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RUTH ALDEN CLARK’S DIARY 1928-1930
AUGUST 1
WED 1928- Was extra girl. Wrote letter. Troop meeting & no
Life Saving!! Went out with Pam, Muriel, etc. to lay trail for dinner hike. It
rained and the rest didn’t start out so we had to come back.
AUGUST 2
THU 1928- Life
Saving again- awfully hard- studied breaks and respiration. Went with Flowers in
P. M. and worked out under big tree writing up flowers. Was going to swim with
Dot H. but couldn’t find her. Worked till 6 P. M. on flowers.
AUGUST 3
FRI 1928- Terribly
hot. At 10 o’clock we all had to go down to Kismet in middies and pleats to have
pictures taken. Baked all morning. Pictures weren’t taken till about 11:30. Went
up hill for dinner and had to go back at 2. Took picture of us running to
campfire yelling! with ball and singing songs at campfire. Had rest hour from
3:30 to 4. Went in swimming with Dot H. She helped me practice Life Saving.
AUGUST 4
SAT 1928- Didn’t go to Life Saving. We died our bandannas.
Then J. & I went to see Aunt Jess about going to Maine, leaving, etc. Then I
went to Handcraft. Awful rainstorm in P. M. Couldn’t hear whistles to relay.
Were supposed to have Campfire at Pancho Playhouse . Macy was over but it rained
again & we had it in our cabin. Knights, Inisfree & Macy visited us. Miss
Schvottsky told us two lovely fairy tales. Dot & I talked till almost Taps.
After Taps we ate Peanut Crackle mother sent.
(NOTE-
Macy, Knights, etc seem to be names of other scout clusters or units at the
camp. Kismet, Pancho Playhouse and a few other names seem to refer to locations
within camp. sdm)
AUGUST 5
SUN 1928- Got up early to go to Catholic church. Lewis
drove us in. Barb went to Catholic with us. It was quite odd but we could follow
what other people did fairly well except concerning collection. We had come in
such a hurry we had no time for getting money. Had ride afterward to pass the
time waiting for others. Doris explained to us about Catholic church. Washed
clothes. Got awful headache. Thought I couldn’t eat dinner but I did. Spent most
of P.M. in tent watching visitors. Had Scouts Own. J. was in it.
(Whenever ‘J’. is mentioned this
very likely is Jeanne Bowman sdm)
AUGUST 6
MON 1928- Was
late to Handcraft. Waited to finish a letter asking for money for trip to Maine.
Went on flower hike thru swamp. Got slightly dampish. Had campfire
on the lake. Stubby gave instructions on canoeing. I demonstrated strokes with
him!! Got giggles in good night circle by road when councillors told about wood
pile plan.
AUGUST 7
TUES 1928- Went
over to Handcraft. Got about 4/5 of belt (blue suede) done. Payed for things.
Had her cut out bright blue suede purses. Nature in P. M. as usual. Tex tried
to teach us a new song! Had campfire down the hill at Pancho Playhouse. Aunt
Jess (Hello Jessica!!) got slightly peeved at us. Several short plays given. Tex
tried to teach us a lot of long songs- We sang doodle daddle to one all thru!
AUGUST 8
WED 1928- Was a
cook with Edna. Everything for breakfast had to be cooked but got along O.K.
Troop meeting morning. Spent most of A. M. working on a new song. I tried to do
Nature in between times. Councillors were away for supper. Other patrol had 1
utensil meal & we were quite wild. Aunt Jess came to campfire- we played some
good games and had ‘some mores’ . Had lots of fun.
AUGUST 9
THU 1928- Got
up early. Tried to clean cabin before brkfast. Finished after. Took Jewel’s cake
to kitchen. At 8:45 went to Kismet to work on Flowers. Worked till 12:35!!
Rushed up to lunch and back again to finish. Was going to Macy after Rest Hr.
but Miss C. not there. Had to go rounds with troop. Gained 10 lbs!! Ironed my
middy. After supper was going to pack but Pam informed me that I must go to
Ossining with Lewis to get money at telegraph office. So I did. Back in time for Crt. Of Awards. Made punch after. Had nice party as usual in Gypsy Glen.
AUGUST 10
FRI 1928- Eventful day! Got up at 5 o’clock to pack. Had
packing done by brkfst. Was K.P. After finishing work got arrayed in Scout suit.
Went up to Tip Top and got autographs. Spent most of morning getting them and
also pictures. Barb & Muriel expected to go on bus but
(their
sdm)
mother came . Very sorry to leave but had to. Long trip on bus thru N.
Y. but interesting. Refreshed ourselves
<(Jeanne Bowman and Ruth Clark
sdm)
in
(Girl Scout
sdm)
Headquarters. Miss Grey- awfully nice- took us to station. Went up to 5th
Avenue. Had ice cream. Watched people in Grand Central- boarded train. Cute
little dog in baggage car. Sort of nice girl slept in upper berth.
AUGUST 11
SAT 11- Got up
at 4:30 thinking it was 5:30 but train was slightly early so we didn’t have long
wait in train. Mr. B & Mrs.
(Jeanne
Bowman’s parents sdm)
met us in new car. Good
to see them. Parked to wait till stores opened. Ate little brkft. Then sang our
songs to them and showed things made in handcraft. Did a little shopping. Got
cloth for shorts & drove to Aunt Jenny’s. Nice place- lovely house, dog. Had a 2
hr. nap in P.M. after doing dishes. Played croquet. Decided to do all dishes
while here.
AUGUST 12
SUN 1928- Slept
kind’a late. Got ready to go on a drive after breakfast. Went to Poland Springs,
a wonderful, magnificent swimming resort. Saw Maine State House, and
drank water from the famous spring. Ate our dinner near Tripp Lake where there
was a speedboat & numerous people swimming. Stopped at Quimby’s on our way
back. We were so tired, dilapidated, etc. we didn’t want to but Clarence Q. was
so nice to us. Took us to Bear Pond and met daughters Betty and Pam.
AUGUST 13
MON 1928- Got
up at 5:30. Mrs. B. went to Lewiston. Played croquet and made sun shorts out in
yard. Had quite a time with pup. Helped wash clothes. Took nap in P. M. Played
croquet again. Took in clothes. Started to make candy but lost ambition. Played
piano most of evening.
AUGUST 14
TUES 1928-
Slept late. Awfully hot- 96 in shade. Took off G.S. uniform and played, jumped
in the hay in barn. Then we carried & carried water into the barn (for the
horse, like fun) and poured into tubs. Then took our first real bath in 6 weeks
in the barn with soap suds galore. We also gave the dog a bath or tried to.
Stayed in bed most of P.M/ reading, etc. Then we got up and donned middy and tan
bloomers. Played croquet. Dresses came. Then we went for a buggy ride with Bale
<(sp? name of horse?
sdm).
Loads of fun. Ate supper in yard. Played cards after supper.
AUGUST 15
WED 1928- Read
and wrote 4 letters during the morning. Mrs. B. came back- also Cousin Fred and
Mrs. Fessenden. Mrs. B. & Aunt Jenny went to celebration- then Mr. & Mrs. B.
went to Lewiston.
AUGUST 16
THU 1928- Got
up early- put water pans on, washed after breakfast- a huge washing. About 1:30
started out in buggy (J. & I perched on the back) to Round Pond. Ate lunch on
moss after tying Bale up. Went in swimming with only 3 other girls in. Played
cards in suits, got dressed. Drove back Bale got awfully restless tied up &
pawed up ground. Played croquet (4 of us). Went star gazing.
AUGUST 17
FRI 1928- Got
up early. Sprinkled clothes. Ironed after breakfast. Frank took us out to pick
white water lilies. My they were beautiful. Picked things from garden then went
to Livermore Falls with Frank. Sat in car and read Stella Dallas. Mr. & Mrs. B.
came at noon. Went on another picnic at Round Pond and this time in cars. Went
in swimming & washed hair. Crazy boys there who tried to frighten me swimming
under me. Played piano for Mr. B. most all evening. Did a lot of packing- duffle
bag, etc.
AUGUST 18
SAT 1928-
Didn’t start for Boston as had planned. It was raining. Fixed rooms, packed,
etc. Helped Mr. B. pack things. Went to Jay?, long drive in the rain with Frank-
heaps of fun. Went to country auction after dinner. Awfully muddy drive. Washed
ca?. Played cards again. Had autographs signed. Went to bed.
AUGUST 19
SUN 1928- Got
up very early. Finished packing and carrying things into car- had breakfast &
said goodbye to farm. Had 170 mi. drive- stopped at several beaches. Unpacked
things. Went over to Sherman’s Had fun with Arthur.
AUGUST 20
MON 1928- Got
up- naturally, ate breakfast and started for town. Jeanne forgot something and
when she went back found Sarah- Lucky Break! Got skirt, hat, sweater, stockings,
etc. Had fairly good luck finding things. Came home for lunch. Did some packing.
Went back to Central Sq. for a few odds and ends. Walked home with Sarah.
Manicured nails, mended after supper, wrote in you, took bath, went to bed.
AUGUST 21
TUES 1928- Did
final packing and got dressed in traveling clothes to start home. Went to
station with our exceedingly large amount of luggage in a taxi. Got to train
half ?...ly. Station under construction- very stuffy, hot and dirty in coach.
Trio of exceedingly silly and giggly women next us. Got to Montreal Station,
ate, read, bought a few things, and sent postal to Arthur. Had nice porter on
Pullman.
AUGUST 22
WED 1928- Got
up late. Read Mc Call’s all morning. Little boys across from us . One 8 months
very cute. Had hot choc & ---(?
) for lunch &
bought Mining Journal but not much in it. Entertained boy taking him on porch.
Changed trains at Soo. Waited 2 ½ hours at Soo. Junction. Skipped up and down
Pullman. Everybody thought we were crazy. Were people we knew on train. We
ate our
lunch and finally 2 ½ hrs passed. Got into coach for Marquette , had a sleep
then strained eyes for lake. Midnight passes.
AUGUST 23
THU 1928-
Reached home at 12:30- 45 minutes late- was so excited- Conductor thought I’d
jump off train. Papa and Alden at station. Mama waiting, Robert and James
asleep. Talked and then saw movies. Got to bed at 2 o’ clock. Slept till ten-
very anxious to see James. Unpacked rest of morning. Went to camp with Jane, J.
& mother (who drove). It looked so wonderful. Played cards with Jack Paull <(sp?).
AUGUST 24
FRI 1928- Went
downtown with J. to get a few things for mother from trip. We were afraid every
other person we met would stop to talk to us but we only met one. I had a movie
party for Jeanne’s birthday. R. Brown , Mary, etc. Mother left for Iowa- Boo
Hoo!!! I want to go too.
AUGUST 25
SAT 1928- Stickneys
from Ohio here for lunch. Mr. Stickney quite the dickens- told us wild things he
did when a boy- putting limburger cheese all over school, etc. Jim Stickney
rather nice. Rode with him.
AUGUST 26
SUN 1928-
Went
out to camp for dinner. J. & I walked way over to Longyears! Steered the car in
from camp in evening!
AUGUST 27
MON 1928- Got
pajama material. Jeanne and I sewed most of day.
AUGUST 29
WED 1928- Aunt M. asked us to supper and for the night.
AUGUST 30
THU 1928-
Stayed at camp all day sewing, etc. Came in at
suppertime. The Nyman’s came to spend night.
AUGUST 31
FRI 1928- We
went up to school to change schedules. Henning was very nice to us. Went to
movie- Laura Lablante
<(sp?)- Saw Bud & asked him when Sally left & he said
she hadn’t & was coming to town tonight so I called her. She was going to movie
so we went again.
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