rushed up to Otises. Found Mr. &Mrs. Allen, Margaret and Fannie all there, and had a grand talk.
Down in A.M. with Margaret to fix room, then long drive in P.M. withMargaret & Fannie. Back to Otises to dinner & overnight.
Down in A.M. & worked over room most of day. Fixed it up tillit really looks mighty pretty. Papa home from Narra-. Wentup to Otises in eve. & staid over night & all day Tuesday &until Wednesday noon when left to drive over to meet Harriet & Jeanwho came for a week's visit. Took them drive in P.M. then back unpacked& went up to Otises to a tea given to them.
Thursday started for pond in A.M. & took lunch. Went in wadingwhile Arthur & Clare were sailing & had a grand time. Rowedover toward picnic ground to bowl & Margaret fell in trying to getout of the boat. Great excitement & rush home to keep her fromcatching cold. In eve. We gave a state dinner to the whole crowd. More fun than usual. Mrs. Allen looked lovely.
Friday drove up to Upton in P.M. to see Auntie Weston. Sang ineve.
Saturday Boston. Bummed around in A.M. Matinee in P.M., Isle ofChampagne.
Sunday we all went to Purgatory. Took lunch and had a fine picnic. Explored and climbed around. Got back at six. Read aloud ineve.
Yesterday had tennis in P.M. Otis & Frank played. LaborDay & holiday had grand tournament and great fun. Girls go tomorrow. Have enjoyed their visit, though family didn't like them much. Thoughtthey were too quiet. I've kept them to myself all I could.
Tuesday, Sept. 13
Last Wednesday, Margaret, Arthur & I went into Boston to see girlsoff and matinee in P.M. The new wing at Columbia. Played tennisnearly every afternoon this week and at Otises most of the rest of thetime.
Thursday night we all went over to an amateur play in Milford with danceafterward.
Saturday eve. went on a tear up at Otises. We all dressed up inhis clothes, and he dressed in Lily's muslin and we came to the door ascallers. Had a high old time.
Sunday all up there to dinner.
Yesterday went up to Upton for the day. Lily, Otis, Margaret,Arthur, Clare, the Knowlton boys, Auntie Weston & I. We all wentup to the pond for lunch and rowed around in P.M. then Will took us a shortdrive with the tandem, then dinner and home. We were to have goneto a dance in Milford but I was tired out so staid home with Clare.
This morning got up early to see Arthur & Clare off to Exeter. Hope it won't be too hard for Clare. If it isn't it will bring himout a good deal I think. He needs to get away from home.
Papa was nominated by acclamation for Congress yesterday.[Monday September12, 1892]
Sunday, Sept. 25
Last Wednesday went into Boston to meet Mabel Pettit at lunch. She was passing through on way home. Went up to Otises in eve. Lily had a friend Mrs. Elliot with her. Lovely time and long talkwith Mabel at night.
Were to have gone into Boston on early train but missed it through Thomasfault, so made Mabel's mother miss her train to New York. I feltterribly about, but there was nothing to do. Went up to Otises thatnight and staid there until yesterday.
Drove down to Sheldonville Sunday, and Margaret and I walked a gooddeal every day this week.
Maude Wilworth staid over night with us Tuesday.
Yesterday Susie took us all in to see Mrs. James Brown Potter &Kyele Bellow in Frou-Frou. In eve. Went down to Aunt Ba's to seeAunt Fannie & rest just home from Europe. In a grand mess aboutrooming and don't see how I can get out of it exactly. Have justgot to trust to luck that's all.
Church this morning simply vile. That crazy organ, Youngbrought in a violinist who couldn't play, and there was a sloppy ministerwho reminded me of a complacent old sheep baaing away with no idea of sense,except a sense of his own merit that no one else felt in the least.
Sunday, Oct. 9
Last week was at Lily's most of the time.
In Boston Monday. Made 8 pounds of candy to send to Daniel; partiesat Amy Harris and Mrs. Shippee's.
Sunday Arthur home. Went up to dinner at Lily's and staidover night.
Made candy for Clare Monday.
Tuesday made last calls and shopping, lunch with Maude Dimarth. Packed trunk in eve.
Margaret slept with me Wednesday. In on 8:30 train with Susie,Otis, Margaret & Lily. Shopped all A.M. with Lily, then met atAdam's house for fine lunch. Papa came in Miss Holyett in P.M. Very pretty. Then said goodbye and walked up to Miss Hersey's. Found Katharine & her father there. Didn't know I would be gladto see her again. Unpacked in eve and talked till early dawn prettynearly.
Thursday A.M. school collected, and classes started to be arranged. Lessons given out. I am to take English Literature, French, German,and Political History of U.S. Splendid teachers and the best organizedschool I ever heard of. Shall do splendid work this year I hope ifthis mood lasts. Miss Hersey is very inspiring, and I like her immensely. School hours are knock at seven, breakfast 7:45, make bed after breakfast,school 9:15-1:30, lunch 1:45, walk anywhere you please after lunch untildark, Dinner at 6:15, Miss Hersey reads after dinner till 8, then studyhour, and bed at 10. Fine home table and no rules. Put on yourhonour about everything.
Friday rushed down to Adam's house to meet Lily at lunch but she didn'tcome in. Saturday practiced three hours and played duets.
Today have been to Trinity Church and am going to write lettersall P.M. There are twelve girls in the house and six on our floorwhich is the ... Mary Church, Grace Cumwick, Katharine Hinkel, MaryStillman, Katharine and I. They are all mighty nice, and we are goingto have a lovely winter.
Monday, Oct. 17
Last Sunday eve3 at 5:30 Miss Hersey's weekly talk. All of usin drawing room around an open fire. Mighty cozy & homelike. Hymns after talk, then tea. Table set and we sat around & helpedourselves. Very jolly. Sister Theresa, an episcopal sisterwho has charge of the other house came over. A very sweet face, andinteresting history. Played accompaniment to Mary Church's violinawhile. She plays like a dream.
Monday practiced a good deal, Tuesday walked with Alice, and Wednesdaywent to first music lesson with Mr. Jimmie W. Hill. Played my Adagioto him. He didn't sat much, a very non-committal sort of a man, butsaid I had splendid teaching and had laid a good foundation which is something. He is a very thorough careful teacher, but he isn't very inspiring. He seems rather tame after Bocky darling, though I think he is just abouta s good a teacher, and that's saying all I can say. The more I thinkof it, the more I realize how much I owe to Bock. He not only wokeup my music, but he taught how to work and persevere and be steady in things,which I never should have been without him. He certainly did me worldsof good bless him.
Friday night Katherine's aunt came and went to dinner with them at Vendome.
Saturday practiced an hour in A.M. Susie and baby came inmidst of it. Took Margaret up and showed her to girls. Wentdown to music lesson. (Had a fine one) then to lunch with Susie atParker House, then back to meet Katharine and go out to football game. Belle Leverack invited us to go with a party. Harvard & Williams36-0. Fine game and loads of fun. Got in to Boston pretty latebut made a try for 5:30 train out home. Got on the wrong car thenjumped on another to Franklin and drove home from there. Harnessbroke but reached home finally at 9:30 just after torchlight parade andPapa's speech. Went up home with Otis & Lily.
Got up at eleven Sunday. Blessed change from school routine. Took twenty mile drive, we four, and had a jolly time. Papa, Susie& Arthur up to dinner. Sat up and talked to Frank awhile.
Got up at 5:30 Monday in on train with Arthur. Eleanor Ray gotin at Franklin. School, practice & walk as usual, went over to....with Miss Hersey. Dead tired.
Sunday, Oct. 23
Week passed much as usual. Wednesday music lesson. Am goingto memorize all my pieces this year. Like Mr. Hill better and better.
Friday Columbus Day Miss Hersey gave us a stirring talk on patriotismand a Woman's duty to her country. Our eyes were wet when she finished. Mr. DeSumoprast gave a French reading . In P.M. Grace Cumwick, KatharineHinkle, Mary Stillman and I went down to Beacon St to see procession. Fine place on some steps. Procession all Catholic & some of itvery funny. One float had the motto Columbus discovered America byFaith, Hope, & Charity, & three beautiful blondes leaning on crosseswith Columbus in the background his hand on a priest's shoulder.
Thursday we all went to the fair and had a beautiful time with the lighteningsketch artists phonographs & various things to eat.
Saturday went down to music lesson with Katharine, then on to Adam'shouse to meet Arthur, but he didn't come, so back to school disappointed.Athenium in P.M. Symphony concert in eve. Heard last nightof Amy's death so sad. She was to have been married next month. She has lived with us seven years.
Today a fine sermon by Dr. Peabody of .... School. Inspiring.
Friday night saw fireworks on common. Beautiful & tremendouscrowd.
Thursday, Nov. 3
Sunday trinity in A.M. & P.M. to hear Dr. Peabody a wonderful preacher. Arthur came in P.M. & took a walk with him. Over to Annex totea and sing there. Lectures this week by Mr. Crapp on American Theatres. M. de SunTrust French reading. Mr. Lindsay came to dinner and wedanced afterward I played.
Saturday, Oct. 29 music lesson in A.M. then Katharine and I met Lily,Margaret, Arthur & Clare for lunch & theatre afterward. "TheWife." All home on 5:30 train. Clare not at all well. In eveup to Knowlton's to card party. Progression hearts. Got homeat one O'clock to find nurse sitting up with Clare. Pneumonia notdangerous but serious. Pretty worried.
Sunday church in A.M. long drive in P.M. Margaret & I in cartothers with Otis. We staid out later, got behind and didn't reachhome till after dark. Otis & family down to dinner, Frank home. Clare better.
Monday A.M. sent Katharine up to Otises and read to Clare. Upto lunch there and drive afterward. Torchlight procession in eve. Village beautifully lighted up. Rockets, lanterns & roman candlesgalore. 600 in procession, saw it from poste cachen roof, then chasedall over village after it & had a fine time. Halloween, so eachstole a cabbage from little garden near Otis' house. Also down stairsbackward but no results.
Spent night there, & back to school next A.M. on 8:30 train. That eve. Mr. Clapp's lecture on "As you like it" by Lowell Institute.
Wednesday horrible music lesson. In eve got telegram telling meto come home. Reached here this A.M. at in found Arthur and Clareboth sick with pneumonia. Trained nurses I am no earthly use butit is better for me to be here I suppose. Depressing is no name forit. Dr. Knight just came, so we shall know exactly how they are ina few minutes. Nurse is very anxious about Clare. Temperature 104.
Wednesday, Nov. 9
Thursday and Friday Clare dangerously ill Temp 105 1/4. TurnedSaturday A.M. though and out of danger though in for a long illness. Dr. Whittier came out from Boston, but said Dr. Knight had done and coulddo everything possible. As Clare got better, Arthur worse, but hewas out of danger by Monday.
Sunday Otis came down with bronchial cold. In for a week probably. Spent my time writing letters for Arthur, reading, sitting with boys whenI could. Sunday went up to Otis and read aloud to him.
Monday red letter day. Boys out of danger, Papa back. Rally ineve. Escorted over to Milford by procession in carriage with Papa. Lots of speaking enthusiasm and cheers. Papa's speech was fine andcheered tremendously.
Tuesday voting day. Otis got up to vote but back to bed again. Margaret is going to stay till Christmas. Will have to give up Springfieldgame unless Otis is decidedly better. Such is fate. Great excitementabout voting. Hopedale only gave George Fred 42. Papa has itfor a certainty. Came back to school this A.M. Paper on cars. Bad outlook Cleveland almost sure. Papa has his district but everythingelse going wrong way. Reached school in middle of Shakespeare class. Did seem nice and peaceful to get away from all the worry. A school-girldoesn't know what a favoured being she is till she has some outside responsibility. Hate to begin studying again though. Shall go hove every Sunday tillboys are well. Shall give up Mabel's invitation for Thanksgivingand Katherine's for Christmas I think.Wednesday, Nov. 16
Last night M. de Sunrichrasts reading "Les Femmes Savants" Molure.
Thursday P.M. Gymnasium. Loads of fun. Great big room &all kinds of ladder rings, horizontal bars, ropes & things. Wedon't use them yet though. Baron Posse's system.
Friday night Mr. Clapp's lecture on Antony & Cleopatra.
Saturday splendid music lesson in A.M. Home in P.M. Arthurmuch better, Clare about the same. Read to Arthur in eve.
Sunday A.M. read to Clare. P.M. to Arthur & Clare, & droveup to Otises to get Margaret to come down to dinner. A Mr. Liebe,a stupid German there. Frank came home, took me out in the hall andtold me Clare was still dangerously ill, afraid of consumption if didn'tthrow off disease better.
Started back to school Monday A.M. early. Went in to say goodbyeto Clare. Broke him up & me too. Wrote to Papa on trainasking if I couldn't come home. Didn't hear a word.
Tuesday long terrible day. Blue. Not a word form home. Breastplate from Daniel cheered me up. A beauty with my monogram. he's a trump. New dress from Morris too. A beauty. Alicetold me in eve. Dr. Whither said Clare dangerously ill. Decided togo home anyway. Started to ask Miss Hersey. Broke down andcried. She was simply lovely to me, so sympathetic & encouraging. Just what I needed. Gave me some bromide & bed.
This A.M. feel better. Think I have been worrying too much &been too wrought up, but I simply must go home. Am going this P.M.after music lesson. Ashamed of myself, but can't stand it here.
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Did not go home after all. Letter from Papa saying Clare all right. Out of danger. Turning point Monday.
Friday P.M. Lily & Margaret came in & I went out home. Started for game Saturday A.M. on early train Otis Lily Margaret &I. Reached Springfield at 11:30 & Otis went up to Massassoitto find Sturges. While gone we saw Uncle Eben, Robert Batcheller,& Gen. Walker. Sturges came & went up to hotel. Privateparlour there all trimmed up with Yale flags & whole party there. Introduced all round & jolly half hour decorating with violets &getting acquainted we girls had six bunches apiece & flags & ribbonsgalore. There were two Misses Sturges, Miss Erskine, Miss Haworth,& Miss Sturges chaperone. Mr. Sturges, Mr. Benton Sturges, Mr.Haworth, Mr. Banks, Mr. Sprague, two Mr. Bowles & another man I didn'tmeet. Went up to the Bowls in the town where had a swell luncheonthen carriages in procession to game. Seats right in centre. Saw lots of F. girls & Andre Beaumont. Had a perfect time duringgame. Yelled shouted shrieked & got so generally excited didn'tknow what I was doing. Whole crowd simply jolly. Sturges isfine! He can have me. Game mighty exciting. Score 6-0in Yale's favour. Lots of new tricks & skill galore. Menknocked out etc after game rushed for train. Margaret & I hadto go home alone. Rather expected a hard time but got through beautifully. Got to Worchester 7:30 & had to wait till 9:30. The Knowltonswere with us an hour then got supper. Some drunken boys serenadedus on cars & two people tried to speak to us, but we weathered them. Drove from South Framingham & reached home after 12. Papa hadlocked us out. Had to ransack all round to get in but finally wokeMary up & got in.
Sunday was with boys all A.M. Arthur moved into Clare's room &both sat up together. In P.M. went up to Otises & made 12 lbsof candy. Otis & Lily have started for Kentucky for two weeks& Margaret is at house. Read Quentin Durwood aloud in eve.
Monday back to school. Exam in P.M. Practice & work.
Sunday, Dec. 4
In bed Wednesday Nov 22. Got up for music lesson in P.M. but prettysick. Got home that night.
Quiet Thanksgiving time with boys & Margaret. Boys down totable for first time.
Into Boston Saturday for music lesson. Bought winter coat& went into Babes in the Wood for a little while . Got home onseven train.
Drove up to call on the Knowlton's with Margaret Sunday. Jolly time.
Back to school Monday.
Auntie Weston came in on the train, and I went out to the Langwood tosee her Tuesday P.M. Dr. Fred is out there. Had mighty pleasantP.M. playing with Teddy who is as cunning as he can be. Lovely musiclesson as usual. Mr. Hill is simply charming and I am improving steadily. I only wish I had more time to give it.
Friday night we all went to see Sothern in Capt. Letterblair. Otis being in such a crowd & without hats made us pretty conspicuous, but we had loads of fun. The play is fine, & Sothern is capitalas usual. His ... is simply fascinating & the dialogue is mightybright. "Och! Me darlin - home back to me Jenny" "Bloodwill tell, Merrivale."
Saturday A.M. music lesson. Mr. Hill was fine. P.M. Susie &Margaret came in & took me to the theatre. Play stupid but hadfun with Margaret. Saw Mr. Keith. Lily & Otis are going to gethome Sunday night & I can't be there, drat it all!
Saturday night stupid symphony concert.
Sunday have been to church and am going to write all the letters I owenow.
Sunday, Dec. 11
Miss Hersey's talk last Sunday on reading the Bible. Singing,scrap tea & writing letters all eve. Christmas shopping all week. Got some lovely things.
Friday Katharine sick. Nothing serious but in bed Friday &Saturday.
Lesson Saturday played Polonaise to Mr. Hill. Went beautifully. Last night went to concert of church music. Boy choirs lovely. One boy had a wonderful voice.
Friday P.M. Demrusch orchestra played very well. Lots of fire& spirit. Evina Jack soloist affected old idiot with shrill voice.
Monday night Mansfield in Prince Kert. Stupid Play. Vile coldin head & cough all week. Haven't felt very well. Examinationin History. Passed very low & horrible squelch from Miss Hersey. Have got to study it now. I fear, though I don't see how I can manageit. Lily & Margaret in one P.M. Went shopping with them. Mighty glad to see Lily again. Terrible temptation to go home overSunday but didn't.
Church this A.M.
Mary Stillman's father came yesterday. Charming man.
Mary Ida came in Friday. Bored to death.
Sunday, Dec. 18
Last Sunday night over to Annex. Miss Hersey's talk on temptation. Very impressive. Katharine got used up in singing. She oughtnot to have gone. Too much for her.
Worked hard at everything & result worn out Wednesday & disgracefulmusic lesson.
Not much better Saturday. I've got to drop a lesson. It'shumiliating to do so badly in music. Christmas shopping & Gymas usual in P.M. Rosina Vokes in the Paper Chase Friday night. Very funny. Saturday Grosmith in P.M. a humorous & musical recitalone of the cleverest things I ever heard. He is the actor who tookall the Gilbert & Sullivan funny parts like Ko-Ko & the admiraland all the rest when they came out in London, & he has left the stage& gone into this business. He comes out and talks with you &tells you funny stories & then sits down & plays to you & youpositively shriek with laughter. He tells you the suffering of themodern singer in a drawing room, composed different styles of songs &pieces & you are very rosy when its over. In eve. Eighth &ninth symphonies. They had a large chorus from the Cecilia for the9th & it was superb. A great success. The Adagio was beautiful& in fact the whole evening was perfect. Today church then calledon Aunt Fannie. They are keeping house now. Treated me ratherqueerly. Shan't go soon again. Shirley Draper there. Walkedback with me. Stupid.
Hopedale, Sunday, Jan. 1, 1893.
Tuesday Dec. 20 all girls left for home. I staid over a day formusic lesson. Seemed queer to be all alone in the house. LeftWednesday A.M. dawdled around town all day, then music lesson delightfulas usual, then home. Arthur & Clare very anxious to have me gosouth, but Papa says no & am glad of it to tell the truth for thoughI would like to go & be with them & think I ought not to. I hate to stop my music. It's my last year, & I shall do littleenough as it is. I really don't see why I keep on. They laughat it at home & I never play any decent music, nothing but trash &dance music, & shall have to give it up next winter anyway, but nevermind I will keep on as long as I can. I only wish I were more advancedfor I hate to still after all these years just as I have laid a good foundation& begin to enjoy it.
Thursday back into Boston with Margaret for last shopping & to havedress tried on to go to Katharine's.
Friday we four went into parlour & popped corn & string it& trimmed the tree. Drive in P.M.Saturday worked hard all day fixing presents as they came. Gotso tired I broke down & cried but Lily braced me up. Had thetree all fixed & were just lighting it when it broke in two. However patched it up with a clothesline & noone knew the difference. Otis was Santa Claus & the children were delighted. Had loadsof fun fussing around & playing with them till they went home, &then all the older ones went into supper & we all waited for secondtable. Then the queerest thing happened. I was talking to Alice& Otis was talking to Helen & the others were all around Lily inthe corner. Otis went over to speak to Lily a minute &Helen said "Come, Alice, I see we are not wanted & swept majesticallyout of the room. That is, she tried to be majestic but spoiled theeffect by turning round at the door to see how we took it. It wasabsolutely the most uncalled for & ridiculous thing I ever saw. If we had been rude it would have been silly, but as everything was goingalong so smoothly, it was absurd. One sure thing, shan't make upin a hurry. Went up to Otises that night & Otis & Lily hungup stockings. We had candy animals, tin horns, & a high old time.
Came down home about eleven Sunday A.M. found the Bristows & AuntNannie here. Christmas dinner at two & grand celebrations. Papa left for South after dinner to be gone a week. In eve. Playedcards & had oranges about eleven then Otis & Lily went to bed &we four still on a tear made Frank's bed apple pie, dressed up a SantaClaus outside of Otis door, & then came into my room put out the gas, and decided to tip tables. We were all pretty well worked up &the table did certainly move, but now I look back on it, I think we musthave moved it unconsciously. I cried again. Something's gotinto me. I got more tired at school than I thought.
Monday A.M. fooled around, in P.M. Clare & I went over tothe church to the Christmas tree there then we all went up to Otises todinner. Arthur & I staid.
Tuesday A.M. down to house, in P.M. lay on sofa in sitting room withLily. Arthur & Margaret went out driving.
Wednesday Susie gave a theatre party but didn't go. Staid in Lily'sroom all day, pretty bad pain. Tuesday Otis went to Bricetown onbusiness.
Was to have gone to visit Katharine Thursday & then we were bothgoing down to Mabel's over Sunday before back to school but Lily wouldn'tlet me go and she was right about it, I should have gone back to schoola wreck for I am pretty well pulled down. Quiet day Thursday &down to Town Hall to play given by West Upton people in eve. Prettypoor.
Friday long drive in A.M. Letter from Katharine. She ishaving a gay time & wrote about the various dances I had missed. Queer for me to miss anything on account of health.
Otis came in eve. Jolly evening. Last nightwe three watched the old year out. Margaret & I dressed up inold fashioned style, powdered our hair, painted, put on patches, &played ghosts. We all sat up & played cards, then went out andhad an appollinaris lemonade, then Otis & Lily went to bed & westaid up & waited for the New Year.
Today came down home to dinner and staid. Arthur went back toOtises. He thinks he is in love with Margaret, but as she is 3 yearsolder, he very wisely keeps it to himself. He'll get over it afterhe has been south awhile. I have been looking back to find my NewYear resolution 1892 & discovered it was to practice faithfully. Well for a wonder I've kept it, and it has done me good in more ways thanone. It has made me more thorough & persevering in everythingelse. This year I am going to take this that sentence of Carlyle'sthat I found in Mr. Wilson's book, "Whisper not in thy own heart that thisaction is worthy for then it has already become worthless." And this sentenceof Mamma's "Forgetfulness of self for the promotion of other's well beingand happiness." This has been a pretty eventful year & I thinkI am a little older than I was last January, strange as it may seem. I wish I were a good deal older in some ways and could know what to do. Playing cards on Sunday worries me to death. I hate to do it, &yet if I didn't it would go on all the same, & I should only be laughedat. I have had so many different educations it's confusing. I go off to school & am taught not even to study on Sunday, to alwaysdo my duty, & not to think that society & worldly affairs are importantin the least, & then I come home & am expected to do the thingthat will give me the best time & to think everything of society. I don't mean Lily or the boys think that way, but Papa & Susie certainlydo. I wonder if Papa always did. How I am going to get alongin Washington I cannot imagine but thank goodness that's not here to worryabout yet. I wonder what is going to become of me anyway. Iam not pretty , as attractive in society, & I shall be a terrible disappointmentin that way, that's one sure thing. Well botheration, I am meandering. New Year's has a bad effect. It's a good thing sometimes though topull up & take a look at yourself. Last year has been the happiestone of my life, thanks to Lily. She has made a vast difference inme & everything else, bless her. There I've forgotten my Xmaspresents. Suit from Papa & a fan as surprise, cape & lacescarf from Susie, two other fans, Lily & Otis pocketbook, Frank pin,Arthur & Clare hatpin, Margaret handkerchief case, photograph frames,emery, pincushion, garters from the rest of the family, & things fromAuntie Weston, Maude, Katharine, Mary, Grace, Mary C., Katharine H., Jean,Harriet, Ida, Mabel, Bertha, Mame, Helen, & Ella B.
Sunday, Jan. 15
Monday Jan I helped boys pack & fooled around with them all day. Margaret spent the night & we got up and saw them off to Georgia.
ent to a luncheon at Aunt Nannie's then packed trunk & spentnight at Otises. Lily, Margaret, Susie, and I met for lunch at ParkerHouse. Then went to see Wang. Loads of fun. Came up toschool after theatre. Louise Church only one back. Others straggledin later. Katharine not till Saturday. School began. Had terribly hard time dropping History, but finally managed it. Am going to work like a trooper on my music & let everything else goto the bow-wows, for I really think I am getting on.Fine music lesson Saturday. Mr. Hill told me to read Maschele's"Music & Musicians" which I just finished today. Fascinatingbook. Am going to begin Harmony. Mr. Clapp's lecture on TwelfthNight Saturday P.M. Came back and found Katharine. She hada fine time of course and I wish I could have gone.
Sunday a decidedly peculiar & strange thing happened whichI haven't gotten over yet. Had a letter from Alice asking me to stopin after church. Did so, and she & Aunt Fannie both went forme on all subjects. I cried like a fool, I wish I hadn't, but itwas putting me at such a disadvantage. If it had been Alice aloneI could have said what I thought but you can't sit up & tell your ownaunt she's entirely mistaken in all her ideas. They brought up therooming matter & I discovered that they believed because they had heardfrom outsiders that I had meant to room with Katharine all along, &had deliberately lied to Alice. Then they brought up the Christmasthing & played injured innocent on me, and I never had such an hourin my life. I'll never go near them again, that's certain. I left in peace, that's one consolation. Well, I will try to forgetabout it. If I had been entirely rested, I'd have had more self control,but as it was, had a pretty hysterical day.
Began reading lessons Tuesday with Mr. Tucknor. Think I shalllike it. Also have gotten in four hours practice almost every daythis week.
Yesterday was a queer day. Had planned to go home over Sundayand was looking forward to it, for I was dead tired, but Miss Hersey hadinvited Mr. Winch to come & play trios because no symphony, & madea terrible fuss about my going because she would be too tired to play them. Pretty selfish of her, I must remark. Well, I staid, but pretty homesick. Music lesson cheered me up though, Mr. Hill is such a nice comfortablesoothing syrup kind of man. Even if I don't have a good lesson Ilook forward to that hour and I think he enjoys it too. I wish I knew somethingabout his other pupils. It spurs you on so if you know how you standin regard to somebody else. Mabel and I were the greatest help toeach other last year in that way. Well after lunch Louise Churchleft for the West then Mary Grace & I decided to go off in the countrysomewhere & shake off the blues. Took a car on Boylston &asked the conductor if it went out in the country. He grinned &said "Yes" & sure enough, we landed in a little bit of a suburb witha park & nice little wooden houses & about three stores. We went into a grocery store & bought candy & drank cider, thenwe roamed around, played tag in a field, rolled over in the snow laughedtill we ached & had a regular Farmingtonese time. Grace got sickon the candy, so we got some Ö at the drugstore, then having exhaustedthe resources of the place went back to school. Tired out at dinnerso lay down till eight when Winches came. They are charming. He is a thorough musician. Has a wonderfully beautiful voice &a nice hearty jolly way about him. He, Mary & I read some triosfor cello, violin & piano, Mary played. I played, and he sang, thenwe had ice cream, the girls went to bed, we played two more things andthey left. It was delightful but I was so tired I couldn't half enjoyit & think I'll have to take Hood's Sarsaparilla for "that tired feeling." It's a terrible nuisance to get used up so easily. Slept over today& didn't go to church. Good rest.
Sunday, Jan 22
Last Monday night went to an operatic concert Nordica, Schalchi; Campanini,Fischer & Del Puente. Very good but too long. Didn't carefor Nordica at all. She may have a good voice, but her airs &graces were too much for me. Schalchi sang superbly. Campanini'ssinging was the saddest thing I ever heard. Poor old fellow! It must be terrible to go on singing without any voice & we applaudedfor pity in which you have swayed audiences without any effort.
Tuesday night we had a high old time. Mr. Winch invited us allout coasting. We had eight or nine toboggans and a fine hill &we had a terrible tear. Rolled around in the snow, shouted, sang,then in to oysters & chocolate, then some music. Mr. Winch sang& we played trios & duets. Red-letter night. Mr. Winchis perfectly charming. He is very fond of Mary & it's going to be mightynice for her.
We'd better music lesson than usual. I struck Mr. Hill's weakpoint when I took harmony of him. He has been much nicer since.
Thursday staid in bed all day tired out. Did me loads of good.
Yesterday discouraging music lesson. Pederchoski concert in P.M. I rather dreaded hearing him again, I had raved over him so before, butI needn't have worried. I would rather sit & hear that man playthan anything else in the world. His technique is absolutely perfect,but that isn't all. He has power and soul, and the best of it isyou feel as though there was always a reserve force behind. It certainly is inspiring, but it always leaves me in a half-maudlin state. The audience were not a bit enthusiastic, & when they did clap it wasbefore he was through playing. They were evidently people who wantedto say they had heard him, or else women who couldn't afford to hurt theirgloves. Went up to Mr. Winch's rooms after concert & played. Didn't go very well. Discouraged & blue about music. Ikeep asking myself, What's the use of getting so fond of it & lovingit more & more when I've got to stop short never to go again. It's maddening. I had two fine compliments this week one from Mr.Winch to Miss Hersey & the other from Mr. Loeffler to Katharine. It's some consolation to know you are doing something, but it does seemso pitifully small. Oh, if I were only a true musician or else hatedthe sound of it. I can't stand being in the middle. Papa cameover this week to see about the Coolburn affair and was perfectly furious. He shouldered the whole thing & told me not to think any more aboutit, & not to have anything to do with them. Such a relief! Why can't people keep from quarreling I wonder. Bertha was here visitingAlice & came in to see us for about 15 minutes. Prettier thanever & just as sweet. Charged a little though in some ways. More societified.
Sunday, Jan. 29
Pretty eventful week Last Monday A.M. got news of Bishop Brooksdeath. Miss Hersey all broken up. School dismissed & funeralThursday. Mary & I went over to the Advent first to morning service. Beautiful singing but I don't care for high church. Too theatrical. I don't see how people can really feel anything in a church like that. From there to funeral at Trinity Church. Packed with people, allthe Mass ministers in their white robes & the flowers beautiful. The coffin was borne on the shoulders of the bearers so that it could beseen all over the church. The service was wonderfully impressive& I shall never forget it. Yesterday a day and a half. Started in to practice as usual in A.M. but was interrupted and bored todeath by Mary Tole. Wish I didn't have to be nice to her. Sheleft finally & I hurried off to music lesson. Nicest one yet. Two whole compliments from Mr. Hill. Let the heavens fall & theEarth rejoice. He played my new piece to me Opus 84 Beethoven a beautifultheme with exquisite variations. Then we played duets, & he saidhe enjoyed playing with me. Comp. No. 1.
Then as I was going he said "I am very much pleased at the way you aredoing." That from Mr. Hill. You might as well expect hat forman iceberg. Happy doesn't express it. I walked on airthe rest of the day. Met Auntie Weston at the Adam' House & lunchand theatre. Regular good old time. Play "Goodbye" at Museum. Very pretty. From there flew to Mr. Winch's to rehearse for musicale. It's getting to be a little too much of a good thing. I shall askMiss Hersey to let me out of some of it. I hate to be piggish butit really is too much with all my practice to have all these accompanimentstoo. Got home in time for dinner & right after to Symphony concert. Paderewski played a concert of his own with orchestra & two solos beside. The last movement of the concert was positively electrifying. Itfairly took you off your feet & such storms of applause I never heard. He looked very tired & didn't play though called back four times. Ican't talk about that man. I don't know what I do when I hear himplay. He is a perfect genius that's all there is about it & hecan have me whenever he wants me.
Powerful commemorative sermon on the Bishop by Dr. Donald this A.M. Think of the good that man has done and the people he has helped. A life like that is certainly worth trying to follow, but most people followa long way off.
Monday, Feb. 6.
Working like a dog but nothing special happened outside practice &lessons & rehearsals. Usual round. Went to see John Drewin the Masked Ball. Remarkably good farce. Funny as it canbe.
Saturday met Otis, Margaret & Lily at Adams House lunch & theatre. "Temperance Town." So good to see them again. Papa & Susiein Washington so staid up on the hill.
Jolly Sunday. Had a long sleigh ride with Margaret & bummedaround generally. Knowltons came to call in P.M.
Feb. 12. Sunday.
Got back to school Monday A.M. a little unsettled by going home. There's no doubt about it. It demoralizes me & I am not goingagain soon.
Tuesday went down & chose piano then to Mr. Winch's & playedwith him & Mary till dinner time.
Wednesday fine music lesson. Mr. Hill said he was proud of me& I blushed crimson & acted like a fool.
Thursday in bed with horrible pain. Ran a pin under my thumbnail& nearly had lock jaw besides, so slightly uncomfortable.
Didn't think I could possibly play but braced up Friday, practicedan hour in P.M. rehearsed trio with Mr. Winch & Mary after dinner. He was here to dinner. Then upstairs & dressed for musicale. Katharine gave me a tremendous bunch of lilies of the valley & forgetme nots, and Mary & Kath. H. some lovely roses, so it was quite Farmingtonian. Affair a grand success. The girls all looked mighty sweet, &everybody seemed to have a good time. Talked to Mr. & Mrs. Hill& friends while people were coming then retired to bay window withMr. & Mrs. Winch, Mrs. Wather, Mary, Mr. Whilpley & Miss Hersey& then the ting began. Everything went beautifully except thetrio & that went better than usual. Mary played like a breeze& Mr. Winch sang like a blue dream. Everybody was very enthusiastic,& it was great fun. I wasn't half so frightened as I expectedto be and people were very complimentary. Mr. Hill beamed at me a&Mrs. Hill told Fay that I was one of his favorite pupils, so I've beenin the seventh heaven ever since. Talked with Mr. Morgan, EdwardStephenson, Katharine's cousin, & Mr. Marvin. Played for themto dance after supper most of the time & danced once with Mr. Pattenthough it nearly killed me. Had an awful time after the thing wasover. Went all to pieces & had a horrible hysterical nervoustime, till finally Mrs. Lambert gave me a sleeping powder & I wentoff. Never want to go through it again.Saturday staid in bed till lunch, then got up & went to the Paderewskiconcert. Sat with Katharine in splendid seats & enjoyed it morethan ever before & that's saying everything that can be said. He played the Sonata Appassionata the Schubert impromptu I used to murderat Northampton, the Schumann Carnaval op. & a Chopin nocturne prelude& etude and the second Hungarian Rhapsody. People were wildlyenthusiastic, & he played his minuet as an encore. Oh he playedhis own melodies, beautiful things too. Whether its because he growson you, or because I know so much more about music & can appreciatehim better, or whether he improves I don't know, but he certainly impressesme more & more. I am positively crazy about him. The usualschool girl raving isn't in it at all. I'd like to know that man. Met Mabel Crocker, Grace Miller, & the three Batchellors. After concertwent up to Mr. Winch's with Mary and did trios. He is going to savean hour every Saturday for us. It's mighty nice of him and we'lllook forward to it, for he is perfectly charming. Mr. Lindsay hereto dinner.
This A.M. slept over & cut church. In musical mood, so readup on Wagner's operas, & LeSeuse "From the Tone-World" essays by LoisEhlert that Mr. Hill had lent me. Have been writing letters &valentines all P.M.
Sunday, Feb. 19.
Tuesday Valentine's day. Had a box and everybody wrote to everybodyelse, & we all sat around on the floor and read them aloud. Celebratedmy birthday the same night. Had a birthday cake and roses and theloveliest thing of all, an exquisite picture of St. Cecilia in a green& gold frame, the thing I have been raving over since Christmas fromthe 5th floor. Mighty sweet of them. Danced & sang & hada beautiful time generally.
Wednesday had an abominable music lesson. Musicale upset me Isuppose.
Thursday went to Grosmith in eve. Funny as ever.
Friday played trios at Mr. Winch's for an hour & had a beautifultime.
Saturday bought tickets & packed trunks to go to Farmington overSunday but Katharine sick at last minute. Cruel fate but just likeall my plans this year.
Saturday Feb. 18 birthday 19 yrs old at last & feel about twelve. Read to Katharine in P.M. & symphony in eve. 7th symphony.
Fine sermon today and usual letter writing afterward.
Sunday, Feb. 26.
This week stands out on account of Washington's Birthday. We sixgirls of the 5th floor went home to Lowell with Grace Cummock. Hadbeen snowing all Tuesday & was still but we didn't care & wentall the same. Hard time getting up to house & had to go in kitchendoor, but no other trouble. Were going to a tea in P.M. butsuch a storm it was given up & we had a high old time at home. Percy Flint was there overnight & he was the only man with seven girls. Minnie Cummock the seventh. Had a concert & each one of us hadto sing a solo, then all had an exci8ting game of ograbooge, & thenimpertinent questions & then we had to dress for dinner. A dinnerparty of fourteen table decorated in red white & blue & girls lookingmighty pretty. Mr. Cushing, Mr. Ayer, Mr. Schaffe, Mr. Cummock, PercyFlint, Mr. Norcross, & Mr. Talbot were the men. After dinnertalked awhile then Mary & I played, then I played for them to dance,then we had ice cream, and I sat off with Victor Cummock & had a beautifultime. It's a pity he's married. After the others went got somecider from down cellar. Mary played again & we finally went tobed in the wee small hours.
Thursday had a sleigh ride before going to train & lots of fun goingdown. Back to school by eleven. Nothing else specialthis week. Mr. Loeffler played a beautiful solo at symphony lastnight. Robert Batcheller called Thursday.
Tuesday, March 15
Monday Feb 27 beautiful concert by Knusel quarter Perabo accompanist. Also Monday went to Dr. Bradford about eyes, and he put belladonna in andexamined them. Said I had been using glasses too strong & orderednew ones. Nothing special all week.
Saturday A.M. after music lesson Katharine & I met Susie Jessie& Margaret at Parker House ( Lily was sick & didn't come), hadlunch & theatre "The New South" regular old fashioned melodrama butvery good.
Home over Sunday. Up to Otises & then sleigh ride all P.M.with Margaret & Katharine. Stopped at Auntie Weston's awhile. Margaret down to dinner.
Back to school Mon. Miserable headache all the week. I thinkstill it was my eyes, but Miss Hersey insisted it was nervousness fromtoo much practice. Saw Dr. Townsend & he said I was in a stateof nervous tension caused more than anything else I think, by Miss Hersey'sbothering & worrying and she certainly has the element of tact leftout of her make-up. Good gracious if a person keeps telling you youare sick, you begin to believe it finally. I never spent such a wretchedweek & I certainly made it hot for everyone around me.
Went home Friday, & felt like a different creature the minute Igot there. Staid at Otises. Lay down with girls till aboutfour then got Gypsy & sleigh & drove around town. Lazy eve.
Saturday great preparations for Otises two friends Sprague & Durfee. Rubbed up glass & silver & set table in A.M. drove in P.M. thencame on 6 train dinner at eight. Miss Knowlton & Miss Leightonbesides us. Geo. Knowlton lost his train, so there were extra girlsbut it was jolly. Prettiest dinner I ever want or expect to gracemy presence. Table was perfect pink roses in center, Lily was beautiful& everything went well. After dinner I played for them to dancethen Sprague sat down & played & sang & we all joined in theshows & had a jolly time.
Sunday a fine day. Played sang & generally fooled in A.M. In P.M. Otis took men down to play pool & we rested, had a call fromAunt Ba & Uncle Ned & took a walk.
Got up early Monday A.M. to see them off. Liked Sprague immensely. He is a mighty fine fellow. Didn't care for Durfee particularly. Took a drive in A.M. stopped at house awhile then over to noon train. Heard of Frankie Mackin's death this A.M. Terribly sad.
Thursday, March 16
Had a very serious talk with Miss Hersey Monday eve. She has atlast discovered that I have been practicing four hours instead of three& said she couldn't allow it. We had quite a discussion in whichI got decidedly miserable & intense & generally unlike myself,and I came upstairs & cried like a baby in the bathroom though forthe life of me I can't see why I did it now. Miss Hersey can workme up & rub me the wrong way quicker than anyone I know.. Shehad written a long letter to Mr. Hill about me, she told me, & shemust have informed him that I was dying, for when I went to my lesson Inever saw a more perplexed looking man. He was surprised every timeI proved I still had enough strength to lift any fingers. It is themost exasperating thing in the world to be treated like a consumptive whenyou are perfectly well & only a little tired, as I always am, at theend of every term, and I shall strike immediately if not sooner.
Have been in bed all day today. Think of going to Farmington overSunday but shall not look forward again & then perhaps we won't bedisappointed, "The pleasures of anticipation" are a delusion and a snare.
Sunday, March 26
Saturday A.M. fine talk with Mr. Hill. He gave me some duosto take up to Farmington, and then he asked me what I was going to do nextwinter, and when I said I didn't know, he offered to oversee my music nextyear, map out what to practice & write every once in a while &give me advice. It pleased me to death, because I think it showedhe likes me a little anyway. Met Katharine after lesson & wewent down to Adams House to lunch. Who should we meet but SheldonMarvin of all persons. Katharine was terribly rattled because shewas afraid it would go all over Albany and those conventional people beshocked to death at our eating lunch alone, though there was positivelynothing in it. Exciting lunch then down to train. Got perfectlywild as we came near Hartford, and I never shall forget the feeling thatcame over me when we saw all the dear old places again. Rode on topof the stage. Got there just as the German was beginning. Mabeland Luce were out to meet us. Saw Mrs. Dow & all the teachers,then rushed into our clothes, or rather I did. Katharine couldn'tbecause the trunk fell off the stage & we didn't get it till late thatnight. Went up to see Harriet a minute - she was sick in bed withfalse diphtheria just getting over it - then over to Gym. Dancedtwo figures - grand oration girls crowded around us. Felt a littlequeer, so played duets with Mabel for them to dance all the rest of thetime, & had a beautiful time talking between whiles. Went around& said goodnight to everybody. It seemed so natural to see thehalls just full of girls careening round.
Sunday A.M. Miss Porter's talk then up in front room - Mabel in bed- and staid there till church time, then church with Clara & Jeanette& walk afterward. Went into Harriet's room for lunch & longtalk, then dinner & a lovely talk from Mrs. Dow. Went in to seeher and stayed till singing. We had a perfect talk and I never shallforget it. Didn't go to singing, staid with Mabel and had anotherfine talk. Lots of girls came in but thought we were spooning &cleared out. Staid with Mabel nearly all eve. Then out for a walkwith Katharine for "auld lang synes" sake, then to bed.
Monday A.M. right after breakfast had a little talk with Fannie Grace,then over to the music cottage & played our dear old duos. Itwas simply blissful, & we played the old things as well as we everdid. After we had played our fingers off, tore ourselves away &went driving, then back & up into Jeannette's room awhile then offwith Harriet for an old-fashioned sing & giggle till Mabel came rushingin and said Mr. Bock was here. Flew over to the music cottage andhad a nice talk with the old darling. He was really glad to see me& it made4 me so happy. After dinner went for a walk with Luce. She is demoralized since last year. She has gotten in with a queercrowd & they have spoiled her. It's a pity. Came back &went into front study where Louise Smith was playing & we had a littleconcert. She played & I played. Then over to the musiccottage with Mabel for her lesson, but instead of giving it Bock askedme to play, which I did very badly - was terribly rattled a& couldn'tdo a thing - and after that was over sat down at the piano & playedto us for an hour-and -a half. We were so worked up when he was throughwe didn't know which end we were standing on. He was simply fascinating& carried us both off our feet. Had a little walk with EleanorMorgan before tea, & she persisted in asking questions aboutAlice which was slightly embarrassing. Played duos after tea tilltime for reading. It was so cozy sitting around in the studies withMiss Caroles & Miss Dow and the girls all sewing and stopping to chatin between. Called on Miss Cowles afterward & had a long gossipytalk. Left next A.M. on early stage. Girls all saw us off. Slept with Harriet night before. Had an ideal Sunday it does you good tohave people around you that think you are somebody. If people idealizeyou, you are apt to be what they think you are for the time being. That's the diff between Mrs. Dow & Miss Hersey, Mrs. Dow sees the bestthere is in you & Miss Hersey the worst.
Got back Tuesday A.M. squelch from Miss Hersey naturally. Same routine as usual. No music lesson Saturday, Mr. Hill's vacation. Missed it all day. Went out & called on Jessie Donald with Katharine. Jolly P.M.
Tuesday, April 4
Tuesday night Mar 28 red letter night. The Hinkles invited ourfloor to the Brunswick to dinner. Each of us had a bouquet of yellowflowers, all different, & the table was decorated with yellow. Had a beautiful time. It was so festive & out-of-schooly. Private parlour Paderewski's old rooms, & we posed in every availableplace where he might have sat. Played impertinent questions witha Mr. & Mrs. Edwards who called. Loads of fun.
Wednesday A.M. girls left in batches, only three of us left for lunch. Was practicing after lunch when Arthur appeared for about five minutes& arranged to go out on six o'clock train with me. Glorious tosee him again. He is in love as usual. This time I can't quitemake up my mind about the girl. I do hope she is nice for girls cansimply do anything they please with that boy, & he is just what theymake him. I wish I had some influence over him. He isa mighty sweet boy & I do hope he'll make something of himself. Nice lesson but had to run all the way to the train. Otis Lily &Margaret came to dinner.
Thursday drove up to Upton with Clare & Arthur rode Gypsy. Saw Auntie Weston & planned to go to New York & repeat last year'strip. Went up to Lily's over night & staid Friday.
Saturday in Boston with Maude Walmarth. Shopped in A.M. lunchwith the boys at noon & Pad. Concert in P.M. He is as wonderfulas ever & I shall never cease my schoolgirlie ravings about him I suppose. The people were enthusiastic for a wonder encored him twice at the end. Saw Mr. Tucker Margaret Chapin & Robert Batcheller.
Sunday went to church drove up to Upton with Clare & Margaret inP.M. & staid at Otises over night and all day Monday.
Tuesday A.M. started for New York reached here 3:30 drove to Mme. Morrises& saw about dresses, then hotel to dinner & am writing now in eve. Saw three F. girls in dining room - Florence Littlefield, Alice Keith,& Edith Todd.
Thursday, June 1
This diary has been lost in Otises attic all this time but I have resurrectedit finally, & will try to catch up.
In Easter vacation went down to New York with Auntie Weston & Katharinejoined us there. Saw loads of girls we knew and had a mighty goodtime over our shopping.Went over to Philadelphia one day with Auntie Weston to call on MajorHancock & see about her being housekeeper & was very glad I wentfor it turned out he and I knew lots of the same people & we got onbeautifully together. Hope it will come to something for it wouldbe a fine place for her and she isn't happy where she is. He willlet her know this summer.
Came back from New York and staid at Lily's the rest of the vacation. Had a mighty good time all of us together.
Went back to school Wednesday April 12th and came down with the GrippeThursday. Interesting way to begin term. Nothing particularhappened this term. Worked hard at music, came out home over Sundaya good deal of times,, took walks & rides out into the suburbs moreas weather grew warmer, and had loads of fun playing trios at Father Winch'severy Friday P.M. Got desperately tired of Miss Hersey and she gotdesperately tired of me. Got to see more of downstairs girls andliked them better. We were a mighty congenial set of girls this winterand that's everything in a small school. Although I wasn't dead inlove with the place I hated to leave. The very idea of being outof school brings so much responsibility with it and I've come to the conclusionthat I am not a very responsible creature. However I will try tobe of some use in the world though I don't seem to have much influence.Tuesday, May 30 was a grand celebration to end up with. Mr. Cummocktook us all to the Harvard-Princeton baseball game, the fifth flooritesand Arthur, Howard Smith & Leroy Talbot. Mighty good game &loads of fun. Score 8-6 in Harvard's favour. After game wentin to the Victoria & had inner in a private room. Things doneup in style generally.
Wednesday May 31 last day in school, and celebrated it by staying awayfrom school as much as possible. In A.M. went down to last musiclesson with Mr. Hill. I never shall forget it. I tried to playbut gave it up and we talked awhile. He told me I must keep up mymusic and said some mighty nice things. Then he marked my Harmonyexam. We played a duet one of the Schubert symphonies and he playedto me better than I ever imagined he could. It was wonderful, butit worked me all up and he was moved himself. We had a beautifultime together and he really seemed fond of me. He told me he hadnever had a pupil he hated to give up as much. Oh that man is anold darling and I'd give anything in the world to go on with him. It does seem a shame to give everything up, but I know I haven't enoughbackbone to go on alone. I will do it if I can, though, just forhis sake. Went back to school but cut classes right and left, &spent rest of A.M. saying goodbye to girls. Miss Hersey was wild. She wouldn't let the girls go to station with me as we had planned, butKatharine flatly rebelled and said they would go and Miss. H. was so surprisedshe gave in. Lily came for me & we three drove down to station.Arthur Frank & Otis were there to see us off & Otis went as faras Worcester with us, so we had a great send off. Were in the stateroom,so lay around in our wrappers & had a decidedly luxurious time.
Reached Cincinnati Thursday night and met Margaret & Mrs. Allenat the St. Nicholas. Mrs. Allen is as perfect as ever. Sheis my ideal woman in every way. It was simply fine to see old Margaretagain. I certainly am lucky to have such friends.
Thursday, June 8
Last Friday roamed around Cincinnati streets in A.M. Shoppingetc. & in P.M. took train for Lexington. Sat on campstool onthe back platform & had a beautiful time gazing at the scenery andwaving to all the small boys in sight. The whole family met us atthe station & Mr. & Mrs. Voorkies & Charley came over whilewe were at supper. Went to bed early, and left them free to see Lily. Saturday unpacked and rested and babbled like a running brook with thegirls all day, & in eve. Drove out to Mr. Samuels four miles out inthe country to an impromptu dance with Waxy's darkey band and a regularcountry supper. A beautiful old fashioned house with a greatbig room to dance in & everybody in for a high old time. It wasgreat fun and everyone was lovely to me, so I enjoyed every minute. Drove home in the moonlight about two o'clock. Mr. Webb took me,I forgot to say, and I liked him immensely. Had a great time findingthe key when we reached home. I started before Margaret & shecalled out "The keys in the usual place" I was so excited I didn't stopto think that I didn't know the usual place and after hunting wildly finallyhad to rouse the house to get in. Great joke on me. First nightin Kentucky couldn't find the key.
Sunday didn't go to church. Family all staid around together inA.M. in P.M. a stream of callers for or five men apiece. Can't beginto remember their names, so won't write them down. I put a wishboneover the door to see who I was going to marry & it turned out to beMr. Bowman. He is Margaret's special so I fear it won't work. He got decidedly rattled & then teased him to death. Just beforetea Mr. Buckner, Allen, John's brother came up and sang to us with guitar. He has a beautiful baritone voice. Uncultivated but so sympathetic,& he is jammed full of music. Mr. Wooley & Mr. Breckinridgecalled in eve.
Monday we girls lay around and giggled all day when we weren't talkingto callers. Lots of ladies came up to see me. In eve. Wentto the Colombian ball at the Phoenix. Mr. Falconer & Mr. Bowmantook Margaret & myself & we had a simply glorious time. Divideddances four or five times & nearly danced the breath out of me, butoh! It was such fun. It was a boiling hot night & we wereall dripping & looking like lobsters, but we were having such a goodtime we didn't care. It pays to be a stranger everyone is so goodto you. Went out in kitchen & had a glass of milk & talkedit over "After the Ball." Henry came in from the Press office &joined the confab. Not in bed till after three.
Tuesday P.M. drive with Mr. Falconer & Mr. Bowman. Calledout at Ingleside then a lovely drive into the country. Great scarecoming in. The horse got frightened coming down a steep hill crossingthe railroad tracks with two electric car tracks to catch the wheels, aslippery pavement and a train just starting. She dances around infine style & it was pretty scary for a minute but Gray Falconer managedher beautifully & the dangerous part was soon over. Two otherinvitations to drive same P.M., Mr. Webb & Charley Voorkies. In eve. Buckner Allen sang to us again & some more callers, Miss Woolfolk,Mr. Bass & Mr. Duff. Miss Woolfolk is simply charming. She is a great friend of Nan's. Oh in A.M. Mrs. Livingston came over& sang to us & stayed to lunch.
Wednesday A.M. downtown shopping with Lily & Buckner Allen treatedus to soda. Called on Mrs. Woodward then home to dinner. Hadthree sets of tennis in P.M. John Allen & I against Margaret& Desha Breckinridge. I couldn't play a little bit, but we hadlots of fun over it. A double box-party in eve to see CarvalleriaRusticana. Abominably acted but we had such a good time in boxesdidn't pay much attention to the performance. Someone said afterwardthat the boxes made such a noise he couldn't hear the opera, but it wassuch poor stuff that I think we protected the audience. MargaretLily and I with Gray Falconer, Smith Bowman & Warren Frazier were inone box and Mr. & Mrs. Allen Dr. & Mrs. Scott & Nan & Mr.Farnsworth in the other. Henry & Rob Woolley were with us mostof eve besides.
Sunday, June 11
Thursday callers in A.M. in P.M. drive with Warren Freiyner & Mr.Bates & Margaret out to the reservoir. In eve another box partygiven by Richie Gibson. Mamie Gibson, Mrs. Gibson, Margaret, Sue Grigsby& I the girls, and R. Gibson, Hart Gibson, Rob Woolley, Rob Breckinridge,Charley Voorshies & Desha Breckinridge the men. Richie Gibsondid the thing up in style. Sent beautiful roses to all the girlswith little pearl stickpins and boutonnieres & silver hatmarkers tothe men. Then he sent carriages for us besides. Wasn't as muchfun as Wed. night for me though I sat right next to the stage with HartGibson & he wasn't particularly interesting. Same company, butnot so bad as the night before. Drove out to Ingleside & hadsupper at little tables in the drawing room. Sue Sugsby, Rob Breckinridge,Rob Wooley & I sat together. She acted disgracefully I think. Drank too much champagne & perhaps it went to her head. I donot see how a girl can act that way & have any self respect left. You can have just exactly as good a time without making a fool of yourselfthough some girls don't seem to think so. After supper went out onporch & sang in moonlight then came in & danced then jolly drivehome with Margaret Rob Wooley & Rob Breckinridge. Sang &shouted all the way in & probably woke up everybody as it was pastthree.
Friday slept late & helped a little fixing for reception. Had bridesmaids dress fixed over with white chiffon & Henry sent mesome beautiful roses tied with pink ribbon. The receiving girls cameabout six. House was all thrown open and grounds lighted up so peoplestrolled outside and the parlour didn't get so horribly crowded. Stood up & shook hands for two hours then off duty & went out tosupper with Mr. Webb & Evan Shelby. The young people staid afterthe others & we danced in those glorious big rooms & then strolledoutside in those beautiful grounds with a full moon overhead. Itwas simply ideal.
Saturday didn't get up till dinner. In P.M. drive with Mr. Webb& Margaret & Smith Bowman in another cart. Too tired to talkmuch & am afraid I was a pretty stupid companion. In eve. Satout on lawn all of us & sang with guitar. Bed early for firsttime.
Church in A.M. with Henry and dinner at the Voorkies afterward.
Monday, June 19
Last Sunday P.M. & eve. Streams of callers. Even came while we wereat tea. Sat out under the trees with the electric lights turned on &had ice cream & cake. 30 men called & four or five girls,so talked to two or three at once till throat was parched fairly. Almost more fun than the reception. After most of them had gone BucknerAllen sang to us.
Monday P.M. went driving with George Gess. Charlie Voorkies wasup before he came & told me he had said that he never took a girl drivingunless he was sure he could have fun with her, so I was scared to death& played iceberg all the way. I'm afraid he won't ask me again. Charley Voorkies stayed to tea & in the eve. played sang & danced.
Tuesday Mrs. Thornton gave a lovely lunch to Lily & myself. Nan, Margaret, Mrs. McCoomb, Miss Woolfolk, Mr. & Miss Livingston &Carrie Thornton the others. Table decorated in sweet peas & everyonelooked mighty pretty. Sat in place of honor between Mrs. Thornton& old Miss Livingston who looks exactly like Sitting Bull & talkedabout the higher education of women. In P.M. Mr. & Mrs. Livingstoncame over & played tennis against John & self. In eve. Mr.Brown, Miss Bradley & Mr. Pettit called & after they left CleveShort & Rob Breckinridge came & spent the rest of the eve.
Wednesday P.M. tennis again for awhile & a whole crowd of girlscalling. Then Mr. Webb took me driving way out into the country. Prettiest drive yet. In eve. Mr. Barr came & sang awhile &Mr. Duff & Robb Woolley called. Rob stayed the others out &talked to me till long after eleven.
Thursday Lily left for Cincinnati to join Otis & go to World's Fair. All went to station to see her off. Tennis in P.M. with Desha Breckinridgefor a fourth. Character by handwriting came. Most remarkablething I ever read. Pretty good in most things but decidedly not flattering. In eve. Alec Adams & Rob Wooley came up & Rob stayed till aftertwelve. They asked me to go driving Friday but couldn't go.
Friday Bassett's tea. A mighty pretty entertainment but not muchfun. No men. House was decorated beautifully with daisies &sweet peas. In eve. Rob Woolley came again. They ran off &left me to entertain him & he stayed till after eleven again. I cannot talk to a man so long at a stretch. He's a nice little fellow& I like him, but I do wish he wouldn't stay so long.
Saturday tennis again with the Livingstons. Mr. Webb came to askme to go driving but noone to take my place so didn't go. Fiercegames & loads of fun. Am beginning to play a little better &it is such sport. The whole family came out & watched & weplay in the prettiest part of the day, so it is just delightful. Sat out & sang in eve. Bed early & sick all night. Too much heat & gayety.
Sunday scorching hot day. Didn't go to church. Simply boiled. Miss Payne, Mr. Botts, Mr. Gess, Mr. Frazier, Mr. Woolfolk here in P.M.& Miss Jeffrey, Mr. Morgan & Rob Wooley in eve. As usualR.W. stayed late. He had heard some crazy thing that the dudes toldhim I said about him & was decidedly angry, but I turned the tableson him & made him apologize to me in style for believing such a thing. Henry came out & tried to run him off, but he didn't take the hint. Stayed up & carried on like lunatics with Henry & Margaret afterhe left. Had a perfect circus.
Thursday, July 6
In P.M. Monday made a few calls & then to station to meet Daniel. The whole family went & it was one of the prettiest sights I ever saw. He certainly had a grand welcome home & was a decidedly happy-lookingfellow. Made an imposing cavalcade on way back, nearly filled thecar. In eve. Sat out under the trees all talking at once & tryingto get near Daniel the centre of attraction. Some callers Hiram Shaw& Dr. Falconer came later & Buckner Allen brought Saxton up toplay for us. He is the finest guitar player in the country &the combination of music & moonlight was simply ideal. Afterthey all left we heard singing at the gate & John brought in Waxy andhis band. They sang and played to us & Waxy gave his imitations. John tried to get him to imitate Mr. Bronston, his partner, prosecutinga criminal. He wouldn't at first but finally started in & usedthe name of one of the darkies with him as the man prosecuted for chickenstealing. That was too much for them. They all roared &we joined in. A darkey's laugh is irresistible.
Tuesday sick all day but got up to tea. Laura Brand came over. She is staying with Mrs. Voorshies. It was fine to see heragain. Helen Barrell with mother sister & brother were expectedthis Wednesday. Helen is Gordon Voorshies fiance. Queer thatwe should meet again in Lexington. She has gotten far ahead of methough, I'm sorry to say.
Tuesday eve. The Enterpian quartette, four of the "dudes" who play guitar& mandolins came up & played to us Rob Woolley & Buckner Allenup too. Fine concert but too sick to enjoy it. Afterthe cal was over they stood outside & sang to us. Quite a serenade. Brought back boarding school days.
Wednesday bed again & stayed there. Little Fannie sick withsame trouble so quite a dilapidated household. Henry sent me someroses & Mary Payne & Norah Graves came up to see me & broughtme a lovely bunch of sweet peas & Richie Gibson sent me some rosesso it quite paid to be sick. Family came in & gathered aroundthe bed & I held a reception most of the time. Daniel made afine nurse & was mighty good to me.
Friday, June 30 Mrs. Livingston came over & spent the morning Saturday. Got up late in P.M. in time to go out & watch the tennis. MadgeMcDowell & Helen Burrell called & we had a Farmington talk whilethe others played tennis. Margaret Mr. Barrell, Mrs. Livingston &John.
Sunday got up at noon in time to welcome Otis & Lily home from theFair. Talked Fair all A.M. In P.M. all of us went out in thegarden under the big oak tree. Went down & picked raspberrieswith Daniel. In eve. Joe Woolfolk & Mr. Shelly called. After they went sat out on back step with Henry all eve. I do likehim immensely.
Monday A.M. Margaret Daniel & I went downtown & then out toEngleside to call. In eve. The much talked-of tennis as usual, &in eve. Euchre party at Madge McDowell's. Lovely house for an entertainment& great fun. Had a grand mix up about coming home but straightenedout all right & our usual supper & gossip before bed.
Tuesday July 11
Last Thursday eve. A german at Sara Scott's in honor of Margaret Burrell. All the younger set Miss Walthall & I the only older girls. Theydance better than the others but not so interesting. Danced in theattic at top of house & supper at little tables downstairs. Didn'texpect to get a favour because didn't know one of younger boys, but everyonewas mighty good to me. Danced till four in the morning and foragedfor our little supper as usual when home.
Friday dead tired. Slept nearly all day. Tennis with Johnagainst Margaret & Daniel. They nearly beat us but we still keptthe championship. In eve. Margaret Nan, Daniel, Henry & I wentout to Chatauqua. Sat with Henry & Mr. McGarvey sat with us awhile. Horribly poor concert but enjoyed making fun of it.
Saturday rushed toChatauqua. Stupid lecture in A.M. so Margaret,Daniel & I left & walked out of Ashland to call on McDowells. In eve. Went out to the Talberts to a barn dance given in honor of Laura. Rogers Clay took me & we drove out with Mina Goodloe & Grey Falconer. Invited from six to twelve, reached there about eight & found we werethe first there. Others straggled in however & things grew morelively. The barn was hung with lanterns & trimmed with flowers- there were hammocks & tete-a-tete benches all over the grounds andthe moon was full. Grand combination made a delightful eve. Was with Rogers Clay a good part of eve. He is a mighty nice fellowwith some sense. Stuck on another girl though, and I never can keepfrom thinking of it when I talk to him. Makes spoony benches fallflat when you know you are playing second fiddle.
Sunday no church. Dawdled with Daniel all A.M. In P.M. Mr.Bates came up & got caught in a thunderstorm so staid to tea. I ran off & made Margaret talk to him. The rest of us sat outon front steps & had a beautiful time. Rob Breckinridge &Dudley Short came up. Margaret had heard that Dudley was deaf soI sat up and shouted at him all the eve. Till I had no lungs left &the other people in the house no ears & then discovered later thathis brother was the deaf one. The family have been gazing me eversince. He is a nice dude just from Harvard, but I tremble to thinkof his opinion of my voice.
Monday Chatauqua in A.M. tennis in P.M. In eve. John read us poetryon porch awhile then Daniel & I went to call on Mrs. Woodward. Quite a lot of people there. Old lady sent us out into the back gardenon a remarkably flimsy pretext. Evidently wanted the young peoplea chance. Mighty funny.
Tuesday the glorious Fourth rushed Chatauqua wildly. Took Kodakout in A.M. & some gay groups. Smith Bowman came back with us. Some rather weak games of tennis when we came back. To hot to play. In eve Chatauqua again with Henry. We both went off on a terribletear, and had a glorious time. Mighty poor fireworks but we didn'tpay much attention to them. Almost the last people on the grounds& just caught the last car home. Had an impromptu supper to endour festivities. A red-letter night. Henry & I certainlydo have beautiful times together.
Wednesday Laura Brand came up to spend the day. Margaret &I started out to make some of our calls & trotted around all the A.M.in the boiling sun till we were utterly worn out. Thirteen calls,nearly everyone in, & 102 in the shade. Too hot for tennis solay around on dishabille & giggled all P.M. In eve Toby Breckcame to see Margaret & the rest of us Laura Daniel, Nan & selftook a car ride around the circuit to keep cool. Stopped at Chatauquaa few minutes & saw Mina Goodloe & Rogers Clay who came back oncar with us. Sat out under trees & had lemonade & cake &a generally scrumptious time.
Thursday downtown with Daniel in A.M. in P.M. Margaret & I didn'ttake usual nap but stayed outdoors & had quite a talk. Triedto play tennis just before tea but heat simply wilted us & we gaveup. Euchre party at Norah Graves in eve. Evan Shelly took me. Too hot for any use. Men's collars wilted & girls crimps straightenedout & altogether we were a dilapidated set, it seemed to me as thoughevery seat I took was under a lamp. Rogers Clay took me out on theporch after the ball was over & saved me from fainting I verily believe. Had a good time with Geo. Gess at supper likewise.
Friday splitting headache all day lay around in Daniels room with electricfan turned on nearly all day. Turned cooler in P.M. so Mina Goodloe'sparty in eve was a grand success. She gave in my honor, which wasvery nice of her. Thought I couldn't go in A.M. but Henry took medowntown after tea & made me take some remarkable remedy & thatwith the excitement braced me up in style. The porch was all hungwith lanterns & the night turned beautifully cool, not even hot dancing. Cad carloads of fun. At least twice as many men as girls, sotalked to two or three at once all eve, except when off on porch. Had a queer time getting home. Dudley Short asked me to go home withhim & we waited till everyone had gone when lo and behold his car didnot appear. He telephoned wildly all over town & I meanwhiletried to keep up the conversation with the poor sleepy Goodloe girls whowere really trying to keep awake & be polite. Finally I had totelephone for our carriage to come back for me & I took Dudley homeinstead of his taking me. It certainly was humiliating for the poordude. We seem to be fated when we get together. Went down toPress office & drove Henry home. Usual supper which Margaret& Daniel joined.
Saturday went down in A.M. to Mrs. Voorshies to say goodbye to Laura. In P.M. a decidedly exciting drive with Rogers Clay. He came forme about six in a cart & though it looked cloudy we thought it wouldblow over & started. We had gone a long way from home off ona wood road when we saw the storm was coming & had to race it. It certainly was thrilling. A beautiful sunset on one side and theblack clouds on the other with the wind blowing a small hurricane. The harness broke in the midst of it & when we had mended that therain came down on us. We had an umbrella & I held that &put my hat under the seat & we turned in at house before we got wetat all, it was Mr. Wither's place, a friend of Mr. Clay's & he &his wife & the three babies sat around us & tried to entertainus. If it hadn't been for those blessed babies the strain wouldhave been tremendous but they filled up the gaps in the conversation &we got along pretty well. Started home about half-past nine, I withhat still under seat & wrapped up in Mrs. Wither's waterproof. Now the queerest part of the whole adventure comes & I do not understandit at all. Just as we were nearly home he suddenly told mein the most intense way that he loved me. Now I know that man isdesperately in love with another girl, and it took me so aback I didn'tknow what to do or say. I liked him so much, & I didn't thinkhe was that kind of a man, but he evidently thought I was an inexperiencedlittle girl & he might as well flirt desperately while he was aboutit. It makes me feel cheap every time I think of it. I hateto have a man think I am a fool even if I do act like one sometimes. Well I'll know what to say next time. Found Charley Voorkies at housewhen got home. Sat around in hall & had lemonade.
Sunday A.M. went to church with Daniel. Grandma & Aunt Lilythere to dinner. In P.M. got up early from siesta & took somelast Kodaks. Mr. Bates, Mr. Waite & Joe Woolfolk called beforetea. Went down to Mrs. Woodward's to tea with Daniel, Henry &Mr. Duncan. I was the only one of the girls asked. Had teaout on back porch & a great time bootlicking the old lady. Itwas mighty nice of her to ask me. Callers galore in eve. Allthe Voorshies Mary & Richie Gibson Sue Gugsby, Mame Payne, Mr. Duff,Mr. Barr, Mr. Webb, Geo Gess, Rob Wooley, Dudley Short, Tuford Clarke,Desha Breckinridge, Gray Falconer, Smith Bowman, & Bernard Neals. Had lemonade & cake & a jolly evening. Mr. Webb's fatherhas been very ill. Only place he has been to at all, so felt so complimented. Had to say goodbye to all the dudes. Really quite mournful.
Monday A.M. packed trunk then downtown with Daniel for last shopping& last soda. Called on Mrs. Thornton on way back. Had aspiritualist come up to house and tell all our fortunes. We all wentin separately and some of the things she said were really quite remarkable. She told me a lot of stuff, though that really wasn't worth listening tothough she hit on my past life & my character exactly. Accordingto her I am to be engaged either in the fall or spring and married almostimmediately. Slightly improbable but here's hoping. Train leftat 3:20 Margaret, Daniel, Bud & Mr. Duncan, Richie & Mame Gibsonsaw me off. Geo Gess came to car station to say goodbye likewiseRob Breckinridge Richie Gibson gave me some lovely roses & a big boxof candy. Henry went with me to Cincinnati and Rob Wooley was onthe same train. Complicated matters at first, but Henry ran him offand we had a beautiful time as usual.. Felt desperately lonely when heleft me in my section & have been lonely ever since. Iwill never take a long journey alone again. It is decidedly disagreeable. Now for a grand summing up. Never had such an ideal visit in suchan ideal family. We had such fun at the table, and always when wewere together, they are all so absolutely devoted to each other & socongenial. I always did think Mrs. Allen was perfect. JohnAllen is one of the brightest men I ever knew & such fun. I couldn'tget used to the teasing at first & used to blush crimson at every meal,but I shall miss it dreadfully. I love every inch of the dear oldplace & everyone there & I only hope they are one quarter as fondof me. Didn't see much of any girls this time because Margaret &I were always together at the entertainment & stayed at home spareminutes. I likes some of the men immensely but I don't think I shouldcare to know any of them any better than I do. Most of them seemto have absolutely no purpose in life but a good time. However theyget their good time & they certainly give a girl a good one, so I haven'tmuch to complain of. You certainly have to get used to their complimentarystyle of language. They tell every girl they meet she is a queenof beauty and an angel of light. However of course you don't thinkof believing all the stuff, and it is great fun. I certainly havehad a mighty good time and I'd like to have it all over again.
Sunday, July 23
Dull journey. Reached Boston Tuesday night & Arthur met meat station.
Got home Wed. & up to Otises in P.M. Lily, Fannie & Italked like windmills all P.M. Came down to dinner & stayed hometill Saturday A.M. when family left for the Pier. Had some gamesof tennis with the boys, played with baby & listened to Susie.
Otises birthday Friday and all together at dinner. Great fun.
Saturday moved up to Otises & in P.M. Otis, Lily, Fannie & Iwent up to pond. Fished all P.M. with mighty gook luck, then rowedover to the Point, cooked fish & had a picnic supper.
Lazy week resting, driving, playing croquet, etc.
Took Fannie into Boston Monday. Shopped in A.M. in P.M. ride outto Reservoir on electric car.
Tuesday hands all poisoned with ivy & been doctoring them ever since. Great nuisance.
Sunday Aug. 13
Friday July 28th gave a party for Fannie. All the children inthe village and loads of fun. Played hide-and-seek, drop the handkerchief,London Bridge, tag & everything else we could think of. Had theboys run races & when they were tired out took them in the house &let them dance. Had supper out under the trees & kissing gamesafter supper. Kept the children so busy they all had a good time.
I forgot about the Colburn business. Got a letter from Miss Herseyasking me to come in & see her Thursday. Went and found her furiousover a letter from Aunt Fannie in which Aunt F. raked her over the coals& incidentally went for me over the rooming business saying I had toldan absolute falsehood etc. Of course it was stuff but it made memad for the time being. Told Papa about it & he advised me tolet the thing drop.
Went to Narragansett Saturday. Arthur met me at station &took me to hop in eve. Papa & Susie went to Uncle George's dinnerso sat with the Harrises at hop & had a glorious time. Splitevery dance two or three times, & had some fine two-steps with Arthur. A Mr. Lincoln took me home & we sat out on the back piazza of the hotelawhile.
Sunday A.M. we all went over to the Casino for breakfast. Sawthe Betchellers & Mr. Hoyt there. Clare & I went down tothe beach to go in bathing & I had a glorious bath. Batchellers& Hoyt were with me all the time. Surf was high & lots offun. Ran up the beach with the Harrises, Churchill Clark & AdamsBatcheller. Lunch at Casino with Papa, Susie & Mr. Hoyt. In P.M. out to rocks with Mr. Lincoln. Didn't get back till2:30 & Papa rather grouchy. Went over to Matthewson to call onHarrises with Arthur & he left me there & forgot to come back butAdams Batcheller took me home. Up for early train. Boys gotup & saw us off. Home for lunch and back up to Lily's
Tuesday packed & Wednesday on cars all day long. Bertha metme in Philadelphia & we were talking so hard got on the wrong train& didn't get out to Germantown till after eight o'clock. Berthahas a beautiful home there. Her sister Annie & Mr. Meers werethere with Miss Boose the housekeeper.
Thursday took a drive all around Germantown. In A.M. Malcolm Weightmancame up to lunch & took us over to Chestnut Hill in P.M. went to seeKitty Watson, Bertha's chum, a lovely girl, & went with her to churchto help her tie up flowers for hospitals then brought her back to Riverhill with us. Two men Ross Smith & Harry Woodville there to dinner& a jolly dinner.
Friday Aug 5 rested all A.M. Malcom W. was up but didn't see him. In P.M. down to Cape May over Sunday. Bertha's mother, grandfather& three little sisters in the cottage there. Played croquet withthe children & roamed around the town in eve.
Saturday A.M. took a drive over to Cape May Point to see the sights. In P.M. ran to every train for Kitty Watson but she didn't come. In eve. Over to the Pier to see Grifle given by a cheap opera company. One of the most ridiculous things I ever saw. Ross Smith, Harry Smith,Harry Butcher, Harry Woodville, & Mr. Samuels all joined us and wesat outside on the pier & giggled & gabbled & had a good timegenerally. Then the whole crowd of us went on the merry-go-round. I got terribly dizzy & Harry Smith saw it & rescued me by takingme off to walk over to the Stockton to watch the dancing. Didn'tknow how late it was and when we got in found that everybody was searchingwildly for us.
Sunday A.M. Bertha in bathing. Martha & I sat on beach withMr. Vistar. Saw Ross Smith & Harry Butcher. In P.M. HarryButcher & Herbert Darlington called & after they went Bertha &I walked out on Pier & watched a glorious sunset. In eve RossSmith took me & Harry Smith Bertha to Stockton to hear concert. Lost a blue shawl of Mrs. Wrightman's & went back to Stockton but afterboys left us scared blue for fear we would meet somebody but luckily didn't.
Monday went crabbing in A.M. with Mr. & Mrs. Wistar, Mrs. Weightmanand all the children. Big carboat and a glorious sail out into theocean and afterward Bertha and I lay down on deck at bow and got most beautifullysplashed. Left in P.M. and got back to Ravenhill in time for dinner. Played to them in eve. Have lost horribly just as I knew I would,but they didn't know the difference, thought it humiliated me.
Tuesday Polly Goodwin came to lunch and spent the afternoon. Readaloud in Annie's room in A.M. drive in P.M. & Ross Smith & Mr.Wagner here in eve.
Wednesday got up at 5:30 and on cars all day long. Bertha sawme off. She is a mighty sweet girl and so is her sister Annie, butI don't care much for the rest of them. Too nouveau riche. Bertha is a darling though, and will make a fine woman. She has loadsof character. Reached home at six tired, hot and dirty & Danieland Lily met me at train. Walked through woods after tea & Daniel& I had a long talk on the porch. He is a sweet boy and I ammighty fond of him, but I wish he didn't like me quite so well.
Had a beautiful time over Sunday. Drove, loafed, played tenniswith Daniel, and had a lovely lazy time generally. That place ishome to me now. I love every inch of it.
Saturday went up to the pond and had supper on the point.
Friday, Sept. 1
Sunday Aug 13 took a beautiful long drive through hills not home tillafter dark. In P.M. Daniel Fannie and I explored Indian Fort.
Monday packed in A.M. drive in P.M. then last set of tennis. Madecandy in eve. For Daniel to take back.
Tuesday Daniel & I started for Albany he to go to West Point, andI to go to Cooperstown. Reached Albany half an hour late, and foundwe had both missed our trains. Nothing to do but stay there overnight. Went to the Delevan right opposite the station, and my goodness!How people did stare. I acted like a perfect fool. I was tired& nervous anyway & I thought Daniel would be too late for WestPoint, which would have been mighty serious, so I begged him to go. It turned out that he had to stay anyway, and I was immensely relievedbut oh dear it was horribly rattling and I never felt so queer and peculiarin my life. I didn't go to pieces so tremendously. Howevernext time I'll know what to do, that's one comfort. Room on firstfloor, glass doors opening on a balcony right over the street & noway to fasten them. Bed full of rocks, I verily believe, and generallyuncomfortable.
Daniel left before I did so didn't see him next A.M. Went on toCooperstown & found Katharine at station to meet me. After dinnerlay down & talked our heads off for four hours. Had the wholesummer to go over & various other things. After tea went aroundthe grounds and out in the lake. Oh Malcolm Weightman came up beforetea & we had to entertain him for awhile but resolved we wouldn't seeany more of him than we could help. The place is beautiful, righton a peninsula, the lawn sloping down to the lake in front and a beautifulfine grove with a wide brook running through it. Then a long avenuewith fine old trees on either side all the way to the main road. An ideal country place.
Thursday A.M. rainy so stayed in awhile. Played to Miss Germainawhile & she played too. It is grand to get with somebody whoappreciates music. Why aren't there more in the world who do, I wonder. Couldn't stand staying in, so Katharine & I put on waterproofs &splashed around in the rain all over the place. In P.M. drove intotown, stopped at the Mellroy's on the hill, and met them & Nell Arthurthen down to Hotel to spend the night & go to the dance. Mrs.Lee chaperoned us there, & we went with Maud Lee, Mr. Wiekim her fiancÈe& some more hotel people. Met a Miss Todd who knew Lily in Washington. An army girl & terrific flirt. Had glorious time at dance meetingeverybody. Loads of fun. Had a queer time in Dan Tucker. Got with somebody I didn't know every time & had to introduce myself. Supper with Ransom Hooker whom I liked immensely. Everybody mightygood to me.
Friday A.M. horseback ride with Katharine & high old time. In P.M. Ransom & Horace Hooker rowed up & Ransom & I went offto the Crow's Nest and had a mighty nice talk. Nell Arthur &Ned Fowler rowed up to call so they sent for us & we had a generaltalk on the lawn, then Horace & I walked down to South Shore. He is a fine fellow & very much in love with Katharine I think. My but she is an attractive girl. She can have anybody she wants. After we saw the people off rowed out on the lake & watched the sunset. The lake is positively the most beautiful sheet of water I ever saw withthe wooded hills rising straight from the edge almost all around it, andthe water very cleat, & all kinds of colours. In eve. Spottswood& Mr. Bogart rowed up & took us out in the moonlight. Spottswoodis a character. He is a youth of sixteen who appears much older untilyou talk to him, & he persistently rushes any girl who will speak tohim. Fresh is no name for it. He has to be persistentlysat on. Moonlight was glorious but Spottswood not particularly entertaining.
Saturday A.M. drove down street & picked up Horace & Ransomon the way to the McElroy's then found the crowd had gone to Town Hall,so followed. Lou Fowler played the violin, & then we pushed thechairs back & had an impromptu dance. A Miss Thurber, stayingover Sunday, danced, sang & recited for us. A fascinating girl& entertained us for over an hour. When she's a year or two oldershe'll be a queen, & even now she's simply bewitching. Piledhalf the crowd into the cart & all went up to McElroy's & had gingerale. Nell Arthur, the tow Misses Thurber, Katharine, Lou Fowles,Horace, Ransom, Ned Fowler, Charlie McElroy, & self were going to ballgame in P.M. but Miss Germain though it would be too much so rested inP.M. Went down to dinner at Holt-Averell where the Brown's &Averell Carter live. A house party there Miss Webb, Miss Lockwood,Mr. Schulz, Mr. Lockwood, Miss Smith & Mr. Morgan there to dinner likewise. Strolled around the grounds with Mr. Schulz and went in to dinner withhim. Music & Impertinent Questions afterward & then we alldrove down to the Fennimore dance. Loads & loads of fun. Piazza outside packed & a great addition.
Sunday A.M. Presbyterian church with Katharine & Spottswoodwhom we couldn't shake. Stopped at Bess Smith's then a little driveon the other side of the lake before going home. In P.M. wrote lettersand rowed out on lake just before tea. Glorious sunset. Musicin eve. Miss Germain is very fond of it and it was fine to play toher.
Monday A.M. rainy so splashed around the places in mackintoshes. In P.M. got ready & drove up to point with our basket of sandwichesfor Mrs. Browning's picnic. Found not one soul there & decidedit must have been given up & drove down town to call on the McElroy's. A cozy time in the studio with the two girls and the tea table. VeryFarmingtonese. Nell Arthur sang to us & we had quite a musicale. She has a mighty sweet voice & is passionately fond of music so wegot on like a house afire. Nell & Charlie drove back with us. Rainy eve so some more music in eve.
Tuesday A.M. down to Holt-Averell to tennis etc. Mighty picturesquesight. The crowd scattered all over the beautiful grounds and thelake beyond. Tried archery but couldn't do a thing, then Mr. Lockwood& self played two sets of tennis. Beat the first & nearly beatthe second. Then went & sat on the steps & watched the endof baseball game & had some lemonade with Ransom & Stuart, thentwo mere sets of tennis & then home, the last ones to leave. Mighty jolly A.M. In P.M. Ransom & Charlie came up &we decided to go off on a tear. Started in two boats, Katharine &Charlie & Ransom & self for the other side of lake, then a longscramble up the side of the mountain to Natty Bumpas Cave. A fineview of the whole lake & a jolly climb. Katharine & I hadon our best ginghams which we'd dressed up in to receive the boys &they were torn to smithereens but don't you care we had a good time. A scramble down the mountain and stayed out on the lake till tea time. Ransom & I got into a very serious talk. Fun at tea then anothertrip with Ransom in Crow's Nest, Katharine & Charlie rowed around forus & we all four got into the boat & had a few songs and ghoststories. Perfect moonlight.
Wednesday A.M. Stuart Pattison sailed up & we talked in Crow's nest. Mighty interesting boy. In P.M. Brown's tea at Holt-Averellwhere Katharine & I poured. Loads of fun. I had the coffeewhich all the old gentlemen in the room wanted. I didn't know halfof them but I chatted away as if I did & had a great time. Stayedtill guests departed & had supper on porch with Mr. Schulz & Mr.Lockwood. Then they walked down to hotel with us & Averell gaveme some lovely roses. Hop in eve. Last one so tore around wildly. Good music & fine two steps. Supper on stairs with Ransom &tete-a-tete in window with Stuart. Katharine & I talked tillthe wee small hours & kept poor Bob Morgan in the room next to us awakeall night. He must have enjoyed the intellectual conversation.
Thursday A.M. was to have been another tennis party but terrific stormso didn't come for us till noon. Gossiped in Maud Lee's room withher & Miss Todd, who is too quiet for any use. Got rather tiredof all this foolishness and glad when went home. In P.M. K &I drew sofas up before the open fire & prepared for a sing. P.M.played consequences, which turned out remarkably & got the gigglesover them to an alarming degree. Then cleared up so went out on thelake & proceeded to try the new invention of sailing with umbrellas. Katharine steered in the stern & I held the umbrellas one above theother in the bow, & the way we tore across that lake was exhilarating. We had to row back again at first, but we got so we could talk a little& we had a perfect circus. Got in late for tea & found thefamily scared to death. Didn't know what had become of us. Usual musical eve
Friday A.M. Mr. Lockwood & Mr. Schulz came up. K went rowingwith Mr. Schulz & I with Mr. Lockwood till nearly lunchtime when wehad half a set of tennis during which Mr. Lockwood caught the fool andturned a double back somersault & then they drove home & left theircanoe so as to come up and get it. In P.M. the Tailors, two brothers,drove over from Richfield. We had a mighty nice P.M. with them. Took them all over the place 7 out on the lake first then we came in &had some music. The younger one played the violin like a streak &we played together though we hadn't much music. Enjoyed it immensely. Then the other one & I went out to watch the sunset & discovereda storm coming up so raced for shore. Terrific thunderstorm, so theystayed to tea & we had a mighty interesting talk & some more music. They finally started off about nine o'clock & half an hour afterwardcame a terrific thunder storm. They must have had a pleasant drive.
Saturday, Aug 26
A.M. drove down to the village to shop & met Spottswood & Stuartcoming up, so told them to wait & found them there when we got back. Crow's Nest & pine woods with Stuart & nice morning. In P.M.head pain. Katharine's tennis party but had to get to bed all thesame. Heard the arrivals downstairs & Katharine explaining aboutmy bad sick headache then they all went off to troop in the pine woods. Katharine came asking up just before refreshments & said she was entertainingfour dudes & I must get up & help her so came down in time forice cream. In eve. Was the steamboat ride & dance at the point,but I didn't feel well enough to go & Katharine wouldn't go withoutme so rowed out & met steamer & told the people. Then stayedour on the lake in the glorious moonlight singing, spooning & havinga beautiful time. Suddenly we heard a boat coming toward us prettyfast. Scared to death for thought it was hop-pickers, but discoveredHorace & Stuart. Katharine got into Horace's boat & Stuartinto ours & we drifted around the rest of the eve. Watching the fireworks,listening to the dance music in the distance and gazing at the gloriousmoon. It was simply ideal.
Research, transcription, and design: Katharine K. Moore,2001Sources
- Edith Draper's Diary, January 17, 1892 - August 26, 1893.
- Oral Recollections of Edith Draper Hollyday, granddaughter of Edith DraperBlair.
- Family Group Records, by Elizabeth Blair Douglas, granddaughter of EdithDraper, Mormon librarian.
- Correspondence from Elizabeth Blair Douglas, December, 1998.
- Marriage license of Andrea Boncompagni and Margaret Preston Draper, Districtof Columbia, October 17, 1916.
- The Standard Geneological Encyclopedia of the First Families of America;edited by Frederick A. Virkus; Volume I; F. A. Virkus & Company, GeneologicalPublishers; Chicago, IL; 1925; pgs 838-9.
- 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Noteable Americans, VolumeIII, pg. 305.
- Dictionary of American Biography; American Counciil of Learned Societies;Charles Schribner's Sons, NY; 1960.
- Five Generations of Loom Builders; William Henry Chase; Draper Corporation,Hopedale MA; 1951.
- "The Loom Builders;" Thomas H. West, president, Draper Corporation,Hopedale, MA; Princeton University Press; 1952.
- "Fighting racism at 100,"by Michael Henderson, from the international magazine, For A Change,December/January 1997.
- The Washington Post, obituaryof Edith Blair Staton, July 4, 2001.
