My Granny's Journal: 2014

August, 1914

The next week or a little more we four girls did all the work and let Mama rest. The next day after I got home from Institute I wrote Mickel a letter to try to make him understand that I was not always the fool that he knew at Institute. Mon, June 29 he sent me a card from Holton, he was on his way home and said he would write me a letter later and he did July 1 and it sure was a great one. He told me not to worry about his opinion of me as he knew of no girl in whom he would feel freer to put his trust. That he was a freak with a hobby (the worst possible), that I was an unsophisticated little virgin with a great big heart (the best possible), etc. You can imagine the effect it had on me. The third of July I got a dandy letter from Miss Palmer. She went to Colorado. It sure helped me. I stayed all night with Mary that night and all day the next day. La Vera Wagoner was there visiting with Mary. When we got ready for bed, La Vera took a couple of flashlight pictures of us. The next morning we decorated the front porch suitable for a Fourth of July. Mildred Smith, Irene, Kelley and Esther R were all out for dinner and Jim Michaels came over from Scranton. I presume we had a lovely dinner, we always do there. In the afternoon we played croquet and took pictures. I rode home with Esther and Gertrude and the latter stayed all night with me, I think. The folks spent the day at Besse Pearl’s. I remember of having a nice visit with Lura about this time. I loved her very much. She told me that she didn’t live with her mother until she was five years old. I wonder if her mother and father were married. I think they were and I wonder what caused them to separate. Lura got some refinement somewhere and surely not from her mother (This was my thought at that time). When I wrote to Aunt Bessie thanking her for my present I told her about us kids doing the work and asked her if she didn’t want me to come out and keep house for her. She wrote back and wanted to know if I meant it and I assured her that I did. So she sent me five dollars to come out and I hastened to get ready. Before I left I wrote a short note to Mr. Mickel telling him my plans and giving him my address. Harold Allegre came out to see me one night before I left (the night of the day I talked to Lura). We discussed the probability of the girl’s legitimacy and he told me how much he thought of her, etc. Then, pretty soon Howard, Jean, and Earl Brown drove out and visited with us a while. Howard talked to me, the first time since we severed partnership. He seemed to like Lura pretty well and was afraid for he found out that Eugene Sellards was coming back to school here in the fall. I found that night that my love for Howard was certainly all gone. I liked him and I do yet. If he needed help that was in my power to give I know I would give it. But love him -- I do not. I feel sorry for him because he is not growing like Harold and even Jean. Oh, I forgot to say that Mr. Mickel sent me a note July 8 saying he wished I was there to enjoy the fog timber moonlight with him. It was after I got that that I sent my note to him.

Tuesday evening, July 14, I went up to Topeka on No. 16. Uncle Ed met me and took me over to their home. The next afternoon, Aunt Jennie and I went over to town and did some trading and in the evening we went over to the park to the Band Concert. It was sure great and thoroughly appreciated by me -- my mind was in a receptive mood for music.

[Here the pen and writing changes]

Before I go any further, I must say that Mr. Fred Crumb called me up before I left for the West and said that Jillian Avery got her certificate. You know I was second choice. If she didn’t pass, I could have No. 49. She has been trying for a certificate for about six years and this was the first time she passed. I saw her several times this winter and she certainly looked improved so I couldn’t help but be glad that she got the job.

Well, July 16th at noon I started for Preston. I remember one girl that was on the train that was very proud of the fact that she wasn’t afraid to travel by herself, that she didn’t mind changing, or staying over in a little town she didn’t know all night, etc. Then there was a woman and a little girl that went to Hutchinson. She carried one of my suitcases when we had to change trains at Herrington. It was about 9:30 when I arrived in Preston and Uncle Walter met me. He looked quite sporty in his black and white checked cap and his white rubber soled shoes. They live just a couple of blocks from the depot east. Aunt Bessie dressed in a black silk Kimona and the kiddies Walter and little Margaret with their nightgowns on were sitting out in the yard. Aunt Bessie fixed some dandy sandwiches for me and some cake which I ate with great glee. Uncle Walter played and romped with the kids a while and then he had to go back to the store (He owns more than half interest in the Drugstore.) and soon I went to bed. First though, I read a letter I had from Miss Starbeck that was there waiting for me. I had written before I left. The next day and the next I spent helping Aunt Bessie with the work. Of course I went uptown quite often, at least once a day and sometimes oftener (now this last and next applies to all the times I was there). Sometimes Walter would go with me and sometimes both of the kids. We would go to the drugstore and get something to drink and stay for a while. I saw Cora for the first time at the P.O. Cora Williams is Assistant Post Master Either Fri. or Sat. I got two letters -- one from Miss Palmer and one from Murray G. The latter was going to K.U. Summer Session. One Sun. afternoon before I went to Preston, I had quite a little talk with him. That reminds me, I saw Mabel once before I went and the same day (Sunday).

Mr Ferris introduced me to his niece, Allegra Thomas, that had come to visit them. I introduced her to Margaret H. as I knew I wasn’t going to be home and I guess the three had a good time while Miss Thomas was here. She could play the violin, so of course Margaret was suited. Well, one of these two days, Fri or Sat when I was in the drugstore, Harriet Williams and her father went past but stopped when they saw me and came in and talked to me a little while. I remembered her from when I was here six years previous. Then I met Sarah Williams (about eighteen years old) when she came to bring the milk to Aunt Bessie. She was (or is) Cora’s sister and they look very much alike -- nearly black hair and dark eyes, and very jolly. Not very particular about their dress, but nice girls. Sunday the 19th I went with Harriet to S.S. and stayed to church. Mrs. Fletcher taught “our” class and some of those in it were: Georgia F, Harriet, Sarah, Bonnie Huff, Zel F, Lee Wilsey, Alma Hughes, Myrtle Kutz, Alfred Rawlins, etc. Mrs. Fletcher “ran” the church and S.S. and nearly every one got terribly disgusted with her. Prof. Osborne led the singing, that is, when Mrs. Fletcher would let him. They had just remodeled their church and it looked awfully nice. It burned this winter and they have just finished a brick one (May ‘15). That afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Florene and Harriet came along in their car and took me riding. We went out to Florene’s uncle’s. We entertained ourselves by talking and climbing up the wind mill. Ha! I knew Florene when I was there before -- also Georgia Fletcher. It sure was fun riding through several inches of sand! I don’t remember whether I went to church that evening or not. The next evening Harriet and I took Walter to a circus that was in town. He had spent nearly the entire day over to the grounds watching the “enuphilant” and I presume learning a few new sweater words. He certainly was a genuine boy, nothing “sissy” about him. The circus wasn’t great but when Walter was here I noticed he still remembered some things that the clown said and did.

Tuesday, the 21st -- I got a letter from Mickel. He said he failed in the exams in Osage Co. and was going to Clay Co. soon to take them again, that he would visit with Florence (she lives at Stockton). He said there was no telling what would turn up and he thought I ought to be concerned. I was awfully glad to hear from him and sent back a letter right away so he would get it before he took his exams, wishing him the best of luck both with them and his Lady, and assured him that I was concerned in any thing that interested my friends. That morning, Uncle Walter, Little Walter and I drove to Pratt in the car. Uncle Walter is certainly a reckless driver! He speeded up to go over all the bumps and usually went about thirty miles an hour. We went to the Court House (a very pretty building) and talked to the County Superintendent concerning any school without a teacher, but evidently there were none. Then we went to a café for dinner, did some shopping for Aunt Bessie, and soon came home.

I hadn’t been in Preston long when I got cards from Mama, Kelley, and Fred D. The last said he was going to B’game and the said in quotation marks, “I don’t know whether I’ll be back tonight or not.” Ha! I answered it but never heard from him again. I presume I wrote to a great many people, but I have no record of the ones I wrote, merely the ones I got. In July, about the 22nd, I got one from Barbara Shaw that was sent to B’game and one from Kelley. I usually answered my letters within a week.

The first week and a half I went walking in the evening several times with Florene and Harriet. One evening in particular, I remember we went down to the latter’s home and I saw Sam Williams. I knew him when I was in Preston before. He is going to K.U. The older brother Charlie just got his degree that year (1913-1914). He now (May 1915) is Post Master in Preston and Sam is still going to K.U. There are nine children in that family. Other evenings, Aunt Bessie, the kids and I would sit out in the yard. The kids would lie on a quilt and fuss and finally go to sleep. Aunt B and I would talk, she, telling me about every one in town. The I would carry Walter and Aunt B would carry Margaret and we would put them to bed.

Saturday evening, the 25th -- Little Walter and I went with Uncle on a call. I enjoyed it because I got to sit out in the car by myself for quite awhile, the first time I had been by myself for a long time. The next day they had a doin’s at the church. Don’t know just what it was. I went with Sarah in the morning and I remember the Editor sat on the other side of me and fanned me with his hat. He certainly was a disagreeable creature! Among other people, Aunt Bessie had told me about a certain young man in the town that was very handsome, smart and a good singer, but had no ambition. I had seen his married sister, Mrs. Goldie Hays. She played the piano at church. The young man’s name was, in fact, is yet -- Lawrence Sillin. Aunt Bessie had told me about their feeble-minded brother and I saw him for the first time this day. He is harmless, but an idiot. He knows enough to take care of himself and can work, but that is all. In the afternoon I had been somewhere with Sarah, perhaps down to her home, and had left her when I came up with Cora and the “older bunch”. She introduced them to me, There was Prof. Osborne, his sister Vera, Miss White, a teacher, and Lawrence and Edwin Sillin (the latter a cousin to the former). I think that evening was the time I went to church by myself and sat just inside the door and as soon as services were over, I made a bee-line for home. But I wasn’t swift enough. A young man, real tall, came up and said, “May I walk home with you?” and I said, “Why, I don’t know you!” and he said, “My name is Paul.” and I said, “I guess not.” I told Aunt Bessie about it and she said she supposed it was because Raleigh didn’t know any better. One night during this next week, I went with Cora and Sarah and Johnnie Hays to take the milk uptown and to take Sarah up to Schneider’s to stay all night with Pearl. Johnnie Hays is a boy about twenty-two, tall, not very good looking, who has gone with Georgia Fletcher for many years, but they did not go together last summer. (Suppose they wanted a rest, for they are together again, or were for the winter anyway!) Johnnie is Goldie’s husband’s brother. The father keeps a store of General Merchandise. Before I left Preston, the mother, Mrs Hays, and I got to be real good friends. She was a sober looking woman, but really full of fun. Loyal, Goldie’s husband, worked in the Bank.

The last of July, I got letters from Emily Davis, Mary M. and Baby. Bernice and Baby went to Topeka and stayed about a week, the day I left there. The evening before I left Topeka, I called Mama up over the phone to tell her it would be O.K. for the kids to come up and I could hear plainer than I can when I talk to Mary M. through Scranton. Mary’s letter was all about Chautauqua at B’game. She went with Jean all summer (and is yet -- June 15). Mary writes very jolly, interesting letters!

July, 1914

[Here the pen and writing changes]

June 1914

We started to Institute the first day of June. It was in Osage City. Marion Oliver, Gertrude, Lottie and I rented two rooms in the second story of Dr Heller’s home. One, a great big room with a bed and a sanitary couch, bureau, table , etc. in it -- our parlor and bedroom. Then we had a cubby hole with an oil stove and table which served as a kitchen and another one that was a closet. Then we had the use of the bathroom too. Tommy, Oscar and Kenneth were next door. Zella had to go to Topeka. There were two girls down stairs from Lyndon, Ella Fleming and Ruth Potts. And two up in the attic, Laura and Eula Detrick. The Instructors at Institute were Mr. Deardorff, Mr. Heilmann, Mr Kratochril, Mr. Walter, Miss Schoecraft and Miss Hunsicker. I had classes under all except the first and the last. I don’t think I recited more than once all during Institute but it didn’t bother me much. Lottie and Marion got breakfast because they didn’t have to be there the first period. Marion and I got dinner and we all got supper or we let Marion do it. She really did most of the work. Institute hours were from 7am to 12:30. After dinner we would plan what we would have for the next three meals. Then in the afternoons we would shop, study, or visit with our neighbors down on the porch or in the yard, or we would go to town and always trying to keep cool -- my, but was it hot!

Dates? O yes! A great plenty -- thank you! The first two weeks I went with Oscar and Lottie went with Tommy and the other two girls stayed home and -- well -- and played mean tricks on us. I have been retrospecting and I find that I only went with Oscar that first week. One night, the four of us, Lottie, Tommy, Oscar and I took something to eat and walked ‘til we found some woods, but they were so damp we really ate in a stubble field nearby. But we had a gay time. Then I went with him to a lecture, and the rest of the time I suppose we spent down in the yard. You see there was one hammock and a bench in the yard, a bench and a porch swing on the porch. There was usually a mad scramble for the hammock. Oscar was really still going with Leone H at the time and she came down one night and stayed all night with us, about the beginning of the second week, and after that I didn’t go with Oscar and he started going with Bernice Nelson. A little fellow, the sportiest dresser and looker in Institute had been coming down to see Eula about every night. His name? O yea, it was Clifford Mickel, or Prof. C.G. Mickel. One night, I was standing on the porch, I guess I didn’t have a date that night and he and Eula were in possession of the bench in the yard and I heard him ask her where I boarded and she told him it was I, standing there on the porch, and she came and introduced us. Now I don’t remember the exact dates of many incidents I’ll tell but that matters little. One day, the last of the first week or the first of the second, Mr. Mickel and I “sat out” a class. We went into the Assembly room and talked. Then one afternoon about the same time, Lottie and I met him as we were coming from town and he was coming from our house from seeing Eula. He took us back to town and treated us and then came home with us. I think it was that same night that he was down to see Eula, Lottie and I have dates with Cozier and Fred D. respectively and Mickel made me understand some way, by what means I have forgotten, to get rid of my company and he would go and then come back and visit with me. Well, it didn’t work, for I didn’t get rid of Fred, and in truth I didn’t try very hard. But it was a rare joke -- because he came back and if I remember right, Eula was still in the porch swing and I don’t know what excuse he made to her. Well, to be plain about the matter, I lost my heart, or thought I did, to Mickel. Then Wednesday afternoon of the second week (June 10th), Mickel was down, in fact there was a crowd of us out in the yard studying -- Botany, I think. It seemed that Eula’s beau was coming to see her that night so Mickel couldn’t come to see her, and I guess he had asked Bernice Nelson for a date and she had one. So he asked me if he could come down to see me. I hated to be third choice but I said he could come. When he would come down with his white trousers on, looking so sporty, to see Eula, also a swell dresser and a pretty girl, I thought how nice it would be to have such a perfect gentleman to talk to, but I was disappointed! I’ll come to that presently -- however. By and by he called up and wanted to know if I wanted to go on a picnic on the lake with the “Carey” bunch. I didn’t care much about it, but we decided to go. Well, we had a boat ride, and something to eat, and by the way, the most beautiful sunset! But the bunch was sorta cool to us, so we decided to go home. We met Mrs. Karey and she asked Mickel why he didn’t take one of her girls. Ha! Well, he told me nearly his whole history on our way home, and when we got there -- wonder of wonders! -- the hammock wasn’t occupied, but it soon was. Then the kids began to come. Everyone had a date that night, including Ruby Mings and Marguerite Simpson. They stayed all night with us that night. Well, I was disappointed in Mickel and he was the same with me and when he went home we were greatly disgusted with each other and our selves. I’ll finish telling about Mickel and me first. No, I won’t now either, I don’t feel so inclined.

Well, I think the next date I had with Mickel was the next Sunday night. He went to Soldier, his home, and planned to come back at noon and stay with me until the motor. But he called me up from Soldier and said he couldn’t possibly get here before motor. But he got off here when the train stopped and helped me on. I introduced him to Bernice. We got along somewhat better that night. I remember that it rained and we had to seek shelter on the porch. He had a girl -- a “regular one” -- out in Stockton and he didn’t think it was right to “spoon” with everyone. Well, I didn’t either, but I thought I loved him. Poor foolish child that I was! He even doubted the propriety of demonstrations of affections before engagement, but they weren’t engaged. Well, that week, Thurs noon, I think Bernice came down to visit with me. That night we had a gay time. As usual there was a crowd of boys and girls out front. Marion danced and sang and Lottie took up a collection among the boys. I think they got about eleven pennies. Then the boys said if we girls would all walk down to the drug store single file in the middle of the pavement they would treat us. It was only two blocks but one was right thru a block of Main Street. Well, we started out, I think there were nine of us, but Eula decided she was too dignified for such actions, so she took to the sidewalk. Lottie followed, as Oscar kinda wanted to go with Eula about that time. Finally we all followed, but we went to the drugstore and the boys followed. There weren’t nine boys at first, but several came straggling in afterward one by one, Mickel among them. And really, he came and sat by me! Well, it was a decidedly hilarious bunch. They clapped at everyone who came in, regardless of sex, age, or looks. Then the rest of the bunch went to the show. Mickel, Bernice and I went home. Bernice was rather peeved at first, but she recovered. Mickel gave me his ring to wear that night and Winifred was quite happy and he said that I was a proposition -- ah! The next night he went to Lyndon to his cousin’s wedding. Fred D happened to be hanging around me that afternoon as our bunch was planning to go to the lake. So about six o’ Fred and I walked down to the depot and we saw Mickel coming. He came over to us and seemed quite flurried and said, “I don’t know whether I’ll be back tonight or not.” We all went out to the lake, had several nice boat rides, and I remember Roberts singing ”Sit down, You’re Rocking the Boat” and something to eat, and then Fred was kind enough to come back early with me, for I had a curiosity to know if Mickel came back and he didn’t come. Bernice got disgusted about something and came home all by herself and we three went to the movies. I don’t think I had any more dates with Mickel after that. He started going with Bernice Nelson. Oscar was going with Eula, and I was left out. That last week I played the role of a disappointed lover and rather enjoyed my affliction, I’ll confess. Oh, he sat with me in several classes, we “sat out” another period in the upstairs study room and he came down often in the afternoons to study, but no more dates! The last night we were there, Fri of the fourth week, there was a musical given by the Institute. In the afternoon they had a picnic in the park and I remember one incident in particular. Mr Heilmann said that Mickel seemed to like to try all the girls. Mickel’s cousins (girls) came through Osage that day in their car and he went to Topeka with them. Miss Schoecraft and Glenn Gill were quite worried for fear he wouldn’t be back in time to sing in the quartet and Glenn asked me about it, thinking I probably had a date with him. But I was ignorant, quite! Kelley and Lottie had dates that night with Ms Daniels and a fellow from Lyndon. Marion and I went together The former sat with Jennie Scott and I sat with Bernice Nelson. That night is very vivid in my memory. It was fearfully hot in that assembly room. It is on the north east and the bugs flew in quite thickly. Bernice was oh-so nice to me and well she might be after stealing my man. I finally decided from what she said that she had a date with Mickel for that night but he had sent word to her that he couldn’t be there until later. Finally he came looking quite sporty in his white trousers. I can see him quite plainly as he turned around several times and looked at us two sitting there together and I remember his solo part of the quartet, “Who Did?” There was a boy, man, or creature here by the name of Jesse Jones. Marion nicknamed him Uriah Heep and we always called him “Uriah”. He made such a fierce face when he sang as though he were in great pain. Marion told him not to look so pained so this night when he went off stage he smiled so broadly at Marion that she about laughed too much. Marion and I went to the drugstore after it and Mickel, Jennie and Bernice had the nerve to follow us and to sit at the same table with us. Many and expressive were the looks Mickel and I gave each other. He asked if any of us had a fountain pen we could lend him, he had lost his. I said he could have mine, and he and the girls came down for it and I guess I showed my feelings pretty plainly -- foolish, of course, but I never see my indiscretion until too late. The next afternoon he came down to give me my pen, to tell me some of the questions, and to get his ring (an awful loss for me!). Then he went up to the depot with us and I remember of wondering at the time if he would come down a little later with Eula, and then the next day with Bernice. Now I believe I have exhausted the subject of Mickel and me at Institute and I’ll tell something else.

Other dates! Well, a few with Fred D, one with Max Hoover, one with Glenn Gill, and it seems like I had one with Willie G. They had ball games quite frequently and we girls went whenever the Institute team played and other teams too. My little Mr. Mickel was catcher on the Ins. team and cute he looked too! Some of the tricks Marion’s fertile mind conceived: towards the first when Lottie and I were out later than they, the girls sewed up our nightgowns around the bottom and sewed up the sleeves -- a lot of trouble! I came up first and didn’t turn on the light (the street lamp was sufficient) and when I discovered it I went to the bathroom and ripped it and came back into bed without a word. When Lottie came, I told her and she did the same and we laughed in whispers and never mentioned it. Another time, they put our gowns in the pillow slips, but we couldn’t find them -- so! Later when Kelley was going with Willie and Lottie with Tommy, Marion and I went early to bed. By and by, the kids came running in to escape the thunderstorm and others with them -- Eula and Oscar, and I think Ruth had a date that night. They stayed in the hall and on the stairs and Mrs. Heller played the Graphophone. Our bedroom is right at the top of the landing. There is a turn in the stairs and so Marion and I went out on the landing, danced to the music, and peeked down to see who they all were. They heard us, I guess and Tom started to come upstairs and we sure hastened to safety. He stayed at the turning of the landing and so all Marion did was to throw a pair of Gertrude’s stockings at him she had just bought. I think he kept one of them for about a week.

A couple of houses west of us lived the dearest little girl, about nine or ten. She had dark hair that was bobbed, and was rather small and very pretty -- Florence Webb. She would go past on her bicycle, especially in the evening when it was cooler, singing with the sweetest little voice and waving at us, if any of use were near the window. She came down often and visited with us, when we were out in the yard. In fact, she spent most of her time with us, but I, for one, liked to have her. She has sat with me many times in the hammock or on the bench and she was the first little one I ever felt much of a love for, and at times I loved her even passionately. Strange perhaps, but true. She called Oscar “Cutey”. She had a crippled sister, about fourteen, that played the piano and her name was Frances. I think the mother was crippled too, but not so badly. Bernice Nelson needs a little explaining -- but not today!

Oh, yes. Bernice Nelson! Well, she is a pretty girl with dark hair, a very pretty mouth and teeth, and a dark complexion with pink cheeks. She has a slender form and is a little taller than I. She stayed all night with us girls one night and came up one afternoon that I remember very well. She wanted to go over and see the boys (Oscar, I mean) and this weak-willed child yielded. I rather hung back for I didn’t know whether the boys would be in a condition to receive visitors or not, but up she went and she certainly acted a fool. Oscar has told me since that he sure thought that was a peculiar thing to do and he said he noticed my embarrassment. One thing about her, she understood Mickel pretty well and he made no fool of her. I got one card from her after Institute. She went with Fat Brackman some last winter, but he didn’t exactly like her foolish ways. It’s too bad, she is so pretty!

When my Normal grades came Mama called me up and told me what they were. In fact we were all talking to our mothers about that time. Mine were: 83 in U.S. History, 87 in Reading, 88 in Methods, 89 in Management, 94 in Geography, 96 in Arithmetic and 98 in Grammar. Kelley and I called Mr Heilmann up and told him our grades. We all passed but Beulah.

Lee Kelley brought Inez down one evening on his motorcycle for supper. That reminds me I had a short ride on Fred’s motorcycle one evening. Zel was down and stayed all night with us oce, but I don’t remember what we did that night.

Everyone called Marion O “Ma” (Mickel does yet) and naturally we spoke of Miner as “Dad”, so we three kids wrote a letter to “Darling Dad” one day and he sent back a dandy cartoon of himself, old Farmer Corntassel Mr. Deardorff was awfully good to me, he went out to a school board (during Institute) and tried to get them to hire me, but there was nothing doing. He talked to Keller and me one day in the study room all one period and his subject of conversation was “That Boy of Mine.” He and his mother were to visit once and he was a pretty fellow!

Another person that was always in the study room with us was Lloyd Sharp. He sure was a big one -- physically at least. I had a short talk with Tommy one day. He showed me a letter he got from Ruby Mings and there were shocking things in it. I think that Ruby believes I broke him and her up. I hope I did, although it wasn’t intentional. Tommy is too good a boy to be spoiled by Ruby or any other girl like her. She has her match now -- Eugene Sellards. It’s a wonder to me how they can keep out of serious trouble. The next subject is Stahl’s picnic, but later.

I went down to Burlingame at noon and went to Miss Palmer’s and ate dinner with them. The Camp Fire Kids all went in a carry all. Marshall Randel and Walter Palmer too. I saw a few of Zel’s Auburn pupils. Also, Bernice and Dale. About supper time we had a great shower that spoiled the supper program. Henry Allen spoke in the afternoon. We ate our suppers and then soon started home and another storm came up. We certainly did get soaked, but we wouldn’t worry about such a wee thing! I stayed at Miss Palmer’s till time for #17. I got about two hours sleep too Then when Mr. Palmer came along in the bus, I went. Mr. Allen and I were the only ones in it and at the depot too. In our conversation I got onto another dangerous subject. That is a weakness of mine, and the results were worse than I would like to have them. Marion, Lottie and Kelley met me at Osage, at least they were across the street. They didn’t stop to dress, just shoes, a skirt and a coat! Ha! Marion did put some stockings on but she kept pulling them up so she finally took them off. I didn’t get to sleep for some time after I got to bed that night. My brain kept going and I was filled with all kinds of feelings. I know just how I felt as I lay there looking out the window at the heavy clouds in the sky that were moving so fast, and every now and then I could see the moon for a minute.

The next is my correspondence during Institute:

The next day I wrote him a letter -- foolish probably? Joe wrote me a letter the first week I was at Institute and I went with him still some times, but after Ins. was out, I wrote him a letter. I discontinued our partnership and in just a little while they got a car. Think of it! The second week, I got one from Lura and one from Harold, also one from Karl B. I wrote one to Mrs. Charlton and one to Happy M. which was never answered. I presume I wrote to Lura and Harold the first week and answered the ones I got from them. They were going together at the time and Harold said it was the first time he was really smitten. I got a letter from Mary the third week (I wrote to her the first), also one from Lura and one from Margaret H. Lura fessed up to loving Howard yet and I guess it lasted most of the summer. He went out to see her a number of times and made Mina feel bad and he just owned up to Mina about it in the Hall sometime and then stopped going out to see Lura. Now I believe I have told all the Institute incidences I remember.

May 1914

The first couple pages are missing, so this starts midstream, describing the events around her graduation from high school in May of 1914. Winifred was 17 years old. No dates are given on the first few pages. Much later, she notes that she is writing in May of 1915 about events that happened the summer before. Winifred must have had notes of some sort; she seems to have recorded her incoming and outgoing correspondence, and perhaps she kept a calendar? Either way, her recollection of events is impressive.

Perhaps because she is not writing daily and is reflecting on the past, her writing is much more fluid than elsewhere and sometimes hard to follow. I am surprised by so many run-on sentences! [kp 2021]

...to try to out do each other and us Seniors in dress. Mine was light blue brocaded poplin (I guess) with wide lace ruffles to the skirt and a pink girdle. Mary was my crony that night. She came with Jean. The underclassmen didn’t bother much. I don’t remember what we had to eat but I suppose about the usual things. At my table were Miss Steckel and Lloyd, Jean and I. I think Edna Ellis was toast-mistress and Oscar responded for us Seniors.

More another time.

Then Mr & Mrs Heilmann gave us a reception. I remember we had a very nice time. At our table were Ed Hoover, Josie B, Harold and I. I stayed in town at Grandma H’s that night and had no date. On Baccalaureate night we met at Heilmann’s to go to the Opera House. Harold and I led the procession and Rev. Davis preached the sermon. I remember that I was the only hatless girl but it didn’t bother me any for I was comfortable -- and I knew I had a hat. Any way, my dress was white fla?? with a tango girdle. Harold offered to take me home but I went with the folks. The next night was Class Night when we gave our orations. I wore the same dress as I did the night before. Oscar gave the History, Guy the Prophecy and my subject was “Music -- its relation to Us” or something similar.

Commencement night was Wednesday the 20th. I was the first one in the front row and sat between Ed Hoover and Harold. The Scholarship wasn’t announced -- but I guess it makes no difference. My dress was white embroidery and voile -- and if I remember correctly I was the only girl with black slippers on -- but that didn’t fret me either.

The Alumni Banquet was the following Friday night. Harold took me and Zella went with us.

I remember Ogilvia was Toast Master and Zella was quite proud of him, but Harold and I didn’t think he was lively enough. A few speakers I remember were Maurice Mehle, Wayne Snoddy, Mr. Heilmann -- what great applause he got -- and Oscar We new Seniors added quite admirably -- one stunt we did was to all rise and drink to someone’s health or rather it was a “toast”. Then we yelled quite vociferously. Harold told me something that night about Howard -- his feelings toward me, that I must ask him about again. I think it would help me a little in regard to the “Lawrence Mystery”. But you know nothing of that yet.

Now I will enumerate my graduation presents if I can remember them: a set ring with three emeralds and two pearls from the folks; a lavalier with ruby teardrops on it from Zella; a spoon from Bernice and Baby; a Pin from Grandma M, a fountain pen from Aunt Mettie, a spoon from Uncle Guy’s folks, a cameo lavalier from Uncle Stewart, a spoon from Uncle Ralph’s family, three shirtwaist pins and a handkerchief with tatting on it from Grandma H, a rose pin from Aunt Minnie, and rose hat pins (two) from Karl and Louie, a ten dollar gold piece from Uncle Greeley, a graduation book from Aunt Jada and also one from Miss Tilley, a hair receiver from Aunt Bessie, Spoons from Marguerite Weston, Helen Symons, and Mary M, two hand-painted plates from Alma and Laura, a book from Aunt Jennie, also one from Miss Palmer, a pearl handled pin from Joe Haller, a box of correspondence cards from Mrs. Charlton, and a box of chocolates from Karl Buek and a coin purse from Margaret Hotchkiss. Now I think that is all the important things that happened in May.

A photo of Zella, Bernice, Winifred and Babe Mitchell, 1914 or 1915. Winnie wrote in her photo caption of this, "That was a beautiful dress I was wearing; lavender wool crepe, with wide tie and sash of oriental design silk."