The Bea Blog consists of
excerpts from the diaries my grandmother Bea Cohen (1899-1985) kept for 38
years, starting in 1913. For more background, see Part I -- Intro and 1913 (under Blog Archive).
1914
In 1914, Bea, age 14, writes about
taking drives in the family car (aka the “machine”), shopping for
clothes, enjoying family parties, flirting with Milton (her future
husband). She writes about “bumming around” and feeling “punk”. The family
doctor makes house calls. One of Bea’s friends and classmates dies of blood
poisoning. The family considers a trip abroad. There is little reference to the war which breaks out that year in Europe.
A note on Bea's father's business: Sollis Cohen was the co-founder and co-owner of the firm Cohen
& Lang, located on Broadway between Washington Place and East 4th
Street. Under the label Cortley Clothes, the firm manufactured clothing for
young men and boys. The firm’s slogan was “Cortley Clothes by Cohen & Lang,
Style Authors in the City of New York.” The Clothier and Furnisher, Vol. 96, 1920.
January
Got a lovely set of dark raccoon
furs in a wholesale place.
Mother sent up a new dress and it’s
a peach.
Marion, Kenneth and Fraulein [the
family governess] went to movies [.
. .] Am still feeling happy and
splendid! May the feelings remain!
Kenneth, Bea's baby brother, born 1908
We took the rug in the hall up and
danced! It was wonderful!
Mendel and his girl here in evening. Heavens! How homely!
March
We have decided to go to Europe for
the summer. Father to take us and stay 4 weeks [. . .]
Europe imagine!
In
school Bea is scolded for passing a note to a classmate that reads:
I am going to Europe on Vaterland Imperator
or Auguste Victoria. See me off?
[The
Vaterland Imperator and Auguste Victoria were transatlantic ocean liners.]
But shortly afterwards plans have changed
We may not go to Europe ding dong
darn!! Here’s hoping anyhow!
And later that month, tragedy
strikes one of Bea's friends and classmates
Heard in school that Julia had blood
poisoning and we collected money and sent her flowers [. . . Her mother] said
Julia had high fever and was unconscious since Saturday [. . . Julia died.] Oh
God. I can’t, I can’t believe it.
Julia was buried this morning. It
hasn’t dawned on me yet. It seems so absolutely impossible to think of her as
dead.
April
We went to Schraffts. Had cheese nut
sandwich and sundae (30 cents)!
Schrafft's was founded as a candy company by
William F. Schrafft in Boston, in 1861. Frank Shattuck took over in 1898,
expanding the company to include restaurants. By 1915, they had nine stores in
Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and one in Syracuse, NY as well as the facility in
Boston. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrafft's
Easter and Passover
Bea’s comments on these holidays (and others) reflect her
assimilation into American society and her conflicted feelings about Jewish
observance. Of course -- like many Jewish-owned businesses of the time -- her
father’s clothing company depended on serving the American (i.e. Christian)
customer. An ad for Cortley Clothes from 1920 purports to show “What is Correct
in Easter Clothing”.
The Clothier and Furnisher, Vol. 96, 1920.
On Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday! Walked with Father
and Kenneth on B’way. Met Mother later. Wore my spring suit and good hat.
And after Passover week
Can eat bread and candy now, Thank
Moses!
May
Mother interviewed about twenty-five
nurses and governesses today. She was
awfully tired.
Bea’s family employed a staff during these years --a
chauffeur, a governess or nurse for the children, a cook and a waiter or
waitress. Bea and Marion became especially close to one of their first
governesses, a German (non-Jewish) immigrant named Marie Katherine Coons. In 1912 Miss Coons left the Cohens to move to
Indiana where she married and had several children. She named her first child,
born in 1914, Beatrice Louise. Bea then took Louise as her middle name and
Marion took Katherine as hers. The sisters remained in touch with Miss Coons
until her death in 1927 and they retained their adopted middle names for the
rest of their lives.
Dr Wooley vaccinated Father, Mother,
Marion and Kenneth. I’m too delicate!
The family doctor made house calls
on a regular basis. These vaccinations were most likely for smallpox or
pertussis (whooping cough). Bea was generally in good physical health, but the
doctor may not have given her a vaccine on this occasion because she was
recovering from bronchitis. http://www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-schedule
June
Father home all day. Very worried
and nervous on account of business.
Sollis suffered from anxiety attacks and various physical
ailments -- such as kidney stones (aka “gravel”) -- throughout his adult life.
Later diaries recount his stays at health spas on Long Island and in Battle
Creek, Michigan. He died at age 56 in 1929.
Summer 1914
During this summer in Long Branch, New Jersey, Bea refers frequently
to Milton, the eldest son of a Jewish family from Manhattan that also spent
summers in Long Branch. She describes the ups and downs that come to define
their courtship.
August
Had masquerade baby party in evening
[. . .] All dressed up as kids and had a
lovely time (at least I did) . . . Milton wore a pink romper.
Long Branch Record was all about my
party. Milton put it in.
The Long Branch Record was a local paper that began in 1902.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92059931/
The Masquerade Party
(Bea is seated in front row, second from left with braids; Milton is seated in second row, slightly to right of Bea)
And at the beach one day
I went out far (too far) and Milton
came to my rescue by lifting me over a couple [of waves].
September
I’d love to say something here but
it’s better remembered.
On the outs with Milton.
The summer ends and Bea's family
returns to the city
I detest the City (at present). In
the morning I straightened things and bummed around and what can you do? If you
want to go out it means dress and look clean and a hat and gloves and in the
country all you have to do is sit on the porch and you have it all.
Bea and her family observe the Jewish holidays
September 20-21
Happy New Year.
I went to temple on 5th
Ave. and 76th St. It was perfectly beautiful and the music and choir
were lovely.
Bea is referring to Temple Beth-El which merged with Temple
Emanuel in 1927. http://www.emanuelnyc.org
September 30
Today was Yom Kippur so no school of
course.
But Bea's family does not fast or go
to temple
In the morning (had breakfast at
half past 9) Father, Marion and I walked to the Colonial [Theatre] for tickets
for Saturday.
October
Bea turns 15
Douglas Fairbanks is my matinee idol
I think.
December
Watched class basketball. It was
punk -- nobody really there.
Felt punk in school.
First known usage of the adjective "punk,"
meaning inferior or very poor, was in 1896. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punk
For the Christmas holidays Bea and her family go to
Lakewood, New Jersey, a popular winter resort at the time. In these entries,
Bea displays her condescension towards more religious Jews. The issue of “keeping
kosher” becomes a primary source of contention in her relationship with Milton.
Though Bea became a liberal and tolerant adult, she remained uncomfortable with
certain aspects of strict Jewish observance.
December 24
Am in Lakewood now – Lakewood Hotel
and so disgusted. If it weren’t for Lilian [Bea’s friend] I’d run away.
Lakewood Hotel crowd real J ______ (kosher)
December 25
Merry Xmas! Some Xmas! It’s about the quietest I’ve ever spent.
December 31
Had midnight supper with the rest of
the bums [. . .] Carried on so but had great sport and
champagne. Happy New Year! Mother has a sore finger and Fraulein neuralgia.
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