Doctor Not at Home

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

Thursday, March 26, 1914: Walked to Watsontown this afternoon with the expectation of having my nose doctored, but the doctor wasn’t at home.

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

Hmm. . . what was the problem? . . . stuffy nose? . . .sinus infection? . . . something else?
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This diary entry brings back memories of similar experiences I had when I was a child. I can remember visiting two Watsontown doctors—Dr. Persing and Dr. Yannaconne—when I had a cold or other minor ailment.

Both had offices in their homes. No appointment needed—just stop by during office hours and wait your turn. And, the medicines or salves they gave me always cured whatever ailed me. . . .

Getting Eggs and Butter in the Mail

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

Wednesday, March 25, 1914: Nothing to write.

Source: Milton Evening Standard (March 31, 1914)

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

Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’ll share an article from a central Pennsylvania newspaper, the Milton Evening Standard.

The nation was moving rapidly into the modern era—people could order butter, eggs and other farm produce directly from farmers, and the US Postal Service would deliver it a few days later.

I can’t imagine getting my groceries in the mail today. Wonder what happened. . .

1914 Waists (Blouses)

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

Tuesday, March 24, 1914: Finished my waist today. Got a birthday present. It came a couple of days behind time, but really doesn’t make much difference.

Source: Ladies Home Journal (July, 1914)

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

We now know that Grandma was making a waist when she wrote the previous day:

Got a streak of sewing today. . .

Waists is an old-fashioned term for tailored blouses or shirts. They were also called shirtwaists.

Regained 3 Pounds

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

Monday, March 23, 1914: Got a streak of sewing today. I get the streaks quite often in many variations. Another one is to get rid of some of my superfluous fat. 140 pounds (January) is entirely too much for a girl of my age. I don’t weigh that now, since I lost six and gained about three. Intend to take advantage of the other three and fight for dear life.

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

Grandma lost 6 pounds after her tonsillectomy. They were removed on March 11, and two days later she wrote:

Weighed myself this morning. I had lost six pounds. My tummy is flat you can bet. Ate solid food for supper.

March 13, 1914

My memory is that Grandma was fairly short when she was an older woman—maybe 5 feet, 1 or 2 inches. She probably lost can inch or so as she aged, but I don’t think that she ever was over 5 foot 3 inches max.

—

Grandma—

You can do it. Hang onto those three pounds. 137 pounds sounds a little heavy—and you don’t want to regain any more.

Allowed to Go to Sunday School

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

Sunday, March 22, 1914: Went to Sunday School this morning without being told to stay at home.

Road Grandma would have walked down as she approached McEwensville. At the stop sign she would have turned right to get to the Baptist Church.

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

Hmm. . . why was Grandma surprised that she was allowed to go to Sunday School?

I think there’s a guy Grandma likes who goes to her church—but I don’ think that her parents are restricting her activities though maybe she thought that she might be grounded for staying out until 2:30 a.m. on the Friday night before she wrote this entry.

Grandma’s missed very few weeks since she began keeping the diary. She didn’t go to Sunday School the previous week—but I’d assumed that her father won’t let her go because she’d had a tonsillectomy five days prior to that entry:

Was so put out this morning. Pa aid I wasn’t to go to Sunday School. I was anticipating some of the kind. I stayed at home and took a physic. Boo hoo. . .

March 15, 1914

19th Birthday and Almost an Old Maid

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

Saturday, March 21, 1914: It doesn’t seem to me that this day is long in coming. Time was, when I wanted it to come, now I don’t. Am afraid it may come some day and find me an old maid.

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

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Don’t stress. Nineteen is not old, and I can see in my crystal ball that you aren’t going to be an old maid—though you are going to need to wait another 7 years to get married.

Another Late Night

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

Friday, March 20, 1914: Home 2:30. Went to sleep this afternoon and when I awoke was sleepier than ever.

The road between the Muffly farm and McEwensville.

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

Grandma—

You came home at 2:30!! What were you doing? You must have been having fun to have stayed out so late.

This is getting to be a habit. On February 18, 1914 you wrote:

Ruth and I went to a party tonight over at our cousin’s. We walked to town and from there the party was conveyed in sleds. Didn’t go very fast as the roads were full of snow. My, but we did have the eats. Bet there were some, who made it hard for their poor tummies. Got home 2:30 a.m.