1913 Perspectives on the Importance of the American Revolution

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

Monday, February 24, 1913: My essay is almost done, all but the conclusion. Think it will be finished by tomorrow night.

Picture Caption: The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781; From the painting by Turnbull in the Capitol at Washington (Source: American History for Schools, 1913)

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

Grandma was writing an essay on the American Revolution. I always think that the Introduction and the Conclusion are the hardest parts to write.

A few days ago, I told you how the chapter on the Revolutionary War in a 1913 history textbook began. Today, I’ll share the concluding paragraph of the same chapter:

The peace concluded at Paris in 1783 closed one of the most heroic struggles for human liberty that the world has known; but it opened, for the Americans, problems of peace no less serious and difficult of solution than those of war.

American History for Schools (1913) by R.B. Cousins and J.A. Hill

Initiated New Gray Suit

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

Sunday, February 23, 1913: Went to Sunday School this afternoon. Initiated my new suit by falling down. The wind blew my hat off and in racing after it, I fell when I went to pick it up.

1913-03-41.d — Source: Ladies Home Journal (March, 1913)

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

How embarrassing! Poor Grandma– I can almost picture a couple cute guys standing on a street corner in McEwensville laughing as Grandma chased after the hat and then fell.

The previous day Grandma wrote about buying the new gray suit in Milton.

1913 Shoe Styles

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

Saturday, February 22, 1913: Mother and I went on a shopping expedition this morning. I doubted whether we’d ever get to Milton. The train was late, and it looked rainy. Ma got me a gray jacket suit, two waists, one is silk, and a pair of shoes which I think I will keep for graduation.

1913 shoe — All shoes from a Red Cross Shoe advertisements in Ladies Home Journal (April, 1913, October, 1913)

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

It sounds like a fun shopping expedition. The shoes must have been very special if Grandma planned to save them for graduation.

Grandma and her mother probably rode the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg, and Berwick train to Watsontown. There was a flag stop at the feed mill near their farm. They probably then took the trolley to Milton. According to my father, Grandma used to call the train the Sweet, Bye, and Bye because you never could tell when it would come.

Having Fun Being the President

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

Friday, February 21, 1913: Our Literary Society met again today. It is rather fun being president.

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

Two weeks earlier, on February 7, Grandma wrote:

We had our literary meeting this afternoon and also elected officers to take the place of the old ones. They had to go and elect me president.

When I posted that entry, I was uncertain whether Grandma was secretly pleased that she was the new president or if she had qualms.

In any case, I’m glad Grandma was now enjoying her new role.

I wonder what she liked about being president:

Did she like being able to choose what the Society did?
Did the presidency may her feel more popular?
Did she like the power?
Did she . . . ?

Getting a New Fingernail!

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

Monday, February 17, 1913: I have discovered the fact that I am getting a new nail on my once sore thumb.

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

I bet Grandma was looking forward to when her thumb nail would look like this. (Source: Wikipedia)

Whew! Grandma must have really injured her thumb back in December, if it’s taken two months for her to know whether she’d get a new nail.

This was the third time that Grandma mentioned the injured thumb in the diary. (If she hurt it as badly as it sounds, I’m almost surprised how few times she wrote about it.)

Here’s a recap of the previous entries:

December 16, 1912

Our dearest Ruth left for Sunbury this morning and my heart is rather sad. We killed some pigs and I took a slice off the end of my thumb. Oh sad the day, for I don’t care anything about having a sore thumb.

January 20, 1913

I have a sore thumb although I do not think it is as bad as it was several days ago.

Sonnets of a Suffragette

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

Sunday, February 16, 1913: Went to Sunday School this morning. Carrie was over this afternoon.

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

What did Grandma and her friend Carrie Stout talk about?

This was the era of suffragettes. Did they ever talk about the role of women—and whether they should have the right to vote? (The 19^th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, won’t be ratified until 1919.)

Maybe they discussed a book published in 1913 by Berton Braley called Sonnets of a Suffragette.

Here’s the first sonnet in the book:

I read a lot about the Suffrage Cause.

In nearly every paper that I get

There’s something said about the Suffragette

And Woman’s Right and “brutal manmade laws.”

It’s funny, but this “Votes for Women” draws

It’s leaders from the very smartest set.

I don’t know what it’s all about; and yet

I think I’d like to join it—well—because!

Why should I be a frivolous young thing.

Thinking of gowns and dances—and of men—

When I might help make the welkin ring

With “Votes for Women! Like the Upper Ten?

My sheltered life has been too calm and quiet;

The Movement calls me—and I guess I’ll try it.

Packer’s Tar Soap Advertisement

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

Saturday, February 15, 1913: Was so disappointed this morning. Thought perhaps Ma would go shopping this morning, but she didn’t.

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

What did Grandma want to buy? . . hmm. .. Teens “need” trendy shampoos, cosmetics, and grooming supplies.

Maybe Grandma wanted beautiful hair and needed Packer’s Tar Soap.

Source: Ladies Home Journal (May, 1913)