The months of July and August 1911 seemed to be a bit boring for Rita. She had graduated from Chicago Musical College and was giving violin lessons in the small Iowa towns of Nevada and State Center, as well as in her home town of Marshalltown, Iowa. To get to Nevada and State Center, she would have to take a train each way. Not too comfortable. I imagine the station above became familiar to her. And the small towns weren't exactly exciting. A picture of State Center is below.
Sat. July 8: Taught. Getting along beautifully
Sun. July 9: Orchestra a regular fizzle. Could have bawled. Played "O Divine Redeemer" for Miss M. in church. After dinner went out to Tin's. Stayed all afternoon - good visit. Walked with Miss G. and then up town with Dad. Heard my prospective pupil play. (?!)
Mon. July 10: Went uptown at 11 for new pupil. He came not! O you vaudeville star. At 3, Wanda A, Ruth Harris, and Ruth L. came and we practed a quartette. Also fiddle. Sang for M. E. Brothers at 8. Pretty good. Turned down auto ride with Fred S. to go to McCords with the girls. Afterward went to Putzels and played and sang until 11! Dandy time. They are awfully nice people.
July 11: Expected to have to go to State Center, but didn't. Sewed.
July 12: Taught again. Read and sewed.
July 13: Uptown to get birthday present for Elon. McL's came to call. We and Marie went to Wasson's. Had old time visit. After supper played obl. for Medlaw at missionary convention. Broke away and went with H & C & Marie to Colonial. Lyrie and McCord's. Serenade our neighbors? Maybe.
July 14: Went to State Center. Gave lessons. At the shack for dinner and supper. Very good for beginning. Got home at 8. Went to Smith's. F and F and M and I had impromptu dance. Clifford came. Sang till about 11. Nearly ready to retire when Mel and Ralph Welker came. Fuss. Slept on balcony.
July 15: Awakened about 5:30 about 5:30 a la Melville. Hasty breakfast. Watched elephants unload. Taught. Only two lessons all day but much loafing. Bigelows here. I went to sleep in hammock in midst of conversation, so phoned the girls I wouldn't go to the circus. Read and slept.
July 16: Up at 10. Played for church. Madeline C played in S.S. for me. Went to Leffter's for dinner. Played and looed at R's things till 5. Went down to see H. B. off for Oaky. Missed it. Came home and wrote card to her. Took it to PO then went to Elder's. Back again to Putzels to play for Sr. Junior asked us to wait till 8:30. Dandy time. Home about 10. Dad in with chill, etc.
July 17: Took 8:30 train to Nevada. Elon [her half-brother] met me and we trotted all day drumming up fiddle pupils. Got five for sure and more "perhaps." Dinner up town. Supper at the house. No one home. Scandal? We hope not. Grand sleeping porch. Tired.
July 18: Took morning train to State Center. Gave 7 lessons and came home at 2:45. Tireder than ever. Dressed up and sewed.
July 19: Gave lessons. Mattie came to help me with my dress. Bo't a new raincoat and black chiffon for dress. More sewing.
July 20: Sewed more all day. Ironed some. Finished dress about 4. Ruth L. here. Wore new gown up town. Some class alright! Met Miss Guilford. Ruthie took us to McCords. Rod home with Dr. L. After supper Ruth and I walked to Soldiers Home Band concert. Such dust I never saw! Walked home too. Nearly caught in rain. Had to sprint to miss it.
July 21: Nevada at 8:10. Gave five lessons. Voice kind of tired. Big dinner, almost too much. State Center at 2:15 (Train not built nor run for a writing room) Altogether gave 11 lessons. Came home too nervous to breathe.
July 22: Gave lesson at 9. Got raging blind headache. Fortunately, no more pupils could come. Came home and went to bed. Gave Madeline lesson at 3:30. Took first voice lesson. Went to Lefflers for supper with Miss Putzel and Miss Hester. We with Mrs. L and Mrs. P. went up town to Lyrie. Took refuge from rain on La Plant's porch. Grand time. More laughter than in ages!
July 23:(Sunday): Practice at 9:30. Played 2 solos in S.S. Ruth up after dinner. Much gossip. Ate apples. To Lefflers for pop. To McCords for potato salad. Wore winter dress. F and F, Allie M., Ruth and I went to Baptist church to hear Helen Abbott. Stories?! McCords again.
July 24: Swept. Vocie lesson at 11 -Regular joke. Entertained Mrs. McCord and Granny and the Grummills. Marion S. here at noon. After supper early, Ruth and I called at Nichols. Left to meet Mis P. and Miss H (who leaves at 3 am!) Went to PO and Colonial. found Bouche Mac and LeRoy. Dad and I took them home to see Howard LaRue. Auntie and Uncle are going to the Home.
July 25: Nevada at 8:10. One of the Lymans stopped today. Dandy dinner as usual. Came to State Center. Mabel Funke stopped too! Cheer up. Made train after gates were down - on a dead run!
July 26: Gave two lessons early - all for the day. The rest are out for summer. AFter dinner, gossiped with Miss P. and Ruth in yard. Made fudge. Fooled. At 6 Allie M., Ruth and I with about 8 fellows sent to park for our S.S. class picnic. More fun than a circus. 26 there. Played tag - teetered and swung. Eg bro't us 4 home in auto.
July 27: All in with neuralgia in mein face. Sewed. Read. At 4 took voice lesson. Gadded with Miss Guilford. After supper went to Fran's. Not at home. Coming home W.P. stopped me. Asked me to go to Colonial to hear violinist. Also went to Landers. Dandy time. Jolly buds, not "Jollies"! Next time?!
July 28: More neuralgia and headache. Nevada at 8:10 - State Center at 2:15. More nervous all day. Nearly wild when I got home. Mother and Dad and hot water, etc. for hour and a half.
July 29: Luella came to house so I didn't have to go uptown very early. Much ache. Stayed home from wonderful aviation meet. Too much exertion. Pretty badly fooled crowd - F and F and I shopped in evening. W. P. gone to Chicago. Hurray!
July 30: No solo in S.S. Too much face ache. Fred S. came in car to get me to practice our obligato with Madge. Miss Guilford went to League with me. Dooler went too. Nearly broke up the prayer. Went to McCords later. Bo't ice cream home for mother and Dad.
July 31: Still much face ache. New pupil from Toledo over. Promises to be very interesting. Is to come three times a week all month. Prepared for Blanche and Roy and Babies. Also had H. B. for supper. Music. Browns went to Des Moines at 8.
Map gives an idea of the distance Rita had to travel to go to State Center and Nevada from Marshalltown.
No comments:
Post a Comment