Should Daughters Be Allowed to Go to the Beach?

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

June 18, 19, 20: These days are filled with uneventful proceedings not worth mentioning.

1913-08-03.b — Source: Ladies Home Journal (August, 1913)

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

The summer doldrums continue—and it looks like Grandma didn’t even write in the diary for a couple days, and then just summarized her ennui on the 20th.

Did Grandma ever wish that she could take a fun holiday trip—say to the Atlantic Ocean? . . . and did her mother worry about “young people today”?

Here’s a fun article I found in the August, 1913 issue of Ladies Home Journal:

How Much of This Do You Want Your Daughter to Share?

An Editorial in Pictures

The pictures on this page are taken from photos at the “bathing hour” on various public beaches that dot the Atlantic coast from Cape May to Cape Ann. They accurately indicate the free- and easy-familiarity that is continuous on these midsummer playgrounds from the opening of its season to the close.

Are the situations such as you would wish your daughter to have a share in, such as you would even have your daughter see? Where do you think such easy familiarity between the sexes—between the young of the sexes—leads? Nowhere, do you say? Would you be willing for your daughter to take a chance of such familiarity, leading—nowhere? Yet that is precisely the chance thousands of American parents take when they permit their daughters unrestricted indulgence in the attraction of our public bathing beaches.

Tired From Picking Strawberries

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

Tuesday, June 17, 1913: A feeling of weariness creeps o’er me, as a result of too much stooping yesterday.

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

I bet that Grandma was picking strawberries again. This is the third June that I’ve posted Grandma’s diary. This post makes me realize how much I’ve gotten into the ebb and flow of her life. She can merely write that she was tired from stooping–and I immediately think, “It’s June so she was picking strawberries.”

Diary entries in previous years suggest that a neighbor raised strawberries for sale and that Grandma was hired to pick them.

On June 12, 1911 Grandma wrote:

Started to pick strawberries this morning. Of course it will mean some early rising and loss of sleep, but just look at what I can earn.

And, the following year on June 10, 1912 she wrote:

This morning I picked berries and helped myself to some. I wonder if anyone saw me. . .

And, on July 1, 1912 Grandma felt rich:

Stopped picking strawberries today. All my earnings, about $4.00 in all, I still have and expect to keep until I spend them.

Old Washingon DC Souvenirs

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

Monday, June 16, 1913: After having been absent about for a week Ruthie returned at last this evening. Now it won’t be so lonesome for me. She brought me a souvenir and ever so much to talk about.

Hail stones rained from the sky in great abundance after she got here.

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

Grandma’s sister Ruth returned from a week-long trip to Washington DC. I can just picture Ruth sitting at the kitchen table, and happily sharing the story of her wonderful adventure.

What was the souvenir that she brought back for Grandma?

Sisters–You Can’t Live with Them, and You Can’t Live Without Them

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

Friday, June 13, 1913: Went to Sunday School this morning. Children’s Day Services were held up at the church this evening, which I attended, although Ruth wasn’t here to be my escort.

It probably was lonesome walking home from McEwensville without her sister. At least we're near the summer soistice so it probably was still daylight. — It probably was lonesome walking home alone after the service. At least it was near the summer solstice, so it probably was still daylight.

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

Grandma’s sister Ruth was still away on a trip to Washington, DC. Throughout the diary there’s a bit a sibling tension between Grandma and Ruth—and she calls Ruth, “Rufus” in the entries when she was upset with her.

I’m sure that Grandma had more farm chores when Ruth was gone—and I’d previously wondered if that was the primary reason that Grandma missed Ruth. But this entry sounds like she genuinely missed her sister’s companionship.

It reminds me of a comment Dianna made several days ago:

You know how siblings can be: can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em. (Oh wait, maybe that’s MEN…!)

Began Piano Lessons

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

Friday, June 13, 1913: Started to take music lessons today. Went up to McEwensville this afternoon on some business.

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

I assume that the lessons will be piano lessons since Grandma wrote on March 29, 1913:

. . . Ma bought a piano. I’m so glad for now I can learn to play.

Grandma was 18-years-old. This seems relatively old to me to be starting piano lessons. Was she looking for new activities now that she had graduated from high school?

$5 Bill is Crowning Star of Graduation Gifts

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

Thursday, June 12, 1913: I was a bad girl today and am taking myself to task.

When Pa came home he brought me a graduating present. It was the crowning star of them all: a five dollar bill.

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

This is one of the few time that Grandma mentioned her father in the diary. It generally seemed like he probably spent much of his time out in the barn or fields—and that he wasn’t very involved in household activities

The previous day Grandma wrote that her father was away and that her married sister Ruth had come out to “help take care of us for Pop was away.”

What was he doing when he was away? Whatever it was must have gone extremely well, if he felt prosperous enough to give Grandma a five dollar bill for a graduation present. This would be the equivalent of about $120 today.

The graduation gifts sure straggled in over a long time period,Grandma graduated from McEwensville High School on April 23. In April she wrote that her mother gave her a $2 gold piece. It’s surprising that her father gave a separate gift, and that it took him a month and a half to give it to her.

Grandma made quite a haul. This is at least the 22nd gift that she received.

—

Overall a good day—but Grandma was mad at herself. Why did she do that she was taking herself to task?

Married Sister “Taking Care” of Family

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

Wednesday, June 11, 1913: Besse came out this evening to stay overnight and take care of us for Pop was away.

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

Where did Grandma’s father go? . . . and why? Farmers generally stay pretty close to home—especially during the busy planting and harvesting seasons.

Besse was Grandma’s oldest sister. She was married and lived in the nearby town of Watsontown.

Why did the family need to be cared for when their father was gone? Grandma was 18-years-old and her mother probably was also at home (at least the entry doesn’t indicate that she went anywhere). Seven-year-old Jimmie was the only person who seems like he may have needed any care–but I don’t picture that her father was generally very involved in taking care of him.

You’d think that two adult women won’t need another one to take care of them.

Maybe what Grandma really meant was that Besse came out to help with all of the farm work. The diary entry two days ago said that Grandma’s sister Ruth had gone on a trip to Washington, DC, so the farm was short-handed by two people .