Hundred-year-old Polka Instructions

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, October 15, 1914: << no entry>>

Source: Ladies Home Journal (October, 1914)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

There was a hint in a diary entry last summer that Grandma may have had a boyfriend—and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she’s having lots of fun (and is too busy to write in the diary).

Maybe Grandma went dancing. Here are directions in the October, 1914 issue of Ladies Home Journal for the polka:

Before I explain the polka it might be well to tell why I think it should be revived and modernized—not to take the place of the other dances so popular now, but to add variety to all dance programs. We have at present a leaning toward things old-fashioned. This is most noticeable in the quaintness of the fashionable woman’s attire. In fact my wife is wearing at parties the dress you see in these photos.

Possibly the most important excuse for a revival and modernization of the polka is because it is easy to learn and so enjoyable to dance. In the polka you hop rather than slide, which exactly the opposite to the usual steps in our other present-day dances. The hop, if not exaggerated, is most graceful. The counting for this dance is 1 -2 – 2 – hop, 1 – 2- 3 – hop. You do the hop after the third step. . .

The Canada Goose in a Hundred-Year-Old Book

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, October 14, 1914: << no entry>>

Source: The Bird Book (1914) — Source: *The Bird Book* (1914)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Fall is here. Some things haven’t changed much across the years. Did Grandma see any Canadian Geese flying South a hundred years ago today?

Here’s what a book published in 1914 had to say about the Canada Goose.

Canada Goose

Range: The whole of North America, breeding from northern United States northward, and wintering in the southern parts of the United States. Its familiar “honk” and V-shaped formation in which the flocks migrate is always an object of interest to everyone.

The Bird Book by Chester A. Reed

Hundred-Year-Old Swans Down Cake Flour Advertisement

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, October 13, 1914: <<no entry>>

Source: Ladies Home Journal (April, 1914) — Source: *Ladies Home Journal* (April, 1914)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I thought that you might enjoy this 1914 advertisement for Swans Down Cake flour.

Blister on Finger

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Monday, October 12, 1914: Nothing much doing. Have a blister on my finger from giving it too much exercise. Adieu till something happens as the days go by.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

LOL Grandma—I love your sense of humor, but PLEASE find something worthwhile to write soon. Writing in your diary may be losing meaning for you, but we hang on every word you write and need to hear your daily words.

Picture Taken Under Apple Tree

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Sunday, October 11, 1914: Went to Sunday school this morning. Carrie was over this afternoon, and we had our pictures taken under an apple tree and sitting on the pasture bare.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

It must have been a lovely October day if Grandma and her friend Carrie Stout decided to have someone (her sister Ruth?) take their picture.

I’m a little confused by the phrase “sitting on the pasture bare.” The modern literal interpretation of the phrase makes no sense within the context of the times. Is the pasture bare. . . of grass? . . . of cows? . . . of fallen apples?

Took Two Pictures!!

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Friday, October 9, 1914: Took two pictures this morning.

Picture in a 1913 Kodak Camera advertisement

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma—

It’s awesome that you’re still enjoying your hobby, but more details please.

What was special enough to justify taking TWO pictures? You always use such care when deciding to take a picture. Film is so expensive—and if you are sending the film off to be developed that costs a lot, too. . . and if you’re planning to develop the pictures yourself, that’s a lot of work.

—

An aside: A new Friday Update is posted on my author website, Sheryl Lazarus.com. This week I’m trying to figure out what I want to do during the final months of A Hundred Years Ago.

Went to an Entertainment

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Friday, October 9, 1914: About once a week take the notion to write. Well, there really wasn’t anything important. Ruth and I went to an entertainment given in Watsontown. Some fine music I listened to.

Here's a picture of Watsontown--though I don't know where the Opera House was located. Perhaps the building no longer exists. — Here’s a picture of Watsontown–though I don’t know where the Opera House was located. Perhaps the building no longer exists.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Welcome back, Grandma! We’ve missed you. The day-to-day happenings in your life are more important than you think.

Did you and your sister Ruth go to the Watsontown Opera House? I’ve heard that the theatre’s name is more presumptuous than the actual building—but that it’s the best place in town to see good performances.