Diary Written In Richmond, Indiana by Hazel Bertha Reid (Gennett) Part 1
January 1905-
Monday 26. Well it seems to be the fad now for everyone to keep a diary so I guess I'll start this tonight although I really ought to study my English for an examination tomorrow. I never in all my life saw such miserable stuff to study as Burke's Speech. There really is no sense to it. O well I'll have to stand it I guess like I do some other things, just grit my teeth and bear it. I wont talk about it any more. I wish I had started this last summer for I never had such a good time in all my life. I could have filled two or three books of this size and not half tried. I started a diary about three years ago in this book but only kept it for three months. I will try to do better this time. I was with Marie Campbell this afternoon and she said that she was taking exercise to reduce her hips and I think I will try some this evening for goodness knows mine are enormous. Why I weigh 135 lbs. I cant hardly get over it.
Florence Corwin, Libia or Pete for short just went home a few minutes ago and of all the giggling you never heard the like. We certainly enjoy life if any body does. Her class is getting ready to give the Junior public and of all the crazy, silent people I never saw their equals. We seniors will find out their plans before they are aware of it. I made a design for my leather pillow this aftrenoon and it will be very pretty when it is finished even if I do say so myself. I am going to buy the leather tomorrow if possible and then will begin to tool it right away. Marie Campbell is going to make one also. I think I shall take drawing next term for Miss Price and Mrs Stubbs both say that it will help me in my china painting so much. Dear me, if I write this much every day I'll have to take up a collection to buy another book. I am going to quit anyhow for my tooth hurts from chewing gum. That's what I get I guess for doing such unladylike things. I wish Mabel would come home cause I want to go to bed. Good Bye. H.B. Reid.
Tuesday 24. Well I got up this morning 20 minutes of seven and was ready for school when Fliz came. She nearly fell down from surprize for such a thing as my being ready scarsely occurs once in a fortnight. I got to school 8:10 and went in the North Room which is the Assembly Room. I went to Harmony first hour and got 4 papers 99%, 99%, 98%, 98%. Just think of it. If I would get that much in every thing why it would be all right but the trouble is, I don't get that much, for I took an examination the next hour in English and so far as I have heard I didnt get very much. Wouldn't it be terrible if I should fail. I would have to take it next term again, which wouldnt be very pleasant. I could never get English anyhow. Came home at noon, went up to Husson's at noon & bought a can of lobster, came home and made some creamed lobster on my chafing dish. It tasted real good only I didnt make enough. Went down to Nicholson's printing office to see about the leather for my pillow but they didn't have enough so I guess I'll wait until I heard further from harringtons. I went back to school and then after school Tibia and I went down to the library. Before we went we went in our house to wait until 3:40. I wont tell why for if anyone should get this and be inpertinent enough to read the contents they certainly would be shocked. Well we bought some salted pea-nuts to eat when we should arrive at our destination. I bought some bird-seed a Leo Fike's and he presented us with some "Satin Shoe Cream." We thanked him kindly and went on our way. After we got to the library we were about frozen as the thermometer had dropped 20º from 1 oclock to 4. We read magazines until 5:15 and then came home. I looked for Pete down after supper but she didnt appear. I afterwards found out that her mother said she had been down too much lately and I had to pay her back a little. Oh I forgot to tell the most important thing of all, I received a letter from Charles Ross. He is a midshipman at the Annapolis naval Academy. He says that he looks forwards toward September for I guess he thinks he will spend his leisure hours with me. You ought to have read the letter but then it would have made you ill. I am not going to tell any one (girls) about it as it is really none of their business.The ink is gone from my pen so will have to write with this instead. Well it seems a relief to think I don't have to go to English in the morning but then I'll have to write some sort of argument instead. Oh how I hate English anyhow. Harmony is the only interesting thing I take. Well I guess I'll quit. H.B.R.
Wednesday-25.
Well I have gone back to my old habits again. I got to school this morning at 8.40. Was in the chemistry room all first hour eating candy. It was good too. Was also down there part of the second hour too and Fred Gennett taught me how to make glass bulbs. It was fun. Pooley Worrall asked me to go sleigh riding with him after school but I said "No thank you but there was Orchestra Rehearsal." I wouldn't have taken that for an excuse any other time but then I just cant like him very well. He is a nice enough boy but he is so--I don't know what to call it unless he is too much of a gentleman. He is so uninteresting. I feel mean and unkind myself sometimes. I feel rather sorry for him. I always try to treat him as nice as I know how except I wont go anyplace with him. Went to Orchestra Rehearsal and arrived home about 5:45. After supper I went up to Pete's and of all our giggling you never heard our equal. I helped Pete with the dishes and then sat down and read Ladies Home Journal. The telephone bell rang and it was Mabel. 1120 had left word for me to call up. I did and couldnt imagine who it was but to my disappointment it was Harringtons but the Person who called me wasnt there so I went home in a little while, that is, after mother sent word for me to come. I ate some little spice cookies and then went to bed. H.B.R.
Thursday-26. Well, I got to school on time and nothing exciting happened only the news thet George Rettig asked Edna Jones to the Junior Public and banquet instead of Florence. I wish Edna Jones was in Halifax or anyplace but here. She always keeps Pete and I on end. I am not so worried over her very mich but she is a little bit too popular. I guess George is getting badly in love with her. George should be badly ashamed of himself but I suppose he has a right to his own opinions. I'll wager he'll be sorry of his choice when he goes to the banquet for Edna cant dance or play cards. He will have to spend part of his time sitting out dances with her when he could be dancing with Florence. I reckon Fred will sit out 4 or 5 with her. She is two faced just as self conscious as she can be. Shoot it anyhow. Well I reckon Im jealous but I cant help it. I had a telephone message from harringtons again and so went down there and bought a skin after school for my pillow and paid $1.25 for it.. I told them to put away another one for I might need it. Then Marie Campbell, Florence and I went to the Skating Rink and watched the skaters. It was my first time down there. I never laughed so hard in all my life for there was a man so determined to skate that he wouldn't let anyone help him. If he fell over he fell fifty times and the funny part about it is, he took it in such good humor. But I am sorry to say he fell and broke his wrist. I felt sorry for him then. Came home and had to stay in the rest of the evening as I went to bed. H.B.R.
Friday, 27-
Well, was five min tardy this morning and went immediately up to drawing where I started my fine pillow. Fred and the boys went to Anderson to play basketball at 11:00. I wager that they get beaten. Went home and came back to school. Wrote examination questions on the board for Miss Mering the 1st & 2nd hours and then worked on my pillow. Fliz & I came home and were in the dining room. Who should come tapping at the door but Pooly Worrall and George Rettig. They staid until about five o'clock and of all the tiresomeness I never saw the like. All George talked about was Edna & T.M.R. and all that Pooley could talk about was Clarene Seefloth & sleigh riding. They made me very tired. Perhaps I made them tired but I don't care. O yes I forgot Florence & I saw on the board at school.
T.M.R.
T.J.S.
We eat em all.
The T. M. R.s are Fred Gennett, George Rettig, Pooley Worrall, etc. The T. J. S.s are Edna Jones, Ethel henderson, and all that bunch. If those boys want to go with those girls they have my permission. But there is this much about it when Fred goes to preach about Edna he would be somewhat suprised when I tell him I am writing to Charles Ross. If I cant write about pleasant things I wont write about anything at all. I rubbed that writing off the board *[insert] After George and Pooley went away Fliz & I went down town to get some salted peanuts for supper. Had 5¢ worth to eat on the way home. They were simpley fine.*Went up to Florence's after supper, helped her with the dishes and then we went to choir rehersal. Got home at 9:30. Fliz & I had it all planned to rush in the parlor and talk just so interesting (Mabel had a fellow) but the door was fixed so that it would lock on the outside. So that spoiled it. Mabel cqme to the door. I had a real nice chat with John Afterward though.
Read until Father told me to put out the light and go to bed. H.B.R.
Saturday-28,
Got up at 8 o'clock. Ate what breakfast there was left and then went to take a china painting lesson at 9:o'clock. Ruth Kinsey called up and said she couldn't take hers so went down there and finished one plate and got another ready for the first firing. Toddie Bell has a very pretty comb & brush tray about finished. Mrs. Stubbs wants me to join the sketch club and I think I will if I can gather up 50¢ around home. I got home at 12 o'clock and was just about starved to death. I started down after mothers new glasses, a chicken, and some candy. Met Fliz went back home with her then both went down town, did our shopping came home and what do you think, read in the paper that the basket ball team got beaten 22 to 12 Just wait till I see Fred Gennett. If we don't tease him it will be funny. Tibia is here now writing in her diary and every once in a while I hear her make some strange utterance a giggle I guess. Harry Ross asked her to the Junior Banquet Im real glad of it. Am going to read now. Yours Truly H.B.R.
Sunday-29. I got up at 8:o'clock and went to Sunday School. I played at church and sat in front of the preacher's son. He is said to be very bashful. Mrs Kaufman asked him to lower one of the windows and he got up, unlocked the window, took hold of the string, pulled the window down, string too short to tie anyplace, tried to give it to me, he thought I had it but I didn't, pop went the window back, tried it again. I finally moved my chair back and held the string with my fingers. Imagine giggling mixed in with the rest & you can see how very terrible we acted. He & I couldnt get over it for the rest of the morning. I like him real well. I wonder how old he is. I think he is younger than I am though. That is always the way though. Fred Gennett is the only boy I know that is older than I am. I wish he was about 23 and I would be very much satisfied. Oh well, I guess it doesnt make so very much difference.*McKinleys borthday. On the way coming home Tibia and I promised to always remember this day and to get together if possible. Feb 29, 1910. I wonder where we'll be then.[insert] Came home for dinner then Fliz, Mabel, Father and I went out to Mary & Walter's to see the baby. She is the sweetest little thing that ever lived. We all played on the Pianola and nursed Katherine and then came home about 5:30 P.M. About 5:45 Fliz came down and announced that she was going to have company namely George Rettig. I told her she was very lucky as I wasn't going to have company that I know of. I knew I would as Fred has been coming down lately without even letting me know anything about it. Isnt he taking things for granted though? Oh well I don't care About 7:15 the telephone bell rang, Mabel went to it and said that I wasn't home. She thought I was up at Corwins. The other end of the line said "Well, you tell Hazel that I will be down there pretty soon, if she comes before I get there. Did you ever hear the like? He might find some one else in his place, some time if he isn't careful. I wonder if there is any danger of it.
He came about 8 o'clock and told me about the basket Ball Game. The boys were nearly put out of the hotel, they were so noisy. Clarence G. and Ruby Hasecoster will be married Feb. 28, 1905 at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Fred & Walter Wilson are to be ushers. I don't know who the rest of the bridal party are but suppose I'll know in a short while.
George & Florence came down and we made fudge on my chafing dish and you should have tasted it. Oh I have never saw such stuff in all my life. I am going to try it once more & if I don't have good luck with it I'll never make another bit. Promised I would make Rose G. some & then I am going to quit. I guess they must have had a good time for they surely acted as if they did. We generally do anyhow. After Fliz & George went home, Fred said that he would bring down some oysters next Sunday night and we would make some soup. Ill wager it wont be fit to eat. George asked Florence to go to the Junior Public & banquet and of course she told him she was going with Harry Ross. Now wouldn't it be terrible if they should not let Harry go? Oh I think it would be horrible. Fred went home at 10:30 & I went to bed. H.B.R.
Monday Jan. 30.
I got up earlier than usual for father had to write out that horrible argument for English. I chose "why the electric light plant should be in the hands of the city and not the private owners." Father is an electric light commissioner and of course knows something about it. That is the reason I chose that subject for I knew he could help me with it. Had a Latin examination that morning and I think that I got a pretty good grade on it. I wrote examination questions on the board for Miss Mering all afternoon and worked on my pillow in the spare moments. Brought the "Grammar" examination papers home to grade. Fliz came down after school and we popped corn. We ate enough to kill a person. I went up there after supper and graded the examination papers. I got home about nine o'clock and then went to bed. H.B.R.
Tuesday 31- Came to school worked on my pillow the first hour and also found out a lot about the Public. George R. & I worked at the same table. The second hour Alice Hill & I went in the Chemistry Room and teased Prof. Thompson until Fred came in. He was feeling very good I guess for he got his hat & told me to get my coat and we would go up to the grocery to get something to eat. We went to the exchange & I bought 10¢ worth of doughnuts. On the way up there he asked me to go with him to the show to help take care of his little niece, Margery. I said I'd help. The show is "Happy Hooligan." The company is considered very good I guess. When we got back to school we divided up the doughnuts and had very much fun. Mr Thompson called the little balls, bullets. They were I guess. The third hour Fliz, Katherine Rettig & I all went up on the chapel stairs to study. We were studying away for dear life when who should frighten us to death, but George Rettig & Fred. We sat up there and studied when we didn't talk. Rudolph Hill was up there for a while too. Florence likes him pretty well I guess. I think he is a nice biy myself. I graded examination papers all afternoon and was about dead by the time I finished. I made Fred add up the grades and read them to me while I put them in the book. We then came home. After supper the B.O.G.'s met down at our house and we had quite a nice time dancing & telling jokes. All of a sudden we heard some one say "Hello Hazel." I went to the window & there found that George and Fred had raised it & were standing laughing as hard as they could. They would have come in for half a cent but I didnt want them for some of the girls didn't know them very well. They went on home. I gave the girls apples to eat for that was about the easiest thing I could think of to fix. They all went home at 9 o'clock. I answered Charles Ross's letter after they went away and then went to bed. H.B.R.