18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, January 26, 1914: Nothing to write.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Since Grandma didn’t had “nothing to write” a hundred years ago today, I’ll share pictures of hairstyles in the February, 1914 issue of Ladies Home Journal.
This is the third time that I’ve posted hairstyles. It’s fun to see how the styles have changed–and are starting to look a bit more modern– in subtle ways since 1911:
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, January 23, 1914: Don’t remember what I did today. My memory is rather leaky.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Sounds like a slow day. Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’ll share some dress pictures from 1914 issues of Ladies Home Journal.
This is the fourth year that I’ve shared dress pictures from Ladies Home Journal. You might also enjoy some of the previous posts.
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Thursday, January 22, 1914: Ruth and I went to town this evening to hear a talk given by a Jew in the Reformed Church.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
The previous summer, on June 1, 1913, Grandma wrote a diary entry that was very similar to this one:
Went to Sunday school this afternoon. Took my time a getting home. I heard some of the best speaking I have ever listened to this evening. A converted Jew talked about some of the customs of the Jewish people in the Reformed Church at McEwensville.
I can’t figure out why a church would have two presentations less than eight months apart about Judaism, and why Grandma would be interested enough in the topic to attend both presentations even though she was a Baptist.
These diary entries make me want to learn more about Jewish culture in the US a hundred years ago, and how Jews were perceived by Christians in the early 20th century. Of course, these diary entries were written years before World War II and the holocaust. . . .
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, January 13, 1914: Ditto
The Start for Her
“My Dear Girl” said a father to his daughter, “what do you suffragists want anyhow?”
“Why Dad, we want to sweep the country.” Replied the daughter.
“Do you?” said the father, “Why, now, suppose you take a broom and start with this room.”
Ladies Home Journal (January, 1914)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
The previous day Grandma wrote that it was cold outside. Since she didn’t have much to say a hundred years ago today, I’ll share a joke (and the illustration) about suffragettes in the January, 1914 issue of Ladies Home Journal.
Women didn’t get the right to vote until 1920. It’s somewhat shocking how little support a women’s magazine in 1914 showed for women’s rights.
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, January 3, 1914: Made a call this afternoon, so that the time wouldn’t be so tedious. I’m wishing and longing for a sleigh ride, now that there is sleighing.
Ruth and I went up to Wesner’s this evening. There were some other girls there too. Renewed my acquaintance with a former school mate whom I hadn’t seen for over three years I guess, until I saw her on Christmas eve. Had a good time.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Yeah! It sounds like a fun evening (though I’d long to go sleighing, too—especially if I had to walk to and from town in the cold and dark).
Helen “Tweet” Wesner was about the same age as Grandma and her sister Ruth. She lived on a farm at the edge of McEwensville—and often was part of enjoyable activities and events.
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, January 2, 1914: Have a hard piece of music on hand now, which will mean some work for me if ever I am to get it in some kind of a creditable condition.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma’s lesson must have gone well since her teacher decided she was able to handle a harder piece of music.
Grandma’s mother bought the piano the previous spring—and Grandma began lesson shortly thereafter. Did her mother buy the piano to in an attempt to make Grandma feel more content on the farm?
A very wordy advertisement for Tiery pianos in the March 1, 1914 issue of Kimball’s Dairy Farmer Magazine encouraged parents to buy a piano to help keep their boys and girls on the farm.
A hundred years ago farmers worried a lot about their children leaving the farm for more urban areas. Advertisers often picked up on that fear to market a product. A previous post contained an ad for Harley Davison Motorcycles that also promised to keep the kids on the farm.
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, December 16, 1913: Kept house today and found something to do nearly all day.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
It’s funny how housework can expand to fill the time available. What did Grandma do to keep busy all day? . . pick up? . . . dust? . . . sweep the floor?
Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’m sharing a December, 1914 request for donations from the Salvation Army. I went grocery shopping today, and the Salvation Army bell-ringer was outside the supermarket. It’s interesting to see how it was done a hundred years ago.
