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• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 43 folder: 1 id62644
  Diary
  1914
  Scope and Contents

  Scope and Contents The following description was provided by the seller: "Pearl's (...) descriptions are vivid, ranging in length from one word, "Cold," to lengthy accounts of events. Pearl is a keen observer and reporter of what's happening at the high school and around Moravia, and on one occasion admits to being an eavesdropper. As Pearl writes about school and after-school happenings and community social activities, she names other students, residents and neighbors. We also read about the activities of her older sister Ruby and younger brother Wesley, as well as male and female friends. We read Pearl's complaints - she'll say she never goes anywhere or does anything but is socially active, out and about. On the other hand, she intentionally passes up opportunities to go places, stays home, and then feels sorry for herself that she didn't go. Things are "dandy" or "sad." Pearl is taking academic classes, two different languages, and is involved with the debating team. Her parents were active in club and church organizations as described in this diary and in their obituaries, activities shared with other adults residing in the village of Moravia who had some means and leisure time. At the time of writing her dad owned a meat market in Moravia. Pearl's mother was born in Moravia, the daughter of George and Mary Morey Stone. Pearl went on to post-high school training in Auburn, had a responsible occupation, never married, resided in another city in New York State but not too far away, and visited Moravia frequently." The following excerpts were provided by the seller: "Jan 8 - Cold- The freshmen went on a sleigh-ride last night, to Groton, & the boys all got drunk. The girls said they acted something terrible. A nice reputation for the High school. Jan 15 - Cold- Elsie B. has a little boy. Grandma is here yet. Jan 20- Cold. I am making me a waist this week. To-night the Whist club met over to Van Ettens'. They lacked one, so they asked me to go over. I went, but they lacked still another, so we didn't play but one hand. The others played till about eleven. Jan 30- Tut and I went to the game to night. Brockport played. It was B.-31, and M.- 7. But Moravia played well, just the same. Those Brockport Normals are great big fellows. Groton's first team played Moravia second, & Moravia beat them all to pieces. "Sweet Alice" and several other Groton "Rooters" were here. Feb. 10- Cold. This P.M., a little after 1:30, there was an earthquake! I did not feel it, but Mama & Ruby did. It knocked one man out of his chair. I wish I had felt it. They felt it every where around here, Auburn, Ithica (sic), New Haven, Conn., etc. Feb. 13- Cold. This P.M., we had that Prohibition debate between the girls & the boys. The girls won. They all did finely. The boys had a yell, something about Rum, Rum, Rum by gum. Prof. told them what he thought about it. Feb. 27- Cold. After school our S.S. class went to Cal's & heard a Missionary lady talk. This evening I helped wait on table at the Women's Missionary Society Banquet. To-day is Papa's birthday. He is 53 years old. March 18- To-night Ruby's club had a St. Patricks party at Laura's. They dressed up, half of them as girls, & half as boys. Ruby was a boy, & Mabel S. was her girl. They certainly looked funny. March 27- Cloudy- foggy- and Rain to-night. This P.M. the girls spoke for appointment. Those appointed were: Amy, Margaret Jones, Irene Helmer, Erma Starkey, Mabel Williamson, & Carrie Arnold. To-night we had our show. And it was great, too; "If I do say it myself, if I do say it myself." Everything went off very smoothly, no mistakes, & alright. I am glad it is over with. But we have got to repeat it next Tues. night, on account of the storm. I don't dread it the next time at all. We took in $11.05 to-night. There were 80 there. March 31- ..... (long entry) To-night we had the play again. One lady thought it was better than it was before, but I disagree with her. They made some of the funniest speeches. James G. said, "The oysters have turned in the milk." I shall never forget that. Acrobatic oysters! There were nearly as many people as before. April 13- Warm. It seems good not to go to school. I like to have a rest once in a while. April 22- This A.M. the Senior Banner (Red & White) was up on the flagpole, & the walk in front of the Schoolhouse was painted in Red & White. "Stop, look, listen, 1914," etc. But this noon it had all run in together, & it was all black, & looked horrid. Prof. spoke to them about it. They just copied after class of 1911 anyway. Their pink & white paint shows yet. [The next day's entry is long and outrageous, as different classes plot ways to ruin other class's banners. Here's an excerpt.] April 23- ... To-night, when I came up stairs, I heard a couple fellows, outdoors, talking about the Junior flag - so I listened. One of them said "For the Senior class to pay $2 to an outsider to take down the Jun. flag gets my goat!" And it does mine, too. I wonder who the outsider was. April 25- Rain. Last night the Jun. & Soph. boys staid alright in Mrs. Perkins's attic, from which window, the wire holding the flag was fastened. The Sen. boys went to take it down. They had a rope over it, & were just going to pull the flag down, as the boys in the attic... April 28- Real hot. A loveluscious day. .... Miss Wade had the 1st year Eng. class write letters about the flags to a Jun. or Soph. Esther Odell & Fannie Mc Allaster said they wrote to me. .... May 22- Hot. I got up at 3:30 o'clock this A.M.! The Moravia House barn, & Mrs. Ward's barn burned. When the bell rang, we all dressed & went up. Both of Mr. Weaver's auto-buses were in the barn, & burned, & one of Mr. Myers's horses, & a cow were burned. Everybody, nearly, was there, hair hanging down the back, etc. The fire was quite a sight. And Mr. Ward took everything out of his house, which caught fire several times. It was getting rather light when we came home. I didn't go to bed again, & it has been the longest day. It seems as if the fire was nearly a week ago. We ate breakfast before 5. ... May 24- Real warm. Today was my birthday. I am 16. (Sweet Sixteen). ... May 28- Last night, in the night, Ellen McAllaster died. It was certainly too bad. She went through so much. Has been in the bed over 14 weeks. But I heard that she said goodbye to all of the family, & said that she was ready to go. May 30- .... Ellen's funeral was this afternoon. It was the saddest funeral.. I still feel rather weepy. Six young boys were the bearers. June 9- Hot. M. Teed has asked me to go to the Sen. Ball. I guess I will go, but I don't want to with him ["don't want to" are underlined]. I wish he hadn't asked me. ... [Be careful what you wish for, Pearl!] June 25- I didn't go to the Sen. Ball! Milton's grandfather died last night, so he couldn't go. Gladys K. wanted me to wait on table, but I wouldn't. June 22- I waited on table at the Junior Reception tonight, with 5 other girls. They had an entertainment, & then ate. Mae Fisher and I were honored with having Mr. and Mrs. Pitts, & Mr. and Mrs. Mead at one of our tables. Perry said we were the best waiters, so they were going to put them at our table. Some honor! July 1- Cool. O, dear, I feel orfully (sic) discouraged tonight. It seems as so I never have good times like every one else. I never go any where, or do anything. .... July 4- ... After supper R. called up from Fulton's, & said that she had fallen in, & for me to take her other pair of shoes up, and Arlene got her feet wet, so she had to wear a pair of Mr. Fulton's shoes home. She looked too funny for anything. July 6- Hattie Close has got to have an operation for appendicitis tomorrow. Poor girl. July 17- Hot. Rain this P.M. It rained hard all the P.M. & evening. 3 or 4 showers one right after the other. In Auburn it was awful. In some streets there the water was 5 ft. deep. I had a dandy time up to the lake. We got up at 5 o'clock both mornings, & went rowing before breakfast. Thurs. A.M. Mama & Papa went fishing, & Ruby, Edwin, & I went down the inlet, and R. took some pictures. We went in bathing both P.M.s, and Wed. P.M. Papa rescued a girl & fellow. We were just going in bathing, when Papa noticed that a canoe had tipped over in the middle of the lake. It was a girl & fellow, & they were hanging onto the overturned canoe. Papa & Wesley jumped into one boat, & Ruby, Ed, & I into the other, and we beat it. We heard them laughing, and.... July 27- ... Mama got a letter from Ruby tonight. Says she's having a scrumptious time. Wesley & I were vaccinated tonight. July 28- Gertrude B. had her tonsils taken out today. Aug 20- ... Amy's vaccination for typhoid is working. Tonight the kids intended to go on a corn roast, but on account of the rain, couldn't. The girls took the boys to the picture show. Then they all went to Cook's, & then walked way down South Main St. past the houses, & danced the Va. Reel in the middle of the road! Crazy Kids! Aug. 21- ... We are worried about Miss Shoemaker, because of the terrible war in Europe. In our Middletown paper, is a letter from a man, who tells how terrible it is, & what a time he had in getting out of Germany. ... & two ladies escaped from Germ. He said the ladies were teachers from New York, & one was about 21 yrs. old, & could talk Germ. That might have been Miss S. ... Her Uncle heard from her some time ago, & she said she was in the thick of the fight, & might be killed any minute. [a long fascinating entry; regarding Middletown - Pearl's father was originally from CT] Sept. 2- The Chautauqua opened today. It is great! We went this P.M., to the lecture, & a shower came up, & it just poured [underlined]. ... And this evening the entertainment was just great. Dandy orchestra, & Mr. Tagart kept us laughing all evening. Oct. 12- Herald Fitts has been getting worse all along, & tonight it was reported that he was dead. That was contradicted, but they don't expect him to live till morning. Oct. 30- We went to Mabel's tonight. Every one dressed up in sheets. Madeline & I met them at the door with our sheets on. We played games, had supper, etc. Had a good time. Nov 26- Real warm. Thanksgiving. We had spare-rib, & everything that goes with a Thanksgiving dinner. It has seemed just like Sunday all day. Dec. 25.- Cold. Merry Christmas. I got a writing desk! "Just what I wanted." I had headed my list with that. But did not expect to get it. Its a peach. .... [long entry about family gifts, their family's fun gift-giving rituals, all reflecting the year-round love, happiness, and good times in the Warner household] Dec. 30- The Rebeccas give a dance the 14th. Big supper, etc. Perhaps [underlined] I will get a date for that. But I doubt it. Dec. 31- Das Ende von 1914."