Entries for Jan. 15. 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday, Jan 15, 1911
Weather - fine but cool.  About 10 a.m. Fran and I started for a walk.  She persuaded me to go over to Rachael's with her on car.  Think I shall like R.  Dressed for dinner but it was awfully late.  Tin and I hurried to take R. I. at La Salle Station for Hamilton Park to see Helen Black.  Had a peachy time - singing, etc.  Tried to make 8:45 train.  Missed it.  Walked over to 63rd to get L.  Whole crowd - 4 boys and 3 girls brot us downtown.  Got here 10:30.  Had to write home afterward.

IN RITA'S DAY:  One important event that occurred in the area of transportation in Chicago was the development of the Electrificed Elevated, known as the "El"  (or "L" as Rita writes).  The El provided transportation for 260 million people in 1900 or about 160 rides annually for each citizen of Chicago.  Rita and her friends seemed to prefer taking the train but the L is always an option to get places like Hamilton Park.  The park was new (opened in 1905) and very progressive since it provided a place in the city for urban residents.  It had a fieldhouse with club rooms, libraries and all kinds of amenities.   

Judy's Entry: Saturday Jan 15, 2011

Nothing much doing today.  Got up late and did final shoveling.  Had to get snow off the deck so the melting snow can drain.  Also huge icicles hanging above the garage and back door looked ready to drop on my head so had to remove them.  My son helped.  Left overs from Mah Jongg pot luck.  Reading For Whom the Bell Tolls.  Haven't read it for 40 years.

TODAY:  The biggest non-news story - the astrological signs are wrong and must be changed!  This means I am not a Taurus, but instead an Aries.  Some shift in the earth over 2000 years have changed the signs.  They are even adding another sign - Ophiuchus...Ridiculous!  People seem as upset about this as they are about the terrible floods in Brazil and Australia!