Entries for April 29 - 1911 and 2011 (costs)

Rita's Entry: Saturday, April 29, 1911
Early walk with Fran over to Clark for string.  Practiced till noon.  After lunch Mrs. S., Tin, Fran and I went shopping.  Went to Burreslitute [???] for exhibit.  It was gone.  RAIN!  Bo't coat, fiddle case, and flowers for Mrs. Elliot.  Tin left us for voice lesson.

IN RITA'S DAY: Clark Street was active shopping area (see above).  In the back of her diary, Rita lists the costs of many items.  On this day, the coat cost $10.00, the violin case - $10.00 and the flowers and postage (?) cost $.46.

TODAY:  The cost of the items Rita bought have gone up about the same over time.  I mean you can buy an okay violin case for around 50 or 60 dollars and you can get a nice spring coat for the same.  The big event today is the royal wedding (above).  The cost of this they say was about 20 million pounds.  The news is full of the wedding, but the terrible storms kept the major newscasters here in Alabama rather than in London.

Judy's Entry: Friday, April 29, 2011
Went out to breakfast and to AC Moore Arts and Crafts store where Mom bought me art supplies as a birthday gift.  The off to Mt. Kisco for her eye injection.  Came home for lunch and then met Diane.  We went to the Lyndhurst arts and crafts show.   A beautiful day and some lovely things, but I'm saving my money for baby items!

Entires for April 28 - 1911 and 2011 (weather)

Rita's Entry: Friday, April 28, 1911
Home all day.  Much practice.  Finally forced to stop by broken string.  Raining pitchforks so culdn't go over on Clark for new string.

IN RITA'S DAY:  According to the Library of Congress, the expression "raining pitchforks" never caught on in the United States, but I remember Rita using it even when I was small.   The above picture shows it raining cats and dogs and pitchforks.

TODAY: It has been doing much more than raining pitchforks!  There has been a violent tornado outbreak in the Southern United States from April 25 to 28 (see the map above).  Most of the deaths occurred on April 27.  There have been about 340 people killed.  The pictures of the storms are more like explosions.  What is going on with nature?

Judy's Entry: Thursday, April 28, 2011
The intensity of the storms last night frightened people.  The local forecasters reported that there was an outside chance of tornadoes in New York, so one of the Mah Jongg crew stayed home with her mother.  So three of us played.  It "rained pitchforks" several times, but still a nice day to stay in and play.

Entries for April 27 - 1911 and 2011 (Watercolor)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, April 27, 1911
Practice before going down town.  Harmony at 10.  98 in exam.  Lesson better.  Got along pretty well in fiddle lesson.  "Modesty," he told me.  Maybe.  After lunch went to Sylvia Bargman's.  Informal but very nice little party.  AFter dinner Laura Barler came.  We took her home.  Fran and I sat on steps awhile.  O you new tenants with the 4 roomies!

IN RITA'S DAY: Watercolor painting was very popular and Fran's little characters (above) are typical of what young ladies were doing.  Probably the greatest water color artist in the U.S. - Winslow Homer - died in 1910.  See his water color below.  Some difference between that and what Fran was doing!

TODAY: Andrew Wyeth (see below) was probably the most famous watercolorist of my time.  He died in 2009, about 100 years after Winslow Homer.  Who do I think is better???

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, April 27, 2001
Started our art class today.  Very interesting. The watercolor teacher believes in having a palette of only 3 colors and mixing all the rest.  Also, loves layering.

Entries for April 26 - 1911 and 2011 (Exercise)

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, April 26, 1911
Orchestra.  Pretty good practice.  S.A. over his grouch which makes it much easier for me in playing.  Practiced in afternoon.  Harmony all evening.

IN RITA'S DAY: As the Industrial Revolution continued, people moved to cities and got less and less exercise.  Rita does do a lot of walking while in Chicago which I'm sure helped.  And, of course, Teddy Roosevelt may have been the most fit of our presidents.  However, when WWI came it was revealed that one out of three American young men who were drafted was unfit for combat (according to the University of New Mexico article).  Because of this, the government called for increase physical education, but the depression soon brought an end to that.  Women didn't do much exercise although Eleanor Roosevelt did teach calisthenics in the early 1900s, but then again American women weren't allowed to compete in the women's swimming in the 1912 Olympics(see above) because women could only compete in events where they wore skirts!

TODAY:  Exercise has become such a big business.  Still it appears that as our society becomes more involved in wealth, prosperity and self-entertainment, our fitness levels are dropping.  It may sort of parallel what was happening in Rita's day.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Mom's root cana was postponed until next week.  She was happy.  We went to the senior center for our exercise- Chair Zumba.  All the older people there are very nice, but I hope we look a little bit more fit than the group above.  We were bad and got something to eat at McDonald's after.  Not good for the mother and grandmother of a nutritionist!  In the afternoon, I worked outside cleaning more of the mildew off the deck.  Beautiful day!

Entries for April 25 - 1911 and 2011(Typewriters - R.I.P. Not true!)

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, April 25, 1911
Fixed jacket to suit.  Expected it would only take a little while.  Took longer - result - no practice.  Tin and I met Famie, Fran and Lucina at Lyon and Healys.  All went to Crowls for luncheon.  Marge S. there.  Dandy time as usual.  Tin stayed all night.  Fran went to dance with Joe.  Letter from R. J. A.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Rita may have been using a sewing machine on her jacket but she never speaks about a typewriter.  In the late 1800s the Remington company produced a typewriter that was designed by the top mechanics from their sewing machine division.  It had a carriage return like the pedal of a sewing machine.  In Rita's day, companies were developing the portable typewriters, like the 1912 Corona seen above.

TODAY: A short piece on the evening news announced that the last factory in the world that produced typewriters shut down today.  So R.I.P. to the typewriter (1867(?) - 2011.  You will be missed!  At least by those of us that learned to use the keyboard on typewriters rather than computers. (added on April 26:  the national news with Brian Williams today retracted the story I heard yesterday.  Typewriters continue to be produced!!!!!!  Shows that we can't believe all we hear!)

Judy's Entry: Monday, April 25, 2011
Went to get art supplies for class on Wednesday.  So expensive.  Came home and worked on cleaning the deck.  Elizabeth called and the closing is finally set - May 6th.  Now I must reserve May 7th to go to house and decide on paints with her.

Entries for April 24 - 1911 and 2011 (flowers)

Rita's Entry: Monday, April 24, 1911
Lesson at 9:30.  OK.  New piece. Sarasate Faust, lso Rode caprices.  Mr. Brune stood outside and laughed at me.  Practiced as usual.

IN RITA'S DAY: In 1910, 15 American florists agreed to serve out-of-town customers by exchanging orders via telegraph.  They called their service FTD ( Florists' Telegraph Delivery).

TODAY: FTD has become Florists' Transworld Delivery.  But beyond this, you can get all kinds of flowers at your local A&P store!

Judy's Entry: Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011
Had my son and his fiancee, my daughter and her husband and his parents for Easter.  Very nice time and there were flowers!  It just made me feel like Spring is really here.  I've posted them to help me remember how beautiful everything looked!

Entries for April 23 - 1911 and 2011(transportation)

Rita's Entry: Sunday, April 23, 1911
All went to S. S.  No church for we were going to Helen B's.  Went on surface.  Miss Anderson there.  Stayed for lunch.  Miss A. and I came home on R. I.  Others on surface.  Why?  F. Z. here.  Must have been hard for him to come.  Was very nice about everything.

IN RITA'S DAY: Wish I knew what the story was about F. Z., who I think was a young man named Fred who might have been sweet on Rita, but something happened.  Anyway, she "came home on R. I."  which was the Rock Island railroad.  The others came home on surface, so I guess that was streetcars???  The Rock Island railroad ran an extensive communter service in Chicago for many years.  It was a more expensive alternative to above, but quicker.

TODAY: The Rock Island line was "the road to ride" and "a mighty fine line" in a song sung by Johnny Cash (among others), but in 1980 it went out of business.  Some blame the unions, but the men that invested in it ended up making a lot of money even though it went belly up.  How does that happen?

Judy's Entry: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Rainy, cold day.  Doesn't seem like Spring and it's almost May!  Did some prep work for Easter dinner tomorrow.  Mom and I met Diane for ice cream sundaes.  Took Doug and Cathy to train.  They went into city to see a play.  Fun!

Entries for April 22 - 1911 and 2011 (Old friends)

Rita's Entry: Saturday, April 22, 1911
Home all day.  Practiced and wrote letters and fixed part of jacket.  F and F went to "He came from Milwaukee."  Fama doing penance.

IN RITA'S DAY: Fama had to make nice with Fran and accompany her to the show because the day before she had caused Fran to miss the Orchestra.  Fama and Fran both continued to be Rita's friends beyond the years in Chicago.  My mother remembers Rita visiting with them and talking about them; however, Tin remains a mystery.  There are diary entries where Rita talks about someone hurting her feelings - someone who makes comments about her violin playing.  It appears that Tin was in the orchestra with Rita and maybe there was some competition??

TODAY: While my mother still writes to several people she knew from high school, I have little - if any - contact with people from high school or college.  I was contacted recently about a 45 year reunion.  I have no interest.  I don't know if it is because I moved so far from home or if it is just because we women of the three generations are so different.  My daughter is much more social and is probably more like her grandmother and Rita (her great grandmother).

Judy's Entry: Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday.  Did some more touch ups on the deck.  Finally got a first coat most everywhere so the blue (see above) is gone!  Yeah!  Met Diane for lunch at the Freight House Cafe.  Fairly new and Interesting place, but I don't have hopes that it will make it.   We went for a walk later and then Mom and I went to the Good Friday service.

Entries for April 21 - 1911 and 2011 (Thomas Orchestra)

Rita's Entry: Friday April 21, 1911
Home all morning.  Much practice.  Tin and I took turns carefully.  Doubled up on some.  After lunch Tin, Mary and I heard Thomas Orchestra.  Perfectly wonderful, of course.  Last of the season.
     Fran waited 1 hour on L platform for Fam. to go to show.  Fam tho't it was on Saturday.  Fran muchly disappointed.

Thomas Orchestra in 1907

IN RITA'S DAY:  It's not too surprising that Fama got the days confused for the orchestra performance since from 1905 until at least 1913, the orchestra followed a schedule of two concerts a week - a public rehearsal on Friday afternoon and a concert Saturday evening.  The season consisted of 28 weeks, beginning in October and ending in April.  Above is a picture of the orchestra about 4 years before Rita saw it. The picture probably gives a good idea of what Rita saw.   I wonder if she realized it would be the last time she would be in the audience.

TODAY:  The Theodore Thomas Orchestra became the Chicago Symphony, which has been cited by Gramophone as being the best orchestra in the US, the fifth best in the world.

Judy's Entry: Thursday, April 21, 2011
Went shopping for Easter dinner.  Came home and did a little painting outside, but the wind was so strong, it was a losing battle.  After getting cleaned up, went to MJ.  The drive home, which should have taken 25 or 30 minutes, took over an hour.  I was not a happy camper.

Entries for April 20 - 1911 and 2011 (Sarasate)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, April 20, 1911
 Practice a little.  Went to Harmony at 10.  Went over exam.  Open harmony is no joke, Ritie!  Pretty good lesson.  Am to get Rode Etudes and Sarasate Faust next time.  Rah Rah.  Don't know whether to be sorry about a second Faust or not.  They are so different it won't matter much I guess.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Sarasate, a Spanish violinist and composer, had just died in 1908.  He was pretty famous I guess.  Whistler did a portrait of him in black (above)that is in the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh.  He is still well known by violinists, but I wonder: in 1911 did most educated people recognize his name?  And why don't we remember him today.  We remember Whistler.

TODAY: The situation in Libya is still very violent.  Two journalists were killed today.  We got rid of our old system of terrorist alerts.  One of my favorite characters, Sarah Palin, says she still doesn't know if she'll run for Pres.  I wish she would; I need some laughs... but then maybe Donald Trump will run.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Went to senior center meeting this morning.  Played some bingo.  I am getting tired of doing so many "old lady" things!  My son took my mother and me out to lunch and then we got the prime rib for Easter and picked up the TV that Mom won.  Spent the afternoon hooking it up.  Nice picture... 42 inches

Entries for April 19 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, April 19, 1911
Went to orchestra practice - Rain.  Few there.  Long wait.  I was first chair, second fiddle.  Too much responsibility for Little Ritie.  Practiced all afternoon.

IN RITA'S DAY AND TODAY:  I've been curious about the position , first chair, second violin... I learned that first chair, first violin in an orchestra is the concert master (or mistress) and second to the conductor.  Usually the next best violinist is assigned 2nd violin, first chair so it was an honor for Rita.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
My mother has been lucky and unlucky.  She won a 40 inch TV set and then she got a toothache and we had to go to the dentist.  Bad news.  She needs a root canal.  We went and she had her first round of work.  Next Tuesday she has to go again.  Today is Cathy's b'day and she and Doug came over for pie.  Mom was able to eat everything so things are okay for her.

Entries for April 18 - 1911 and 2011 (Lincoln Park Conservatory)

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, April 18, 1911
Home all day.  Practiced hard all morning.  Wrote letters.  Fran came home and we went walking.  Walked clear down to Lincoln Park.  Took in conservatory and zoo.  Came home on car.  More practice.  Read in evening.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Lincoln Park Conservatory (above) was built between 1890 and 1895.  It was famous for its fern room (below) and the water lilies it grew in heated ponds.  They were so spectacular that Egypt requested seeds in 1897.  The conservatory is located north of the Lincoln Park zoo.  In 1925 the gabled roof over the entrance was replaced with the current bell-shaped roof.

TODAY: The last few days have been filled with the strongest storms... a reported 240 tornados and 66 people died.  This must be a record.  Today is also the one year anniversary of the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Man-made and natural disasters seem to be unusual; however, I guess the kind of man-made disasters has just changed.  In Rita's day, it was fire.  As we know, a large part of Chicago was destroyed in 1871.

Judy's Entry: Monday, April 18, 2011
Went out early to get some necessary groceries because I wanted to get an early start on painting.  Spent hours on the walls of the deck and still didn't finish.  Later went to Cold Stone Creamery to order an ice cream pie for Cathy's b'day.  We are getting her a cook book - 200 recipes under 200 calories - and then this ice cream monster.  What's wrong with this picture???

Entries for April 17 - 1911 and 2011 (family)

Rita's Entry: Monday, April 17, 1911
Dad sent down early.  Met me at school for lesson.  Played concerto pretty well.  Hope Dad liked Sebald, but didn't say much.  He stayed down all day on business.  Came out for dinner.  I practiced all afternoon.  Dad left at 9:30.  Tin and Fran went to meet Ruth Kimball who came out for the night.
Letter from F. Z.!!!!

IN RITA'S DAY:  Rita's father, Albert Lewis, was the one who originally taught her the violin.  He also taught my mother(Rita's daughter) when she was only four or five.  Surprisingly, he wasn't a musician but a wagon maker and wagon repairman.  He named Rita (Margherita Altiora Lewis) because he thought it would look good on the stage.  Above is a picture of him with his wife Charlotte (Button) and Rita.

Entries for April 16 - 1911 and 2011 (Lincoln Park Zoo)

Rita's Entry: Easter Sunday, April 16, 1911
Loitering over breakfast before dressing for church when who should come but Dad!  Great tidings.  no church.  We took a walk to lake and up Sheridan Road.  After dinner Mr. and Mrs. S., Tin, Dad and I went to Lincoln Park and then down town to see the high buildings, etc.  Lots of fun.  Dad stayed all night on urgent invitation.  Felt fine.

IN RITA'S DAY: Rita and her father (above) were very close and his surprise arrival from Iowa, on Easter and after Rita had been so sick, must  have made her so happy.  Although she doesn't say what they saw at Lincoln Park, no doubt they went to the zoo.  The zoo is one of the oldest in the nation and began in 1868 with some swans (see below) given to Chicago from Central Park in NYC.  The lion house wasn't completed until 1912, but they also could have seen some bears.

TODAY: Swans have been an important tradition at the zoo.  Recently, the zoo has been involved in a project to repopulate the Midwest with trumpeter swans.  Another tradition has  been the swan paddle boats (see below) but the restoration of the South Pond required taking the boats out of the water.  People were hoping to have them back in 2011 but the zoo spokespeople say the plants must get established first.  Will the swan boats ever return?

Judy's Entry: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Went to a wedding shower at a winery in Mohegan.  It is quite nice and used to be an old stone church.  Very pleasant afternoon.  Lots of shower games like matching Disney films with the right love song.  I love music, but was not good at this game!!!  Too stuffed with shower food so just had toast for supper.

Entries for April 15 - 1911 and 2011 (Spohr and the violin)

Rita's Entry: Saturday, April 15, 1911
Better.  Went down to matinee at 11 to hear a girl play Spohr  concerto no. 8.  Played with her mouth.  Practiced!  Fran went to Fama's.  Mrs. S. and Tin to matinee.  Got in fine licks on concerto here alone.

IN RITA'S DAY: Spohr (above) was almost as famous as Beethoven - and he worked with Ludwig too, but is sort of a forgotten master today.  He was a composer and violinist and invented the violin chin rest (see below).

TODAY: People are still trying to fool with the violin.  There is a website that discusses all the ideas at http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=19238 .  I think most inventions are in order to make money rather than make the music better.  The "bow straightener" above is sort of a silly idea, I think - although I don't play the violin.

Judy's Entry: Friday, April 15, 2011
Out for breakfast.  Shopped at Home Depot then came home and planted some violas... in honor of violins!  Then started washing down the vinyl siding on the deck.  It is still in its original (and hideous) blue... I hope to paint it next week.  Got some white mums for Easter centerpiece.

Entries for April 14 - 1911 and 2011 (Easter Cards)

Rita's Entry: Friday, April 14, 1911
Went down to finish Harmony exam.  Awfully hard- didn't get home until after 1.  Practiced some.  Took walk to buy Easter cards.

IN RITA'S DAY: 1911  Easter cards (see above)

TODAY:  Today's Easter cards are often commerical but also cute.

Judy's Entry: Thursday, April 14, 2011
Laundry, etc. in morning.  Went out looking for Easter centerpiece before Mah Jongg.  Played MJ and won a few games.  My first with the new card!  Lots of fun.  Came home and watched DVD Doug lent me about Yellowstone.  I may never go west of the Mississippi again!  There is a super volcano under the park that they think erupts about every 600,000 years and it hasn't erupted in 640,000 years!  Watch out!

Entries for April 13 - 1911 and 2011 (Aviatrix and Deficit)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, April 13, 1911
Went down for Harmony exam and lesson.  Not much lesson, of course.  So sorry I had been sick.  If I had played my concerto for him, would have had new piece.  Will have it next time.   Rah, Rah.

 
IN RITA'S DAY:  I think Rita was a pretty independent woman for her time, but of course there were women who were real trail blazers.  In the field of aviation Blance Stuart Scott (Betty) in 1911 sort of accidentally set the long distance flight record.  She took off from Mineola and flew around for 60 miles and returned to Mineola.  She isn't as well know as some early women aviators, maybe because she was not too stylish.  She wore lots of petticotts to keep warm and then tucked them into her boots, so she looked sort of "hippy" (see above).  Also in 1911 Harriet Quimby became the first American woman licensed pilot.  She was much more aware of publicity and created her own flying costume in "plum" (see picture of a reproduction of Quimby in museum).  But women weren't completely without controversy.  One named Helen Dutrieu, a Belgium, caused quite a stir because she flew without wearing corsets!  She didn't want the bone to poke at her!

TODAY:  Women are commerical pilots (but not until 1973) and are combat pilots (but not until 1993).  The big story today is the country reaching the federal deficit ceiling.  The deficit is at 14 trillion!  And yes, there was a deficit in 1911 of about 2 billion.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Not much doing.  Went to the library and bank.  Did laundry.  Picked out a paint color for my "deck room."  I'll be glad when the blue is gone.  Made a soup and am calling it "Uncle George's Soup"  after an Iowan great uncle who had a turkey farm.

Entries for April 12 - 1911 and 2011 (birthday cards)

Rita's Entry: Wednesday, April 12, 1911
Same story.  Tin got grand birthdays box - cakes, candy, rocks, etc.  Also flowers from Smiths.  The Yellow Kid was allowed a piece of angel food cake and a glass of milk for dinner.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Happy Birthday to Tin! Too bad Rita (the yellow kid) is still sick.  At the time, birthday cards and postcards were common since the 'modern' postage stamps were first issued in 1847.  Postcards were popular and so pretty I've included 3 of them (see above and below)

TODAY:  Advances in cards are talking cards, where you can record your own message.  Others have pre-recorded messages or songs.  And of course, if you want to save the stamp, there are e-cards.  But none are, in my opinion, as charming as the ones posted here.

Judy's Entry: April 12, 2011
Busy morning singing and doing chair zumba.  It was a rainy day.  Went  on errands before my appointment for a haircut and color.  Nothing much doing in the late afternoon.  Doug was over and gave his "order" for Easter dinner.

Entries for April 11 - 1911 and 2011 (Crisco)

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, April 11, 1911
Still in.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Since Rita is sick on this day, I'll let her daughter (my mother) determine the topic... Since Margaret made cookies today, let's hear about a great invention of 1911 - CRISCO!  Procter and Gamble began in 1837 selling candles and soap.  Around 1870 P & G starting selling lard and in 1911 the first solidified shortening product made entirely of vegetable oil was introduced - Crisco.  It is hard for us today to realize what a revolutionary product this was.  It could be used a higher temperatures without smoking or burning.  It wasn't absorbed as much so you could use less and you could fry fish in it and then potatoes in the same pan and the potatoes wouldn't smell  or taste like fish!

TODAY:  My mother, Rita's daughter, still thinks her recipe for chocolate chip cookies tastes the best when made with Crisco.  She uses the Crisco sticks (like above) which are now free of all trans fats.  At the beginning of the 21st century Smuckers bought Crisco and Jif peanut butter.

Judy's Entry: Monday, April 11, 2011
While Mom stayed home and made cookies, I went shopping.  First to Barnes and Noble where I got a book as a gift and a pencil pouch, which I will keep in my purse for my checkbook and some pens.  It is made out of recycled newspapers and is very nice.  Then I returned something at Destination Maternity.  Finally went to the mall.  Found a silk skirt at Lord and Taylors and a top at Macy's.  I was going to get a dress, but the ones I tried just weren't appropriate for someone over 60.  (Am I really that old???)

Entries for April 10, 1911 and 2011 (Apollo Club/ Apollo Chorus

Rita's Entry: Monday, April 10, 1911
No lesson.  Hated to miss it but stayed in bed all day.  Gave Mrs. S. my ticket for the Apollo Club concert.  "Death of Gerontius"

IN RITA'S DAY:  The Apollo Musical Club was a group of around 33 men who volunteered to sing and give performances.  They started after the great fire and became known for the annual production of the Messiah.  The Apollo Club was the first group to perform "Dream of Gerontius" by Edward Elgar in 1900 and they continued to perform it periodically.  Looks like being sick might have confused Rita about the title.  Actually, it is really about death so it isn't surprising.

TODAY: The Apollo Musical Club is now known as the Apollo Chorus.  I believe it consists of about 140 volunteer singers, both male and female.  It still performs the Messiah every Christmas.

Judy's Entry: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Church as usual.  Wanted to get together with Diane, but my son was coming over at 2:30 and her younger son was coming at 3:30 so it didn't work out.  Watched some of the Masters Golf tournament.  Doug is just waiting for Tiger Woods to make a come-back.  Tiger did much better but didn't win.  Got estimates for painting at Liz and Mike's.  Too high!

Entries for April 9 - 1911 and 2011 (Opera and chocolate)

Rita's Entry: Sunday, April 9, 1911
All in entirely.  Tin went to Shumann Heink.  Fran and I took a little walk.  foolishly ate some Hershey's.  O wow.  Early to bed.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Shumann-Heink was a famous opera singer at the time and just like Yerkes was the poster boy for robber barons, she is the poster girl for those Wagner opera singers (see above ).  As for Hershey's, Milton Hershey was first "inspired" at the Chicago Exposition of 1893 and started his company in 1894.  The first Hershey's bar was introduced in 1900, then kisses in 1907, Hershey's with almonds in 1908.  I don't know what kind Rita ate when she was sick, but O Wow!

TODAY:
Through unceasing technological modernization, strategically astute acquisitions and continued new product development, The Hershey Company grew spectacularly in the last 30 years of the 20th century. From $334 million in 1969, the company’s net sales soared to $4.4 billion in 2004.  Newest product is Hershey's drops.  I haven't had them.  Wonder if they will succeed?

Judy's Entry: Saturday, April 9, 2011
Had a nice Spring walk this morning.  I'm hoping that the weather has finally changed for good.  Beautiful afternoon.  It was nice to go to the new house, but too many people there.  The real estate agent is urging them to close at the end of the month.  Then it will take the month of May to do the painting and floors, etc.  Liz upset because some mold found under the wallpaper in one place.  Doug came and gave some advice.  We had no time to plan colors, will return at later date (but not too much later).

Entries for April 8 - 1911 and 2011 (women pianists)

Rita's Entry: Saturday, April 8, 1911
All in-er.  Couldn't manage to go down for matinee.  Don't know what Sebald will say.  Lay around all day.  Fama came.  Fran went to school and met Mary there, and then they went to a matinee.  Fama stayed for dinner.  I didn't go out to the table at all.  Went to hear Bloomfield Zeisler with Thomas Orchestra.  Very good but I was too sick to enjoy it.  Barely got off L -

IN RITA'S DAY:  Women were starting to come into their own. 1911 was the year of the first International Woman's Day.  In music women where also working (see magazine cover above from 1908).   Bloomfield Zeisler was probably the first great American woman pianist. (She wasn't born in USA, but raised here in Wisconsin).  The great comment on her was that she played like a man.  I can see why Rita didn't want to skip her concert (and she had paid 25 cents for the ticket!)  Too bad Rita was too sick to enjoy it.

 TODAY:  Women pianists still don't get the press they deserve.  Martha Argerich (above) is one of the greatest alive, but I hadn't heard her play until today.  It is great we have things like YouTube so we can hear great performances at home (even when we are sick).

Judy's Entry: Friday, April 8, 2011
Lots of shopping with Elizabeth.  Went to look for glasses but didn't like any frame as well as the one she has.  Later located it online.  Got paint "samples" to take to house tomorrow.  Looked at maternity, but she decided to buy a couple of regular things in a larger size first.  Lunch at the mall.  Mom and I got into it a bit tonight because I think my hearing is suffering due to the volume of her tv shows!