18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Thursday, April 24, 1913: I had no idea that I would be so tired. I guess last night was not too much for me. Went up to McEwensville this morning, but not to go to school, for that indeed is past for me. I got home just in time to see the girls off on the train. My presents still seem to be pouring in. This morning I got a dress by parcel post.
Previously mentioned gifts included a gold hat pin and a handkerchief
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma might have been surprised that her graduation ceremony exhausted her—but I’m not. Major events are tiring!
Grandma’s two cousins came the previous day to attend the graduation—and now were returning home.
Who gave Grandma the dress as a graduation present? . . . a friend? . . . relative? Was it handmade . . . or “store-bought”?
A Hundred Years Ago 
I also thought your grandmother might not recognize her graduation as emotionally exhausting.
Maybe it takes a little age to recognize that celebrations of major milestones tend to be exhausting. 🙂
Interesting questions about the dress. The answer today about what kind would be “store-bought” :-).
The methods and technology used to make clothing, as well as the marketing of fashions sure has changed over the years.
Are the hat pin and handkerchief actually your grandmothers Sheryl? She must have been feeling quite surreal the day after her graduation.
I was wondering the same thing!
No, unfortunately they’re not. I just used them as illustrations for the post.
Her educational achievements were well appreciated judging by the gifts she received.
She did get a nice group of gifts.
Such an exciting time in her life!
Hi Sheryl. Graduation is a special time, but even today it takes a lot of time and energy. My son’s graduation (now 10 years ago), was an endless round of parties and preparation, not to mention the exams. I said at the end of it, I felt like I had graduated twice! Jane
There is so much involved–for both the child and the parents– in preparing for a graduation. But, it’s so much fun!
I can understand her feeling tired. The summer after I left school I often got tired.
Transition periods can be emotionally draining. 🙂
Just having discovered this wonderful journey with your grandmother’s diary, I’ve been enjoying catching up! What a treasure you have!
Thanks for taking a moment to write the nice note. I have a lot of fun doing this blog–and it’s always wonderful to hear when someone enjoys it.
I saw this link, and thought of you.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/100-years-later-time-capsule-opened-185852550.html?vp=1
It sounds like the items, including a dress and a pair of women’s shoes, are pretty well intact.
Thanks for the link. It’s awesome that the items were still in pretty good condition. I remember that a church I attended years ago opened a time capsule that had been put into a cornerstone of the church years before. Unfortunately, water had gotten into it over the years–and very little was left of the items.
The ladies that preserved the items did an amazing job! That hat looked spectacular, and the shoes still had a shine! 🙂
Vintage, such delicate gifts and I believe her dress was custom made…, 🙂
I’m guessing that it was, too. I want to imagine that her grandmother, or someone else who was very special, made it for her.
Like having Christmas half way thru the year, wa-who! I wonder how much it was to mail a parcel then? We really pay too much I think.
The parcel post stamp I found was for $1–but I don’t have any idea how heavy a package could be mailed for that amount.
I love it when she writes long…or long-er…posts, like yesterday’s and today’s.
Are the pictures of the actual gifts?
No, they aren’t the actual gifts. The pictures in this post are just random pictures that I used to illustrate the post.
Okay, that’s what I thought haha.