Entries for March 31 - 1911 and 2011 (potato chips)

Rita's Entry: Friday, March 31, 1911
Home all day.  Read and practiced.  Beautiful box from home.  New gray dress and black skirt - perfect dear of a nightie - cookies, oranges, nuts, 3 boxes stick candy - chips from Granny.  box of candy and dates from H.B. and Mrs. B. - postal cards and paper.

IN RITA'S DAY: Potato chips in the early 1900s were and increasingly popular snack and were packaged in tins like the one above.  According to legend, the chip was invented by African-American/ Native American chef George Crum  Crum was a chef in Saratoga and when a customer complained about the wide, soggy fried potatoes, Crum - as a joke - sliced the potatoes extra thin and fried them extra crisp.  Instead of being upset, the customer loved them!  While a couple of commerical companies existed in 1911, it was too difficult to peel and pack the chips to allow companies to produce enough product to ship very far.  In the 1920s an automatic peeler and the cellophane bags were invented and then the companies expanded...so I assume Rita got homemade chips made by her Granny.

TODAY: Potato chips are a predominant part of the snack food market in English-speaking countries and numerous other Western nations. The global potato chip market generated total revenues of US$16.4 billion in 2005. This accounted for 35.5% of the total savory snacks market in that year (US$46.1 billion).  There are concerns today about the amounts of fat and artifical ingredients in potato chips and other snack foods.  I am just glad that the FDA is finally looking at the effects artifical coloring can have on children.  Lots of us have thought that for years.

Judy's Entry: Thursday, March 31, 2011
Spent the morning at the Honda dealer getting a check up on my car.  It needed a lot of service since I haven't had anything done for years.  After lunch I made some lemon bars which were advertised as the best, but I'm not impressed.  I'll take a few to MJ tomorrow.  We have a new card so it will be fun. 

Entries for March 30 - 1911 and 2011 (Music and money)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, March 30, 1911
Paid Mrs. S. in the morning.  Harmony at 10.  Fine.  Lecture because I haven't heard T. Orches.  Tried at once to get tickets and failed - none left.  Pretty good lesson.  S. nearly made a break about certain monkey looking in at the door.  Ha Ha!

IN RITA'S DAY:  It seems Rita was trying to get tickets to the Theodore Thomas Orchestra.  This was the Chicago Symphony.  It was named after its founder (see picture) from 1905 (when Thomas died) until 1913, then it got its current name - Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  The ticket to this concert was 25 cents (Rita did get a ticket in another week).  She also paid her room and board, which was $11.00 for two weeks.

TODAY: A ticket to the CSO is $40.00 to 101.00 for the main floor.  (Tomorrow's performance).

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Spent the morning baking cookies.  Took Mom to the mall for her perm.  While waiting, I got a new cell phone.  Decided it was time to start to text and be able to take pictures.  Of course I tried to text my daughter but had the wrong number and sent a text to my friends home phone instead of her cell phone!  Once home I made frosting for the cookies and my son came and ate a bunch... the rest are for MJ.

Entries for March 29 - 1911 and 2011 (Anti-Semitism)

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, March 29, 1911
Orchestra with Fran.  Dandy time as usual.  Hard, harder, hardest!  The little Jew is too fresh.  Needs to be squelched.  Saw my friend of the 2nd fiddle on L platform.   Sewed, mended, practiced, etc.  Wrote home and got harmony.  Tin went to Majestic with her Dad.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I was very upset when I read this entry.  I never knew my grandmother to be prejudiced and found her off hand comment about "the little Jew" to be insenstive and offensive!  I don't know who she was writing about, but  I did research to learn that the early 1900s in America was a time of growing anti-Semitism.  The presidental election of 1896 included many remarks about Washington and Wall Street being controlled by the rich Jewish bankers.  In 1908 the book above was published.  It seems many people weren't concerned about the stereotype.  The growing discrimination gave rise to many organizations established to improve conditions for Jews in America, but still in 1913 a man named Leo Frank was lynched because the governor of Georgia commuted his death sentence.  This gave rise to the ADL.   All this background is no excuse for my grandmother's comment, but helps me to understand the time in which she lived. 

TODAY:  The 2005 survey by the ADL says 9% of whites in the US are antisemitic; however, I was surprised recently when several of my Jewish friends told me that they felt antisemitism when they were growing up - and still feel it occasionally.  It makes me sad.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Busy day.  Went to the senior center for singing and zumba.  Came home for lunch, then off to the Book Barn.  Found 3 books I wanted.  Then to the grocery store.  My son called while I was fixing dinner to ask me to walk his dog.  I did that then came home to find that the UPS man had delivered three packages... Fun!

Entries for March 28 - 1911 and 2011 (fashion illustration)

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, March 28, 1911
Practiced all A. M.  Met Fran at 1:30.  Looked in Field's for hat.  Found awfully classy one in ----sshh
Went to Neary's to return fashion books.  Dandy time as usual.  Urged to stay for dinner.  Refused.  Wrote to H.B.

IN RITA'S DAY:  The first years of the 1900s were the golden age for fashion illustration.  These were the final years before photography took over.  Rita probably looked at something like the McCall's Fashion Books (see above) which are pretty plan colorwise.  However, in Europe, especially in France, the fashion illustrators took their work into the world of art.  Paul Poiret is probably the most well known.

TODAY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC had an exhibit on Paul Poiret in 2007.  I was so struck by the beauty and vibrancy of the colors that I decided I would buy one of Poiret's works.  Unfortunately, he was out of my price range, but I was able to purchase the pochoir above by Brissaud.  It appeared in 1914 in La Gazette du Bon Ton.   Even with the reflection of my dining room light, I am astounded at how clear the colors are.

Judy's Entry: Monday, March 28, 2011
Worked out in the morning.  Did a little shopping at the local mall.  I had forgotten that I will be there on Wednesday for a few hours while Mom has her perm, so I only looked today and will buy Wednesday.  In the afternoon, our group - the Yorktown Daytimers Chorale - performed at Seabury assisted living facility.  Listened to President Obama talk about the "situation" in Libya.  Hope things turn out there.

Entries for March 27 - 1911 and 2011 (books)

Rita's Entry: Monday, March 27, 1911
Lesson at 1:30.  O.K.  Said to play lesson next time "if I could," if not, then play something else.  What?  Practiced.  Read, etc.  Mr. C. came.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I'm sorry that Rita never mentions what she is reading.   Many momentous books were published around this time, including The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, "Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washigton and "Call of the Wild" by Jack London.  I doubt very much that she was reading any of those, however.  More likely she read books by L.M. Montgomery.  "Anne of Green Gables" was published in 1908 and "Kilmeny of the Orchard" in 1911.  I find it interesting that although Montgomery sold a lot of books, she felt that in order to survive in Canada, she must marry.  She had a very unhappy marriage and it is thought now that she eventually took her own life.

TODAY:  Are books as we've known them on the way out?  I resisted getting an e-book reader, but when my son got me a Kindle for Christmas, I started using it and I love it.  I still love regular books more and hope they never disappear!

Judy's Entry: Sunday, March 27, 2011
Went to church.  Went on a walk with Mom.  It's funny because often my days sound like Rita's... and it's 100 years later... Walks, reading, church, visiting friends.  Our lives both are filled with some dull days and then some days filled with "events" (hers more than mine).  Saw a movie called RED, which meant "retired and extremely dangerous."  Thinking my life is "retired, extremely dull."

Entries for March 26, 1911 and 2011 (Hats)

Rita and friends in hats around 1913

Rita's Entry: Sunday, March 26, 1911
Went to church and S. S.  Still no luck with new hat.  Puffed 3 heads.  Met some dandy people.  Bess Davis came home to dinner.  A dear girl.  So much like M. E. P.  I fell in love with her.  Peach of a reader too.  Came home about 8:30.  Read.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Young women wore hats and gloves when they were going out to a social occasion.  Hats were often homemade and were worn by women of all social standing.  While wider hats adorned with things like cabbage roses were still fashionable, by 1911 hats became much smaller and often several large narrow feathers called Mephisto feathers were worn (see picture of Rita below.  Again from 1913.  I have no pictures of her in 1911).

TODAY: While hats are still common in England, especially at occasions like weddings, in the United States women rarely wear hats.  Still hats are "healthy" - sun damage to skin and is a cause of skin cancer... and hats can keep you warm in winter.  I do wear a hat often in the winter, but take it off immediately when inside because it messes your hair!  Maybe hats will make a come back.

Judy' Entry: Saturday, March 29, 2011
Up early to get salt for the water softener.  My son came over for coffee.  Then Mom started her soup for supper and I did a little cleaning in the basement.  I could work down there every day and still not get done!  Mom and I divided up the characters in our children's book.  She will draw 5 and I will do 5.  I do hope we finish it... As I've said before, I'm famous (or infamous) for not finishing projects!

Entries for March 25, 1911 and 2011 (Shirtwaist Fire)

Rita's Entry: Saturday, March 25, 1911
No more lectures.  Bliss.  Practiced.  Went to Miss Abbott's tea.  Very nice.  From there went down town and took 2. C. for Harvey.  Twins met me.  Walked after supper.  Ice cream.  Showing the contents of "hope box."  Dandy time.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Young women like Rita probably had no awareness of the conditions poor female immigrant workers suffered through.  On this day in 1911, 146 people died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.  The victims, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrants, were unable to escape the fire since the exits were locked.  These women worked nine hours each weekday and seven hours on Saturday.  Many of them jumped to their deaths.  These horrible deaths were witnessed by many New Yorkers and led to changes that helped the Labor movement.

Many bodies from fire were mangled or charred beyond recognition

TODAY: One of the women witnessing the horror was Frances Perkins, who became the first woman cabinet member.  She was FDR's Secretary of Labor throughout his terms.  Now Governor Paul LePage, Republican from Maine, is trying to remove some of the  honors she was given by the state.  First, he has ordered the removal of a mural that he says is too friendly to Labor and insults business owners.  Then he wants to rename conference rooms that honor people who were labor leaders - including Frances Perkins.  100 years after the tragedy above, labor and unions are really under attack.

Judy's Entry: Friday, March 25, 2011
Did exercises first thing in the morning.  Decided it is definitely time to get back to a schedule.  Went to grocery store.  Made one more "care package" for Elizabeth and then took it to her at her OB-GYN appointment.  Mom and I are working on a children's book to put together for the new grandchild!

Entries for March 24, 1911 and 2011 (Yongala)

Rita's Entry: Friday, March 24, 1911
Home all day.  Practiced.  Fooled with hat.  N. G.

SS Yongala then

IN RITA'S DAY: Yesterday, March 23, 1911 was the day on which the Steamship Yongala sank and all people on board perished.  It is considered the most tragic loss at sea for Australia.  It went down during a cyclone and 122 people lost their lives.  No bodies were ever found, just the remains of a race horse which washed ashore a few days (or weeks?) later.   Rita doesn't mention this - or any world events - in her diary.  I wonder if it is because she wasn't aware (no news media then) or if this just isn't what people say in diaries.  I feel compelled to sometimes comment on world events because I wish she would have done so.

Yongala today

TODAY:  The remains of the Yongala off the Great Barrier Reef have over time been transformed into a coral reef and it has become a tourist destination.  I heard about it because it is there that a young women named Tina Watson died there on her honeymoon under suspicious circumstances. (Isn't it always the husband?)  A tragic place but a beautiful place.

Judy's Entry: Thursday, March 24, 2011
I met my daughter at the hospital for the genetic testing.  The first results look fine and the final results will come in a week.  Later I met my friend Susan for lunch and some shopping.  I went online to buy some "belly bands" for my daughter.  The website, like many others, allows you to add another dollar to your order for charity.  That is a common thing now, even when you shop at K-mart, you may be asked to support St. Jude's or March of Dimes by letting them add extra to your bill.  Right now I'm saying "yes" to any donations for Japan.  I just can't imagine how life there has changed!

Entries for March 23, 1911 and 2011 (Isadora Duncan)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, March 23, 1911
Lesson good again.  "Alright mixed pickle."  Harmony also good - therefore felt quite happy.  No practice tho' except for an hour before going down town.  Tried to concoct a spring hat.  Finally asked Mrs. S.  Her suggestions are fine but they mean work.  Poor me.  Tin and I went to hear NY Symphony Orchestra and see Isadora Duncan.  Perfectly wonderful.   Were fairly entranced all the time.

"Isadora Duncan in 1911" by John Sloan

IN RITA'S DAY:  According to a document by Ann Daly "[Isadora] began a series of immensely successful engagements with Walter Damrosch's pretigous New York Symphony Orchestra.  Her appearances with Damrosch were in concert halls and opera houses, like the Metropolitan, with a considerably different audience and set of critics.  The audience was upper class, predominatly female, and thirsty for 'Art.'"  While Rita and Tin weren't upper class, they certainly fit the other two criteria.  Isadora was starting her rise to fame at this time.  She returned to America from Europe and Russia in 1908 and her success continued until her strange death in 1927.  The picture above is probably a good replication of what Rita and Tin saw.  Isadore never danced nude, but her breasts were free and her tunic was short.  (As an aside, bras were not an alternative to the corset until around 1920, so Duncan's free style would be so appealing to lots of women).

Isadora

TODAY: Duncan is considered the creator of modern dance.  Today the incorrect notion still persists that when Isadora died, her dancing died with her. It is, however, through the dancers in her school and performing companies throughout the world that Duncan's art continues today as a classic but living contribution to the world of dance, reaching far beyond her own lifetime, affecting the very core of today's perception of dance.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
It snowed on and off all day, but it didn't stick on the roads yet.  We are supposed to get the most snow over night.  I spent a lot of the day baking and making broccoli and quinoa to take to Elizabeth tomorrow.  I will meet her at the hospital where she has to take tests.   The beautiful Elizabeth Taylor died today... she was beautiful, but not as wonderful as my Elizabeth!  Mike and Elizabeth would like to name the baby Elizabeth if it is a girl, but not with it being the Mom's name.  I say people do it with boys, why not girls?

Entries for March 22, 1911 and 2011(stores and malls)

Clock at Marshall Field's in Chicago

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, March 22, 1911
Orchestra at 9:30.  Fran and I tried to return some silk Tin had bo't at M. Field's.  Failed.  Nice practice but hard.  Awfully wriedy [? can't read this word].  Practiced all afternoon.  Fran home.  A little warmth resulted in my staying home while Fran and Tin went over on Clark.  Got harmony and read all evening.

Field's Tiffany ceiling

IN RITA'S DAY: A revamped Marshall Field's opened in 1907 and for a short while was able to claim the title of the largest department store in the world.  It had a Tiffany ceiling made of favrile glass, the largest one ever made (see picture above).  It had over 1.6 million pieces.

Inside the South China Mall

TODAY:  Macy's bought Marshall Field's in 2005 and now it is officially Macy's on State Street.  These days it isn't the largest store that attracts attention, it is the largest shopping mall.  Two malls in China head the list (the one in Beijing is called "the great mall of China").  The Mall of America is about 13th on the list, but is the largest in the U.S.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Went to Zumba at the Senior Center.  We were a little early and they were doing a sing-along.  They sing every Tuesday from 10 to 11 and then zumba from 11 to noon.  We might join in.  Picked up Income Tax.  We both get refunds... Yeah!  Planned to make some blueberry muffins for Elizabeth so got the organic berries and some other stuff.  Spent some of the evening cooking.

Entries for March 21, 1911 and 2011 (peanut vendors)

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, March 21, 1911
Home all day.  Much practice.  Lucina and Fran home just after lunch.  Took a Walk.  L. went home from Sheridan Road.  Tin, Fran and I walked lots.  Grand day - almost too warm.  Home and wrote letters in Tin's room with open windows.  After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. S. and we three started to hunt a "peanut man."  Found him too - Long dandy walk by lake.

IN RITA'S DAY: In 1911, street peanut vendors were in their heyday.  I got most of my info. from "Peanuts: the illustrious history of the goober pea" by A.F. Smith.  After the Civil War, peanuts became the favorite snack food and their appeal at baseball was immortalized in the 1908 song (see above).  Peanuts were a perfect choice for street vendors because they could be purchased cheaply and the smell of roasting attractive customers.  The profit was close to 80 %.  At the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, several new types of peanut carts were introduced.  These made it easier for the vendors to change locations in order to find more customers.  Later automobiles became more common and people started getting disgusted with the mess of peanut shells and "by 1928 an observer noted that peanut carts were only a novelty."

TODAY:  Peanut vendors are mostly confined to ballparks although in big cities you see a lot of different street vendors, usually not selling peanuts.   At http://www.videowired.com/watch/?id=1924101116   you can watch this juggling peanut vendor at a Cubs game...

Judy's Entry: Sunday, March 21, 2011
It sounds like the first full day of Spring in 1911 was a nice day (at least in Chicago), but today it snowed!  Nan and I went out for breakfast and to do errands and it got so slushy that it was a little slippery for the 88 year old.  Later in the day, we went to the Field Home in Peekskill to sing with our group.  Many of the patients there seemed to love it and Nan enjoys it a lot too (and so do I).  When the world seems to be in a mess like it is, it is nice to find and share a little happiness.

Entries for March 19 and 20, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday March 19, 1911
Tin and I went to S.S.  Got there late of course.  Enjoyed Mrs. Houston ever so much.  Girls are nice too.  Stayed for church.  Later looked for Att and Mary after lunch, but no.  Fran came home unexpectedly.  Walked.  Dandy day.

Rita's Entry: Monday, March 20, 1911
Lesson at 9:30.  Poor, disgraced myself - only nervous and dull.  He said I played my concerto very well except for not enough "expression"  But I got rattled, "But why brag" (?)  Not much practice.  Kind of blue.  Great day.

International Psychoanalytical Congress of 1911

IN RITA'S DAY:  In some of Rita's March 1911 entries, I notice a number of comments on her feelings that seem to change as quickly as the weather in March!  This time period was a time of change and behind many of the changes were artists,  young and college-educated, who discussed spirituality and the new psychology of Sigmund Freud and who believed that meaning lay in the expression of the inner self.  Psychoanalysis was worldwide (see photo above).   I think Rita and others like her, while not at the forefront of change or directly involved in something like psychoanalysis, had the leisure time to start to examine their feelings.


TODAY: A majority of the people I know either are in therapy or have been even Marge Simpson above).  I certainly have been.  My mother, on the other hand, still feels that people should take care of their own problems.  I wonder what the next 100 years will bring.  Will we have yearly mental check-ups, like we do with physicals now?

Judy's Entries:  Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, 2011
Very quiet weekend.  Spent a lot of Saturday moving things.. taking things down to the basement and bringing up things we had put away while company was here.  Got groceries.  Went shopping with Diane after church on Sunday.  Mom stayed home and made cookies.

Entries for March 17 and 18 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Friday, March 17, 1911
Home all day.  Tin and I took turns practicing.  Fran and I walked.  Grand day.  Tin over to Crowls for dinner.  Att was there - also Helen Black.  Tin stayed all night.

Rita's Entry: Saturday, March 18, 1911
Met Tin for lecture at 9:30.  She had 5 letters and a special from Leslie.  Little pill!  Such a bunch.  Miss A. put off her party again and I lost out on Ellman's too for she didn't let us know till Friday PM.  After lunch Maude S. came and we four went to Julian.  Pretty good bill - lots of fun anyway.  Fran went to South Side.  Tin slept in with me.

IN RITA'S DAY:  At first I was surprised that there was no mention of St. Patrick's Day on the 17th since I know Chicago has a big parade.  Then I learned that even though Chicago claims a parade from the 1800s, the actual parade was small and sporadic until Mayor Daley in the 1950s.  Surprising to me is that the big parades were the Knights Templar (see picture above of 1910 parade).  I can't imagine an organization that seems sort of secretive putting on such a display.  Just a different time.

TODAY:  Chicago has a big parade and even colors the river green for St. Patrick's Day (see above).

Judy's Entry: March 17 and 18, 2011
The two girls, Nan and I all put on green and performed our show for Elizabeth, Jim and Sarah.  That Caroline thought of the concept and the pictures and songs.  She is quite creative at 10 years old.  It was their last day here so lots of cleaning up and packing.  Friday morning I took Nan for her eye injection and the Texans left for some time in NYC before their flight home.  I took a nap and then played MJ at Barbara's.  Still a lot of talk about the disaster in Japan.

Entries for March 15 and 16, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, March 15, 1911
Beastly cold.  Went down with Fran.  Bo't dress at Carson-Pirie's.  Nearly froze my hands off on way to school.  Dandy time at practice.  Practiced over 3 hours.  Pretty tired.  Wrote home.  Fran and I took a little walk - very short because of cold.

Thursday, March 16, 1911
Practiced some before going down.  Harmony at 10.  Mr. B. still dandy.  Got along beautifully with lesson.  After all my work on the concerto didn't have to play it.  He was pelased with my Fiorillo evidently - said "Fine, fine"  also said he could see much progress.  I could tell better by his beaming smile than by what he said.  Maybe I didn't feel good.  About 2 hours and practice.  Fran home with Lu.  Read.

IN RITA'S DAY: Checking the average temperatures in March 1911, it looks like most days were way above normal, but in the middle of the chart (15th) there is a huge drop with temperatures way below average.  Wish she might have mentioned the actual temp.  She didn't, of course, but did list money spent in a little ledger in the back of the diary.  The entry for March 15th says "fare and dress - $1.58"  The store she shopped in "Carson, Pirie, Scott" at the time was located on one of the busiest corners in the world. (see picture above).

Judy's Entry: The temperature here has been a little cold for March, but my nieces don't seem to mind.  I have a pile of snow left and they have been playing in it.  We also have been doing craft projects, playing wii, going out for lunch, walking Roscoe, fmaily movie night.  Mom and I babysat so brother and wife could have a night out.

Entries for March 14, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, March 14, 1911
Home all day.  Practiced 3 hrs and 59 minutes.  Stopped then for I played a difficult octave rien so well I was afraid to play it again for fear of spoiling it!  Fran and I walked an hour and a half.  Perfect day.  A little cool.  Letter from Sara Grand.  Just a dandy.  Wonder if my blues weren't good for me.  Hope so.  There should be something good in everything.

IN RITA'S DAY: One of the most famous violinists of the day was a woman, Marie Hall (see picturebelow).  I wonder if she was any inspiration for Rita Hall???  I can't imagine how difficult the "octaves" were that Rita had to practice.  A picture of one set is at the beginning of this page.



Judy's Entry: Monday, March 14, 2011
Busy day with fun things.  So nice to have family around.  My nieces and I played outside in the remaining snow bank in front of my garage.  Then the six of us went out to lunch at the local diner (pretty typical food).  Then we went shopping for supplies for our pizza party.  Watched family videos in the afternoon.  My son and his fiancee came for our pizza party and brought two pizzas from their favorite place.  Then we also had three homemade and one with a Boboli crust.  Played Cranium after eating.

Entries for March 12 and 13 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday, March 12, 1911

Tin and I went to S.S. and church.  Our teacher Mrs. Houston is a dandy.  We enjoy her ever so much.  Snowed and blew.  Gave up going to Crowls as I had planned.  Fran phoned said they wanted to go with me.  We all went and had a grand time as usual, music - reading - fortunes, etc.  Ed and I went to delicatessin shop while F and F phoned Tin in Evanston.  Got home about 11.  Fam. here all night.  I slept in with Tin.

Rita's Entry: Monday, March 13, 2011

Sleepy.  Went down with Fran.  Mr. S. perfectly grand.  Got along very nicely.  New concerto is beastly hard.  Dandy talk with Miss Wade and "the Pole."  Practiced three hours this afternoon.  Shed tears and felt mighty ble all evening over certain unkind and sarcastic remarks about my practice.  Wonder if I make remarks that hurt her like hers did me.  I surely hope not.  I wouldn't wish an enemy to feel as I do just now.

IN RITA'S DAY: Church was such a big part of a lot of people's lives.  The church above was established in 1911 and might be the one Rita settled on.  Sounds like one of her friends (Fran?  Tin? ) needs a bit more "do unto others" lessons.  It's strange to feel for someone 100 years after the hurt!

TODAY: The pastor at the church I attend announced that our church (above) just became a member of facebook, and if we were facebook people, we could go online and "like" the church??  Very strange new world... but not enough reason for me to go on facebook.  I did see the film about it "The Social Network" and it is some kind of world changer.  No wonder the creator was the Time Magazine "Man of the Year."

Judy's Entries: Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13, 2011

On Saturday went to art class.  I guess we decided to take the 3 week extension but that won't start until 2 weeks from now.  Then got ready for company.  Diane and I took a walk for over an hour.  Nice to catch up.  Sunday after church, put out our "spread."  Family from Texas arrived at 2pm.  Lots of talk and eating.  Played with the Wii that my son lent us.  Everyone very tired since we missed an hour over night (day light savings) and their plane left Texas at 6am.

Entries for March 11 -- 1911 and 2011

Judy's Entry: Friday, March 11, 2011
Starting with today's news.  Woke up to all news stations talking about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  Made some soup and lasagna to freeze for brother and family coming on Sunday and staying until Friday.  The horrible flooding in this area seems insignificant when compared to Japan... but I still am upset by a damp basement.

Japan

TODAY:  An earthquake measuring 8.9 hit Japan.  They are confirming 100s dead but no doubt the number will go into the thousands.  It looks like a war zone (see picture above).  The earthquake was bad enough but then there was a huge tsunami.  A nuclear plant is in trouble and there are fires everywhere.  The tsunami waves extended across the Pacific.

San Francisco

IN RITA'S DAY:  The biggest earthquake around Rita's time was, I guess, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.  The earthquake was bad, but the fires after lasted for four days.  It was approximately a 7.8 earthquake.

In 1906 San Francisco was the ninth largest U.S. city with a population of 400,000, and over 225,000 were left homeless by the disaster. The death toll is uncertain. City officials estimated the casualties at 700 but more modern calculations say about 3,000 lost their lives. The lowballing city figures may have been a public relations ploy to downplay the disaster with an eye on rebuilding the city. On April 20, the U.S.S. Chicago rescued 20,000 victims, one of the largest sea evacuations in history, rivaling Dunkirk in World War II. Martial law was not declared, but some 500 looters were shot by police and the military.

 

Rita's Entry: Saturday, March 11, 1911

Lecture at 9:30  Couldn't stay for recital tho we wanted to badly.  Miss Wade played concerto with Mr. S. at piano.  Fran went out to Evanston.  I practiced.  Read, etc.

Entries for March 10, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Friday, March 10, 1911
Mary here until about 10:30.  Therefore, no work done.  Went to Art Institute at 11:30 for lunch with Fran and Lucina.  They went with me to Lyon & Healy where I met Mr. Sebald.  He helped me choose a bow.  Mr. Raymer very nice to me.  Home and practiced.  Worst headache in months after dinner.  Kind of forgot it playing solitaire a little while before bed time.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Reviews in The New York Times could be just as biting as they are today.  Here is what they wrote about a concert by Rita's teacher: "Mr Sebald did not succeed in making these pieces interesting.  They would have been made more so had he played them in tune... It may be deemed fortunate that to no other violinist has such a tasteless and inartisitc idea occurred."

Judy's Entry: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Went to the bank early this morning to get documentation related to my daughter and son-in-law's application for a mortgage.  They have such a lot on their  plate with her injury, pregnancy and now buying a house.  Had Mah Jongg in the afternoon.  Marilyn was sick, so it was just Susan, Shirley and me.  Did okay at first, but after a break for cake... I couldn't win anything.  Had leftovers for supper.  Did a little drawing for art class Saturday.  Don't know if we will continue for the extended class.

Entries for March 9, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry for Thursday, March 9, 1911
Got harmony before going down.  Interesting lesson.  Analysis next.  Heard Miss Wade play concerto, beautifully.  Felt better about it after learning that she is a graduate of another school and a grad. here simply because she can't be a post grad until she graduates from here.  Tin and I met Mary at Orchestra Hall to hear Minn. Symphony.  Perfectly wonderful.  Mary home for all night.  Terrific explosion during concert - Kenosha.

IN RITA'S DAY: The following is a news story from the day.
Pleasant Prairie, Wis., March 9. -- The powder magazines of the Dupont-Nemours Powder company containing 180 tons of finished black powder and dynamite exploded at the plant of the company, one mile northwest of here tonight. One man E. S. THOMPSON, a foreman is known to be dead. MISS ALICE PINCH of Elgin, Ills., dropped dead of heart disease caused by fright. 350 people were injured; several hundred houses in this place were blown completely down or were so badly damaged as to be uninhabitable and buildings ten miles away were badly wrecked.
The property loss will reach over a million and a half. Chicago was shaken from its most western suburbs to the shore of the lake. The belief that an earthquake had been experienced was almost universal. Windows were shattered and houses shaken throughout Chicago's length.

TODAY:
The explosion actually occurred in a suburb of Kenosha called Pleasant Prairie.  Today the LakeView Corporate Park provides jobs for thousands of workers in Pleasant Prairie. Many businesses, like Jelly Belly, rent space in the ever-expanding development.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Got e-mail from Jim.  They will land in Newark at 11am Sunday and come right here.  Mom and I started to plan what my husband always called "a spread." More red tape involved in the mortgage for my daughter's home.  Have to go to the bank tomorrow morning, so baked a cake for MJ tomorrow and showered and washed hair tonight..

Entries for March 8 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, March 8,1911
Orchestra 9:30.  Good time.  Home - practiced hard all afternoon.  Fran bro't Lucina home with her.  Wrote letter home at Tin's dictation.  After dinner had music and different games of solitaire and fortune.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I don't know what kind of fortune game Rita played on this day, but Tarot cards were popular.  The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was first published in 1909.  It is still the most popular tarot deck.  Smith was the illustrator, but since she was "just a woman"  the deck is often referred to as the Rider Waite deck... but I think the illustrations are the thing that makes the neck wonderful, so much nicer than modern card below. 

TODAY: There is a copyright argument about the Rider Waite Smith cards (hope I don't get in trouble by using the image!).  US Games claims to have the copyright, but others say they are in the public domain because they were published before 1923.  Copyright issues can be big money issues... like Winnie-the-Pooh... it's not just the books that bring in money, but toys, games, clothing!

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I'm all better and thinking that it might have been a "bug" I caught.  Today at the senior center (chair zumba class), several people told me they had the same thing.  We went to get our taxes done later in the day.  Starting to think about Jim and family coming from Texas.  They will arrive at same time as local St. Pat's Parade.  Roads will be closed so I hope they don't run into problems!

Entries for March 7 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, March 7, 1911
Home all day.  Practiced HARD.  4 hours.  Took walk with Fran.




 French artist Villemard imagined the year 2000 in 1910

IN RITA'S DAY:  It seemed Rita had a pretty boring day.  I wonder if she ever would daydream about the future.  A French artist named Villemard did a series of pictures imagining the future.  Most where based on the idea of automation moving into every aspect of life, like the rocket powered roller skates.

TODAY:  We still dream about the future, but instead of mere drawings, we have imaginative films like Avatar.

Judy's Entry: Monday, Marh 7, 2011

Feeling much better.  Had a regular breakfast, but that didn't work out so well.  Now am on BRAT diet for a couple of days.  That is, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.  My taste buds aren't thrilled, but my stomach seems to like it.  

Entries for March 6 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Monday, March 6, 1911
Went down with Fran.  Sebald half an hour late.  I was early so had 45 minutes practice before he came.  A little disappointed(?!)  First lesson on the new concerto.  Also part of Kreutzer March.  Rather difficult - double stops.  Practiced.  Amused Tin who was ill.  Read History.  Ate heaps for dinner.  Had luscious red strawberries.  First of the season.

IN RITA'S DAY:
Fresh fruits and vegetables were very special seasonal foods until growers learned how to ship fresh produce by train in the early 1900s. The average person living in the northern United States ate strawberries for only a few weeks each spring, when they were in season locally. Then in 1901 a man named Earle perfected the refrigerator car to send crops to northern cities like Chicago.
Because strawberries were so seldom available, they were a special treat and were served like a luxury food and there were special dishes created to serve strawberries( see picture).

TODAY: We get fruit and vegetables from all over the world, but do they always have the flavor?  I don't know.

Judy's Entry: March 6, 2011
Move over Tin... I have the grippe too.... I am getting a bit better and hope to be back tomorrow.

Entries for March 5 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday, March 5, 1911
No church for various reasons.  Tin went over to Leiners.  Fran wore her tan dress and I my serge skirt and a wite wait.  Had my hair in puffs.  We were such sports - then it snew and reained and no one came but Fam that is, of our expected guests.  The Crowls got up too late.  Joe was here a while.  Fam here until 9.  Wrote home.  Took a little walk when Fam left.

Judy's Entry: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Felt horrible all night and couldn't sleep.  Made it to art class, but right to bed when I got home.  Couldn't eat.  Think I have salmonella.  Ugh!

Entries for March 4, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Saturday, March 4, 1911
Lecture at 9:30.  Mother forgot to write.  The idea!  Mrs. S.. and Fran and Mary met us for matinee.  It was by school acting and was awfully good.  Didn't get home till nearly 3.  Then Mrs. S. Fran and I decide to go to the Julian.  Did some grand sprinting to get thru lunch and up there by 3:30.  Helped Mr. and Mrs. S. with some "corn-files."

IN RITA'S DAY: The Julian Theater opened on May 15, 1909, in the Lakeview neighborhood, not far from the Belmont Avenue El station, and sat 799. Originally, it featured vaudeville and other live stage entertainment during its early years, in addition to motion pictures.

TODAY: The Julian Theater, which most recently housed a church, was demolished in 2005. It makes me think again of the destruction of the original Penn Station in 1963 (a picture of the interior is below).  Of course, I don't know if the Julian was worth saving but it seems the structures built in the early 1900s where sturdy.  Maybe we Americans don't care enough about maintain things from the past.

 Judy's Entry: Friday, March 4, 2011
Took Mom out to breakfast this morning.  Then went to bank and post office before stopping at Macy's for a sale.  Mom got a jacket and sweater/shirt.  I also found three things.  Shopping is so much fun when you aren't really looking for a specific item!  Finished last of food to be taken to the Bronx tomorrow.  Mah Jongg at night.

Entries for March 3, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Friday, March 3, 1911
Home all day.  Restless.  Practiced by spells.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith down town.  Tin and I sat around praying for something exciting to happen.  Fran's box came late - after five.  Only excitement was $5 to Tin to do with as she chooses.  Solitaire after dinner I guess - or music - I can't remember.  Didn't get Mother's letter and was worried.

Chicago and Northwestern Terminal where Rita would catch train to Iowa


IN RITA'S DAY:  I am amazed at the architecture of the buildings from the early 1900s - today especially because I took a tour of Grand Central Station (or I should say Grand Central "Terminal") and then after lunch went to the Transit Museum which had a display on Penn Station.  Penn Station was opened in 1910 and Grand Central in 1913.  It never really sunk in with me that the original Penn Station of Rita's day was destroyed in the 1960s to make way for Madison Square Garden.  What a shame!  Grand Central and the Chicago Terminal above are both marvelous, but I think Penn Station was the most awe inspiring (see pictures below..top one is Penn Station).  Now I'll never know.

TODAY: 700,000 people a day pass through Grand Central - just one of the facts I learned on the audio tour.  The terminal was slated for destruction, but after Penn Station was destroyed, celebrities - led by Jackie Kennedy - and others worked to save it.  It was restored and shops, markets were added and now it is really quite something!

Judy's Entry: Thursday, March 3, 2011
Left on the 8:30 train to Grand Central.  Met my friend Jeanette at 10.  We had coffee and caught up on everything.  Then the tour of the Terminal.  We saw celebrity chef Curtis Stone taping a segment for a new TV reality show called America's Next Great Restaurant.  We tried the whispering gallery in front of the Oyster Bar and heard all about the windows, the lights, the history.  Got home about five.  A nice day.

Entries for March 2, 1911 and 2011

Rita's teacher Sebald

Rita's Entry: Thursday, March 2, 1911
Harmony at 10.  Lesson later.  Played whole concerto with Mr. Sebald.  Girl and her father were audience.  Played it pretty well.  He stopped me with suggestions for "effect" several times, but I made no horrible mistakes.  When I finished he said, "Fine, fine." - not enthusiastically perhaps, but I think he was pleased.  I was glad I did it so well anyway.

IN RITA'S DAY: The music magazine "Etude" (see March 1911 cover above) was very popular and many people took some sort of music lessons.  Phonographs and radios were on the verge of being available ( a quote from the magazine above "a system of wireless telegraphy that will transmit musical tunes as well as ordinary messages is the last word in modern invention"), but it wasn't until the 1920s that they become common.  So in 1911 people got their music in person only...

TODAY: We still love music.  A research study by FGI reports that a third (31%)of us spend between one and three hours per week listening to music. Slightly less than a quarter (23%) listens to music for four-to-six hours; 13%, for seven-to-nine hours; 15%, for 10-12 hours; and 17%, for over 13 hours per week.  And how do we listen to music?  Radio still holds an edge.  81% said they listen on the radio while 61% said they listen to CDs and 43% listen on MP3 players.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Did a lot of shopping and cooking today.  My daughter is going to try going back to work for half days next week and both her mother-in-law and I are going to help out by sending food for the week.  Made banana muffins, roasted vegetables, split pea soup, turkey breast...Going into the city tomorrow so had to get a lot done today.

Entries for March 1, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday March 1, 1911
Went down to orchestra with Fran.  Moved up to front row of second violins - maybe sort of a promotion - is it, I wonder?  Sounds good anyway - so I will call it that.  Getting acquainted with more people.  March came in too brightly to mean early spring.  After lunch Tin and I walked way up on Clark looking for Postcards.  Then walked over on Reta St.  Worked harmony all evening.  Dandy letter from Ray.  Also one from Elon.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Color postcards as souvenirs didn't become popular in the US until the Chicago Exposition of 1893.  The years from March 1, 1907 until 1915 are considered the Golden Era of Postcards.  The divided back on the cards was legalized on March 1, 1907 so people could write a message and put the address on the same side and leave the entire front for a picture.  Below are postcards of Chicago from this Golden Era.

Seals at Lincoln Park Zoo

Clark Street where Rita shopped

lots of postcards where of fancy buildings in Chicago

TODAY: Deltiolgy, the formal name in the U.S. for postcard collecting, is currently the third largest collectable hobby in the world. It is surpassed only by coin and stamp collecting (in the U.S. baseball collecting is greater, but that is a national past-time not worldwide). The popularity of post cards can be attributed to their broad subject appeal. Almost any subject imaginable has been, at some time, portrayed on a postcard. The broad subject range comes as a result of the social usage cards were designed for. Postcards continue today to be the most popular form of souvenir for travelers as well as economical means of communication both personal and business related. 

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Mom and I went to the zumba chair dancing class at the local senior center.  It was crowded.  We old people like to keep active!  I finally took down my Christmas decorations outside.  There just has been so much snow until now.  Like 100 years ago, March came in brightly... but I still hope for an early spring.