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).
The
Bea Blog – Excerpts from My Grandmother’s Diaries
Part VII -- 1918
Bea graduates from secretarial school and gets her first job; she receives sad news; Milton trains to be an aviator; and World War I comes to an end.
January
January
9
Dr. Scudder [the headmaster] says that the
President’s speech to Congress yesterday can be classed with the 10
Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, Magna Carta, Declaration of
Independence, and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Wonder if this peace talk will amount to anything. A
revolution in Germany ought to work it so here’s to trouble there!
Woodrow Wilson made his famous Fourteen Points speech before
Congress on January 8, 1918. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/fourteenpoints.htm)
January
17
All industries are going to be closed for five days
starting tomorrow, and after that every Monday for ten weeks – all to save
coal. That means department stores, theatres, factories, etc. Serious business.
Damn this war anyhow.
The “idle Mondays” order was issued by the US Fuel Administration. After much protest, the order was suspended on February 13. (New York Times, 1/17/1918 and 2/14/1918)
A message from the
US Fuel Administration c. 1918 (http://www.wolfsonian.org/sites/default/files/object/86.4.37.JPG)
January 21
Bea’s
mother Pauline throws a surprise dinner party for Bea’s father Sollis to
celebrate his 45th birthday and their 20th wedding
anniversary.
The meal was tremendous and everybody enjoyed the
evening. Lots of speeches and lots of fun. Two colored musicians so they danced
too [. . .] The people who were here were Axelrods, Magills, Pomerantzes,
Goldsteins, Kohns, Mrs. Wolff and Bert, Kowarskys,
Harrises, Tagers, Samuels, Mesquitas and Asinofs. Very congenial and everybody
was happy. The whole thing was catered and went off without a hitch. Father and
Mother certainly have some sincere friends and I believe it is because they are
so sincere in friendship themselves.
February
February 1
Some
drama on the home front
Did some kitchen duty because we are cookless and
waitressless. They did fight and threaten to poison and kill. Comedy.
February 7
A transport carrying over 2000 of our men over was
submarined and quite a number were lost. It’s been on my mind all day. Those
Germans are so damned unfair. This war is a hellish business.
The SS Tuscania
was a luxury ocean liner carrying American troops to Europe when it was
torpedoed by a German U-boat
on February 5, 1918. The ship sank with
a loss of more than 200 lives. (http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/tuscania.htm)
February
8
Roosevelt’s in the hospital. He had an operation and
all sorts of wild rumors were around about his condition.
Former President Teddy Roosevelt had been hospitalized in New York with a severe ear infection. When a rumor of his death became widespread, “the demands upon the hospital grew so that for a time their ’phone service was in a snarl, and newspaper offices were besieged for accurate news.” (New York Times, 2/9/1918)
Former President Teddy Roosevelt had been hospitalized in New York with a severe ear infection. When a rumor of his death became widespread, “the demands upon the hospital grew so that for a time their ’phone service was in a snarl, and newspaper offices were besieged for accurate news.” (New York Times, 2/9/1918)
February
12
Kenneth has the mumps, poor kid […] Russia has
signed peace with Germany.
It was actually Ukraine that signed with Germany on February 8;
Russia signed on March 3. (http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/ukrainianpeacetreaty.htm)
February
22
Washington’s
Birthday
Holiday – God bless Washington – and there was a parade
of about 10,000 Upton men on Fifth Avenue.
Camp Upton was a US Army
installation on Long Island near Camp Mills.
It is now the site of Brookhaven National Laboratory. (http://www.bnl.gov/about/history/campupton.php)
March
March
5
I am reading “I, Mary MacLane” and it’s odd. It’s
written in the first person in diary form but there are no other people in it,
no plot, just her thoughts, and ye gods she’s unique.
“I,
Mary MacLane” was published in 1917 (and reprinted in 2013). Known as the "Wild Woman of Butte,” Mary MacLane (1881-1929) was “a
controversial Canadian-born American writer whose frank memoirs helped
usher in the confessional style of
autobiographical writing.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_MacLane)
Mary MacLane (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/mary-maclane.jpg)
March
8
If Milton were only good-looking – yet I wonder if I
mean that. Good looks are often inane and an intensely interesting face is
preferable.
March
17
Bea
continues her correspondence with Sgt. John Skidmore, now fighting in France
I wrote to John at last. I ought to write at least
once a week, but I always wonder what I can write about.
March
24
Milton and I went to the Metropolitan and heard Hofmann
[play the piano . . .] He played the Chopin waltz – ours, Milton and mine – as
an encore.
Josef Hofmann (1876–1957)
was a virtuoso pianist and
composer. The Chopin waltz he played as an encore was
most likely Grande Valse Brillante in A flat major, Op.34, no. 1. (http://www.wyastone.co.uk/josef-hofmann-plays-chopin-and-encores.html)
Hear a 1918 recording of Hofmann performing Bea and Milton's waltz at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umL7lialOfk
March
25
Immense battle going on now over in Europe.
On March 21, 1918, the German Army launched a
large-scale offensive against the Allied front on the Somme battlefield. (http://www.greatwar.co.uk/battles/somme/somme-battles.htm)
March
26
At
the school assembly, Dr. Scudder awards Bea with a Special Credential
certificate for fastest typist in the school’s history. Bea is typically self-deprecating.
Fingers don’t necessitate brains so I declare no
credit.
April
Pauline,
Marion and Bea visit Far Rockaway, Queens to look at possible summer houses.
Though “the price is enormous,” they settle on one in the Bayswater community.
“The Rockaways had become the summer playground of New York's
wealthy elite by the mid -19th century, the Hamptons of its day, with huge
elaborate mansions quaintly called ‘cottages’. By the turn of the century,
with the advent of ferry and train service, the southern beachfront was lined
with grand hotels and resorts catering to a more middle-class clientele.
Bayswater resisted commercial development and remained primarily a residential neighborhood
of large Victorian homes with
manicured lawns, private sports clubs, and, of course, a yacht club.” (http://nycedges.blogspot.com/2011/05/bayswater-far-far-rockaway.html)
April
4
Milton says I remind him of a machine in the factory
that absolutely never starts until 5 minutes to 5 and if he wants to use it he
has to stay overtime. I always begin at the end. Queer duck, me.
April
16
Lots of excitement in school. Some of the girls
suggested that we do without commencement, to save expense and for patriotic
reasons they say [. . .] Dr. Scudder was muchly annoyed.
April
17
Majority of girls do not want [commencement
exercises] but Dr. Scudder says he won’t give us diplomas unless we have it.
Some girls are so independent. I think they are simply wonderful and I love to
hear them talk. Spunk to them.
May
May
31
Bea
graduates from Scudder
I did graduate. On my diploma is Summa Cum Laude,
which really doesn’t help me to another portion of brains.
June
June
1
Bea
receives a letter from John Skidmore
Such relief to know he’s all right. He’s in the
thick of it all – gas, shell fire, raids, etc. I answered him tonight. He’s a
regular Yank with the real spirit.
June
3
The Germans sank several ships near our coast. I
hate them!
On June 2, 1918, known as
"Black Sunday", a German
U-boat sank six US ships and damaged two others off the coast of New
Jersey. (350 Years of New Jersey History:
From Stuyvesant to Sandy, Bilby, et al. (2014),
p. 135)
June 4
Milton and I had supper at the Astor grill. Not
crowded and my biscuit tortoni lived up to its reputation. I don’t expect to
see Milton til after the summer.
Hotel Astor menu,
June 1918, listing Biscuit Tortoni for forty cents. Biscuit Tortoni is a frozen dessert made of eggs, cream and
crumbled macaroons. Forty cents in 1918 is the equivalent of $6 today.
(http://menus.nypl.org/menu_pages/67399; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15food-t-001.html?ref=magazine;
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl)
June
5
Nothing new except that we have a Japanese butler.
July
July
11
The
family moves to Bayswater for the summer – Sollis
commutes to Manhattan for work and the rest of the family returns to the city
occasionally
Mother went to the city to watch the procession of
Mayor Mitchel’s funeral.
July
17
Roosevelt’s youngest son has been reported killed.
He was an aviator – in active service.
Quentin Roosevelt (1897–1918) was Theodore Roosevelt’s youngest child. He was killed in
aerial combat over France on
July 14. (http://www.theodoreroosevelt.com/images/quentinpics/quentin2010main.jpg)
August
Bea
spends most of this month with Milton and other friends at Schroon Lake, a
popular summer resort town in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. She stays
with the girls and women at the Leland House Hotel, while the boys and men stay
at Paradox Camp. Together the friends spend their days swimming, boating and
playing tennis.
Around 1900 the Leland House
Hotel became the first of the Schroon Lake hotels to welcome Jewish guests. (http://schroonlaker.com/blog-roll/2012/4/30/the-20-most-pivotal-events-in-schroon-lake-history.html)
September
September
9
Milton is taking a course at the Eagle Aviation
school so that when he is called or if enlistments open, he can get into
aviation service.
September
19
Bea
receives some disturbing news
John Skidmore has been severely wounded – shot
through the right lung operated on 2 ribs and he had emphysema besides. Had a
letter from [Miss Coons] this morning and she enclosed a newspaper clipping and
a letter to her from Daisy [John’s mother] telling about John [. . .] Couldn’t
concentrate on anything else today. [. . .] he was wounded in a battle July 28.
I wrote to him. He certainly is doing his part in the realest way.
September
25
Bea
interviews for a job at McClure’s magazine
I got it! [. . .] 25 West 44th, right
near 5th Avenue, lovely location and suits me. Large office,
pleasant people and surroundings. I start Monday at $18 [a week]. By golly but I’m going to get at it and show them I’m
worth more and soon too [. . .] I will do work for a Mr. Brown and a Mr. Dick –
bookkeeping for him.
September
27
[Dr. Scudder says I] should get more but that $18 at
McClure’s was worth $23 someplace else – the connections were so fine. He said
he could get me a position for $28 a week in Georgia but I’ve got to stay home.
McClure’s, Nov. 1918 (http://www.conradfirst.net/media/mcclures_1918_11.jpg)
Founded in 1893 by S. S. McClure, McClure’s was a magazine of fiction and non-fiction, best known for its muckraking exposes during the years 1903-1906. Well-known authors included Willa Cather, Ida Tarbell and Lincoln Steffens. In 1911, McClure sold the magazine. McClure's continued until 1929 but never regained its earlier prominence. (Creating the Modern Man: American Magazines and Consumer Culture, Pendergast (2000), pp. 36-50)
September 28
A
turn for the worse
Today really for the first time the war struck home.
This morning I had a letter from Miss Coons telling me that John died of his
wounds on August 30 at midnight. It doesn’t seem possible. I can’t realize that
he isn’t still alive and vigorous and smiling [. . .] How I regret not having
written more to him! [. . .] This war has got to end. It seems such a slaughter
– all these wonderful worthwhile fellows being sacrificed.
John
M. Skidmore’s photo and war record, from Indiana
World War Records: Gold star honor roll, World War, 1914-1918 (1921) (books.google.com/books?id=w9sTAQAAMAAJ)
October
October 2
The first day of my business career! [.
. ] My surroundings are so fine and pleasant. Have a desk and a typewriter all
to me and it’s a great sensation to be part of a regular place.
October 4
Terrible epidemic of grippe and
influenza in the city and no nurses.
The Influenza Pandemic (aka The Spanish Flu) occurred worldwide
in 1918 and 1919, with deaths far exceeding those of World War I. Global
mortality is estimated at anywhere between 30 and 50 million, including an estimated
675,000 Americans. The war "created a severe civilian nursing shortage:
9,000 trained white nurses were sent overseas and thousands more were assigned
to U.S. military camps.” (http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/the_pandemic/index.html; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862339/)
Flu prevention poster c. 1918 (http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/the_pandemic/influenza/careless_spitting.jpg)
Bea
escapes the flu but gets bronchitis and misses two weeks of work
October
16
Two days before Bea's 19th birthday
Two days before Bea's 19th birthday
My birthday gift from Milton came – eleven sets of MacDowell.
I’m to take care of them and then sometime he’ll have them bound for us.
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) was one of the most celebrated
American composers in the nineteenth century. He and his wife Marian founded
The MacDowell Colony. (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200035715/default.html)
November
November
4
Austria has surrendered completely.
Austria–Hungary signed an armistice with Italy on November 3.
November
7
Fifth Avenue went wild this afternoon. Extras were
out declaring peace [. . .] Such a mob of people and a paper storm and bells --
but the evening paper denies the armistice was signed. We got the afternoon off
[. . .] I couldn’t hop around and be giddy -- I wanted to cry. I thought of
John and all those who have made the supreme sacrifice.
On November 7, based on an erroneous news service report, several
newspapers prematurely announced the end of World War I. The actual armistice
was signed on November 11. (http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/topics/armistice.html;
“City Goes Wild with Joy,” New York Times, 11/8/1918)
November
11
Peace. Real peace and the end of the war.
November
22
Bea
receives a letter from John Skidmore’s brother Robert, a midshipman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Around this time Bea also receives a holiday
greeting card from Robert (printed before the armistice). (My parents and I
found this card among Bea's papers after she died in 1985.)
December
December
3
Was at Miles Projection Room most of the day. Mr.
Collins [McClure’s publisher] went through 6 reels of the Roosevelt picture [.
. .] all I did was watch and take down titles Mr. Collins suggested. Rather an
interesting picture – Roosevelt’s life.
Frederick Collins was the publisher of McClure’s and the
president of McClure’s Pictures Inc. The “Roosevelt picture” Bea watched was
produced by McClure’s and released in January 1919 as “The Fighting Roosevelts.”
A coming attractions notice for “The Fighting Roosevelts” (imdb.com)
December
17
Bea muses on her diary-keeping
Bea muses on her diary-keeping
Why I diary I don’t know – still I bet I’ll keep it
up for some time yet. Wonder if it will stop when I marry – if – or if we will
keep one together. That ought to be interesting.
Bea stopped keeping a diary following her marriage to Milton in 1920 and didn’t start again until her separation from Milton in 1951.
Bea stopped keeping a diary following her marriage to Milton in 1920 and didn’t start again until her separation from Milton in 1951.
And Bea's favorite holiday approaches
December
18
Christmas is one week from today. I like to watch
the crowds on 5th Ave now getting ready for it – if you make
something of the day there really is lots of excitement preparing. It is such
pleasure to give to people you care for but practically nobody we know observes
it.
I wish Robert Skidmore would spend Christmas with
us. Wrote him a short note.
December
25
Santa Claus via Father gave me a check for $100.
Coming
up soon: The Bea Blog Part VIII -- 1919
