Diary of Oliver J. Bond, 1894-1898

Title

Diary of Oliver J. Bond, 1894-1898

Description

Oliver J. Bond was a member of The Citadel’s Class of 1886. After graduation, he accepted the position of assistant professor of mathematics at The Citadel. From this position, he went on to become a full professor, and president of The Citadel from 1908 to 1931. This diary was kept by Bond from 1894 to 1898.

Source

CP9

Publisher

The Citadel Archives & Museum

Rights

Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.

Relation

Oliver J. Bond Collection

Format

application/pdf

Language

English

Type

Text

Coverage

Charleston (S.C.)

Text

[Page 1]
[Front cover of diary]

[Page 2]
[See original scan for illustration]

[Page 3]
[In decorative writing, with illustrations]

"Confederate Bond"
Vol. IV
Begun Nov. 22 1894 - Completed July 8th 1898
"Let there be light."

[Page 4]
[See original scan for illustrations]

[Page 5]
[See original scan for illustrations]

[Page 6]
[See original scan for illustrations]

[Page 7]
[See original scan for illustration]

St. Andrews Church
Thanksgiving Day

1894
Nov. 29
I celebrated Thanksgiving with a 20-mile bicycle ride. Arthur Campbell and I set off a few minutes after nine o’clock, across the New Bridge into St. Andrew’s Parish. The ride from the Bridge to St. Andrews Church, which I have sketched above, was made in one hour. Here we found a very respectable old negro who “had been sexter of the church for over thutty year” in charge, and he showed us the interior of the building, which was in excellent condition. According to an inscription over the side door, the church was built in 1706, and is, consequently, 188 years old. The old negro also found for us the graves of Moll’s grandparents, which I wished especially to see. The graveyard had gone to wreck, and we had to raise the headstone, which was as follows:

Mary C. Roach,
wife of
William Roach
Who died May 28th, 1868,
Aged 58 years, 6 mos., 27 days.
"Farewell dear mother until we come."

The marble slab that covered Wm. Roach’s grave was older. It was inscribed thus:

Sacred to the Memory of
William Roach,
Who departed this life
On the 10th of Sept. 1838,
Aged 38 years, 11 mos, and 14 days.

[Page 8]
From the Church we had little further to go before reaching Drayton Station on the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. Here we ate the lunch Moll fixed for us, and determined to return to Charleston on the paths by the railroad tracks. I was pretty tired when we got home, and slept all afternoon. It was the longest ride I have taken, but I think it did me good: - I was ravenous for dinner when I got it.

1894
Dec. 1st
Along the hedgerows of a summer field,
Two happy lovers walked at close of day.
How glad was he to choose and smooth the way
And 'gainst the ard'rous briars play her shield.
When at the stile he made her figure yield
Its slender burden for a moment's stay
In his strong arms, and in her bright eyes lay
The landscape and the heavens all revealed, -
"His heaven" he said "lay in those tender eyes."
"But heaven is not attained until one dies,"
She archly cried, and would have jumped; but no,
He was too quick and fast did hold her so.
"Nay, sweet, I've lifted three six steps of seven,
And, by the grammars, what is heaved is heaven!"

[Sept. 4th 1897:- Change last five lines to read as follows: -

And would have kissed them, but she, struggling, cried,
"One does not get his heaven, till he dies!"
"Nay, love, I now hold heaven," he replied,
"For as I lifted thee six steps or seven,
By all the grammars, what is heaved is heaven!"

[Page 9]
1894
Dec. 2
I often get problems to solve from old Cadets who have graduated and gone out to teach, but seldom such a “stunner” as this one sent me by Stackhouse: A man has a 40-lb weight which accidently falls, and is broken into four pieces. He finds that with the four pieces he can weigh any number of pounds from one to forty. What are the weights of the pieces? 

I sat down and wrote him: The problems is not soluble, as there are four unknown quantities, and only one equation, viz. w+x+y+z=40.  Just then it occured to me that I might show that the problem is impossible, which was easily done as follows: - The man could weigh with each weight simply; with two weights at a time; with three at a time; with the four; with one on one side and one on the other to diminish it; w

1894
Dec. 5
Just as I made the “w” above, an “idea struck me” which I finally pursued to the successful solution of the problem, which is not impossible at all, as I thought, and rashly said. I made a list of the possible combinations of four wts., and found there were exactly 40. I next found they all had to be odd numbers, and should differ by different amounts. Then I saw I could discard some of the high odd numbers. Arranging the combinations, then, of 1 and 3, - the second arrangement tested gave the result. The weights are 1, 3, 9, and 27.

Similarly, the five wts 1, 3, 9, 27, 81 will weigh any number of lbs from 1 to 121.

And, incredulous as it may appear, a man could weigh any number of lbs from 1 to 29524 with only 10 weights.

[Page 10]
Games of Chess
Played with Dr. M. S. Hanckel
1894
[See original scan for chart of games]

[Page 11]
1894
Dec. 9th
It is very mild for December. Moll, Oliver, & I all went to church this morning at Trinity, and this afternoon took the cars and went up to Magnolia Cemetery and spent an hour or two in this beautiful place. We began taking Oliver to church last Sunday. He is a very heedless boy, and runs over to Mrs. Coleman’s to play with Walker, after being whipped two or three times in the last twenty-four hours about it. This morning, for instance, he dressed himself, - with a little help from Moll with buttoning his dress, and I think she hardly woke up to do that, - and was out and over to Walker’s before we were awake, or Livy had come; and yet I had whipped him yesterday afternoon about it, and tried to impress it on his mind. He won’t “mind” unless he is made to. I suppose it is because he is so healthy.

I am at work now on my thesis for Ph.D. degree, which I hope to obtain it next May.

1894
Dec. 15th
Foucault Day.

This afternoon, Coleman and I fixed up a long pendulum in the steeple of the German Lutheran Church to try Foucault’s Experiment of showing the earth’s rotation. After a good deal of trouble we got it fixed. It was too late then to perform the experiment, - so we deferred it until tonight, - setting the pendulum into vibration, however, and marking its plane. At 9:30 we went up there again with a lantern and lamp. Although it was 3 ½ hours since the pendulum had been started, it was still moving slightly. We could only roughly mark the plane; and the angle through which it had turned was something like forty degrees - a value much too great.

[Page 12]
We now set to work to perform the experiment better. Drawing the weight aside with a cotton thread, we let it come to rest, then burned the thread, and marked the plane of vibration by holding a white thread taut just under the pointer of the
revolving swinging weight. At the end of half an hour we could see a decided shifting of the thread under the plumb-line, and the earth was visibly turning under our eyes! Fixing a second thread under the pointer in the new position of the floor, we made a map of the angle between the lines. From measurement of this angle, - whose sine is .069, - we find the angle to be 3°57’ - say 4°. According to theory, the shifting should be, (for the latitude of Charleston) about 8 1/10° per hour, - so that we obtained a quite satisfactory result.

1894
Dec. 21st
Several repetitions of the experiment under more favorable conditions, have given much less satisfactory results. This afternoon I started the pendulum at 4.21 P.M.  Under it I had a paper with angles of three degrees mapped out, and all I had to do was to observe the instants when the pendulum reached the angles. At the end of 19 minutes it reached the 3° line. At the end of 38 minutes it reached the 6° line; at the end of 57 minutes it had reached the 9° line; and at 76 minutes it was at the 12° line. The accurate agreement of the four readings renders the result trustworthy, so far as observation goes. But the rate of revolution so obtained does not accord at all with theory, which requires that the angle traversed in a day should be equal to 

[Page 13]
360° x sine of the latitude. At the observed rate, the latitude would be 39°10’, & it should be 32°45’

- - - I am just back from the Annual Ball of the Carolina Rifles, and as it is 1 o’clock, this ought properly to be dated a day later. I left Moll there, as the gaiety is just now at its height; but ‘Livy must be get home, so I have come & let her go. The ball was “beautiful,” - and a nice gathering of pretty girls prettily dressed and of gay if not handsome military men, mingled together in shifting kaleidoscope of the waltz.

1895
Jan 1st
Coleman and I spent the morning in fixing up the Foucault’s Pendulum in St. Phillip’s Church Steeple. We had some trouble in getting permission, but Dr. Johnson, the rector, went with us to Gen. Edward McGrady’s who, after he was enlightened as to the nature of the experiment, offered no objection, and said that as the “parson” requested it he could take the responsibility.

It was a ticklish thing standing on a scantling and looking down through a series of holes over a hundred feet. When we got the heavy iron ball swinging, we timed the vibrations, and amazed the Sexton’s mulatto-boy, (a fellow of some intelligence) by calculating in a few moments the length of our long pendulum, - which came out 108 feet.

1895
Jan. 5th
Some observations this morning with the pendulum indicate a rotation of 9° per hour, - a result too large.

[Page 14]
1895
Jan. 20th
Cousin Linnie Sessions from Webster, Fla. spent four weeks with us. She told us a good deal about the Florida folks. We have had a good deal of duplicate whist, have been to two or three dances, and have a good many Cadets to dine with us on Sundays and holidays. Linni left on night before last for home.

Oliver is in pants, now, and seems like a six-year old instead of only 4½. He is a great singer - without the ability to carry a tune. He has a good disposition, and is the picture of health. As I write, he is sitting in a chair looking at “the dead men” in a history of the U.S. - some battle pictures.

[See original scan for illustration]

[Page 15]
1895
[See original scan for chart]

[Page 16]
1895
Feb. 28th
Ma has been with us a fortnight and we have taken a number of walks together, when I had time, - but I have a great deal to do - every other day I am at work continuously from 9:30 to 4:30 with only an intermission for dinner, - an astronomy class, two classes in algebra, one in orthographic projections, and the 1st & 2d classes alternating  in perspective and book-keeping respectively. Ma and I took a walk over the New Bridge the other day, and swung around on the “draw” to let a steamer pass through - altho’ Ma was a little nervous about it, and needed persuading. Another afternoon we went over to Porter Academy and to see “Billy Molen’s Oak” in front of the Arsenal.  Another time we went to the east water-front and climbed under the East-Short Terminal Railroad to gather water-worn pebbles.

1895
March 3rd
HOW PEOPLE SPEND SUNDAY.

I started out about 11:30 A.M. for a walk, and dropped into St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. It seems to me superstition can write its lines on the human face very plainly. I didn’t stay long, but continued my walk to the corner of Line & Rutledge where Mr. Leitch’s Evangelistic Test - with its U.S. flags - stands. There were no services in the morning, however. As this part of town was unfamiliar to me, I explored on as far as the marshes, and watched for a minute a group of negro men by a fence gambling at “skin.” They eyed me with very discerning eyes as I approached, and when I stopped new I heard some pass remarks to the effect that I “wasn’t that sort,” (i.e., a cop in disguise) and their game continued. They knelt or sat in a little circle on the ground, each with a card or two and 

[Page 17]
The following production by one of the Cadets came “unofficially” to my notice, and is worth noting. I was posted in the Society Hall.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Poet Laureate of this Society takes this means of saying to his friends that he is now ready to furnish them at a nominal price poems to order. He will guarantee satisfaction or money will be refunded.

Poems on

Birthday - - - - - One cent per line
Deaths - - - - - - Two cents per line
Marriages - - - - Gratis.

Reconciliations between estranged lovers guaranteed after using one of my great “Reconciliation Poems.” Price, 25 cents for four verses. 

Declarations of Love in beautiful couplets will be furnished on receipt of 30 cents and a description of the girl.

Satires on members of the Faculty given away with each purchase.

You are cordially invited to give us a call and examine our line of goods at our establishment, No. 8 Upper Gallery.

Protection from fiends* assured.

*Fiends are upper gallery men.

[Page 18]
a number of nickels, dimes, & quarters. One held a deck of cards from which he threw off the cards one at a time. As each card fell, a number of changes took place in the nickels’ owners. There was no grumbling or dissent, and the game went on very fast. So far as I could judge there was no cheating, or evidence of distrust among any, - the color and no. of spots of the fallen card was quickly interpreted by all, and the change in the nickels seemed to be made by any one. 

This was on the edge of the “country” - or “neck”, and I walked on to enjoy the free air, and the view of the fields where nothing but the bare dead stems of last year’s dog-fennels stand, or the ground is recently turned by the truck farmers.

An immense caucus of crows in a neighboring field and hedge, where they blackened the ground, sent forth a surprising volume of noisy chatter - no, not chatter, for each uttered only a monosyllable caw.

At the old race-course the sporting men were exercising their trotters. I watched one race between Harry Tupper and some one I didn’t know. Tupper’s sorrel mare kept at a very even gait, and the bay of the other was constantly “breaking” and having to be hauled up, but on the last quarter he easily overtook the sorrel and passed first to the stand. I went on by the Enston Home and took the S.C. Ry track up to the Cemetery. A passenger train came in in fine speed. The engineer was parting and fixing his hair, expecting in a few minutes to be

[Page 19]
on his way home. He did not notice me standing near the track. In another minute, the passenger on the A.C. Line came in, a couple of hundred yards off. I had heard the two trains blowing at the crossings for a couple of miles up the road. The A.C.L. had two long blue cars in front with Gentry’s Great Equine & Canine Shows. How beautifully a modern locomotive moves! At a distance of a couple of hundred yards hardly any noise reaches the car, and it seems to move along its level rails with the speed and the splendor of a planet in its orbit. In the Cemetery
by near the great old oak, the workmen were digging a grave. Mr. Stein, the keeper, took me in the keeper’s house, showed me his maps, and plats, and account-books, and desk, and cat, and Newfoundland pups, and game chickens, and then drove me back home. I was hungry and the big turkey and other good things were a welcome sight piled on the table. Ma, Joe, and Lottie & Sallie Rowe dined with us.

1895
Mar. 17th
St. Patrick’s Day in the marning. What will it be in the avenin’? Oliver and I had a fine bicycle ride last Sunday up to the Four Mile House and saw the outgoing trains coming down parallel tracks in a race to the Junction. Yesterday we had a ride to the Cemetery. 

Moll is teaching Oliver to read, and he is getting along swimmingly. Can read in the First Reader right along. When he came to “[Dig!] little pig!” he said to me, “Papa, the pig digs with his grunt!”

[Page 20]
[See original scan for illustration]

March 1895
A is Oliver’s first attempt at Drawing from nature - a bottle of India ink. I
afterwards sketched B.

1895
April 12th. Good Friday: I spent the morning in an examination for my Ph.D., on Bledsoe’s Philosophy of Mathematics. Below are the questions. This afternoon, Joe Walker, Harry Walker, Charlie Prentiss and I took a bicycle ride up to the New Park - near the Junction. It was recently purchased by City Council, and nothing yet has been done towards fixing it up. The first thing will be an electric railway, and we slow Charlestonians needn’t look for that during this century. The spot is very beautiful, on the bank of the Cooper River, with little lakes, and many live-oaks draped in gray moss. We gathered an abundance of wild shrubs and some yellow-jessamines. I have taken a good many bicycle rides to the 4-mile House woods for jessamines lately. 

A week or two ago Joe Walker and I went up one afternoon to Mr. Mazÿck Simons’s on the little island in the marsh.

Oliver for several days past has been quite sick, with a high fever and that bronchial trouble that he suffered from last year. Dr. Simons has been attending him since last Monday, and today I think he is decidedly better.

[Page 21]
Mathematics - Ph.D. Unit.

Bledsoe’s Philosophy of Mathematics.

.     What is the purpose of the author?
.    Write of the method of Exhaustion its merits and objections.
.   What are the objections to the Infinitesimal Calculus?
.   Define “passing to the limit.”
.    Give Carnot’s objections to the Method of Indivisibles.
.   What two errors did Pascal make in getting the area of a ?
.  Discuss the method of Leibnitz.
. Discuss the method of Newton.
.   What is your estimate of Bledsoe and his work?

HISTORY OF MATH. Encyc. Brit. 

Paper .

.    When and where was algebra invented?
.   Name and locate four persons who were foremost in perfecting algebra.
.  Name and locate four of the most noted modern students of algebra.
.  Sketch Euclid. His relation to the science of geometry.
.    Who is the author of the theorem, The square of the hypotenuse = sum of the squares on the two legs?
.   What three nations were foremost in the study of trigonometry?
.  Of what benefit was Napier in the science of trigonometry?
. Write of four noted men concerning The Theory of Equations.

1895
April 14
I wrote the above and the following papers last night. This examination is remarkably simple. My theses on “A Discussion of the Problem of Latitude” has been completed several weeks.

[Page 22]

Paper .

.     Write of Newton’s Principia.
.    How is Lagrange related to Newton in the field of mechanics?
.   What have Laplace and Pierce done for the science of Mechanics?
.   What four nations were foremost in the study of Astronomy?
.    How are the Chinese related to the study of Astronomy?
.   What did Galileo do for Astronomy?
.  What of Napier and Newton?
. What do we oe to Laplace?
.   Write of Kepler and the Herschel family.

1895
April 21st
Joe Walker, Dr. Allan Miles, and I took a ride up to the New Park this afternoon. We made the trip - seven miles in less than an hour without any hurry. We stopped at “The Island” on our way back and Mrs. Simons gave us a glass of mile and a cup of coffee.

The other night I took a ride to the Battery. In the starlight and the light of the gas-lamps in White Point Garden, the scene of hundreds of (roller) skaters on the broad smooth asphalt was a charming sight. The beautiful and stately residence of South Battery looked more imposing in the faint light, -  the view under the trees in the Park, where lookers on occupied the benches, formed the other side of the picture, and down the broad roadway the swaying figures, two and two, and sometimes four and five hand in hand, girls, boys and young ladies, formed a striking scene. The zigzag, graceful, and harmonious swaying of two girls as they rapidly swiftly and almost noiselessly sweep

[Page 23]
along is hard to be surpassed for “poetry of motion”.

Oliver is just getting over his bad spell. He is very emaciated, but we hope to see him soon regaining his flesh and strength. 

The Cadets beat the Porter Cadets in a baseball game yesterday at the Base Ball Park.

1895
April 26th
The Cadets are picnicing at Mt. Pleasant today. But it is a rainy day and we are not going over.* I stood my last examination for the Poorhouse Dog degree today. Below are the questions.

[Note written in the margin.]

*It cleared in the afternoon and we went over and spent the afternoon at the picnic.

Paper

1. Where is the germ of the Theory of Determinants found?
2. What two British mathematicians are ahead of all others in perfecting determinants?
3. How does analytic geometry differ from plane geometry?
4. In what country has analytic geometry flourished most successfully?
5. Define Quaternions.
6. What has √-1 to do with quaternions?
7. What men have led off in perfecting quaternions?
8. What are its relations to the other branches of math.?

Paper

1. What has Archimedes to do with the Infinitesimal Calc.?
2. What part did Kepler play in the above?
3. What of Cavalieri and Newton?
4. Name some opponents to the Calculus.
5. How does the Integral differ from the Diff. Calc.?
6. What men have been leaders in the Integral Calc.?
7. What are the benefits from the study of Calculus?

All the papers of the examination were very easy.

[Page 24]
1895
May 15th
I had a birthday - my 30th - on the eleventh. Sis and her two children came down about a week ago to be in the city while Bro. Lucius was at the St. Xavier Infirmary to have a tumor cut from under his arm. Dr. Manning Simons performed the operation very successfully, and Bro. L., Sis, and the babies left on Monday. Auntie & Graham will leave this afternoon. Yesterday was Hampton Day in the City. The old war-horse delivered a lecture at the Academy of Music last night.

The Asso. Grad. of the Citadel will have a meeting and supper tonight at the Citadel.

The election of Professors for the Girl’s College takes place in Columbia today. Coleman has been working hard for the chair of math. & physics, and I sincerely hope he will get it.

1895
June 2d
I went with Joe Walker on an excursion on the Planter to Kiawah (pronounced Kee-wah) this afternoon. Thro’ the windings of Wappoo Creek, and Elliott Cut, (- a veritable ship canal -) into Stono River, and then down Stono River to the Atlantic Ocean, - Kiawah being one of the islands at the mouth of the Stono. The scenery is not very various, but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

In Stono River, the dolphins porpoises made great sport in racing with the boat, - keeping just ahead in the spray of the bow. Coming back we had a close call from going aground at the sharp bend in Wappoo Cut. As the sun went down, Maj. Thomas and I went on “the roof” of the boat, where [illegible] men were already seated in knots on campstools, and enjoyed the view and the breeze. We got back about 8:15 p.m. at good dark. Willie Fitch and his wife - Minnie von Kolnitz that was - were aboard. Joe W. & I talked with them until we got to Kiawah. The boat ride was delightful, & such a relief from the hot city!

[Page 25]
[Letter pasted into diary - see original scan]

June 4th
I replied that I would go for $12,00.

1895
June 6th

The evening sky about this time is very pretty. Venus has coquetted with Jupiter and Mars in turn, and the shifting of the planets from evening to evening is a beautiful celestial kaleidoscope. A short while ago fig. 1 was the appearance. In a few evening Venus had come up higher, & Jupiter was rapidly retrograding. Caster and Pollux also added beauty to the combination. To crown all, the new moon “with the old man in his arms” came in one evening. Tonight the effect is shown in Fig. 6 - Jupiter is low in the west. Saturn is also visible in

[Illustration - see original scan.]

[Page 26]
[“Columbia” written at top of page]

another part of the sky - his rings being peculiarly well situated for being seen just now.

1895
June 9th
The Planter gave a delightful excursion down to Kiawah this afternoon by the outside route, returning by the inside. Alto’ a strong breeze was blowing, the sea was not rough, and very few, if any, people were made sick.

1895
June 15th
We arrived in Columbia just before 1 o’clock. Will & May S. met Moll & Oliver with a carriage. Dr. Brailsford & I took a hack and went up to hear the speeches in front of the Opera House, & afterwords over to the barbecue. In the afternoon we went into camp behind the S.C. College grounds. Will Moore kindly gave me the use of a bath-tub and I was soon feeling o.k. A number of us had some Burgundy & ginger-ale at Mr. J.P Homas, Jr’s. A rain came up before all the tents were pitched, & the boys got wet, - but it takes a good deal to kill the animal spirits of a Corps of Cadets.

1895
June 17th
Camp Calhoun: - Monday. Yesterday I went round & went with Moll & May & Uncle George to the Presbyterian Church. I dined with them. In the evening there were special services to the Corps at Trinity Episcopal Church. The services were “high” to the extent of Romanism, - but the whole thing was exquisitely beautiful. The choir of little boys, girls of ages from 12 to 18, & young men of 21 or 22, was gowned and [illegible] - and marched in behind the cross borne by a little boy. Dr. Evans is a beautiful elocutionist & gave us a good discourse. The music on the grand pipe organ & by the well-trained choir was very beautiful. But the ceremonies were so ultra that there was a jarring sense of insincerity in 

[Page 27]
[“Camp Calhoun” written at top of page]

the worship. 

Mr. White & I are tenting together. Colonel has his marquee, Jenkins & Maj. Mazÿck occupy a tent next him, - then comes our tent, & on our right is Coleman’s tent, shared with Dr. Brailsford. The weather is decidedly cool, & blankets are comfortable. Our band - of Bavarian musicians - is very excellent: we had two delightful sacred concerts yesterday morning & evening.

1895
June 18
I played chess yesterday with Mr. Henry Rice - the champion of Columbia. I opened with a Queen’s opening &, to the admiration of its spectators, defeated him. In the afternoon we played again but Rice got the best of me, altho’ one game was properly a draw. He says I can afford to play the best players in Charleston - a thing I never dreamt of doing. Moll & I took tea at Col. McMaster’s, - & at 10:30 o’clock took a hack & went to the ball at Shandon. We left there at 12 o’clock, - and after I saw Moll home, Col. Coward, Lt. Jenkins, Maj. Mazÿck & I went into Dr. T. T. Morris’s & sat and chatted & drank & smoked with him until nearly two o’clock. This morning I went round & went with Moll & Oliver to the Governor’s mansion where the Corps was reviewed by the Governor. I dined with the other officers at Col. Thomas’s.

1895
June 21st
Kingville: - We have a three hours wait here for our train to Camden, and I am at the desk of one of the pair of [illegible] of which Kingville boasts, writing up my diary for the last few days. The Cadets broke camp early yesterday morning, and started out

[Page 28]
on their three days’ march to Camden. I would have gone with them but I have a sore toe which could not stand the tramp. The ladies of the party and myself are therefore on our way over by rail. Moll and Oliver will remain at Uncle George Steadman’s until I return next Friday. We had a delightful stay in Columbia. I dined at Prof. Colcock’s one day; Moll and I took tea at Mr. Willis’s the same evening. All we officers were at the Hotel Jerome a couple of days to take mint juleps with parties of gentlemen. I beat Prof. Colcock at chess, but tried Rice again and was vanquished.

Oliver has improved. He and Roland (a “Roland for an Oliver”) Marshall are great friends. I staid [sic] at Uncle George’s last night and left early this morning. Aunt Alice had a nice early breakfast for me, and Uncle George drove me down in his buggy. I kissed Moll and Oliver asleep.

There are neither plums, peaches, blackberries, or watermelons at Kingville. We have been trying to entertain ourselves in various ways, but time lags heavy on our hands.

1895
June 22d
Camden, - Workman House, Room No. 4, - We got here to dinner yesterday. In the afternoon I took a nap, and at 5 o’clock while standing in the doorway of the hotel, was accosted by an ex-Cadet (DuBose) in a buggy an invited to go out and see a base-ball game between Camden and DeKalb teams. After tea Miss Heloise and I took a stroll up to the public square. I went to bed about 11o’clock and woke up shortly after feeling like I did at Blow-

[Page 29]
[“
Camden” written at top of page]

ing Rock last year when I was taken so ill. I felt my pulse, which was weak and low, and took a big drink of whiskey. I then dressed and determined to seek a doctor. I had had a severe headache, and I attributed my peculiar sensations (of phantasmagoria, and mental uncontrol) to a congested liver. I got a negro to direct me to Doctor Morre’s, and he gave me a dose of calomel. I returned to the hotel and slept very well. This morning I was very weak, but am recovering rapidly now, I think. Smith, M. of the Class of ‘89 came up and took me out driving around town. He showed me everything of interest, and told me the legends connected with them. I saw Col. Shannon’s grave in the Cemetery - the victim of the code duello. I saw the hill where Cornwallis’s headquarters were: the house where Lafayette put up in 1825 - still called the Lafayette House. Upton Court is a beautiful place - its Lover’s Lane being an exquisite walk. The DeKalb monument is in front of the Presbyterian Church. It is claimed that the remains of the great warrior lie under it. Smith told me of the romantic story of the Quaker girl who came to America to find her lost lover, and showed me where the heartbroken Evangeline was buried. Also a story of murder - I saw the house where it was done - and of the marvellous escape

[Page 30]
[“Camp Kershaw” written at top of page]

of the murderer three days before execution. His mother sent him a gimlet baked in a cake, & he bored through the floor, fled to the swamps, & escaped. He has never been heard from. I saw the jail - an insecure-looking structure. There is a spot just in the edge of town where the skirmish preliminary to the Battle of Camden in the Revolution took place. The site of the graves of the soldiers killed in the skirmish is pointed out. The Corps of Cadets will arrive about 12 o’clock, and there is every promise of a great time for them during the week of their stay here. Dr. Alexander (dentist) called on me at the hotel this morning, - he was an old friend of Pa’s and told me some anecdotes of him.

1895
June 24th
I came into camp Saturday noon. The ladies of the town had a great spread for the Corps of the School-house. I never saw the boys so utterly worn out. The girls could hardly fall in love with their looks - but they must have with their manhood. A terrible lightening & rainstorm came up in the afternoon. The tents were up, but most of them were not ditched, & the water went under us.  Yesterday - Sunday - we had the Baccalaureate sermon by Bishop Capers from the Episcopal Church. This morning [illegible] came up to camp with a surrey & took Colman, Brailsford, & me all around town. The Pond is a beautiful sheet of water. The factory about a mile out of town is a large structure nearly ready for work, supplied with water power by a canal about a mile long. We also visited the Cemetery and I got out and found the grave of Agnes of Glasgow, the maiden

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who came to America in search of her missionary lover. It is said that as she was coming up the Wateree River in a canoe paddled by Indians, she saw a funeral on the shore. It proved to be that of her lover. She soon after died of a broken heart. A simple little stone marks her resting place inscribed thus: Here lies the body of Agnes of Glasgow who departed this life Feb. 1780 aged 20.

Coming back through Main St. we stopped at Zemp’s Drugstore and had the inner man refreshed with ice-cream. Then we ascended the tower of the Opera House and had a good view of Camden.

1895
June 27th
On Tuesday we had a great picnic at Mulberry - a beautiful place about two miles from Camden. Among the ladies whom I met and liked were Miss Kershaw, Miss Boykin, two Misses Ancrum, two or three Misses Cantey, Miss McDonnell, Miss Adickes, Miss Singleton, Miss Brown, & a number of others. Miss Kershaw, Miss Boykin (Miss Charlotte) - I have met three or four Miss Boykins) and Miss “Hat” Shannon are my especial favorites - because they know I am married & take me as I am.

Yesterday a number of us officers & Gen. Watts dined at Gen. Kennedy’s. He was counsel at Shanghai during Cleveland’s first administration, & he & Mrs Kennedy brought back with them a number of interesting things.  

I took tea at Dr. Alexander’s, where they had an extensive spread. After that I dressed & went to the Ball at the Opera House where I renewed some of my pleasant aquaintances, & made some more.

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I did not dance much, but after having returned some compliments in the German, went to camp and at one o’clock was in bed.

1895
June 28
Yesterday I dined on Hobkirk’s Hill at Major Cantey’s. His house is exactly on the old Revolutionary battleground. The Major’s family are delightful people. He and his wife spoke very warmly of Pa - for whom they had great attachment.

I took tea at Mr. Yate’s - where a beautiful spread was laid for half a dozen guests - the Major & his wife, Gen. Ed. Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. White, & myself. I knew the Yates in Charleston about 8 years ago. After tea, & had an “engagement” with young Vaughn to go to the Pond where we had an excellent swim. The water is clear and warm (near the top) and almost 20 feet deep. It gave me a fine appetite for sleep.

Today is Commencement Day. The exercises will be at the Opera House. I will take tea at Harry DePass’s tonight, & hope to be off for Columbia early in the morning. Our stay has been a glorious welcome.

1895
June 30th
I left Camden yesterday at 9 o’clock, & arrived in Columbia at 1 o’clock. Moll, Oliver, & May met me at the Depot. Moll & I went down street in the afternoon, & I took tea with Dr. Wm. Lester and family. Today is Sunday - a quiet, restful day. As I sit in the piazza in the cool shade I can hear the swallows twittering, the jays in the Park opposite uttering their harsh notes, while the rustle of 

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[“Biltmore, N.C.” written at top of page]

the wind in the trees and the distant roar of the Congaree from a steady tone-stream, broken every now & then by some “cock’s shrill clarion”, or a pea-cock’s cry. While we are within two blocks of the busiest part of town, there is around us the solitude of the country, and the songs of a number of birds may be heard in the dense, almore forest growth of Sidney Park. I think this one of the choicest corners in Columbia.

Moll, May, Oliver, & I took a long walk this afternoon out to the Canal, & got back tired.

1895
July 2d
We left Columbia at 11:25 & arrived here at 6:20 yesterday. We are at the Northrop’s, - a mile from Biltmore & near Vanderbilt’s mansion. Kenilworth Inn is visible on its eminence somewhat more than a mile distant. This house is a handsome brick structure, beautifully located, - but we are three miles from town.

We brought rain with us, & today is “cold & dark & dreary’ - but I must in to Asheville and make preparations for my trip West. Rev. Dr. Dargan was a fellow passenger from Columbia yesterday. The Doctor is so lively that he makes an excellent traveling companion.

1895
July 3d
I drove into Asheville yesterday morning to see about rates to Bloomington. They are too exorbitant, & I have deferred my trip. In the afternoon I took a walk below Buena Vista & ascended a high hill where I got an excellent view.

This morning I went over to Vanderbuilt’s mansion. The house & grounds exceed in beauty, and magnificence anything I could have imagined. It almost intoxicates me.

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1895
July 4th
We spent the morning at home, and in the afternoon Mrs. Walker, Miss Lizzie Northrop, Moll & I went over to Vanderbilt’s. We were shown through his greenhouses, where he has the rarest and most beautiful collection of ferns. Vanderbilt was there himself, - a young unostentatious man, rather delicate looking. His house and grounds are simply exquisite. 

July 5th
1895
Today is Oliver’s birth-day - he is five years old. The “fish-man” drove me in to Asheville where I got Oliver a sword and some fruit for a “party”. I found a purse with a roll of bills, some silver, and a check in it in the Post Office. There were a couple of cards in it also with “Miss Florence Stephenson, Home Industrial School Asheville, N.C.” on them, so I called in on my way back and left if for her. They say it is only 3 miles from the Square in Asheville to our boardinghouse, but it seemed five walking it.

1895
July 6th
This afternoon Mr. O’Conner the elder, and Mr. O’Conner the younger and Miss Louise Northrop and I made an ascent of Mount Busby (?), about two miles from here. It was a fatiguing trip, but the view is superb. Toward the south we could see far below us the railroad winding over embankment and through cut toward Hendersonville. We watched the afternoon train come in - creeping like a worm on a tiny path. I opened my watch, and when I saw the white smoke shoot up I counted the seconds until the sound reached us: altho’ a stiff breeze was blowing toward us, the sound took 10 seconds to reach us, indicating a distance of at least 2 ½ miles airline.

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Toward the west the French Broad gleamed here and there like a silver ribbon on the green dress of the landscape, and Vanderbilt’s beautiful palace looked noble and lordly on its magnificent eminence overlooking the “rapid river.” Pisgah and The Rat rose in overtopping spendor above the blue ridges; and several very tall pale blue peaks in the far distance were unknown to us. Toward the north four or five miles away lay Asheville, with the Battery Park Hotel, Kenilworth Inn, and the Normal School showing conspicuously. Eastward, range after range of mountains stretched away to the distance. There can hardly be a finer view around Asheville than from Busby (how the dickens is it spelt?) The top of the mountain is cleared off, and strawberries and raspberries flourish here luxuriously. I picked a few belated strawberries, a number of raspberries, some huckleberries, and some blackberries - quite a collection of berries. Vanderbilt owns Busby. We built a fire as a signal to the folks at home, but they did not see the smoke.

This mountain air is so delicious that I scarcely feel fatigue; after this tramp of six miles or more I can scarcely say I feel tired. Oliver is charmed with his playfellows and playground. It is very pleasant out here and Moll does not want to move in to Asheville as we have engaged to do on the 15th. I must say I like it here, too, and our neighbors are tolerably respectable - Vanderbilt, etc.

Oliver has been right good, and seems to be very happy. The little fellow goes about singing nearly all the time. He has an open and happy disposition.

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1895
July 8th
Yesterday, Sunday, it rained all day and I did not put my foot out of the house. This morning I drove in to Asheville on business, got my mail, called at the Battery Park Hotel, and did some shopping. Tomorrow a party of us expect to set out for a trip to Chimney Rock - to return Wednesday evening.

1895
July 9th
[See original scan for illustration]

Our sixth anniversary finds us off for Chimney Rock. Our party consists of Mrs. Thompson, a very pleasant Northern lady, wife of a civil engineer; Moll; Miss Lizzie Northrop; Mr. Nelson Liles and myself, - we five besides our driver, a Mr. Brown in a three seated hack. Mrs. Jim Lorick and Miss Alice Northrop came on behind us in a buggy. We got off at 7:30 A.M. and at 11:30 entered Hickory Nut Gap. The roads were in excellent condition. We passed a number of hamlets - one by the commonplace and cacophonous name of Pump, N.C. At 1 o’clock we stopped for an hour for dinner. Spreading the buggy robes on the ground near a spring of water, we got out our trunk of provisions and did a full justice to the viands.

We arrived at Chimney Rock about 3:30. Hickory Nut Gap is a long, beautiful defile, with a high granite precipices on either side; at its eastern end are Chimney Rock on the south and Bald Mountain on the north. We got a guide, and determined to make the ascent immediately. Mr. Freeman the guide had a beautiful little dwarf mule named Nellie, of which he was justly exceedingly proud and fond. Mrs. Thompson 

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[“Chimney Rock” written at top of page]

did not care to make the ascent of the rock - some 1160 above the Broad River, where the road winds. This is the same Broad River we have in South Carolina, and the same stream that we followed from its small beginning high up in the mountains, to its considerable size at Chimney Rock, widens into the beautiful Broad that unites with the Saluda at Columbia.

Moll rode little Nellie to the foot of the great obelisk that forms the Chimney. This is a wonderful mass of granite, rising 227 feet. No man had ever set foot on it up to four years ago, when our guide’s father by blasting out a way, and erecting trusses, got a way up to it. Now, about 1000 visitors visit it annually, and the old man gets a fair revenue from it - 25 cts per head. I calculate that the Rock is about 3000 ft above sea-level. The view from it is very beautiful. Westward is the picturesque Hickory Nut Gap, with many noble peaks rising skyward. The course of the Broad River can be traced for many miles eastward. On the far horizon, King’s Mt. is visible. The mountain of which Chimney Rock is part is a solid mass of granite. Across the Gap rises Bald Mt. This has a number of peaks, and really forms a sort of short range, very rocky and precipitous. Rip van Winkle’s face is pointed out in the granite precipice at one point. We all fired Mr. Lile’s pistol from the top of the Rock. We got down about 6 o’clock, and drove on a mile and a half to the Logan House where we engaged lodging and supper, and then drove on nearly a mile further to visit the “Pools.”

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A small mountain stream - a little tributary of the Broad, - comes gushing down its granite channel in which it has worn its way. At three points it jumps over ledges of rock and forms little falls. Just beneath these falls are the wonderful pools. They are not large - the largest being not more than 20 feet in diameter and the smallest not more than 8, I suppose, but they are circular, have small verticle walls, and are incomprehensibly deep. The lower and larger pool has not yet had its bottom touched! A log was put across it and a 200 lb weight fastened to a rope. When the rope gave out at 200 feet no bottom had been touched! The other two pools within 30 feet of each other are 80 and 100 feet deep respectively. Many scientific men have examined the Pools, but no theory can be advanced to account for them. The action of water cannot do it. It has been many years since the pools were sounded, and they have certainly been filled in somewhat by native and visitors. It would be interesting to have the sounding repeated now. These Pools are the most inexplicable things to me I ever saw, without exception. We got back to the Chimney Rock Inn (alias Logan House) about dark, and had mountain appetites for supper. We sat awhile on the porch and I played the fiddle some, but we went early to bed, and I, at least, slept like a log. We left Oliver with the Northrop’s at Millwood, Biltmore. This trip would not be enjoyable to him.

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1895
July 10th
We had breakfast at 6:30 o’clock. The little room which Moll and I occupied last night was the one which Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett slept in when she was in this country in 1880. Looking across at the great rocky precipices of Bald Mountain, where the fancy can trace grotesque resemblances to various things, Mrs. Burnett picked out a place which really resembles a cottage. The roof, door, and walls are all fairly well represented. She said she would write a story and make that cottage the scene of the story. She kept her word, and “Esmeralda” was the result. The spot is still pointed out as “Esmeralda Cottage”. There are two inns besides the Chimney Rock or Logan House, - one of which is called Esmeraldo Inn, the other Mountain View House.

After breakfast, we set off to explore Bald Mountain Cave - a mile and a half beyond the hotel. In 1878 a great sensation was created throughout the country about Bald Mountain. Some thought a volcano was about to develop here. Rumblings and “shakes” were frequent, and great masses of granite were hurled from the mountain into the valley. Great quantities of people came to see it, and the Government sent down expert geologists, who decided that the mountain must have been more or less cavernous, and these great masses of rock crushed in, and produced the “shakes” and rumblings. The cave shows the terrific power of the convulsions. The granite is vent into great masses of billions of tons, I suppose, with great fissures and caverns into almost the heart 

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of the mountain. With fat-lightwood torches we explored some of te most accessible of these great crevisses. It is a very remarkable looking sight. At the foot of the precipice is a cool, delightful spring, which, being without name, we got Mrs. Thompson to christen. She said that in compliment to Moll and me she would call it “Union”, which is a synonym of Bond-ed or bound together. So I hastily etched “Union” on a rock at the spring, and told the guide he must be sure always to call it so.

We had a gay party. Mrs. Thompson is very jolly, and Liles is a good companion. We left at 11 o’clock for Biltmore, and were tired out when we reached here at a quarter of eight tonight. We enjoyed our supper and will soon be in bed. - [Cost of trip apiece, hack 2.00, supper, lodging, & breakfast 1.00, Guide to Chimney Rock 25c; Total 3.25. We carried dinner for both days.]

1895
July 13th
We are just back from a long and entertaining drive. Collins - the negro hackman who owns six acres in Vanderbilt’s land - took us up by Kenilworth Inn where we got out and went up in the elevator to the sky parlor. The view from here is very pretty. We then drove along the ridge of Beaumont, overlooking the city of Asheville, which from here is a beautiful view. Then into town, where Moll wished to make a few purchases. Coming out we passed Oakland Heights Hotel, Connelley’s, and forded the Swannanoa at Vanderbilt’s nurseries. It was a delightful drive.

The other evening we had the biggest idiot out 

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[“Vanderbilt’s” written at top of page]

here to tea that I ever saw. Poor fellow! I felt sorry for him. Fuller is his name, and he edits a monthly paper, in which every sentence defies parsing. He recited, sang, danced, and rolled on the floor for us. I thought it a sin to make the fool do so, but I couldn’t help laughing to save me.

Some new boarders have come in - Halls from Charleston. Mrs. Webster and I have been playing a good deal of music - piano and violin - and Mr. O’Connor sometimes on the mandolin.

Oliver’s experience at the Kenilworth Inn in the elevator was something new to him. We walked into the dark cage and took seats, and he had no idea, of course, what we were going to do; consequently, when the boy pulled the rope and the elevator shot up he was somewhat surprised and exclaimed, “I didn’t know this could do that way!”

* * * * This afternoon we went over to Vanderbilt’s and went through his mansion for the first time. Through the kindness of Mrs. Foster, wife of one of the contractors, we had the rare privilege of inspecting the interior throughout. The carvings inside are very beautiful, especially the carving in oak for the banquet-hall. The swimming-pool is in the lower part of the house and there are all kinds of “shower”, “needle”, and other bathing apparatus. The library, music-room, breakfast-room, winter-garden, entrance hall are all magnificent rooms. “George’s” den and bedroom, one might well suppose, are located in the choicest part of the building. A person could easily be lost in the maze of rooms and passages. I could not get a clear 

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idea of how many floors there are, let alone the number of rooms. The fire-place in the library is as large as a cabin. Some of the mantels are exquisite - especially those in the library and break-fast-room. I could spend hours admiring the carvings. It is said that Miss Rose Cleveland could see nothing in the house to admire - “everything could be seen somewhere else more perfect.” The final finishing will hide the massiveness of the building somewhat: one girder in the library weighs 40 tons. One wall in the lower rampart is 19 feet thick. The stairway is a masterpiece of engineering skill; why it does not fall down “beats me.”The rampadouce is a beautiful green slope, as it name implies, about 200 yds in front of the house.

1895
July 16th
Distances across the water, they say are deceptive; - I think mountain distances are more so. After a good nap after dinner today, I glanced out of the window, and running my eye along the distant ridge of Busby, I picked out a smooth, clear spot on the ridge which seemed about 1 ¾ miles off, and I thought I would take a stroll over across the fields. It was a rough journey of over 3 miles, and once or twice I thought I could not make a passage through the thicket, but I finally got paths which took me to the top. What seemed smooth from here is decidedly rough. What appears bushes from here are good sized trees - and there are two houses, and some fences, and cattle on the 

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[“Biltmore, N.C.” written at top of page]

slope - all invisible from here. The valley on the other side is very pretty, and the view this way is quite good. I had an experience on my way which I told at the supper table as a Munchausen tale: I got into a bypath which took me up to a house where two big dogs rushed at me like I should be devoured. I had nothing but a little sunshade. Fortunately the larger dog was really a good nature fellow, and when he saw I didn’t run he stopped and began barking in a harmless way. I soon made friends with him by coaxing words, but in the meantime was having a lively time with the other dog, who was a vicious cur and was circling about me and trying to get at my legs. This circus kept us quite a while until a girl came out and hollered at the vicious cur, at which the good dog ran at the bad one and drove him off! I told it at first this way: “Two fierce dogs ran at me barking furiously. One of them, being really good natured, I succeeded in making friends with while fighting the other, and then, setting the good dog on the bad one, I drove him off and was thus released from an unpleasant dilemma!” If both dogs had been bad I should certainly not have got off so easily.

I spent this moring in Vanderbilt’s mansion watching the wood carvers at work. I never get tired of looking at the beautiful carvings at Biltmore.

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[See original scan for illustration]

1895
July 20th
Saturday: We had a picnic four miles up the Swannanoa River today, at the Asheville Water Works. It is a beautiful place. We went in a wagon, and spent the morning on the river in boats, in fishing, and  - I, with my boys, - in swimming. We had an elegant dinner. Moll & Oliver did not care to go - it was a school picnic for Miss Lizzie Northrop’s 10 to 15 year old pupils. I enjoyed it very much myself, especially as I left almost two o’clock in a passing spring-wagon which was bound for Biltmore. The mountaineer who drove (& owned) the team was a very interesting character. I count him one of the few heroes I have seen. He didn’t blow his own horn, but I got him interested in telling me about the war, and I could read between the words about his bravery and pluck. Several incidents told in his homely & simple way were really dramatic, and I wish to remember some. E.g. his duel in the midst of a fight; the bloody pond where his Colonel (Coleman) was killed; his adventure through the Bridge. He said “he was never wounded”; but told me of a shell busting in his face which caused a contusion from which he still suffers. A minie ball grazed his “Adam’s apple” once, another his head at another time; when he got out of one fight he had 16 bullet holes in his clothes. In the duel above referred to, the minie ball went around his body, just cutting the skin.

This afternoon I went over to the Mansion where 

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I had an engagement with Mr. Foster to go and play tennis. A storm had detained me half an hour, and I reached there just a few minutes after Mr. Foster had left. So I took Vanderbilt’s train and rode down to Biltmore, where I got the mail and had the mile and a half walk home.

Charleston to Asheville, 294 miles

Asheville incorporated in 1833 under name of Moristown. Afterwords changed in honor of Samuel Ashe.

Mt. Mitchell is 28 miles N.E from Asheville. Ht. 6717
Elevation of Asheville 2250 ft.
Tahkeeostee = Racing River
Swannanoa = Beautiful River

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[“Hot Springs” written at top of page]

1895
July 21st
Today Oliver and I, with Mrs. Hall and the two younger Misses Northrop drove in to Asheville to Church. We went to Central Methodist Church, of which Mr. Hilliard Chrietzberg is pastor. Mr. C. was pastor at Chester for a number of years. The preacher today was another South Carolina preacher who also filled the Chester pulpit for several years - Rev. J.W. Daniel. He gave us a very excellent discourse. Miss Dennison’s solo was delightful. Oliver behaved beautifully, and as we were late in arriving, we had to occupy the front “Amen Corner” seat.

This afternoon, Moll & I paid a visit to the Thompson’s down at Buena Vista. Mr. Thompson is the surveyor who did all the work for Vanderbilt. He made an excellent topographic map of the estate, - five foot contours.

1895
July 23d
There was an excursion from Asheville to Hot Springs today, and from our house the following party took advantage of the cheap rate to view the beauties of the French Broad Valley, and of Hot Springs: Mrs. Hall, Misses Alice, Carrie & Louise Northrop, Messrs Lorick and Bernard O’Connor, and Moll, Oliver, and myself. We were on a great rush to get to the Asheville depot, and by pushing up our driver managed to get there just at 8 o’clock - the scheduled time of the train’s departure. We then learned that it was to leave at 8 o’clock central time, or 9 o’clock by ours! Such are some of the inconveniences of standard time at points where the time changes. A 9 o’clock we were off, however. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. W. G. Brown, my old professor of Mineralogy & Geology, on the train. The “Major” had not changed the very slightest bit. We had quite a chat about the Citadel people whom we mutually knew.

The railroad is just along the banks of the French Broad 

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[“Paint Rock” written at top of page]
[See original scan for illustration]

River, - crossing it three times between Asheville and Hot Springs. The scenery is very beautiful, and deservedly famous. On either side the mountains rise in great rocky, wooded peaks, and the river writhes and turns on itself like a serpent in its effort to force its way through the mts.

Hot Springs Hotel is ideally situated for a winter resort. Surrounded on all sides by high wooded hills which keep off the biting winter winds, it has ample grounds around it on the banks of the French Broad; and the Hot Springs, or Warm Springs are said to be very beneficial. We wandered around the buildings and grounds until dinner time. Having brought baskets with necessary provisions, we dined picnic fashion in the depot - to the agent’s discomfiture, when he found it out. At 2 o’clock Moll, Oliver, Miss Carrie and I set out in a carriage for Paint Rock. The rest of the party followed us in another carriage. This is a drive of seven miles down the right bank of the French Broad. Paint Rocks, are cliffs of stratified rocks rising perpendicularly one or two hundred feet. They get their name from the paint decorations on their smooth vertical faces made supposedly by the Indians before the advent of the white man. But one piece remains in good preservation. I do no think the painting is hieroglyhics [sic], as some say, but merely a decoration. There is no character in the work. But it is wonderful that the coloring has remained so long. At the cliffs we crossed into Tennessee, and, turning an angle of the great rocks, we came upon a house in a cove which is a beautiful example of the best class of mountaineer’s home. Everything was so clean and nice, the old lady was so intelligent-looking and benign, there were newspapers on the benches, and the floors were nicely matted. The old 

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[“In Tennessee” written at top of page]
[See original scan for illustration]

gentleman got us a fresh bucket of spring water from his enclosed spring, and told us that while we were standing in Greene County, Tenn., we could pitch a stone into Cocke County, Tenn., where our carriages were waiting, - and just around the cliffs was Madison County, N.C. We all started up the steep ascent of Paint Rock, when a sudden mountain shower sent the crowd scampering back to the house, but I took refuge under a jutting rock and kept perfectly dry. The formation is a mica schist, or somewhat similar one, and the strata are not tilted, but preserve their horizontality, or nearly so. From the top, - where we all ascended after the shower, - the view of the French Broad below us, and the surrounding mountains is extremely beautiful.

We gathered elegant blackberries and wild cherries on our way back to Hot Springs. Our three and half hour excursion was heartily enjoyed by all. Oliver also made the ascent of Paint Rock, and admired the beautiful view from the top. Coming back he entertained us with his erudition, observation, and vocal accomplishments. His mamma asked him a question about a cow which elicited an answer that showed him to be an accurate observer but which brought considerable confusion into camp. The questions were then stopped.

Back at Hot Springs we had an hour to spend before our train started. A heavy rain chased us all the way from Hot Sps. to Asheville, - our train keeping just ahead of it. We got into Asheville about 8:15, - Oliver asleep in my tired arms. Our carriage 

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awaited us, and the 3½ mile ride home in the dark was so tiresome that we were all worn out when Millwood lights appeared in the distance. Oliver had not waked since we left Alexander’s, on the French Broad. After a cup of coffee and a hot steak, the rest of us were glad to join him in “nature’s sweet restorer - balmy sleep”. [The trip cost, fare 1.00 each, back to Asheville .35, carriage to Paint Rock .50, incidentals (?) total nearly 4.00]

1895
Aug. 1st
For midsummer this is a delightful weather, - and I hate to think of returning to hot and mosquitoey [sic] Charleston, - but our visit is nearly over. We are going to leave Biltmore this afternoon and go in to Asheville for a few days. We had a trip planned for Mt. Mitchell on the 30th [illegible], but Oliver had fever the night before and we could not go and leave him sick. We also intended to take a trip to Round Knob, - and we may yet take this trip.

I went over to Vanderbilt’s this morning for a last look around the mansion and grounds.

1895
Aug. 2d
We came in to Mrs. Trenholm’s - 103 Montford Ave. - yesterday afternoon. This morning Moll, Oliver, and I walked up to the Battery Park Hotel, & then took the cars 5 miles into the country to Sulphur Spring. We crossed the French Broad just where the Swannanoa joins it, forming a fine view. At the Sulphur Spring we wandered around for an hour while the car went back to Asheville & returned.

1895
Aug 3d
Moll, Oliver, and I went down town shopping for shoes, and then took the cars to Lookout Mt. - two miles out. We ascended the mt. & got a fine view of Asheville and the surrounding country.

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Bonny Castle, at the foot of Lookout Mt., is a fine boarding place for those who love the country and yet wish the advantage of the cars to get into town.

Oliver made the ascent and descent of Lookout Mt. which is quite a feat for so small a fellow.

1895
Aug 4.th
We are very pleasantly situated in Asheville. The Trenholms are people of refinement, and there are not too many boarders at present: Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Howard, and Miss Smets (?) from Savannah, and ourselves are all. Miss Helen Trenholm is a the daughter of our hostess, a young lady anywhere from 19 to 24, rather pretty, and I presume talented, because I’ve seen one of her published poems. We have had two games of duplicate whist.

I dined at the Battery Park Hotel today with W. B. S. Hayward, of Charleston. The dinner party consisted, besides, of Mr. Charles Prioleau, Mr. Chaires (?), Mrs Simons, a Miss (name forgotten), - the last a very pretty little brunette in a magnificent toilette. The dinner was elaborate and quite pleasant. Also met Mrs.& Mrs. D. H. Henderson there.

Tonight Miss Helen, Miss Smets, John Trenholm and I went to Central Methodist Church. Heard Miss Dennison sing again.

I met Major Cain & Major Brown, - two old professors, - on the street the other day.

1895
Aug. 5th
Moll, Oliver, and I took the cars this morning on the Montford Ave. line, and went to the River. We walked over an iron bridge which spans the stream which is here about 100 yds wide. Crossing the railroad, the ascent is very steep for 3 or 4 hundred yards 

[Page 51]
[“Asheville” written at top of page]

up Bingham Heights, which are crowned by the buildings of Bingham School. We met Major Bingham, his wife, his sister-in-law Miss Woodward, & Dr. Hume of the Univ. of N.C. The Major showed me over his school. He built about 10 or a dozen 4-room brick one-story buildings instead of one imposing one. They make no show, but are admirably arranged in every respect. The sanitary, ventilating, and cooking arrangements are all excellent, and the Major took great pride in showing me all the arrangements of the establishment. The view from his hill is as fine as could be desired. Asheville in the distance with every prominent building visible, the beautiful French Broad making its sinuous course abound the foot of the Heights, the railroad, the public roads showing like red ribbons on the green hill-slopes, the distant mountains and the near ones, - surely there is no place in the country more beautifully located. We spent over an hour very pleasantly with the Binghams.

This afternoon, after a nap, I (alone) took the cars and went to the river again, but this time instead of ascending Bingham Hts. I went up Richmond Hill past Congressman Pearson’s house. The view from Richmond is considered one fo the best views to be obtained in Asheville. There is a rustic windmill and a [illegible], horrible cistern exactly on the summit. I took a short cut to the River coming back & walked down 

[Page 52]
the railroad to the Bridge.

Tonight I went out to the Biblical Assembly and enjoyed Dr. Strickler’s address on “The Bible the Word of God.”

1895
August 7
I went out to the River on the Montford Ave. cars & walked down the French Broad River, turning off to the right about a mile below the Bridge, and striking the foot of Gorches’ Peak about a mile further. This is a high, noble hill, overlooking most of the other peaks, and affording a fine view of Asheville. It was a hard climb up, but I made it in 46 minutes. At the top I found two gentlemen under an apple tree enjoying the red ripe fruit which lay in profusion on the ground. One was a Mr. West of Brooklyn, the other a “Professor” Hughes of Phila. - a phrenologist. We came down together stopping at a fine spring near the top for a delicious draught of water. West seems to be a really fine fellow, and as I jumped off the car at Mrs. Trenhom’s and bade him and the “professor” goodbye, ti was with a little regret to think we should probably never see each other again. “Ships that pass in the night.”

I heard Dr. Power of the Garfield Memorial (Christian) Church of Washington last night at the 1st Baptist Church. His discourse was an hour and 10 minutes long.

Have been playing some chess at the Y.M.C.A. with a University of N.C. student named James. Am trying to get a party to Mt. Mitchell.

[Page 53]
1895
Aug 11th
SUNDAY:

I have played checkers and chess a good deal at the Y.M.C.A. Last night we had a “book” party here at the house and a very pleasant time. I represented Irving’s “Tales of a Traveller” by wearing a tag like this [outlines the title] “Sketches in the East” by Bayard Taylor. I also gave John Trenholm this one [outlines the title] Nov 22/23 79 to represent Bulwer’s “Lost Days of Pompeii.” Moll represented “Infelice” by a little doll in a lot of fleece! Miss Helen represented  Lucile by [sketch of slipper - see original scan] a slipper with a heel loose. On the afternoon of the 9th I went out to the Dummy cars and went up on Sunset Mt. I walked back, coming down the ridge for a mile, & making the descent near Chestnut St.

Today I took “The Light of Asia” and went up to the Battery Park Hotel & spent the morning on the veranda reading. The music by the hotel band was good.

Moll, Oliver, and I walked out to the Cemetery this afternoon, and climbed the barbed wire fence next the river and went on to the foot of Bingham Heights where we walked over the river & back, & then took the cars for home. Tomorrow afternoon we will go out to the Northrop’s, but I shall leave Moll & Oliver on Tuesday morning. I will stop by a day at Bro. Lucius Matthews. The new from him is terrible. He has not much longer to live - his trouble is malignant tumor.

1895
Monday
Aug. 12th
Moll, Oliver, & I came out to Biltmore from Asheville this afternoon. It is rather crowded here at the Northrop’s, but I shall leave M. & O. tomorrow for another month here - if I can stand the separation so long.

Goodby, Fair Land of the Sky!

[Page 54]
[“Charleston” written at top of page]

1895
Aug. 15th
I am here all alone. The great gloomy building is “left to darkness and to me.” I came by Denmark and spent a day with Sis & Bros Lucius. He is in bed, but did not look as badly as I expected. I spent last night at Bamburg. Sall’s new baby is a fine girl. I got here this morning at 11 o’clock. Will take my dinner at the Bittersohm House above Feldmann’s store, and scuffle for myself for breakfast and supper. My goodness! How I miss Moll & the boy! This hasn’t the faintest resemblance to home.

1895
Aug. 19th 
It’s pretty hard to stand this! There are plenty of people in the city, but I know how Robinson Crusoe felt. Yesterday afternoon I went on the steamer Clarence down to Cainhoy. It was right pleasant coming back in the dusk.  We are in a very hot wave, and I hate to have Moll and Oliver come back to the heat, but I think that I shall give out by the end of this week, and “call ‘em in.”

1895
Aug. 24th
Moll & Oliver are still in Biltmore. The eel can get used to being skinned. For economy’s sake I have been getting my own breakfast and supper - just some coffee and broiled chipped beef and crackers & milk & syrup. Then I wash the dishes. Also my underclothes, and have only my best linen done at the Chinese laundry. It saves a good deal - especially 

[Page 55]
as this hot weather one likes a change of underwear rather often. I get a good dinner at Bittersohm’s for a quarter - always soup, a dessert, & a cup of coffee, too.

Col. Coward has come down & he and I usually take a few games of cribbage at night to while away the time. Tonight the Col. played in hard luck, - I beat him 10 to 2 games, & the last one was a white-wash, for he only got to the 30th hole when I pegged out.

I shall be delighted to have the folks home again. Moll writes that when she told Oliver that I was all alone at the Citadel, he seemed sad and said pathetically, “And he doesn’t get anything to eat?” (Skeeters so bad, I’ll have to quit).

1895
Aug. 26th
This is an awful spell of weather! The heat is terrific! Yesterday afternoon I tried to get out of it a bit by going on the Planter to Kiawah. It was a little rough outside, and a number of people got sick. When we got into Stono River I got with Mrs. Rowe & Mr. & Mrs. Dewees (ships that pass in the night) on the hurricane deck, and we enjoyed the breeze and the sunset tints and the gloaming stealing over the landscape.

I sent a sonnet (“Across the Marsh”) to the Courier last Thursday. It was published in the Sunday News yesterday. Moll expects to come down in the 28th inst.

1895
Aug. 27th
This is one of our anniversaries, and Moll and Oliver came down tonight.

[Page 56]
1895
Sept. 28th
We have all had a fever (broken bone). It’s painful but not serious. I am in better health than for several years - I weigh 123 lbs.

1895
Oct. 29th
I don’t make entries in my diary when there is nothing special to record, - but if more than a month elapses without any remarks, it will hardly be worth while to have a diary. I am teaching nothing but drawing this year: - the Third Class of 50 men in two sections beginning [illegible] Junior Course in Mechanical drawing; the second class in Shades, Shadows, Geometric, and Perspective; and the First Class in Architectural Drawing. About ten days ago I started taking a laboratory course in chemistry. Reese has a laboratory very well fitted for work, and I am very much entertained with the experiments.

Brother Lucius died on Oct. 3d. He was one of the best men I ever knew. Ma may now go to live with Sis.

Nov. 26th
1895
8815! This is the no. of miles I guess J. L. David & Bros.’ bicycle will run betw. Oct. 28th and Dec. 24th inclusive. It it comes out right, or nearest, I’ll get the wheel. [12031 won the bicycle, I had another guess on it of 12838].

Nov. 27th
1895
I am going over to Atlanta tonight, and then on to Bloomington, Ill. for my final examination for Ph.D. Moll and Oliver will go up to Bamburg while I am away.

The Corps of Cadets will go over to the Exposition to be present on Carolina Day, & will stay until the 30th inst.

[Page 55]
Hotel Aragon, Atlanta, Ga.,
Nov. 28th 1895.

We left Charleston last night at 8 P.M. and got to Atlanta today at 10 A.M. (Atlanta time). Arthur Campbell and I shared a berth together on the sleeper, but owing to the “busting” of some jack-pots in our near vicinity during the greater part of the night, we did not sleep well. The berth was too stuffy, also.

We got a 25¢ breakfast immediately on our arrival, and after I had negotiated with the ticket broker for a ticket to Bloomington, and we had deposited our grips at Cambell’s boarding place, we took cars for the Exposition grounds. The Exposition is really very good. The buildings are handsome and the grounds and the grouping of the buildings, the fountains, the statues, the “Midway”, etc. are worthy of a landscape artist.

Lula was in the Exposition, but, although I sought her diligently, I could not find her. I was completely tired out and when night came, but I wanted to stay to the fireworks. My feet got so cold, that I was wretched, but the Exposition by electric night was very beautiful. I came back about 8 o’clock, and am now ready to board the train at 11:15 P.M. for Bloomington. As I am trying to make this a very cheap trip, I will keep account of my expenditures.

[Page 58]
[Chart of expenses - see original scan.]

[Page 59]
1895
Nov. 29th
On the cars just out of Atlanta.

What a night of it! At 11:15 I was punctually at the Depot to leave for Bloomington. There were seven trains preparing to leave. In the confusion I had to trust to the officials of the depot, of course, for directions. “Track No. 7” was the one from which the Chattanooga train would leave. “But a Birmingham train was on track seven?” Yes, but it would pull out & the Chat. train come in.” Meantime trains are coming in and going out, & I asked different officials one after another if they were the Chat. Train. “No, the Chat train would come on on track seven.” Meantime, time, as it usually does, was passing. And my feet got cold & I felt tired, & wished I was home! About a dozen people were hunting for the Chat. train, like myself. After we had consulted with every official we saw, we finally concluded we would stand by No. 7 and wait for the Chat. train. The Birmingham train went out, & directly a new train steamed on to No. 7. Of course, we hopped aboard. But no, it was the West Point train, - & we got off again. We started inquiries again. One official thought the Chat train was making up one square away - another suggested that it had already gone! Finally we obtained enough information to credit the opinion that it had left an hour earlier, from No. 2! It was now one o’clock. I tried two hotels for a room, but could not get even a sofa in the 

[Page 60]
parlor: -- the City was jammed with visitors. There was nothing to do but sit up the rest of the night. The next train left at 5:10 next morning. Our tickets were dated for the 28th, & therefore would not be good on this train. After a great deal of importuning, we got the ticket inspector to write a note stating the case to the ticket seller. Him we would have to seat 4:30 o’clock to have the date extended. He slept at the Markham Hotel, so I went there and napped uneasily in a chair in the office until 4:30. Then with a crowd who were seeking to have their return tickets “validated”, I squirmed and squeezed (one fat negro next me, ugh!) until my turn came. The agent would make no change! “He had done all he could do.” I tried to argue the matter, but he cut me short by referring me to some high official whose office was in the Equitable Building. It was not 15 minutes from train time, & I should very likely find him in his office at 5 o’clock in the morning! Anyhow I and a Galveston man in the same boat went. Of course there was nobody in the building. Should I wait until the afternoon train and get my ticket fixed? That would put me in Bloomingdale too late for examination on Saturday, - so I resolved that I would take the train anyway and ague the conductor. If he put 

[Page 61]
me off I thought I would have a good case against the Company, & I determined to force matters. I had not been to blame, and maybe he would let me go on the ticket, - and he did!

10:30. Just out of Chattanooga. I had time to eat a sandwich and scald my mouth with a cup of coffee. Chat. is a picturesque little city. Lookout Mt. rises boldly up a few miles from 

Crossing the Tennessee! -

town across the river.

We crossed the Tennessee River just at the moment recorded above. It is a broad, beautiful, placid stream.

Noon: This East Tennessee is a beautiful country to live in. I have never seen the mts. in their winter barrenness before, and they look very different. The trees do not obscure them at all, but the brown leafy deposit covers the whole like a garment, save where the crags keep out.

The porter has just lit the lamp - altho’  it is midday of a very brilliant and beautiful day. I suppose it means that we are -- Tunnell!! Darkness!! --It’s a long one too.

Well, here is light again.

It is very wild and pretty here. We crossed a river and are whirling along by its side. This train makes excellent time. I wonder what river this is?

[Page 62]
Hello! Tunnl [sic] again! Darkness - except the dim lamp-light. Now light.

And here is, now, Oakdale, - a nice large hotel - evidently a summer resort.

That was the Emory River.

On again! We have just passed thro’ several more long tunnels. It is funny to look back at one of these and see the smoke pouring out like a great horizontal volcano, as a horrible kind of artillery.

Still the lights burn.
While the light holds out to burn
A tunnel may be at any turn.

The train winds in and out among the hills, as if it were trying to nose out a way, but when eve -

(tunnel) - rything seems to hem it in, it does not halt, but just goes on thro’. Just as we got out of the tunnel in the parenthesis - (tunnel, again) - we came to a great - (tunnel) - gorge. We sailed thro’ the air over this (on a trestle, of course) & far below we saw a little river in its devious course through the gorges.

It is very easy to tell the speed at which - (tunnel) ------ wait awhile ---- a train is going. The trucks make a peculiar noise in passing over the joints of the rails, and hence by counting these “ker-bumps” for, say, 10 secords, multiply by 6 & divide by 176 (the no. of rails in a mile, for each one is 30 feet long) the speed is obtained directly. Thus I have just timed for 10 seconds & found 

[Page 63]
24 as the no. of “ker-bumps”. 6 x 24 = 144 rails passed over per minute. Hence the speed was 144/176 of of a mile, per minute, or about 49 miles per hour. In the same way, I calculated the length of the next to the last tunnel to be about 690 feet or nearly 1/7 mile.

We have just passed this one which must be at least ½ mile thro’. Now we are high in the air, passing over a fine river, & a pretty village approaching. This is a handsome country.

2:30 We have just passed over two great valleys on the highest trestles I ever saw. And the tunnels continue. One of the most striking views I ever saw was the 

Crossing the Cumberland.

at Burnside Point. The train sweeps round a curve on to a high trestle over the river, & enters a tunnel in the perpendicular wall of rock that rises several hundred feet into the air on the north side of the river.

The banks of the Cumberland are lined with Sycamores. Its gorge must be very old geologically. The gorge must be very old geographically.

4:30 Have changed cars at Burgin from Louisville. Sorry I could not go on to Lexington so as to cross the high bridge over the Kentucky River. It is cloudy and is getting dark - and I wish I was home.

[Page 64]
1895
Nov. 30th
4:30 A.M. Flora, Illinois. I shall have to wait here until 5:30 for the Springfield train. I had an hour in Louisville, & had time to go to the Hotel Normandy & have supper. Then it was a ride across the State of Indiana & half of Illinois. I fear I shall not reach Bloomington until afternoon, late.

A poor fellow was killed on the track outside a short while before we got in.

7 A.M. I have napped some. For miles back I have noticed quantities of snow in patches over the vast plains. At first I could hardly believe it was snow, but a native seemed tickled that I could doubt it - and certainly what else could it be?

10:30 Springfield, Ill. I had breakfast at the “Delmonico”, a shave at the barber shop, & am now at the depot waiting for the 11:40 train. I will arrive in Bloomington at 1:15.

The city of Springfield is not very attractive. True, it is a cloudy, raw day, - and the streets are full of slush and snow.

Bloomington. 8 P.M. It seems several days since the entry above was made. I got here about two o’clock. The street-car conductor took me to the girls’ school at Normal instead of the Ill. Wesleyan Univ. After trudging some in the snow - and here it as a very deep and “slickery” - I got on the cars & was brought back. Then I couldn’t find President Wilder, but I finally saw Dr. Graham, - or rather his wife - 

[Page 65]
[“Bloomington” written at top of page]

for the Doctor was busy in his cistern with his workman, - & Mrs. G. was very pleasant, & made me welcome. Then she brought me the examination questions which Prof. Lackland had prepared and I sat to work in her parlor. A little after four Dr. Graham came in & we went over to the University. There I met President Wilder, & Prof. Lackland and Elrod. After a little conversation in the office, we adjourned to the mathematics room, & Prof. Lackland gave me the oral examination. It involved mechanics, calculus, dynamics of a particle, astronomy, but no theory of equations. Neither was the latter given in the written. I think I made a good impression, & I am sure my degree is assured.

I took tea with Dr. Graham & his very pleasant wife. They have two sons - Chester, 10 & Roland three years old. After tea I had a walk of nearly two miles thro’ town to the depot. Here I am waiting to make arrangements to start on my return home. The train comes in at 9:24. The snow here is a little previous.

The girls here go out at night without escorts - on the principal streets, at least. Bloomington is an important city.

Illinois is very level - with little forest growth. On each side of the railroad for three, four, & five miles away the 

[Page 66]
[“Illinois, Indiana” written at top of page]

level cornfields and pasture lands extend. I have seen hundreds & thousands of acres of corn - nowhere in the South is anything like it. The soil is dark & said to be very rich. The comfortable farm houses are miles apart surrounded by estates of hundreds of acres. All distances here are magnificent. And everywhere the beautiful snow!

1895
Dec.1
I had a good night’s rest. I went to bed just after leaving Bloomington, & altho’ I walked for a moment when we got to Indianapolis, it was so nice to fall off to sleep again! There was only one other pullman occupant - a lady next to me - and we traveled in comfort. At seven this morning, I woke and we were on the Ohio, nearing Cincinnati. The Ohio River country is hilly & beautiful.

Cincinnati is the most attractive place I have seen on my trip. I had a breakfast there, & would like to spend Sunday there, but I want to spend another day in Atlanta, & so here I am on the car again whirling across the rolling blue-grass county of Ky, on a Queen and Crescent limited.

10:40 Lexington, Ky. is a very pretty place.

11:15 We have just crossed the Great High Bridge over the Kentucky River. The scenery here is wonderfully grand and beautiful. The German Lutheran Church could stand 

[Page 67]
[“Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia” written at top of page]

below us, and we would pass 40 feet over its arrow.

12:20  I am now on the road I came over a month ago -- day before yesterday, I mean. We have just passed through the mile-long tunnel under King’s Mt. I shall keep account of the tunnels in the return trip.

No. of tunnels between Cincinnati & Atlanta

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII = 27

3:45  Oakdale - Got out & got a lunch. Looks like we will have rain. One certainly gets swindled at these railroad lunch counters. When two slices of stale bread and a thin slice of cold beef sell for ten cents there is a dishonest per cent of gain made. The apple-pie was good, however, but I couldn’t eat the bread. I wish I was home!

5:35  We have just crossed the Tennessee River, and will soon be in Chattanooga. Then on to Atlanta where we are scheduled for 10:40.

Dec 3
1895
Atlanta, Ga. 7 A.M. I had a dirty bed at a hotel near the depot night before last. Next day I changed to a private house (22 Church St.) I went out to the Technological School & saw Capt. Hall and Dr. Emerson. I made an engagement to dine with Capt. Hall at 6 P.M. I went to see Frank Shain at the American Book Company. The enthusiastic old fellow grabbed me in his arms & hugged me before Mr. Smith & Major - , like I was a long lost brother. We had a long talk together. When I left him 

[Page 68]
[“Atlanta” written at top of page]

I went down street for some purchases for Moll & Oliver. There to the Capitol, where the Legislation was in session. Shakespeare used a strong adjective when he spoke of 

“The applause of listening senate”
- they don’t seem to listen at all.

From the top of the dome, a fine view is obtained of the city.

I went back, & lunched with Shain at Durand’s Restaurant. We then went up to the Equitable Bldg to see Walker, but he was not in. We went in to see Elliot Jennings in the 

- Bank. He showed us a very interesting & complicated machine called an arithmometer for registering the amt of checks and then adding them all up. We saw it add a column of figures a yard long, & it could do a column of a 100 yds as easily, they say. Frank had to leave on the 3 P.M. train. I spent the afternoon at the Y.M.C.A. and in the billiard room of the Kimball.

I have rather lost my identify since leaving home. Traveling on scalped tickets is cheaper but a little disagreeable. I was J. D. Becker on my trip to Springfield. Then I recovered my identity until this morning; - now I shall be R. H. Thomas until I get to Charleston.

I spent  a very pleasant evening with Capt. Hall & his interesting family. Annie & Muriel are the daughters, & Harleston, the little son.

[Page 69]
Capt. Hall has good prospects of being soon elected President of the School of Tech. If so, he will do his best to get me Associate in math here.

I had a good night’s rest at Mr. Pinckard’s, & a breakfast at Durand’s, & now I am on the cars, and in a few moments will be whirling toward old Charleston, via Augusta. I hope to have a glimpse of Moll & Oliver at Bamberg - and they will come down to the City tomorrow.

Goodbye, Atlanta.

12 M
Thomson, Ga. - Rather uninteresting country. Have been talking with an Indiana man since we left Atlanta.

3:15
August, Ga. - We have an hour here. I went down to Broad St. for a walk, & got something to eat. We will leave in 20 minutes for Charleston.

1895
Dec. 4th
Home again. Moll and Oliver with Mella joined me at Bamberg yesterday afternoon, & we got down at 9 o’clock last night. It is a great relief to have the whole matter off my mind. The trip was no doubt very beneficial to me in many respects - but it was very tiresome, & now that the Ph.D. business is over I feel like a burden is off me. My math. studies will now be recreative rather than laborious.

My trip was made in six days, & covered nearly 2200 miles.

[Page 70]
[See original scan for map of “My Journey for a Ph.D. degree”]

[Page 71]
1895
Dec. 13th
We expected Kate & Will Bond down to spend this (Gala Week) week with us. We also halfway looked for Aunt Alice & May Steadman. Also, probably, Florence. Nobody came, and we ate our turkey and fruit cake alone, and gave away the extra concert tickets which we had bought for the entertainment of our expected visitors. Florence did drop in yesterday (Thursday) but we have not had a line from any of the others to account for their non-appearance.

At the meeting of the Association of Graduates on Tuesday night it was resolved to give me $50 a year as Sec. & Treas.

Col. Coward told me yesterday that I would soon be made Post-Adjutant with a little raise in salary.

Jess is to be married on the 2d of January to Jesse J. Stevenson, a Methodist preacher.

1895
Dec. 15th
I sold my bicycle for $20 the other day. Sometime I hope I shall have another. This afternoon I borrowed Brailsford’s and rode up to the New Park. Yesterday I took Oliver and Mell to see the aeronaut go up in his balloon and make a parachute descent. It was a very successful performance. Moll & I enjoyed a concert by local talent on last Wednesday night.

Calhoun’s monument is being rapidly taken down. The new one will undoubtedly be an improvement.

Oliver is growing rapidly, and getting decidedly heavy. We are not teaching him any now, and he thinks only of play.

I have taken charge of the office records downstairs, and am at work in view of my coming Post-Adjutancy.

[Page 72]
[See original scan for illustration, and for decorative holiday font for Christmas day]

1895
Dec.18th
Day before yesterday we let Florence take Oliver up to Bamberg for a week’s visit.

I exchanged my violin for a mandolin at Siegling’s Music Stars yesterday afternoon. I gave $3.00 boot. The mandolin is a good one, - made by Bruno. It is beautifully made of cheery, sycamore (or maple), mahogany, rose-wood, pine (belly), & ebony (bridge).

I have made drawings for my thesis, which will shortly be published by the Illinois Wesleyan University.

1895
Christmas day
Unfortunately it has not been a Merry Christmas with us: - 1st I am just out of bed from my 3rd attack of broken bone fever - was in bed three days; 2nd Moll is in bed with a thorough case of mumps, - she can’t open her mouth, let alone eating; 3rd We got a letter saying that Oliver, whom we have looked for daily and Florence for several days, has the mumps in Bamberg. Joe Matthews and I sat down alone & tried to do up the turkey.

1895
Dec. 28th
I was made Post Adjutant today at a salary of $1000.

[Page 73]
1896
Jan. 1st
What does the New Year contain for us? Who can peer into the future and say?

It has been a beautiful day. Moll is better of the mumps, though still not well. Oliver is still in Bamberg, thought we expect him every day.

Tonight Frank Fishburne and C. C. Bunch came up and we had a very good game of duplicate whist, - & some of Moll’s fruit cake. Moll & Bunch put the “hoodoo” on Frank & me - beat us 18 points in a 12-hand set.

1896
Jan 12.
The weather has been very pleasant so far this year. Today, Moll and I took the cars to the New Bridge & walked over into St. Andrew’s Parish. We went out through Pleasure Grove, & got a lot of palm leaves, Christmas berries, and bamboo berries. The air, sunshine, and exercise were delightful, and we enjoyed dinner on our return.

1896
Jan. 19th
Last Sunday morning, instead of going to church, Moll and I took a long stroll into St. Andrew’s Parish, as recorded above. Today, remembering how pleasant last Sunday’s stroll was, we took the cars & went up to Magnolia Cemetery and wandered through the grounds. The weather is like May, and it was delightful to be in the sunshine and air. We also strolled through St. Laurence Cemetery.

Yesterday, the Citadel had a narrow escape (in the Legislature) from annihilation. A bill introduced by a Fred Williams 

[Page 74]
of Edgefield to abolish the Citadel was barely defeated by a vote of 49 to 46. We may have serious trouble a little later when the appropriation bill comes up for consideration. The Reform party thinks Clemson College meets all the needs of the State. I have drawn below the Reform idea of how the educational institutions of the State could be equitably divided. The red line shows the literary center of the State - and Charleston is not “in it.”

[See original scan for illustration of “A Revised Map of South Carolina”]

[Page 75]
1896
Jan. 20th
Moll and I attended a card party at Joe Walker’s one evening last week. There were 5 whist tables.

I have been playing some chess occasionally this winter with Mr. Witsell - 4 Glebe St. He can beat me most of the time.

Oliver did a funny trick this afternoon. Moll sent him (for some rolls) to the baker shop across the street. He got up behind a boy on a velocipede & took a ride there, - and when he got the rolls he gave one to the lad who had obliged him with a ride, & one to the milk-boy who was also along. Some little ragamuffins also came along, & these were also entertained. Then some little negroes down stairs got the balance. Oliver also ate one, - & then, the bread all gone, he went on playing down stairs, forgetting he had ever been sent anywhere.

Maj. Thomas Coleman and I were appointed a Board to appraise the property of the Academy. We completed one inspection today, & found somewhat more than $3000 worth.

I can scratch tolerably well on the mandolin now.

While Major Reese has been sick -- (for a month past) I have been instructing his class in geology.

Moll is a good deal of a reader nowadays. Sewing, crochetting [sic], and reading take up her time. Friends drop in every now and then for 

[Page 76]
for an evening at whist, - but we very seldom go out after tea, as we have no one to stay with Oliver. Oliver always goes to bed immediately after supper, & we sit here by ourselves reading usually. There is very little excitement in our lives.

1895
Jan. 23d
If the soul of Shakespeare could have witnessed the crowd that gathered in the rain last night at the Market Street door of the Academy of music, waiting for the doors to open to the “family circle”, it would have been undoubtedly flattered at the estimation in which his “Merchant of Venice” is still held! Ladies of the bluest of Charleston blood, prominent divines, and other individuals distinguished for culture, stood in the downpour for half an hour, good naturedly laughing at their own discomfiture in the trying circumstances. The umbrellas served only to gather the water in radiating streams, which sought out new spots down people’s necks, in their pockets, and against their noses, to pour their merry cataracts. Lorenzo’s and Jessica’s “on such a night!” was feelingly quoted, & fair Portia’s “falls as the gentle rain from heaven” did good service also. When the doors were opened, there was a terrible crush; - one need only give himself up to the stream & he was urged along. There was a scramble up the stairs, & another compress in the alley to the entrance door. That the ladies ever got in alive is a wonder to me. The poor cop whose duty it was (silly duty) to stem the rush, was merely rolled round & round on his axis. Brailsford & I, who went together, got excellent seats where 

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we could see the entire stage, and chucking our soaked overcoats, hats, umbrellas, and overshoes under the seat, we were dry and comfortable. And the jam still jammed. The tide rose clear to the ceiling, and the aisles were packed with standing people - pretty girls, too, among them who couldn’t get a seat. This was 7:00 o’clock, and while this great crush from the family circle up through the “lower pea-nut gallery” to the “buzzard-roost” was adjusting itself and getting composed, not a single solitary individual was visible in the vast pit and gallery below! It was yet an hour before the placid reserved-seaters with their $5 seats (ours were $1) would walk gloriously in in their evening suits and dresses. It was a funny night, - this animated crush upstairs, & the solitude of velvet cushioned chairs below. There was applause when the “bull”-fiddler poked his head up through the orchestra down under the stage, and emerged like a pioneer on a newly discovered shore. But the crowd down-stairs came in due season, & at 8:15, the band ceased, the stage-lights lit up, & the house was thrown into the dark, & the curtain rose, & we were in Venice!

The scenery was especially beautiful, and the pains taken to represent Venetian life at the time of the play were quite a surprise. Gondola parties with musicians, - street parties of girls & boys out frolicking, with harlequins and masqueraders, gave an air of reality 

[Page 78]
[See original scan for illustration]

to the play which could hardly have been obtained otherwise. As these things were not “nominated in the bond”, as Shylock would say, there were a pleasant surprise.

The “support” was very good, I suppose, but I must say that in the superior light of Irving and Terry they did not impress me. Jessica was eminently a nonentity - altho’ her costumes were no doubt historically correct, & were strikingly characteristic and even beautiful. Antonio and Bassanio and Gratiano, and Islanio, and Lorenzo and the rest played their parts without marring the piece, and therefore played them well, I suppose. The Prince of Morocco, I verily believe, was no Caucasion; and there was a reality in Terry’s contemptuous smile when she said, “Let all of his complexion choose me thus,” which was, I think, above even her transcendant [sic] art. Among the minor characters, the Duke, Lancelot - Gobbs - Lancelot Gobs, & his “sand-blind” father played their parts in an anthem way that was pleasant. Miss Terry’s Portia was, I thought at first, a little frivolous, - but in the casket and the court scenes she was superb and dignified. She is very handsome, and her costumes were magnificent. As for Irving - I was so absorbed in contemplating Shylock, that I never thought of him. His presentation was so far ahead of my imagination of the character, that I was spell-bound. I 

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shall never forget him - and the court-room scene, where the play culminates, is a masterpiece that once witnessed could not be easily forgotten. If it were possible, he made Shylock attractive! There were fifty people on the stage in this scene, and the grouping and setting made a magnificent spectacle, but Shylock was the cynosure of eyes.

Mansfield is not unworthy to be mentioned with Irving, I think, but I, in my very limited opportunities, have never seen a female character so attractive as Miss Terry’s Portia. I consider that I never spent a dollar to better purpose in my life than that for seeing too such notable masterpieces as Sir Henry Irving’s Shylock & Miss Ellen Terry’s Portia.

1896
Jan. 26th
Sunday: - Moll and I took our Sunday walk this morning to the Battery and back. This afternoon, Oliver, Moll and I took a walk again, making for M. & me a total mileage of about six miles. The winter has been very mild so far; and now that the days are lengthening perceptibly it is not very probably we shall have any really severe weather.

Since Jess’s marriage, Ma has broken up the home in Chester, given the furniture to the three girls, and gone to live with Sis.

Our system of monthly examinations instead of daily recitations, introduced this year, is working well in most cases. It is probable the boys do not study quite as hard, but the oppor-

[Page 80]
tunity for classroom explanation by the professor is increased so much, that I think the advantage is on the side of the monthly examinations.

I spent nearly all yesterday writing on the Record of ante-bellum graduates - part of my post adjutant work.

1896
Jan.31st
Friday: - On Monday night, I went around to 4 Glebe St. & played chess with Mr. Witsell. We played pretty evenly. Tuesday night, Moll and I called on Dr. & Mrs. Baer. Last night, Maj. Thomas, Maj. Mazӱck, Coleman and I sat as a Court of Inquiry on some charges made by Cadet Stokes against Ct. Champlain. Moll, Oliver, & I walked out to West Point Mill this afternoon, & saw the beautiful sunset, - & watched the great pounders at work on the rice. The weather is more like April than January, - and we did not think of weaving cloak & overcoat. The new Calhoun Monument is nearing completion, & forms a constant source of interest to us as we look out of our windows. Nothing could be more beautiful than this moonlight night.

1896
Feb. 2nd
Sunday: - This morning Moll and I took the car & went up to the Five Mile House, and then took a walk down towards the Cooper River. The wind was too high for much enjoyment, however. Owing to the warm weather the trees are all beginning to show signs of budding, and the strawberries are in bloom.

This afternoon, I spent writing up the evidence in the recent Court of Inquiry - 18 pp.

[Page 81]
1896
Feb. 9th
Sunday: I am on duty today, so we have not been out. Moll and I have both spend the day reading. Tolstoï’s “War and Peace” with its graphic pictures of Russian life, has entertained me immensely.

On last Monday night I took my mandolin to the Misses Carews’ and had an evening of music.

Friday night, Moll & I were at a delightful card party given by Annie Campbell and Jim Morris. I won the booby prize! - And I thought I could play euchre, too.

1896
Feb. 14th
The U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey are making some observations here for longitude. Mr. C. H. Sinclair is the observer here. The two granite piers just east of the Mess Hall form the mount for the transit. A very convenient temporary shanty is constructed over them, giving plenty of room for the outfit. There are two chronometers, - one attached to the chronograph, and the other used for telling the time of the star-transits. Two series of 5 stars each are observed before the exchange of signals, and the same number afterwords. The problem at present is the difference of longitude between Charleston and Key West. The method is briefly this: The chronograph is set to work, and connected electronically with a chronometer, which causes second-marks to be recorded, thus: [Illustration - see original scan.] 

The end of a minute is blank, - as at A [Pointing to illustration - see original scan.]

The observer notes the time of a star’s transit & presses a key which causes a break in the chronograph record, thus: [Illustration - see original scan.]

[Page 82]
In reality, he notes the star eleven times, as it crosses the eleven wires in the telescope, and the time of the passage of the middle wire is more accurately determined from the eleven. The level on the axis of the transit inst. is read after every star, and one set of stars is observed with the axis reversed to correct for collimation. After the first two sets are recorded on the chronograph, a message, or signal is received from Key West, & one is returned. Then two more sets of stars are observed. The chronograph then shows a scheme like this (abbreviated)

[Illustration - see original scan.]

From the star observations, the chronometer time can be very accurately corrected, and hence the time of the signals located with great precision. The same being done at Key West, a comparison will give the difference in time, from which the longitude is found.

On Wednesday night I went round to the Misses Carews’ and played the mandolin with Miss Leila’s piano accompaniment. We had a delightful practice evening.

1895 [1896]
Feb. 17th
Monday: - Moll and I attended Miss Coates’ marriage to Clarence Johnson at St. Philip’s Church on Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock. They left on the 5:30 train for Columbia. Johnson did not lose any time from his school. Miss Madeline looked very pretty.

I had a “practice” at Miss Ammie Smith’s one eveing last week, with mandolin and piano.

[Page 83
Yesterday, Moll and I attended services at Trinity, - and neither of think we shall go again. We are out of sympathy there. My own religious views are very different from what they were formerly.

In the afternoon, Moll, Oliver, and I went down to the wharves to see the Commodore, a suspected Cuban filibusterer, which is gradually working southward, watched by a revenue cutter. Then we paid a visit to the Bellinger’s. The afternoon was springlike, and we laughed at  Mr. Jesunofsky having the five-alarm bells to ring “12” at 2 o’clock in the afternoon to announce a cold wave for today. But today it came, - and from the green clover and budding trees of temperate yesterday, we have travelled in 24 hours into the snow of frigid today. It is very cold, and we had a decided fall of fine snow this afternoon.

1895 [1896]
Feb. 25th
Tuesday
Last week I had opportunity on several nights to watch Mr. Sinclair in observations with the zenith telescope for latitude. These are accurate micrometer measurements of stars whose zenith distances (north & south) are nearly the same. It is Falcott’s Method.

On last Tuesday night Moll and I attended a very pleasant progressive euchre party at Joe Walker’s. [Feb. 22 written in margin.] Moll won the first prize. Last Saturday, we entertained the Legislature, whom we and the City had invited down to inspect the Citadel. A sail around the Harbor, a collation on board, an artillery salute on Marion Square, and a Citadel reception and inspection of the Corps of Cadets were 

[Page 84]
[See original scan for illustration]

the features of the programme. Then there was a big parade in honor of Washington’s birthday. The legislators were rather a “tacky” looking set.

Mr. G. R. Putnam has exchanged places in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey here with Mr. Sinclair. They will now exchange signals on five nights between here & Key West, for the determination of longitude - by changing places they can eliminate “personal equation”. Mr. Sinclair’s “special” work, - (for each has something of his own to do besides the longitude work), - was the determination of latitude. Mr. Putnam’s is the determination of the force of gravity with the pendulum. The problem is to determine the time of vibration of a pendulum (of a certain length) at Charleston. The box A is air-tight, and the air is exhausted to about a pressure of 60 mm. In it swings the pendulum, on agate edges. From the box, B, a ray of light is sent through a slit in the shutter, S, through the glass D and, is reflected back from two little mirrors (on the pendulum and the pendulum support) into the telescope, F. The appearance in the telescope is two slits end to end, thus: [see illustration]. If the pendulum is now set to vibrating in the plane of AF, its image, I no longer joins end to end with the image from the stationary mirror, I’; but swings up and down: [see illustration].

[Page 85]
Inside the box, B, is a shutter connected electrically with a sidereal chronometer, C. Each half second this shutter opens for an instant, and a view of the two images, I and I’, obtained. If the pendulum were exactly synchronous with the chronometer, it is evident that the relative position of the two images would always be the same, for at the instant when the shutter flew open, the pendulum, (being synchronous with the chronometer, which works the shutter), would always be in the same part of its swing, and would, therefore, cause its image to fall in the same place. But it is made of such a length as to beat a little longer than half a second, so at each opening of the shutter, it changes its position a little.

[see illustration] ] It appears in the successive positions, I, I, I. About every five minutes, it coincides with I’. The instants are noted, both when the image is going up & coming down. Of course the pendulum has lost one vibration on the chronometer between two coincidences of the images. It is in this way its period is determined. By taking observations eight hours apart (that is about the time the pendulum will swing considerably) for three days, and by regulating  the chronometer by means of star observations in the “observatory” outside it is possible, Mr. Putnam says, to get the pendulum’s period within a millionth of a second. The experiment if performed all over the earth, will give its form.

‌[Page 86]
1896
March 1
Oliver has been sick with cold and fever for a few days past. At nights, I have lately been observing the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey work. Mr. Putnam’s pendulum experiments give - (with a few corrections yet to be made) - 979.529 dynes (in centimeters)  By Clairant’s theoretical formula, [q = 978.066 (1 + .0052435 in ²] it would be 979.569. The observed force of gravity, therefore, corresponds to a lat. of 32°17’ (about).

I heard Evangelist D. C. Moody on Thursday night at the Citadel Square Baptist Church.

This afternoon Joe Walker & I walked up to Mr. Mazyck [illegible] - on the “little island”.

1896
March 6
Oilver is about over his spell. Night before last Moll and I spent a pleasant musical evening at the Carews’. Last night we were at the Legge’s until nearly 2 o’clock, at a very pleasant progressive euchre party. The elegant refreshments at 1 o’clock were much enjoyed.

Moll is a member of a (female) whist club which meets weekly on Thursday morning at the Misses Brown’s on Wentworth St. She has come out ahead on the duplicate whist each of the three times that she has attended. We have also formed a duplicate whist-club to meet every Tuesday evening. Moll is out on Marion Square practicing bicycle riding on Annie Campbell’s wheel tonight, and Arthur Campbell is trying to teach her to mount and dismount. The cadets went up the road for practice drill today, so we did not have recitations.

1896
March 8
Sunday: - Moll, Oliver, & I went up to the Cemetery this afternoon and strolled through the beautiful grounds. The hyacinths were in full beauty.

Last night Eddie Freer, Frank Fishbourne, & Mrs. & Mr. White dropped in for some duplicate whist. Frank and I played checkers.

[Page 87]
[Warwick “The Duchess” bicycle brochure attached to page - see original scan.]

1896
March 15
Sunday: - Moll & Oliver have gone to St. Paul’s. I am on duty. Moll has turned Episcopalian - what she should have been all along - for every member of her family is a member of that church. As for myself, I doubt if I can ever be of any creed again.

“So many gods, so many creeds!
So many paths that wind and wind!
When just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs!”

It would be interesting to myself if I could trace my mental growth - or degeneration, the preachers would say, - from three years ago till now. The books I have read might show it if I could remember them. I know of many that have impressed me.

“There is more faith in honest doubt,
Believe me, than in half the creeds.”

Last Tuesday night we had our whist-club meeting at Joe Walker’s. A heavy rain set in, and coming home we had to wade over our shoe-tops for about 100 yds on Calhoun St. Moll had sore throat and cold before that, but this cured both, instead of killing her.

Wednesday night I went round to Mr. Witsell’s where we had duplicate whist and chess. Thursday evening Mr. & Mrs. White were here for whist, and Friday evening we had Mr. Richie White and Dr. Gadsden White up for an evening’s entertainment at whist. Last night I paid a party call at the Legge’s, and Moll practiced riding the bicycle on the square - on Annie Campbell’s wheel.

I have made terms for getting Moll a $100 wheel and it will be here in a week. It is the handsomest cycle made - the Warwick. I don’t think the Columbia equals it.

[Page 88]
1896
March 22
Sunday again. During the past week, Moll & I attended a card party, I went to hear Dr. Kemp Battle’s address at the Medical College Commencement, & on another evening played chess with Mr. Witsell. Moll’s bicycle has not arrived yet, but Annie Campbell came up last night, and Moll practiced some more. I think she does very well. Next Tuesday night the Duplicate Whist Club is to meet here. I have been devising a novelty in score-cards and “table tickets” for the occasion. The latter is merely a device to arrange the persons by lot at the five tables. We will have something like candy kisses wrapped in colored papers and containing instructions for setting partners. For table one, the instructions will be quotations;  as, “Go West, young man!” and “Where are you going my pretty maid? To number one, six, north, she said.” At No. 2 West, I have a little ticket representing Mephistopheles directing to a chair at table 2, west. Ticket No. 2, East represents the chair at west as [illegible] & Mephisto is round in the other side inviting to a chair at the east. And so on for south & north. Table No. 3 is arranged like tickets for a theater play. No. 4 represents an Esquimaux girl, a cowboy, an Eastern beauty, & a Southern darkey. Etc., etc.

1896
March 29th
Sunday again. Our whist party was very successful. Not much of interest has happened in the past week. Moll & I took a walk this afternoon. Belated Spring may be said to have arrived at last, and the trees are springing into green. We look for Moll’s bicycle in a day or two. We wanted so many “specials”, they had to make them.

[Page 89]
1896
April 5th
Easter Sunday: - Mill, Florence & I went to St. Paul’s today to Easter services, and tonight Florence and I went again.

I was at Mr. Ned Witsell’s one evening last week. Mr. Ligon and I beat Witsell and Jeffords two sets at duplicate whist.

1896
April 12th
Monday afternoon I played chess with Mr. Plenge, who is the best player in the City. He played the Evan’s on me twice, and I beat him the first game. I played a King’s Bishop’s Gambit, and had a beautiful winning attack, but made an oversight. Monday night Moll and I went to Annie Campell’s to play whist. Tuesday afternoon, Florence and I went to the Battery to see a trick bicycle rider. One of his most striking tricks was to climb thro’ the diamond of his wheel, balancing it meanwhile. Tuesday night Moll and I went to Marian Campbell’s marriage at St. Paul’s. Wednesday night one of our whist clubs met at Mrs. Marion Smith’s; - Thursday night the other met at Mrs. Legge’s; - Friday night we had two tables of whist at home. From this, it would seem that whist took up a large part of our time and thought, - but it is as Thackeray somewhere (in the Newcomes, I think) says about dining, - the ordinary business life of people is never considered interesting enough to record, - it is the social side of life that is of interest as record.

Moll is enjoying the “Duchess”. It arrived on Friday April 10th. Today I took a spin up to the Cemetery, and tonight Florence and I attended the special services at St. Philip’s. The music was very good.

1896
April 13th
I played chess with Mr. Plenge this afternoon. The first, he played an Evans on me. I moved carelessly & resigned after about 8 moves. I played a King’s 

[Page 90]
Bishop’s Gambit second, and won. The 3d game was a very beautiful one. He opened irregularly, and we played nip and tuck; but by a fine combination he finally won. The score stands 4 to 2.

1896
April 15th
Last night our whist club met at Miss Jones’s in Society St. Miss Nellie Walter and I were partners - and played against Capt. Fishbourne and Miss Robinson. It was the most remarkable score I ever saw. We beat them 6 points on one hand, and 15 points on the twelve.

1896 
Apr. 17
Q’s P Opening. Bond (White) vs. Witsell. Drawn. Time 2h 15m.

1896
Apr. 23d
Oliver saw a little cooter down stairs, and made the following sketch of it from memory. I think few grown people could do as well. 

[See original scan for illustration]

Mr. Joe Roach is spending “Veteran Week” with us. Last night Mrs. Marion Smith’s whist Club met here. Miss Nellie Walter & I beat Mrs. Smith & Mr. Taylor by a score of 10 to 2. 

I received today a copy of the [illegible] Wesleyan Magazine with my thesis for PhD.

1896.
May 6
In a “great” game this afternoon I defeated Plenge in an Evan’s Gambit. Time, 1 hour 45 minutes. Score up to date Plenge 4; Bond 3. Plenge had the white in the game this afternoon.

1896
May 10th
We attended a swell party at Mrs. Lockwood’s on Thursday evening. Domino whist. Moll won one of the two ladies’ prizes.

Friday evening, whist club met at Miss Nellie Walters. Last night we had a game at home: Mr. Morris & Miss Bailey. We took tea at Mr. John Kinloch’s tonight. Mr. Gilmore Simms was there.

[Page 91]
1896
May 11th
I am 31 today. After my day’s work in the class-room, which consisted of two hours plotting surveys, one hour architectural drawing and making blue prints, and one hour with astronomy discussing Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune, I spent the rest of the afternoon reading Henry Pelham. Moll took a ride on the Duchess in company with Annie Campbell and Mrs. Daisy Phillips. Tonight we had an invitation to go with the Carews to the Academy of Music to the rehearsal of the pretty comic opera Priscilla. We enjoyed this.

1896
Mar 12th
We had Mr. Simms to dine with us today. He is an entertaining talker, and I enjoyed his visit. Tonight I took Moll to the whist club at Mr. Frank Fishbourne’s but I have come back home & will go to bed, for I leave with the Corp of Cadets “at 5 o’clock in the morning” for Savannah, and want to get a little sleep beforehand.

1896
May 13th
We left Charleston at 5:20 this morning and arrived in Savannah at 9:10 o’clock. Brailsford & I took the cars & went up to camp, where we picked out a choice tent and had a shower bath & cleaned up. We had breakfast at 10 o’clock & Then we walked downtown and saw the city. We saw Adj. Gen. Watts & Barney Evans - the farmer pretty “well gone”. In the afternoon we got wheels and went out to Thunderbolt and Bonaventure and all over the city. At 5:30 we went to the Park extension and saw the Cadet competitive drill and the dress parade, & then came on to camp and had supper. We 

[Page 92]
[“Savannah” written at top of page]

met a number of old Citadel fellows & brought Hughes, Lucas, & Haynsworth out to supper with us. Then we all went back to the Park where a vaudeville performance was going on. The dancing and other performances were excellent. One man who walked and performed on a ball was a wonder. After this, our friends wanted us to go down to the Club, but we were too tired, & begged off & came back to camp. We have an excellent straw pile to sleep on, & are tired enough to enjoy it.

1896
May 14
After breakfast Brailsford & I went down to the DeSota & the Armory Club, and at 10:30 took the cars for Tybee Island  - a ride of 18 miles over the marshes to the coast. We passed Fort Pulaski which still shows the scars of bombardment. At Tybee Hotel we ascended to the “sky terrace” where a very beautiful & extensive view is obtained of the coast line & the sea. The beach here is very good; but pretty abrupt. We got back at 1 o’clock & took the cars for camp where we enjoyed a good dinner. We witnessed the big parade from the Volunteer Guard’s [sic] Armory, where we met a number of Citadel men. Then we went up to the Park extension to see the review & inspection. Being pretty tired, we came back early to camp, & rested for an hour before supper. Rita Roth came out on a bicycle & is a beautiful girl of 12 years. We had supper, & will leave at 9 o’clock for Charleston.

[Page 93]
May 28th
1896
The whist Club is here tonight - but as three are absent - without sending any excuses, - I am “out of it”, - and as nobody wants me in the parlor when they are busy with whist, I will wait until time for refreshments before going back.

Coleman has got a Crookes tube and a fluoroscope, & last night for the first time I examined the lines in my hand and arm.

I had a couple of games of chess with Plenge yesterday afternoon. Both of them were Evan’s Gambits. I won the first (defense) & lost the second (attack) Score, up to date, Plenge, 5; Bond, 4.

Fannie Sease spent nearly a fortnight with us, & went home Monday.

Maj. Cummings, and Miss Witte were married last Wednesday, & will come to live at the Citadel in a few days.

1896
May 31
Sunday: Moll & I were at St. Paul’s this morning. This afternoon we went to see the Beckmann’s & then to see Claude Walker & her new baby.

Friday night I went round to play chess with Mr. Neo Witsell. He must have been “off”, for I beat four games straight without any difficulty.

Yesterday afternoon I was at a “tennis tea” given by Dr. Kolloch at the Arsenal. About 15 or 20 ladies & gentlemen were present. We had a number of good games, & the refreshments served on the grounds were very elegant. There was no tea about it, but plenty of cream & cakes & Huyler’s candy.

[Page 94]
[“Sumter, S.C.” written at top of page]
1896
June 7
During the past week I have been busy with Association of Graduates affairs. I have also got out a circular to advertise the Citadel which is the best we have ever had.

One evening I spent at the Witsell’s, and yesterday afternoon I played chess with Plenge. 1st game I opened with a King’s Bishop’s Gambit, and lost after a very pretty fight. The second game, Plenge gave me an Evans as usual. I got into a horrible muss, and he beat me in short order. The third game was a Muzio, and I did him as badly as he did me on the Evans. Score to date: Plenge, 7; Bond, 5.

This afternoon - Sunday - Moll, Oliver, and I took a walk to the Custom House, where we sat and watched the boats in the Bay; and went to see the new “Mr. Calhoun”, who arrived from New York on this morning’s steamer.

1896
June 19th
Camp Kennedy, Sumter, S.C. We arrived on the morning of the 17th. Moll & Oliver went immediately to Mr. Roach’s. Mrs. Dr. Archie drove me to camp. Our camp is new Mr. Roach’s, next the Bicycle track, & well located in a grove of trees.

1896
June 21st
Sunday: - We have had a good deal of rain in the last two days. I have finished up the diplomas. Have dined & supped with Moll at the Roach’s nearly every day. We spent today at Archie China’s. He has a beautiful little home, & a very sweet and charming wife. Mr. & Mrs. White were also there to dine. We attended the Meth. Church in the morning - heard Mr. J. W. Daniels - and tonight Cousin Lou & I went to the Baptist to hear Dr. Brown.

[Page 95]
[“Sumter, S.C.” and “Eutaw Springs” written at top of page]

1896
June 24th
Monday night I took Moll & Cousins Lou & Wessie to the musical concert at the Opera House. The Phantom Drill afterwards by the Cadets, and the burlesque on it were capital. Tonight is Pinafore. All of us are to sup with Dr. Hughson. Archie China is doing all he can (& a tremendous lot it is) for the success of the encampment. The Colonel has gone over to Columbia today to receive the degree of L.L.D. from the S.C. College.

1896
June 26th
Friday: - Wednesday aft. Mr. Moïse came up to Camp to play chess with me - He can play a little.

Yesterday we had an excursion to Eutaw Springs. We went down to Rimini, by way then of Elloree, Vance, Eutawville. When all the excursionists got off at Eutaw Springs, Gen. Moïse, Maj. Moïse & I went on to the [illegible] at the lumber mills at Ferguson. They are large cypress mills. Daily capacity - 75,000 ft. There were 10,000,000 feet in the yard valued at $150,000. The yearly insurance premiums on the mill & stock are almost $6000. We got back to the Springs at 2 o’clock. The springs are geologically interesting. An ideal profile would be like this: 

[See original scan for illustration]

The water comes out in bold springs at S, then flow to S’ where they disappear, & reappear boldly at S’’ - passing through the hill A. This hill is of lime-stone - a former oyster-bank probably.

Gen. Moïse after dinner gave us a fine talk on the Battle of Eutaw Springs. We all got 

[Page 96]
[“Sumter, S.C.” written at top of page]

back to Sumter about 8 o’clock.

On Wednesday night the officers took tea at Dr. Hughson’s & then went to the opera where we had boxes to witness Pinafore. Moll took tea with Archie & Mrs. China & went with them. They occupied the box next ours. After the play - which was very good - we went to the dance & remained awhile.

1896
June 28th
We took tea the the Clark’s on Friday evening, and at Col. Marion Moïse’s last night. We attended services at the Opera House, where Rev. Dr. Cathbert preached the baccalaureate sermon today. Tonight Florence & I went to the Episcopal Church.

1896
June 29th
We had a Faculty meeting in camp this a.m. & disposed of all business.

Gen. Hagood told me this afternoon that Reese had resigned, & asked me if I thought I could take charge of his department - chemistry!  Here was an opportunity - but I could not accept it. But I appreciate the compliment. I wish it had been the chair of mathematics; - I would have jumped.

1896
July 1st
6 A.M. Breaking camp! - The tents are going down like a cyclone had struck them.

Yesterday, the commencement exercises at the Opera House were very entertaining. The address by Jo. L. McLaurin was very fine.

Last night I took Moll, Wessie, & Lou to the great ball at the Tobacco Warehouse. This was a grand affair. I got back to camp about 2:30 this morning.

Moll has had a good time, I think, & made a number of friends & admirers. We will be off tonight for Charleston.

[Page 97]
[“Charleston, S.C.” written at top of page]

1896
July 3rd
We got home on the night of the first, - and will probably be here until the 1st of August. I am at work on the records. We expect a visit from Ma next week. Our visit to Sumter was very pleasant. The first address of mine by my new title I received today, & will preserve as a souvenir.

1896
Aug. 2nd
It is nearly a month now that we have endured the heat and mosquitoes - but tomorrow we will be off early for Blowing Rock.

Ma has been with us since the 10th - but it has been so warm we have not been about much. She will go with us as far as Blackstocks - where she will stop with Jess.

[See original scan for chart]

[Page 98]
1896
Aug. 3d
July
We left Charleston at 7 a.m. Saw Florence & Uncle Joe Roach at Sumter & got to Columbia at 11 o’clock. Here we had a wait of 5 hours. Moll & Oliver took the cars for Aunt Alice’s. I went to the State House & had a cleaning up, & then Ma & I lunched at the Depot & took the electric cars for Hyatt’s Park - three miles in the country. Here we staid [sic] at the spring for a couple of hours, ate a watermelon, & rested. Then we went back to town, went thro’ the State House, & visited the S.C. College & sat on the grass on the campus & rested until time to go to the train. We left Columbia at 4.

At Blackstock’ Ma got off, & Moll, Oliver, & I arrived in Chester at 6 o’clock. Lela & Winfred & Gladys met us. We found Edd at home. About dark, Lela, Moll, & I walked down by the old home & saw Mrs. Bland & Miss Annie.

1896
Aug. 4th
We spent a pleasant evening & night at Lela’s, & after an early breakfast got off on the narrow gauge road. It was a 6 hour ride - hot & dusty. It was nearly 5 o’clock when we arrived in Lenoir, - & we set out with very little delay for Blowing Rock. We got here at 10 o’clock & were gad to get to bed.

1896 
Aug. 7th
Harrison & his wife are at Mrs. Brady’s. They came over to see us the other night. Grand View is full of boarders & it is quite pleasant here. Mr. & Mrs. Allan of Charleston are here.

Mr. Edwards, my old Blowing Rock friend came up to see me this morning & we had a game of chess, & then he & Moll played Harrison & me a game of whist. I have swung my hammock down in the front yard - & Moll is now taking her siesta in it. I have 

[Page 99]
[“Blowing Rock, N.C.” written at top of page]

made my den here, & expect to write a little & read here during the summer. There are very few places about Blowing Rock that I have not visited, & I feel not very enthusiastic about exploring.

1896
Aug.14
Yesterday afternoon I took a notion & went on quite a trip. I took the barometer down to Pitt’s Cottage & found it registered about 565 feet. Then I went on down into the Johns River valley 3 ½ miles to Estes’s mill where the barometer indicated that I was 1920 below Weedon’s. I had all that climb back, but I was not very tired.

Mr. Edwards & I have been playing a good deal of chess lately. This afternoon Mr. Gordon & Moll played played 24 decks of duplicate whist against Mr. Patterson & me. Miss Dickson & I play mandolin and organ duets together. I am collecting woods for a checker-board - all the squares to be of different woods. Oliver is well but eats nothing but buttered biscuit & some fruit.

OLIVER, [name possibly written by Oliver - see original scan]

1896
Aug.23d
Sunday: - The weather has been warm even here - what must it be down the country!

I played a mandolin piece at a concert Tuesday night. That day Moll went with the girls here and others in a picnic to the falls of the Boone Fork of the Watauga. On Thursday, Mr. Miller, Misses Isabelle & Amy Allan, Moll, Miss Annie Gordon, Miss Strong, and I went down into the valley below with the intention of exploring the depths of the “dismal” & ascending Blowing Rock. We came up just beyond Cathcart’s tired out. Friday night we enjoyed a candy pulling given here by the Misses Allans. Last night we went over to the Brady House to a library 

[Page 100]
[“Banner’s Elk, N.C.” written at top of page]

party. This afternoon I took a walk alone to Green Hill and Blowing Rock & enjoyed those two views.

1896
Aug. 24th
This morning at breakfast I had no idea of being in Banners Elk tonight. But a young Presbyterian preacher by name of Tufts was coming over - he is staying here during the Summer, & has a church here - & proposed to me to come, too. I brought the barometer, and Mr. Allan lent me his field-glasses. We intended to make an ascent of Grandfather Mt. to determine his height, but when we got to Grandfather Hotel about 12:30 o’clock it was raining, with little prospect of clearing, so we had dinner there, & came on over here in the rain. At the Banner’s Elk Hotel there is a lively, musical crowd. I have met them all. We had games, music, supper, & dancing. The barometer here indicates a pressure of 26.78 in.

1896
Aug. 25th
This morning Mr. Tufts showed me his little oak-ceiled church before breakfast. After breakfast the clouds began to lift, and we decided to make an ascent of Beech Mt.

Banner’s Elk is beautifully located, with high peaks easily accessible on all sides. It is two miles up to the top of Beech Mt. Tufts, his brother, & a theological student named Boston, & myself were the party. When we got up, it had cleared beautifully, & I had the finest view I have ever had in the mountains. 1700 feet below us was the valley of Banner’s Elk with the Elk river, the houses, & the smooth meadows. Beyond these was the high ridge of Hanging Rock, & Sugar Mt., & Grandfather. Westward, was the noble peak of Roan; its hotel, Cloudland, visible to the naked eye in the 

[Page 101]
transparent atmosphere. By means of the glass we saw a sort of scaffolding observatory and flag-hole on the summit, & then could detect it with the unaided eye. The village of Elk Park was visible 8 miles off, & I saw the narrow-gauge train coming. Just as I found it with the glass, a puff of white smoke shot up from the whistle, & in about thirty seconds we heard the sound. Beyond, we could see 40 or 50 or 60 or more miles into Tennessee. Northward, we could see far up into Virginia. Southward were the Black Mts., & eastward I could see the houses at Blowing Rock very distinctly. It was a most beautiful view. I can never forget it. The barometer indicated on the summit 5745 feet, - but some hundred or two will have to be taken off that to reduce to actual  sea-level. Beech is a beautiful mountain from the Hotel veranda. Its top looks like this: [See illustration.] The trees have nearly all been cleared from the summit.

By accident two trees were left which, - though some 20 yds distant - are nearly in line as seen from the hotel, & look very like a lion, guarding the gap. We got back to dinner at 1:30 - and at 3 o’clock I set out in a buggy for Blowing Rock, - 19 miles away. We had a quick trip, & I got here just about sundown.

1896
Aug. 30th
We have had a very pleasant stay so far; the people here are very lively & sociable. The Allan girls and the Gordons & Pattersons are gone, but there are Miss A. E. Somes of Boston, Miss Palmer of Phila., Mrs. & Miss Andrew 

[Page 102]
of Dayton, O. - the latter a really great musician (pianist) - Miss Strong of Raleigh, Mrs. Tuttle & Mrs. Rand of Boston, Judge Caldwell & wife of Newberry, Mr. & Mrs. Allan, Miss Dickson, Miss Arnold, & ourselves. During the past week, I finished up a short story of about 6000 words and entered it in circulation for three prizes given by the Evening Post of Charleston.

We have had cold weather for a few days past. I have enjoyed playing the mandolin with the organ accompaniments by Miss Andrew. To think she has played in concerts with some fo the first artists of America & Europe! Berver, Geise, Schröeder, & others. 

Sept 4th
1896
The Board of Visitors at their meeting in Columbia on the 1st inst. promoted me to Captain and Professor of Drawing and Bookkeeping at a salary of $1200. My Post-Adjutancy will give me in addition $100 per year.

I am enjoying my stay in Blowing Rock. It is delightful wandering around over these mountains.

I am still collecting specimens of wood.

We had a game of Dumb Crambo the other night. We have music and logomachy, and occasionally we have a sunset party on the Fair View Rock. On Saturday afternoon, we had a most gorgeous sunset. The cloud views on Friday and Saturday were very fine.

1896
Sept. 13th
Mr & Mrs Sease surprised us the other day. They had no idea we were here either. 

Mary Witherow, two of her Pennsylvania cousins - Martha and Flora Witherow, their niece Erma Musselman, and William Steadman came up a few days ago. They leave tomorrow. We have been to walk with them several times, - once to Chetola & this afternoon to Green Hill.

I went down the Cliffs with Mr. Douglas one day this week in search of ginseng. Found one piece. The Andrews left on Thursday.

[Page 103]
[“Grandfather Mt.” written at top of page]

1896
Sept. 17th
Mr. Sease and I took a tramp down Glen Burney day before yesterday. Yesterday, we had some beautiful rain views, & cloud effects this morning were very fine. It was hard to get rid of the impression that we were not looking at the sea, & one almost instinctively expected the ships.

Mr. & Mrs. Sease came up &, after we had finished our game of whist with Mr. Edwards & Mr. Turnbull, we took a walk to the Stone House. This afternoon we had one of those rare, clear atmospheres. We could see Morgonton with the unaided eye, and the glass revealed Hickory & many little hamlets. It was a wonderful sight. There are here now only Miss Somes, Miss Palmer, & Mrs. Nelson besides ourselves.

1896
Sept. 19th
We are just back from circumnavigating Grandfather. This morning at 7 o’clock Mr. Sease & Moll on the front seat & Mrs. Sease and I on the back seat of a good surrey, behind two good horses & set out by way of Shull’s Mills. Up the valley of the Watauga we had the fine view of the great stone profile which gives the mountain its name. We reached Grandfather Hotel at 10:15 o’clock - exactly three hours. He we put up the horses & left Mrs. Sease, - the rest of us with Calloway’s little daughter for guide, made the ascent of the Grandfather. I had the barometer and field glasses, Tempy (her real name is Temperance Savannah Georgia Calloway) the hatchet, Moll the tin water-bucket, & Mr. Sease the basket of dinner. It was a march up the mountain of nearly four miles. About three quarters of a mile from the top we stopped for awhile 

[Page 104]
at the cold spring. We made the trip up in 2 hours. The view is very fine. Blowing Rock, Linville, & Banner’s Elk are in plain view, & the principal mountain-peaks are clearly seen. We went down in about an hour; and left for Linville at 3:30. We reached Linville about 4:30. On our drive homeward over the beautiful Yonahlossee Road we admired the many beautiful view. We had some rain, & got home about 7:40 8:30 o’clock, after a journey of 1+7+7+4+3+5+20+1=48 miles, of which seven were on foot. I got several specimens of woods, and one or two balsam sticks. On the Grandfather near the top we came across luxuriant blackberries, ripe and full of rich clusters of ripe, luscious berries. It was surprising at this season of the year.

We have just now finished tea and will be to bed in a minute.

AT WEEDONS

Sept. 19th 1896  Barometer, 4020 feet; Thermom.72° 6:30 A.M.

ON TOP OF GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

 24..71 inches 6220 feet; termometer, 74° F. 1:00 P.M.

1896
Sept. 25,’96
It is surprising how much walking a person can do in this mountain air without feeling discomfort. Moll has walked about 9 miles today, and I about 11 1/l2. We take a good many long walks with Mr. & Mrs. Sease.

Yesterday Mr. & Mrs. Sease went with a party to Grandfather Mt. (Linville side). They said they would make a fire so we could see the smoke. With a good pair of field-glasses I could barely distinguish the group on the top from here, & we all could see the smoke faintly - through the glasses, of course.

[Page 105]
[“Blowing Rock, N.C.” written at top of page]

I got a looking-glass & set up a pole to sight by & threw them a ray of sunshine. I telegraphed … . ._ … . and _… . . _. _.. repeatedly - hoping Mr. Sease would “catch on” to his name and mine. I hardly expected they would read the signals, but I was in hopes they would see the light. Sure enough, when Mrs. Sease came up today to tell us about the trip, he said they saw the signals, & one young man read “Bond” & “Sease” & other things, some of which I did not telegraph!

I was surprised, for it is about 12 miles airline, & I was not certain of even hitting the mountains with my rays of light.

Mrs. Sease took the barometer and where they left the horses the reading was 4920 feet. At the top it was 5370. This is not, of course, the top of the Grandfather, but only the Linville peak. The Grandfather is about a thousand feet higher.

1896
Sept. 27th
This is the fly that lays the egg that makes the chestnut worm. At least, so I imagine.  In knocking down chestnuts yesterday, I found this fellow [see illustration] in a burr with her proboscis run through a part of the inner coat of the burr reaching to the bottom (and tenderest) part of the nearly ripe chestnut. [See illustrations.] I tink it uses its proboscis to put the eggs into the young chestnuts.

Today Mr. and Mrs. Sease, Moll & I took a drive to Boone by the old road and back by the new turnpike. It was a fine morning, & the trees were 

[Page 106]
beginning to turn, making the views very pretty. Tomorrow morning we will be off for Lenoir and Chester. We expect to get home in the night of the 30th.

1896
Sept. 29th
Mr. & Mrs. Sease & Moll, Oliver and I came down from Blowing Rock yesterday to Lenoir in a surrey. We had several hours here, & visited Davenport College & some of the factories. We got in Chester about 11 o’clock, P.M. This morning I went down to Blackstocks & dined with Jesse & Jessie & Ma. The Jess’s have a nice little home, & I like Jess very much. I came back to Chester tonight.

1896
Sept. 30th
We left Chester at 11 o’clock, & reached Columbia at 1. We had a four hour stay here. Moll & Oliver went to Aunt Alice’s, & I dined at Troeger’s restaurant, went round and chatted with Will Melton, & then called on Johnson (C. E.) & his wife on Gervais St. where I saw Prof. Colesch & a number of young ladies. We left Columbia at 4:40, saw Uncle Joe, Lu & Wessie, in Sumter, & got to the Citadel at 9 o’clock P.M.

1896
Oct. 27th
Gala Week. Aunt Alice & May, Joe Matthews, & Sallie & Jack are here. Sall has been with us a couple of weeks.

Last night I took the 3d degree, Knights of Pythias - having taken the first two degrees two weeks ago.

We are members of two whist clubs.

Our work at the Citadel is getting along.

The Illinois Wesleyan Magazine accepted my design for a cover.

[Page 107]
1896
Oct. 31st

[Chart - see original scan.]

From my observations this summer, & the accepted ht. of Grandfather Mt., observer presumably deduces the above hts.

1897
Jan. 2d
We went up to Denmark on Christmas morning & spent three days with Sis. Ma, Joe, Jule, & Garris (Class of ‘96) were there, & we all had a pleasant time. Auntie, Florence, & their family (the Rice children) came up Christmas Day. It was cold, clear, & “Christmasy”.

I left Moll & O. in Bamberg on the 27th. They got back tonight after a pleasant stay - in B - .

I have been boarding at Mr. White, - down the gallery.

Sall staid [sic] with us over two months.

Our time has passed pleasantly this winter. We go to a whist club once a week, & have odd evenings at home.

1897
Jan. 9
Eighteen dollars for one evening’s entertainment is rather steep. That’s what it cost us to go to the Parker’s reception on the night of the 6th. There were between 150 and 200 people there. It was a very grand affair.

1897
Jan 10.
Went to church at St. Pauls.

[Page 108]
1897
Jan. 13th

The Whist Club met here last night and we had four tables of more or less good whist.

Tonight, Moll, Oliver, & I took tea at the Carew’s and had some music.

1897
Jan. 15th
We are having delightful weather for January. Charleston’s winter are delightful. I enjoy the bicycle this kind of weather, but as I have to ride Moll’s (having none of my own) I do not have the pleasure of her with me. The Illustrated American offered 100 bicycles as prices to the solvers of 4 puzzles last year. I solved all four and sent on, but the result has not yet been announced. I have little of getting one of them. [No, only 9 were awarded!]

17
[Illustration - see original scan.]

Sunday: - I am on duty. Moll and Oliver have gone to church - St. Paul’s. I spend Sunday reading as a rule. The Literary Digest usually comes Sunday morning, and I have a feast for several hours.

I enjoy the meetings of Calhoun Lodge, No 23, Knights of Pythias. I was appointed I.G. the other night. - Rather insignificant office, but there are ambitious fellows ahead fo me, and I had to “fall in line” and take my turn. Of course, I wish to be Chancellor Commander after a while.

1897
Jan. 21st
Lieut. Jenkins and I took a spin over the bridge on Lee’s birthday - the 19th - which is now a legal holiday in this State. We left here at 11 o’clock and got back at a quarter to two after a spin of 22 miles. Coming back against the wind, we made 10.84 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. We went to St. Andrews Church, and Bee’s Ferry. Moll’s grandparents’ graves are in utter rack.

[Page 109]
1897
Feb. 1st
MONDAY: - I bought a Warwick bike Saturday and Moll and I expect now to enjoy many rides together. The weather is bad today.

Feb. 2d
TUESDAY: -  Our Whist Club met at Miss Goddard’s tonight, where we had a very pleasant game.

Feb. 3d
WEDNESDAY: - Misses Grace and Isabelle Allan, two Misses Jackson, Miss Brackett, and I met at the Misses Jackson’s tonight for music. We have formed a Musical Club.

Feb. 4th
Mrs. Smith & Mr. Vaughn came over tonight for what has come to be a weekly contest at duplicate whist. Vaughn & I have tried to beat Moll and Mrs. Smith several times, but so far have failed.

Feb 5th.
I went round to Witsell’s for a game of chess. He outplayed me. Score 2 to 1.

Feb. 6th
Today was beautiful, so Moll and I took a spin up to the Chicora Phosphate Works (about 5 miles) on the “Duchess” and the “Earl”.

Feb. 7th
Sunday:  This sun is glorious and the day idyllic. There were no services at St. Paul’s, and Moll and I took a walk in the sunshine. This afternoon we took Oliver with us, - walked to Shepard St., rode to the Cemetery, walked thro’ the grounds, came back on the Cars, rode to the Custom House where we watched the Comanche come in, then we let Olifver take the cars and come home, and we walked up.

Feb. 8th
Moll, Annie Campbell, & I took a spin ‘round the Battery this afternoon, and saw one of the war-vessels of the “Blockading Squadron” come in.

At the Knights of Pythias tonight I was promoted to Master of Arms.

Feb. 9th
Tonight our Whist Club met at Mamie Rowe’s. Moll 

[Page 110]
and I played against Mr. Bull and Miss Gaddard, and were so evenly matched that we brought the game out a tie.

Feb. 10th
Ma came down this morning from Denmark, and I have written to the two Jess’s to come.

Feb. 11th
It has rained all day. What time I was not in the class-room, I read to Ma in a pleasant little story called “On the Suwanee River.”

Feb. 12th
It has been another rainy day. Uncle Joe Roach said that no one ever saw a Friday on which the sun did not at some point during the day shine. Today was an exception - it didn’t shine here today.

Feb. 13th
Oliver and I went out in the Pilot Boy to see the North Atlantic Squadron, now “blockading” Charleston Harbor. The battle-ships Massachusetts, Indiana, and Maine, the flagship New York, the great cruiser Columbia, the monitor Amphitrite, the dynomite Cruiser Vesuvius, and the cruiser Marblehead compose the fleet. It was a magnificent spectacle.

The sea was rough outside and nearly everybody was sick on the Pilot Boy, but Oliver and I got thro’ alright.

14
[Illustration - see original scan.]

Moll & I went to St. Paul’s this morning and heard a Suwanee student, who “apologized for reading the sermon of an eminent English Divine; but none but ordained ministers could read their own sermons.” He “hoped, however, the congregation would pay the same reverent attention to it that they would to his own production!” That was complacent, I say.

This afternoon, Ma & I went to the Battery and walked up by the wharves to see the Marblehead and Vesuvius.

[Page 110]
Feb. 15th
It has been a rainy day. I went up to meet Florence, but elle n’arrivait pas.

Feb. 16th
The Whist Club met at our house tonight, but neither Moll nor I could play, as were looking for Miss Mary Roach from Sumter (Moll’s Aunt.) Florence also came down unexpectedly with Melle.

Feb. 17th
Our Musical Club met at Miss Brackett’s tonight - Rutledge Avenue. It was Bach night - and most of the selections were from Bach. I read a short sketch of him.

Feb. 18th
The Cadets had a holiday to go out to see the fleet. Moll and I went on our bikes to the New Park. It was a good ride for Moll - especially as we had to go several miles on the side of the railroad. It was hot, and we enjoyed a glass of beer at a mile blind tiger’s lair on our way back.

Feb. 19th
[Illustration - see original scan.]

Feb. 20th
Lt. Jenkins, Maj. T and I started for a bicycle ride up the road, but the rain drove us back.

Feb. 21st
Sunday:- Miss Mary Roach & Florence left this evening for Bamberg.

Feb. 22d
Today was a holiday. Campbell and I went out in the Harbor to see the monitors. We went aboard the Terror and examined the interior and the guns.

[Page 112]
1897
Apr. 11th
Our Whist Club has met weekly. My Musical Club bi-weekly, and the K. of P twice a month.

In the latter I have been promoted again. I am now Master of Work.

I have had my drawing department furnished with desks, which is a great improvement. Last Friday night Moll and I heard Joe Jefferson in Rip Van Winkle, and were delighted.

The pleasure of wheeling is greatly enhanced by a cyclometer. It is interesting to watch the figures change. I have written ridden my wheel 412 miles since Feb. 1st. I was over in St. Andrew’s Parish this afternoon when the 400 turned. A few weeks ago I was going up to Otranto, (where Lt. Jenkins had the boys out for an extended order drill,) when I passed the three hundred notch.

The little story I wrote last summer at Blowing Rock - called “A Romance of the Mountains,” was published in the Evening Post last week.

1897
May 2d
Moll and I were confirmed by Bishop Capers at St. Paul’s Church today.

1897
May 5th
The Literary  Digest of New York has got up a Correspondence Chess Tourney. I received notice that I and Dr. Humpert of St. Louis, Mo. we would have game No. 5. I sent Dr. Humpert my first move today, and will reserve the next page for the score.

[Chart - see original scan.]

[Page 113]
[“Correspondence Tourney - Literary Digests New York, N.Y. - Game No. 5” written at top of page]

[Chart - see original scan.]

[Page 114]
1897
May 22d
Since writing in my diary I have had another birthday. On the 11th I was 32.

Today I finished tutoring Mr. Donald Frost for Harvard. For 4 weeks past we have spent an hour and a half daily in analytic geometry.

Moll and I take frequent rides in the afternoon on our wheels. I have ridden 597 miles since the 1st of Feb. In all this time neither Moll nor I have punctured a tire once.

1897
May 30th
Yesterday afternoon Parker, Lt. McDonald, Brailsford, Mr. Lonndes, & took a sail around the Harbor in one of the Carolina Yacht Club’s fleet. Then Lt. McD., Brailsford and I went to the Academy of Music to see the performance of the hypnotic Carroway, which was excellent. We wound up the evening with a 12 o’clock lunch at the Palace Cafe.

We had a fine water-melon today.

1897
June 14th
Our Whist Club had a big “blow-out” on the night of the 10th. We didn’t get thro’ until 3:30. Mrs. Smith, President of the Club, made an elegant little speech in presenting the ladies’ prize to Moll, & the gentleman’s prize to Mr. Bull.

The Cadet hop on the night of the 11th closed the social season with us. Tonight the Calliopean 

& Polytechnic literary exercises will conclude the year from the Academic point of view. Tomorrow we shall all be off for encampment at Anderson, S.C.

[Page 115]
[“Anderson, S.C. - Tallulah Falls, Ga.” written at top of page]

1897
June 15th
Anderson, S.C.  We left Charleston about 8 a.m. - came by way of Temassee and Augusta and arrived in Anderson in the rain (of course) about 7 o’clock. We went out to the camping spot and enjoyed a most elegant repast spread for us in the building of the Patrick Military Institute. Then I, Moll, & Oliver went to the Chiquola Hotel to spend the night.

1897
June 17th
Moll and Oliver are staying at the Chiquola. I am in camp. The camp is beautifully located, and the dress parades are popular.

1897
June 18th
Moll & I left Oliver at the camp and went on an excursion to Tallulah Falls, Ga. I think I “made a match” in the cars between a young Baptist preacher named Branyon & a Miss Houghman of Seneca. Tallulah Falls is, as its Indian name signifies, “terrible.” A young man from Atlanta lost his life there two weeks ago. Moll & I explored many of the paths in the gorge, & enjoyed the best views. Then we tried to get a dinner at the hotel - but the dinner was a failure. We bought some milk from the depot agent, however, & appeased our thirst. We bought some corn-bread strings and a gourd! It was a five hour trip home again. When we arrived in Anderson, we immediately took a hack for the Camp, where we found Oliver asleep in my tent, as we expected. Moll took him back to the Hotel, & I dressed, and at 11 o’clock Moll and I arrived in the ballroom of the 

[Page 116]
Chiquola where the big dance in honor of the Cadets was in progress. About 1 o’clock I got back to Camp Calhoun, - leaving Moll to lead the German, & retire when she got ready. 19 hours a day is enough for me!

1897
June 21st
Saturday evening Moll & I took tea at Gen. Bonham’s.

Yesterday, Sunday, we attended service at the Episcopal Church. I was very much pleased with young Capers.

This morning at 6 o’clock, the Corps of Cadets was off for a march to Pendelton. Tomorrow, they will go over to Clemson College, and get back to Anderson Wednesday night. I shall stay in Camp Calhoun & work on the record.

1897
June 23d
Wednesday: The boys made a fine march of 15 miles from Pendelton here this morning, arriving about noon, foot-sore and weary, no doubt, but still stepping firmly to the notes of the 4th Brigade Band.

They say they were well received at Pendleton and Clemson College, and the trip was no doubt a great success.

1897
June 26th
Yesterday, “Bill” Lee came & took me in a buggy to Portman Shoals on the Seneca River - 12 miles from Anderson - to see the big dam & power house (in course of construction) of the Anderson Power, Light, & Water Co. They have accommodation for 5 “penstocks” of immersed

in each of which are two double turbines gearing on one shaft and operating an electric dynamo of 1000 horse power. The power is to be transmitted to Anderson by wire. The Seneca River is almost 500 feet wide at the dam, & there is abundant fall. When completed it 

[Page 117]
will be a fine water-power.

1897
June 28th
Moll & I, Colonel & Lt. McD., Gen Bonham, & some others supped at the Patrick’s last night.

Monday: - Saturday night we officers supped at Dr. Orr’s. Had the first experience of meeting the “advanced woman”, - Mrs. Earle. She smoked her cigarette with the gentlemen after supper, and largely monopolized attention and conversation. She has spent much time abroad, - speaks French and German like English, and is quite familiar with the Washington Society. She is book reviewer for the Atlantic Monthly, & contributes to Munsey’s & other magazines and papers. She loves poker, polo, fox-hunting, etc., and would be a terror to a husband who weighed less than 250 and was not a brute. Withal, she was exceedingly pleasant, and understood well the politeness of swell life; - but, (to add to the Litany) “from such a wife, good Lord deliver us”.

1897
June 30th
The Commencement Exercises were held in the Opera House. Judge Hudson bade the Baccalaureate Address. Tonight, Moll & I & the officers of the Citadel & Bd. of VS. were invited to a swell tea at the Brocks. Everything was very elegant.

1897
July 1st
We broke camp at 5 o’clock. Left Anderson at 8:30 & reached Augusta about 1 o’clock. Here we had a wait of two hours - & it was steaming hot. Just after leaving, I enjoyed a hot dinner in Col. Gadsden’s private car, which was attached to the train. We did not reach Charleston until after ten o’clock. As soon as we reached home, we made a rush for the bath tub.

[Page 118]
[“At Sea” written at top of page]

1897
July 2d
I got up at 5:30, & left Charleston at 7:30 on the Iroquois. We are now at sea. I had a good breakfast, & as the sea is calm, I feel no uneasiness yet. (9:30)

Moll & Oliver will go on up to Bamberg this afternoon, & stay there until I return from New York.

1897
July 3d
5:30 A.M. We are now off Hatteras, and in spite of the reputation for blustering of that cape, the sea is as calm as a mill pond.

I sleep poorly. It was very warm. At 5 o’clock I got up, thinking I would see the sun rise, but it was up already. There are a few schooners in full sail on the offing, & off to the left about ten or 12 miles, I suppose, Hatteras Light House and a little white speck near its base, shine white in the morning sunlight.

The fare on the steamer is all that could be desired. Breakfast at 8, Lunch at 1, & Dinner at 5:30.

Jenkin’s Orphan Band is abroad & last night gave a concert of 15 or 20 pieces in the forward deck:

There are between 50 & 60 passengers, I think, - nearly all being ugly. There is one young woman aboard fairly good looking. At my table there is an interesting family of Cubans, who speak no English worth mentioning. Mr. Hammond the bookseller, occupies the upper berth in my room __ Q.

At 12:50 we passed the Algonquin bound for Charle-

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[“New York City” written at top of page]

ton. This was a matter of interest, for most of the time there is not a thing visible on the horizon. While at lunch we passed a steamer of the Savannah line. At 12 o’clock today we were 263 miles from New York, & travelling at the rate of 13 miles per hour. That will put us in New York tomorrow before nine o’clock.

Sunset: - I am just about to have the rare sight of a sunset at sea. The water is quite calm, and the offing distinct. The sun is seen through as great a thickness of atmosphere, that the eye can wander in his vicinity without pain. Four schooners under full sail are visible on the western horizon, all bearing southward.

[Illustration - see original scan.]

My! - the sea is a man of gold, & the sky is beautiful. Three vessels are now to the south, & four are together just on the rim of the sea.

1897
July 4th
6:40 A.M. When I awoke about 5:30 o’clock, we were steaming along the Jersey coast - about 4 miles off. It seems to be lined continuously with summer homes. We have just passed Long Branch and are now off Navesink Highlands, - a beautiful place. The craft of all Kinds now visible are too many to count as we are only about 20 miles from New York. We shall probably land before 9 o’clock.

Hoboken, N.J. 7 o’clock P.M. Tired! - Well, I should say so! And very homesick. What would I not give to be at home in my little bed! What a day of experiences! While I have a wait of nearly 3 hours in Hoboken, let me (in order not to go crazy with lonesomeness) pass the time by setting down my experiences. How I 

[Page 120]
wish the train would take me home instead of further from it!

The steamer Iroquois made a remarkable quick trip - reaching the Narrows at the mouth of New York Bay after 48 hours. Coming up the Narrows was a very fine sight! The high bluffs covered with beautiful lawns, villas, and trees, formed a striking contrast to the low sandy shores around Charleston. We passed near the great statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, & had a fine view from the water side of the three cities of New York, Brooklyn, & Jersey City. We went into dock just under the great Brooklyn Bridge. I picked up my valise, (having already given my trunk check to a transfer agent) & stepped down on New York ground. I walked a couple of blocks & enquired of a policeman the best way to get to No. 30 W. 26th St. He directed me, & I boarded a familiar cross town horse car & asked for a transfer at Broadway, where I got on a cable car. The buildings on Broadway are usually sky-scrappers, getting up as high as the twenty-odd stories. At 26th St. I hopped off, & almost a dozen steps took me to No. 30 W. Here I introduced myself to Mrs. Paddock & left my valise. A postal card was awaiting me here with Dr. Humpert’s 9th move in our game of chess, - B takes B. It was now only 10 o’clock, so I took the 6th Avenue cars and went up town, - getting off at Central Park. I did not feel well, - having a headache, and I had not yet got off my sea-legs. The ground and everything around was going through the reverse wobblings of the ship at sea. So I did not enjoy my wanderings through the beautiful Park as much as I would have done had I felt better. The animals entertained me somewhat - especially two particular monkeys. I then took the 6th avenue cars down to 23d street, - 

[Page 121]
[“New York City” written at top of page]

went into the 5th Ave. Hotel & b’t some stamps & postals, & walked the few blocks back to my dining place. It was now a little after twelve. Mrs. Paddock gave me pen, ink, & paper, & I wrote an 8-page letter to my dear old lady - God bless her and the boy! - and to Ma I wrote a few lines also, for I appreciate now a parent’s solicitude, and I know she will be glad to hear from me. Then I read the Journal, & at one o’clock dinner was ready. Mrs. Inness & her son, a Mr. Haskell, & two young ladies were also at table. After my sumptuous fare on the Iroquois, the dinner was decidedly simple, but fortunately I was off my feet, - not feeling well. I did enjoy the cauliflower & cream sauce, though. I sat awhile in the parlor after dinner, & then took the 6th Avenue horse-cars to Barclay Street - way down town where I left my valise at the Hoboken Ferry and walked across town to the Clyde Office to get my bicycle. The watchman was the only man there, & he said he would not let me have it, “I must come at 7 o’clock tomorrow.” “But, I am going on to Ithaca tonight,” I said, “& I won’t be here tomorrow.”

He couldn’t help that. He wouldn’t take the responsibility of giving the wheel to me. How could he know who I was?

I told him I could easily identify myself. I showed my return ticket on the Clyde line, also the card I had received from Dr. Humper, & I told him there was a silver tag on my wheel with the same name. I would sign my name to a paper - & that would be forgery in any other man.

He listened to it all, but I believe he is a Scotchman. He has a brogue. Anyway he wouldn’t let me have the wheel. Then I wanted to know 

[Page 122]
the City address of any of the officers of the steamer. He didn’t know any. I asked him to go with me to the Clyde steamer & let the officer in charge there identify me. He wouldn’t consent. There was a policeman standing up talking to the watchman & asked the policeman if he would go & see the Clyde officer identify me. He wouldn’t do it. Finally the watchman said he knew the telephone number of the Clyde baggagemaster. I went to the telephone & called up the number. It was in Brooklyn. The baggagemaster was not in, but was across the way at his house. They would send for him. Directly word came that the baggagemaster was asleep - but they would wake him. After a short while he came to the phone. I explained matters, & he asked me to tell the watchman to come to the phone. I called the watchman & he came. The watchman was instructed through the telephone to let me have the wheel.

“I won’t do it,” replied the watchman, “how do I know it is you at the telephone? No, I won’t take orders through the telephone - it’s not legal.”

The scoundrel was right about that. At length it was settled that the baggage master should come over from Brooklyn. So I sat down & waited ¾ of an hour, when he arrived, & let me have the wheel on my written receipt.

Just before going to the Clyde office for my wheel, I had taken the cars and ridden over the Brooklyn Bridge & back. When I got my wheel, I rode over the Belgian blocks to Broadway at Chambers St.,& then rode down Broadway to the Battery. This is the sky-scrap-

[Page 123]
[“Hoboken, N.J.” written at top of page]

ing part of Broadway. The Battery is a pretty spot, but it and the Bay are very much smaller than Charleston’s. I walked around a little, rode back up Broadway, rested a minute at the Astor House, b’t some pears and bananas from a vendor under the shadow of the Post Office (where I had mailed Moll’s letter) and then rode down to the Hoboken Ferry, b’t a ticket for Ithaca & came over on the Ferry. I am not curious enough (being so utterly tired) to see what Hoboken is, so altho’ I have to wait so long, I shall not go out. I have seen enough for one day. Only let me get in my berth in the sleeper! I hope I am not too tired to sleep! My expenses today have been:          car fares 25¢, dinner 50¢, baggage transfer 50¢ = 1.25

fruit, 10¢; ticket to Ithaca 6.10; bicycle to same 1.15; sleeper 1.50, stamps 10 = 8.95

10.20

July 5th
1897
Well, I am very nicely located at No 89 Huestis St. near the University. Cornell is on a high hill overlooking Ithaca. It is almost 450 ft down to the town. Lake Cayuga stretches northward in the valley to the limits of the horizon, and the hills on the opposite side rise to almost the height of University Hill.

I have a nice siting room and bedroom adjoining. The walls are nicely papered, there are 3 windows in my sitting room, an oak desk, revolving chairs, & engravings on the wall. My bedroom has bureau, washstand, and double bed, & there are large rugs in each room. And I pay only 1.50 a week for them. Board is $3 a week.

I registered at the University, and work will begin tomorrow. There are about a dozen students located here at 89 Huestis, and we have a very pleasant 

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[“Cornell University - Ithaca, N.Y.” written at top of page]

company. Among them are A. P. Massey, Raleigh, N.C., Blunt and Clark, also of N.C., and Fassett from Pa. A few of us went over and sat on the sward back of the University Library to see the sun set, beyond the hills over the Lake. “Quite a few” of the Sage College girls were there for the same purpose.

1897
July 9th
6:15 P.M. The clock in the great tower of Cornell Library had just chimed the quarter past. Exactly eight years ago, Moll and I were standing before Mr. Morris at Bamberg being married. Eight years! I hardly know whether they seem short or long. - but I do know they have been happy.

My first week’s work at Cornell is concluded. It is a great institution, and comes very near to carrying out the scheme of its founder, who said, “I would found an institution where any person can obtain find instruction in any study.”

The buildings are handsome and numerous, and beautifully located between Cascadilla & Fall Creek gorges. The City of Ithaca and the calm waters of Cayuga Lake lie in the valley below, and make an exquisite picture.

I have spent about 3 hours every morning in the Library at work on higher mathematics. In the afternoon, I work from 2 to 5 at Mechanical Drawing.

There is to be a series of six general lectures - the first being tonight.

Today is the first day I have felt at all well. I hope I shall be alright now.

Last night I took the electric cars & went 

[Page 125]
to Renwick Beach on the Lake. This is where everybody resorts these hot evenings. There was a great crowd, music, shows, beer-gardens, & boating on the Lake. I got cool and took the cars back to town and up my mountain to bed.

1897
July 16th
This is awfully tiresome! I have been sick ever since coming to New York, and this afternoon, I could hardly drag back home after my three hour drawing at Sibley College.

I have even considered the idea of giving up and going home. If I thought I was going to have a protracted spell of it, I believe I would but I am taking medicine, and every day I hope I shall feel better. Thus far I believe I am getting worse. But - “never say die!” - I shall stick to it (until I have to go to bed, at least.) If that happens I don’t know how my resolutions will hold out.

1897
July 17th
4:30. Feeling very miserable, with the same mean little fever, and the headaches (front and back), I strolled out a few minutes ago, for a couple of hundred yards down Huestis St. where I could get a fine view Southwest over the valley and to the far hills. A rain storm was hovering over one of the hills, and I enjoyed watching it. It reminded me of Blowing Rock.

I heard a little smash across the street, and looked and saw that a potted plant had blown over and dropped down one step and broken.

“Such a pity!” thought I.

There was a mat screen dropped in front of the piazza, and directly a nice looking girl in a pretty white 

[Page 126]
dress appeared from behind, descended the steps, picked up and examined solicitously the plant, and then walked around the house with it.

“My dear miss, I hope you don’t think I hoo-dooed your plant!” thought I. And then I wondered if she had not been studying me through the Venetian all the time I had lain there on the grassy bank.

There was a larger plant in a larger pot at the bottom of the steps on the stone pavement. I had barely cast my eyes back to the landscape when I heard a crash, and over it had gone!

“Good Lord!” thought I, “what will that girl think when she comes back and sees the other plant gone to pieces, - & sees me here!”

I became convulsed with laughter. I felt like a hoo-doo, sure enough, and picking up my hat made back home as quickly as I could.

1897
July 21st
If I could obliterate all my experience of Ithaca - how happy I would be! The little that is pleasant would not be discernable [sic] in the horror of the bad. Tomorrow, I am going to New York, & shall take the first steamer for home. I have been stupid not to leave before, when I saw I was getting worse off. Now I can hardly eat anything.

[Page 127]
[“New York City” written at top of page]

1897
July 23d
Cor. Madison Ave. & 28th St. - New York City

I got down from Ithaca yesterday at 5 o’clock. Rather enjoyed the day in the cars. The Delaware Water Gap is right pretty at one point, - but the French Broad Valley from Asheville to Hot Springs is a continuous panorama more beautiful. Scranton, Pa., is the big city. So is Paterson, N.J.

My wheel has worried me my whole trip. When I got over in the Hoboken Ferry, I had it and my grip sack to contend with. I rode up to the Astor House - or nearly all the way. Here they wanted 1.50 just for a bed at night, & I wouldn't pay it. I would have given $1. So I trudged on to the Clyde Wharf where I was thankful to leave the wheel. I then took the cars and came up here, & got a room & three meals for $1.25. I had supper last night, & lay down for an hour, got up & dressed & went down to Madison Square Garden Theatre & saw the opera Captain Cook. Then went back to bed. After breakfast this a.m. I walked down thro’ the Square, 23d St., & 6th Ave. to 14th St. - Macy’s - where I wanted to get something for the children. But something was hard to find - even there. Then I walked through to Broadway, and down Broadway. I wanted to find something for Moll. I must have walked 20 blocks, and I got awfully tired. I did get something. I went up in the World Dome & got a bird’s eye view of New York. Then down to the Clyde line I went again to put my bundles in my trunk. But my trunk hasn’t come. So I left the bundles & took the car back here. I shall have a rest; a lunch at 1 o’clock, & then set out with my grip for the steamship Cherokee. Goodbye New York!

[Page 128]
1897
July 26th
We left New York in the great thunderstorm Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock. I was so glad to feel southward bound once more. But we had a rough passage, and very few of the ladies showed themselves after Friday night. We had a head wind, and the waves were dead against against us. Consequently we made very poor time. At 5 o’clock, (after our third night out) this morning, I got up & dressed & went on deck. Thank the Lord! Charleston Light House, the Light Ships, & various lights on Sullivan’s Island were visible. We got in at 7 o’clock - after a 63 hours run!

Here I am at the Citadel. I have been in the tub, to the barber, & to the restaurant, and have b’ot my ticket for Bamberg, & engaged my trunk sent. So I have an hour or two of delightful rest in my own dear old [illegible] dining room before I must go. I already feel better.

[See original scan for map of trip to New York]

[Page 129]
[“Bamberg, S.C.” written at top of page]

1897 
July 31st
I got here Monday night, and am already feeling much better. Thursday, Moll & I rode up to Sis’s on our wheels and spent the day, - coming back in the afternoon.

1897
Aug. 14th
We spent ten days up at Denmark with Sis. I am getting along well, now. Mamie Matthews, Moll, and I played a good deal of croquet; and fig and watermelon were abundant. Also good chicken! We got back to Bamberg this morning.

1897
Aug. 26th
Thursday. I went down to Midway on my wheel Monday and paid Dr. F. F. Carroll a visit. On Tuesday I went up to Sis’s and spent the day. We got a telegram from Ma saying she would be down on yesterday, so I am going up again this morning & will bring down a horse & buggy this afternoon for Moll & Oliver, & we shall pay a visit of a week or more. It is a month now since I got back from New York, and I am just about where I was before I went as regards health.

1897
Sept. 4th
I rode down on my wheel from Denmark this morning. I and Moll spent over a week there, - Moll returning a day or two ago by buggy. Ma came down from Chester and was there during our stay. Also some fo the Matthews’s kinfolks - girls. We played croquet a great deal. The cottonfields are beautiful now, - white like snow, and everything is in a rush to get it on the market. There are not nearly enough hands to pick it, however, and if I was a farmer I would be uneasy about it.

[Page 130]
[“Chess Tourney of the Literary Digest” written at top of page]

[Chart - see original scan.]

[Page 131]
[“Bamberg, S.C.” written at top of page]

1897
Sept. 9th
I rode up to Denmark day before yesterday morning and spent a couple of days. I came down last night. We are getting ready now for our return to Charleston. Bamberg artesian water and good “kitchen physic” have restored me to my normal condition, and I am feeling well.

1897
Sept. 12th
I went up to Sis’s on my wheel yesterday morning and was surprised to find Harper there. He had run up from Savannah for a few days rest. He had painted the drop curtain and most important scenery for a new theater there, & we all enjoyed his conversation. He also played a good deal for us. The two talents of music and painting are very strong in him.

1897
Sept. 15th
Charleston. Here we are at home again. We got down yesterday, and for a few days we will be in the turmoil of cleaning up. But, (if it wasn’t for the mosquitoes) it is very pleasant to be at home again.

1897
Sept. 20th
I took Oliver to Dr. E. F. Parker’s this morning to have his tonsils removed. Oliver behaved splendidly. Dr. F. L. Parker administered the chloroform, & Ned did the operating. I was not in the room when it was done, but I was greatly relieved when it was all over. The tonsil on the right side was inducing deafness in the right ear, & partial catarrh. I hope now that Oliver will be improved in those two respects. Otherwise, he is quite well. He weighs 50 ½ lbs.

[Page 132]
1897
Sept. 24
Moll and I took a spin over into St. Andrews’ Parish this afternoon. At the end of the shell-road we turned off through a shady lane which led in about half a mile to Maryville. Here was a store kept by an Italian who in former times we had “visited”, when over the Bridge wheeling, for the purpose of a cool drink of beer. Today, he had none. His long successful course of dispensing to the thirsty gentlemen & ladies, who had learned the shady path through the woods to his retreat, was ended, - the “spies” had found him out! But he said he would soon find a way to keep it again for his visitors. We bought some house gunjers (?) and took the Sycamore Avenue of Maryville toward the river. After several turns, we approached the marsh; - stopped to see a sea-island cotton gin in operation; - and then went on the end of the road, - where it ended in a bluff overlooking the marshes and, beyond, the river. I quarter of a mile above us, across a stretch of marsh through which the most marvellously circuitous creek wound its way,* lies the Plantation still called Old Town, - being the site of the first Charlestown (1670 - 1680).

We sat on the bench constructed around the base of a great old live-oak that stands immediately on the edge of the bluff as it slopes down into the green marsh, and looked across the river at the masses of buildings on the dis-

[Written in the left side margin.]

*We also observed a densely wooded little island of a couple of acres out in the marsh. At a later visit, on examining this a little more closely we saw the roof of a house near the center, under the pines, and wondered who would live in such a lonely and inaccessible spot. Inquiry of the negroes in Maryville elicited the information that the island is called Ghost Island, and that the house is a burial vault of an English (!) family, some of whom paid a visit not long since. We were told that we could get a boatman to take us there, but had better defer our visit till winter, on a/c of snakes!

[Page 133]
tant shore where the fertilizer factories are. Coming back we stopped in the woods and Moll gathered a great bunch of wild flowers and grasses, which I brought home.

Oliver and I went to Ned Parker’s office this morning to have an examination made of his throat, nose, & ear, to see how the operation the other day succeeded.

Ned told me that Oliver must be a great singer, for on Monday when they got him under the influence of chloroform he began to sing!

We had had a couple of games of whist since we got back. Mrs. Smith & Mr. Vaughn came over last night.

Mr. Morse comes up every morning for a few games of chess. He made me a present of a good set of box-wood chessmen.

1897
Oct. 4th
Oliver began school today at Mrs. Carew’s, 308 Meeting St.

Joe Matthews came down last night to begin his course at the Medical College.

1897
Oct. 6th
Moll, Oliver, & 1 weighed at the Express Office today with the following figures: 122, 51, 132.

1897
Nov. 25th
Thanksgiving Day: Moll, Mrs. Smith, Mamie Rowe and I took a bicycle ride today over into St. Andrew’s Parish. We went thro’ Maryville, and while they stopped under a great oak at the Frost place to eat lunch, I went on to the Legaré place at Old Town. Mr. Legaré owns the whole of what was Charlestown 217 years ago. He has a pretty place on the Bluff overlooking the River, with the City 

[Page 134]
in the distances. He took me into his chrysanthemum garden & gave me a lovely bouquet of the splendid blossoms. We got back about 2 o’clock.

Florence has come down to take lessons in stenography, and will be with us some time.

1897
Dec. 2
Denmark: - Came up last night to be present at Harper’s marriage to Mamie Matthews, which came off this moring @ 10:30 o’clock.

Ma is very ill here. Her entire left side is paralized.

1897
Dec. 5th
Denmark: - Ma is not any worse, but seems no better. She is very emaciated.

Harp and Mamie did not leave for Savannah on the 2d as they had intended, but will go down tomorrow. I will have to return to Charleston tonight.

I went down to Bamberg yesterday afternoon to see Auntie.

Jess & her baby Genevieve came on the night of the 2d, and Lula & her baby will probably be down tomorrow.

1897
Dec. 12th
I hate to go and leave Ma so very ill. Sunday: - Moll and I attended services at St. Paul’s this morning, and this afternoon, she, Oliver, and I went up to Magnolia Cemetery and enjoyed wandering through the grounds. We stopped in a secluded part, and cracked and ate a pound of pecan-nuts!

I attended a concert on Wednesday night last, and on Friday night saw Dr. Wolf Hopper, in Sousa’s opera “El Capitan”, which was superbly presented.

[Page 135]
[“Corresponding Tourney Literary Digest of New York” written at top of page]

[See chart in original scan.]

[Page 136]
1897
Dec. 19th
Jessie, Jesse, & Genevieve spent a couple of days with us, and left yesterday afternoon for Denmark.

Yesterday, I went around some with Bro. Jesse. We went up into St. Michael’s steeple, saw the chimes, and enjoyed the fine view of the city and the bay.

1897
Dec. 31st
Let me wind up the old year in my diary. Oliver went up to Bamberg yesterday morning with Florence to spend a few days.

We had a very quiet Christmas.

A few nights ago we had Clarence Johnson & his wife to tea. They were down from Columbia, and we asked Lieut. & Mrs. McDonald & Mr. & Mrs. Legge to tea also, to meet them. After supper we had a pleasant game of whist.

Moll and I heard Fra Diavolo and Girofla. Girofla sang at the Academy of Music yesterday.

The old year has passed with all its phases of light and shade. What does the new one hold in store for us?

1898
Jan. 9th
I came down tonight from Denmark. Last Thursday the entire Corps of Cadets went up to Barnwell to attend the funeral of Gen. Hagood, Chairman of the Bd of Vs. We reached there about 11 o’clock & went directly to the Court House where the body lay in State. After the body was viewed by several “Camps” of Confederate Veterans, the Corps of Cadets and officers of the Citadel, & many personal friends, the funeral procession was formed & marched to the Episcopal church where the funeral services were held. The interment was in the church yard adjoining under tall pines.

[Page 137]
[“Correspondence Tourney Literary Digest of New York” written at top of page]

[See chart in original scan.]

[Page 138]
Dr. Parker, Maj. Cummings, & I dined at Dr. Bellinger’s. We left Barnwell about 4 o’clock. I got off at Denmark and spent three days at Sis’s. I found Ma cheerful, altho’ more emaciated than when I last saw her. I was glad to spend the three days with her. She seemed right bright and hopeful most of the time. Yesterday I drove down to Bamberg for an hour or two.

1898
Jan. 15th
Moll and I were at the “Progressive Games Party” at the Coleman’s last night. There were 5 tables - 20 people. Moll and I happened to draw as partners at Table 2, which was the parcheesi table, and we won, hands down, as that is one of our great games at home and we are “professionals” in it. We then advanced to the first table - the “Dominoes Table”. At any other table we would have had to change partners, but at Table 1 the partners do no change. We were handicapped here, for neither of us knew how to play dominoes, “adding the exposed ends for 5, 10, 15, etc.” - but we are rather good at games and soon caught on, and beat our adversaries. In the next game we knew better how to play, and the two that came up from the lower table had to be told how to play, so we won. And we kept on winning down to the 9th game, when Coleman & McDonald came up and downed us. We then went to the foot table - the “Crokinole Table” where we played the 10th and last game. We had won so many at the Head Table that we were ahead of all competitors, & so toted home with two prizes!

[Page 139]
[“Correspondence Tourney of the Literary Digest - New York City” written at top of page]

[See chart in original scan.]

[Page 140]
1898 
Jan. 19
Moll and I attended two funerals today among her relatives in the City, - in the morning, that of Mrs. Cherie McKee’s little 2 year old daughter, and in the afternoon that of Mrs. Augusta Roach. Mrs. Roach, or “Cousin Augusta”, as she has always been known to us, was a very popular and charming old lady, - the eldest daughter of the novelist Wm. Gilmore Simms. The funeral was at  St. Paul’s and she was buried by the side of her father in Magnolia Cemetery.

1898 
Jan. 21
I am just back from a lecture by Hamilton W. Mabie in “Literature & Life”. This is the first of a series of lectures before the Charleston Lyceum, of which I am a member. It was a treat, and was full of inspiriting thoughts.

1898
Jan. 23d
Sunday: - Yesterday Moll and I rode on our wheels up to 8-mile turnout on the Northeastern Railroad to see the wreck of the two trains which collided on Friday and killed and wounded a number of people.

This afternoon, she, Oliver, and I went up to Chicora Park on our wheels the trolley and wandered about in the woods for an hour. The weather all this January has been more like April, and if it continues much longer, we shall soon have strawberries.

Sis writes me Ma seems better and brighter.

1898
Jan. 28
We attended the funeral of Col. John M. Kinlock at St. Philip’s Church & Magnolia Cemetery today. His wife is a daughter of Wm. Gilmore Simms, and half sister of Mrs. Augusta Roach, whose funeral we were at just nine days ago. Col. Kinlock was buried in the Simms lot on the right of the great novelist - Mrs. Roach being laid on her father’s left.

[Page 141]
1898 
Feb. 5th
Saturday: - Thursday night Moll & I enjoyed “Readings”, by John Kendrick Bangs, at German Artillery Hall before a very large & cultured audience.

Florence is doing very well with her shorthand. We can take down right rapidly now. On some old matter today, I got 86 words to the minute. It is the New Rapid system. Part of the Declaration of Independence follows.

[See original scan for shorthand]

1898
Feb. 11th
Friday: - Tuesday night I enjoyed the opera “Wang” at the Academy of Music. 

Last night Moll & I heard F. Marion Crawford tell about his early experiences, his life in India, & of Mr. Jacobs, whom he portrayed in his famous book under the name of Mrs. Isaacs. It was a delightful confidential talk.

1898
Feb. 13
Sunday: - Yesterday afternoon Moll, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Vaughn and I rode up to Chicora Park. This afternoon Moll and I took Oliver and Melle on “the trolley” up to Magnolia Cemetery for an hour or two.

[Page 142]
1898
Feb. 20th
From the Citadel to the wharf at Chicora Park is very close to 6 ½ miles. Arthur Campbell and I rode up there this afternoon, and I measured the distance on my cyclometer. Sometime ago I put on the cyclometer backwards, by mistake - so I am now running off the score. It registered 658 when I reversed it. It was 557 this afternoon.

1898
Feb. 22d
Moll & I, Mrs. Smith & Mrs. Vaughn, & Joe and Miss Dargan took advantage of the holiday and the fine weather to take a trip today to St. Andrews’ Church on bicycles, - an undertaking Moll has long wanted to carry out. We set out at 10:05 and made good progress to a little store 6 miles from here. Here Joe’s wheel got troublesome and he & Miss Dargen got behind. We others got to the Church a little before twelve. My cyclometer registered the distance at 9 ½ miles. Here we stacked our wheels, got off our lunch boxes, and prepared for a good time. After waiting some time for Joe & Miss Dargan, who did not put in an appearance, I got on my wheel and rode back about 3 miles, when I met them in a spring wagon! Joe’s wheel had given out and he had found a darkey with a lame (?) white horse, and they were completing the trip thus.

When we got to the church we were all prepared to enjoy the provisions. It was a delightful day - the sun was warm, & we were “in condition” from our exercise. We utilized the raised tomb* of a certain Mrs. Bull - an ancestor of our friend Mr. Bull with whom we play whist - for our preparations to dine, and sent the wagon boy to a near house for a bucket of water. Mr. Vaughn had 

*The tomb is represented just to the left of the church on page 1 of this diary. [Written in margin of diary]

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brought two bottles of claret! and there were sandwiches, crackers, pickles, eggs, galore! We were as gay as could be, and the negro boy and the colored woman from whom he had borrowed the bucket and who came along, too, and stood a little removed but an interested spectator of what went on, occasionally, in the simplicity of their souls, exploded with amusement.

Mrs. Smith & I made post prandial speeches, inspired by the claret and the occasion. Then we put up the empty bottles and shied bricks at them, with poor success.

Joe got a clavicle and scapula and femur and some other specimens which he wanted from the open tomb (sketched on the right of the Church on page 1 of this diary) but the jolting of the spring wagon about reduced them to powder by the time he got back to Charleston. In this old tomb the bones lie around on the ground in abundance.

After dinner we went over to Drayton Station in the Savannah road, intending if possible to see the phosphate mines, and surprise Mr. Bull over at the Federessa Works. But we found this impracticable, & so shortly set out on our return to the City.

Mrs. Smith at Maryville ran into the ditch. We went on around by our old friend Cisas’ on “Siciemore” Avenue and enjoyed some excellent beer, and took a new pather through by Pleasure grove to the Bridge.

We got home in time to see the military inspection & parade on Marion Square, - after hav-

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1898
ing spent a very pleasant day in the woods.

March 6
Sunday: - A few evenings ago Moll & I enjoyed the 4th Lyceum entertainment, which was an impersonation by Mr. Edw. F. Elliott of Boston. “Christopher Jr.,” was the little play that he read.

The shorthand progresses slowly. Can’t take down a sermon yet. 

[See original scan for shorthand]

March 7
Oliver is exactly 4 feet high. He is doing very well, indeed, at Mrs. Carew’s school. He is very fond of geography, reads and “ciphers” very well, and spells excellently. He wrote a very creditable little letter to his grandma (Ma) that other day. He has to say a little speech every Friday, and it never seems to worry him. Moll has (called away!)

March 9
Oliver had Dr. Dotteres to pull a molar for him this morning, and Oliver yelled!

Tonight in a test of my shorthand I got 108 words to the minute.

[See original scan for shorthand]

March 15th
The Cuban-Spain-United States war-scare is on in full force, now. There seems to be a likelihood of war between the two latter as a result of the “Maine incident.” Meantime we are going on as usual. I am in the hands of the dentist just now. I had my insurance increased a few days since by a policy for $2000 in the Phoenix Mutual of Hartford. Florence will finish up her shorthand this week. She has bought a wheel and learned to ride. Joe is about finishing up his 1st year work in medicine, and will leave us in about ten days. Gadsden White and Moll have beaten Mrs. Smith and me at whist lately.

[See original scan.]

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1898
March 23d
Last night Moll and I saw a presentation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline by Miss Margaret Mather’s Co.

Miss Mather’s Imogen is said to be a very finished production. The staging - scenery and costumes were historically correct, and almost as quite as elaborate as Irving & Terry’s Merchant of Venice. Only it was a little too long. The six acts took almost 3 hours to perform. And the orchestra was awfully mediocre!

Oliver has been in the Doctor’s hands for 5 days. One of his bronchial spells.

1898
Mar. 27th
Sunday: - Oliver went up to Bamberg this morning for a visit of a couple of weeks to his Grandma, in order to recuperate. The Doctor last night said he thought it would benefit him, so we let him go with Joe, - who has completed his 1st year’s course in medicine.

Moll, Florence, & I attended services at St. Paul’s this morning, and this afternoon took Melle with us & went to Chiocacora, where we spent the afternoon enjoyable.

Things in the Citadel are rather excited just now. We have had some suspensions for garrison breaking, & a Court of Inquiry into the conduct of a Cadet officer.

Lt. McDonald has gone to Washington to be examined for his Captaincy - so I conducted dress parade on Friday afternoon, being on duty.

There is no excitement in Charleston over the probability of war with Spain.

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1898
March 31st
I began drawing this afternoon in the U.S. Engineer’s Office at the Custom House. I get thro’ my work at the Citadel at 12:30, eat dinner, & then will have to get down to the Custom House at 1:30, when I draw until 6:30. Maj. Ruffner is the U.S. Army Officer in charge, and Capt. J. P. Allen, an old Citadel man, is the chief engineer in whose office I work. I have a fine outlook over the Bay where I can see the monitor Puritan at anchor. She is painting green today, which is the new “war” color.

1898
April 3d.
Tonight I went over to the Baptist Church and tried to get down Mr. Ramsey’s sermon in short-hand. I got a great deal, but could not keep up with him.

I have drawn at the Custom House on some Fort Sumter fortifications in the afternoons.

1898
April 6th
Wednesday. I was called up to Denmark suddenly Monday afternoon, as Ma was worse. I found her sensible, and she recognized me. Yesterday morning I thought her condition improved, as she ate a little with relish.

Just after dinner, - not expecting to return to Charleston - I saw the News & Courier with a startling account of a riot and mutiny in Cadet barracks on Monday night. Joe had gone to Denmark with the only horse & buggy and I had only 45 minutes to reach the station. I took my little grip in my hand and footed it, reaching there in time.

Affairs here are in a serious 

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condition. It results from circumstances which have occurred here in the last few weeks. Ct. Cantey came to me one night when I was officer in charge & reported that some cadets had broken garrison.

The Cadets who were out were suspended by Col. Coward afterwards, altho’ the Bd. of Vs. restored them. But the feeling against Cantey has increased in the Corps & resulted on Monday night in a movement to eject him from the Academy. Col. Coward & Lt. McDonald got wind of the trouble brewing & were on hand, but a riot and mutiny resulted.

The Bd. of Vs. is now sitting on the case.

The impending war with Spain continues to impend. McKinley is going very slow. Congress will be hard to keep in the traces much longer.

I got a glimpse of Oliver at the depot in Bamberg as I passed through yesterday afternoon. He looks much better.

I found Moll suffering instensely [sic] from an incipient abscess in a lower tooth. She is still suffering tonight. Dr. Dotterer prescribed dental poultices and sulfanol, & she is now asleep. Lottie Rowe & Sall are sitting over there by the fire (for it is cool) talking shorthand.

Florence is taking lessons in type-writing at the Y.M.C.A. and doing office work for Secretary Knebel.

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1898
April 8th
Good Friday: - The Bd. of Vs., after a three days session, this afternoon, expelled 64 cadets for violation of Paragraphs 75 & 78 of the Regulations, relative to combination, mutinous conduct, etc.

Out of 30 men in the graduation class, only 6 remain. This was the most serious event in the life of the Citadel. What its effect on the Academy throughout the State will be is a question. But that the action was necessary to vindicate the discipline of the Academy cannot be doubted. It was a terrible but necessary measure.

1898
April 19th
Tuesday: - I went up to Denmark last Saturday afternoon. I found Ma worse than when I last saw her, but she knew me. Harper & Mama were there. I came back Sunday night. I went down to Bamberg Sunday afternoon & took the cars there. I brought Oliver home with me. He had spent three weeks in Bamberg.

I am as busy as I can be. My Citadel duties, my 5 hours at the Custom House, & other duties, take up all my time. I am on a rush all the time.

May 2d
1898
Monday: - I was called to Denmark Friday afternoon. I found Ma worse, - but Saturday she seemed brighter, & yesterday was better, so I came down last night, & am work as usual. I drew $75 for my first month’s work with the U.S. Engineers. My salary for April altogether comes to $183.33 - the largest amount I ever earned in one month.

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1898
May 8th
One of the things that has struck me about the Hispano-American War. The other morning when En. Anderson had his company of heavy artillery ready to set out for Columbia, which is the rendezvous of the South Carolina troops, I was a little disappointed at the quality of the men. They seemed to be mostly of the “tough” and thriftless type, & I wondered if it was not a blessing in disguise that was giving them something to do. It will be sure to be the making of a great many of them. They will earn more per month than they have done in a long time, will be better fed and clothed, and will no doubt learn better manners.

There are some who are of the best families & their influence will be helpful to the others who have never known anything of the refinements of life. The discipline of army life, too, will no doubt be a great benefit to them all, and the experience of campaigning will do them good. They will be the veterans when the War is over.

In the past week I went over to Fort Sumter in the Government launch to see about the work on the 10” 12” Battery, and yesterday afternoon went over to Fort Moultrie to take some measurements for locating the rapid fire gun battery.

Today Moll & I went to St. Paul’s. This afternoon we went up to Magnolia for a hour or so, & then went round to see Mrs. Keiloch for a while.

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1898
May 15th
I got down tonight from Denmark, where I was from last Tuesday night. Ma got worse & Joe telegraphed for me. I left her about the same tonight.

May 18th
Ma died Monday afternoon, the 16th about half past six o’clock. I went up yesterday morning. Ma’s face wore a peaceful expression. A noble dignity rested on it. Sis was not well enough to go to the funeral, so I was Ma’s only child at her grave. Joe and I followed the coffin from the house to the Cemetery, and Aunt Mell & I stood at the head of the grave when Mr. Kistler read the service. We laid her away by Pa’s side.

Ma was born May 26th 1831, at her father’s house (long since burned) about two miles from Marion, S.C. at the Old Mill Pond. Her maiden name was Sarah A. Wayne. She married Pa April 13th 1851. Not one of her children has any recollection of Ma but of her goodness, unselfishness, and devotion. We have had the greatest of blessings, - a good mother; and it is no fault of hers that we fall short of being what we ought to be.

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1898
June 19th
As our Corps is so small (since the expulsion of the mutinous Cadets in April) we shall not have an encampment this year, and so we will continue our work here until the 28th, - which is commencement day.

I have continued my work at the Custom House. It has been trying in some respects - for we have had to eat dinner at 12:30 - and I don’t like so early an hour for dining. I think my engagement with them will terminate July 1st.

I am very unsettled about plans for the Summer. I have almost decided to go to Chicago for three months work at the University, - but I am wondering what I shall do with my family. It is very hard to decide what to do under the circumstances. The Chicago trip is expensive, and the trouble at the Citadel this spring has given our enemies of the up-country a good deal of ammunition to use against us, - they only want a pretext for attacking us. There is no telling what will happen to the Citadel next year. I may have to look for another place. In view of this contingency it behooves me to consider my steps. So I am rather wrought up, and uncertain as to my movements. I have a feeling that no matter how I decide I shall regret the decision. But I feel like I could not do better with the $225 which I have earned so unexpectedly from Uncle Sam than to put it into some 

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work at Chicago. It will be a trial to leave M. & O. for so long - but I can’t take them, and the question is, what to do with them.

Well, we’ll let things develop.

1898
July 3d
Sunday: - Our Commencement Exercises were completed on the 28th of June. The Baccalaureate sermon was by Bishop Stevens at Flynn’s Church. Dr. Vedder gave a stirring war talk at the Society Graduation. Col. Robt. Aldrich was the orator on Commencement evening at Hibernian Hall. Instead of graduating 30 young men as we expected a few months’ ago, we had only five, owing to our wholesale expulsion of the mutineers in April last.

I finished my work with the U.S. Engineers on the last day of June. The three months’ work had put $225 dollars extra in my pocket, - much needed money owing a number of extra demands on my purse this spring and summer.

The Asso. of Grad. has organized a campaign to fill the ranks of the Citadel Corps next fall. I am in charge of raising the funds. That has occupied a good deal of my time in the past few days. I worked all day yesterday on the record. I hope to get my work pretty well advanced by the end of this week, - when we intend to leave for Blowing Rock.

I got the following letter a few days 

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ago, but it was no inducement to me, and I so replied.

When we leave, Florence, who has been with us since the 1st of last December, will go to Sumter. Auntie has been with us about a month. She will also go around visiting relatives this summer.

1898
July 8th
The City is full of troops. There are five regiments or more in town. 

The 3d Wisconsin Regt. had a dress parade on Marion Square yesterday afternoon.

Tomorrow we leave for Blowing Rock. We expect to stop over Sunday in Chester with Lula.

This will be my last entry in this volume.

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[Blank page]

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[Blank page]

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[“Account with Insurance Policies 96121 ($4000.00) and 155122 ($3000.00) Mutual Reserve Fund Life Asso.” written at top of page]

[See original scan for list]

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I divide preachers, like nouns, into two classes: - proper and common. [The words have their secondary meaning, however, in the case of preachers.] Common (or ordinary) preachers are subdivided, like common nouns, into 3 kinds: (1) Those who lack sense; (2) those who lack sincerity; and (3) those who lack courage - or, for the sake of alliteration, “sand”. Every dogmatic preacher, the literal sulphurous hell sort, the Jonah & the whale kind, the fiery furnace and Garden of Eden preachers can easily be put into their respective subclasses. Class (1) is the most numerous according to my observation. Emerson was a preacher conspicuous as the anti-type of these common kinds, - transcendent in intellect, sincerity, and courage, - a proper preacher. But I would not limit this class to wearers of the cloth: - Such men as Robert E. Lee, Grover Cleveland, Abraham Lincoln who are the embodiment of a noble or great quality are the truest preachers. Many of our College professors would be in this class, and even Bob Ingersall may deserve a place in it.

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To whom did Commodore Perry write his laconic message? Gen. Harrison. 

What relation to Commodore Perry was the Perry of Japan Treaty Fame? Bro.

~

The eyes express the passing mood, the mouth the permanent character.

~

Go, got, got!”  Enq. “How far have you got in your book?”

~

Every man makes his own God.

We love those whom we serve more than those who serve us.

We can spend years publishing and perfecting a gem, and in a moment utterly destroy it. So with character.

~

Nobody ought to be happy on Sunday. Never do those things which you wish to do, nor leave undone the thing which you dislike to do.

~

Orthodox Methodism is mysticism. “Personal experience of salvation”, “I know I am a child of God”, “the indwelling Spirit,” “the consciousness of having passed from death into life”, - what do these really mean? They are not figuratively but literally believed by Methodists.

~

Far too many hundred years theology has been the ology [sic]. Material progress is the best promoter of civilization. March 26 ‘96.

~

I prefer a polite hypocrite to a frank brute.

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Not a minutely drawn representation, - an adumbration.

~

He was either hot or hyperborean.

~

Bacteria - green

~

Thaumaturgy, - eschatology, - ancillary, - exercitation, - corypheus, - energumon, - onomatopoeic name for a pig’s snout - “his grunt”, teleological -

~

It is giving a man too much credit often to associate his name with a sentiment which he has uttered, but which nearly every body has thought of independently. Has not every one pondered that some time in the future those who had known him would say “It is the -- th, the day that poor so-and-so died.”? To credit Jeremy Taylor with the thought is an injustice to everybody else.

~

Kaut said two things filled him with ceaseless awe - the starry heavens above & the moral law within.

~

“No,” replied Edward, glancing meditatively at the catacaustic curve in his glass.

~

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[See original scan]

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[See original scan]

[Page 162]
[See original scan for illustration]

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Bloomington to Cincinnati = 277 miles
Cincinnati to Chattanooga = 338 miles
Chattanooga to Atlanta =
Atlanta to Charleston = 

Oliver’s Height April 10th 1896, 3 feet 8 in.

[See original scan for illustration]

Top of first step of Citadel Square Baptist Church is 13.66 above mean low water, or 8.56 feet above mean high water.

a/c with Mr. White in Camp Kennedy

{Express  pd .35 cts.
{Check       16.00

Owe him 5 cts

Latitude Citadel [Stone Piers] 
Longitude Citadel [Stone Piers]

[See original scan]

Citation

Bond, Oliver James, 1865-1933, “Diary of Oliver J. Bond, 1894-1898,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed March 19, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1171.