Entries for Jan 14, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry, Saturday, Jan14, 1911

Went down at 9:30 for lecture.  Heard one playlet in matinee of class in Acting.  Dandy.  Tin out to lunch to Arcadians with Mr. Breckenridge.  Old Sport!  Felt bum.  Slept a lot.  Fran has grippe.  Tin and I went over on Clark to see about a piano.  N. G.  Had to fix Fran's arm which got numb.  I shall apply for a diploma as chief nurse.

IN RITA'S DAY: The grippe or influenza was common as it is today.  However, in 1918 a strain of H1N1 killed more people than were killed in World War I.  Estimates range from 50 million to 100 million people killed worldwide.  It was also known as the Spanish Flu.  People throughout the US wore masks. (see picture)

Judy's Entry - Friday, January 14, 2011

Another cold day and gutters filled with ice have caused icicles to form - dipping water onto walks and driveways where it freezes.  Had to use a lot of salt to make sure my friends didn't slip when they came for a pot luck dinner and Mah Jongg.  Dinner was good, but didn't do too well at the game.

TODAY: Flu shots are recommended for almost everyone after a strain of H1N1 (similar to 1918) in 2009 killed over 6000 people worldwide.  It was labelled the "Swine Flu" until pig farmers complained.  People all over the world were in a panic.  I can't imagine what it would be like today if millions died worldwide.



Entries for Jan. 13, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry - Friday, Jan. 13, 1911
Weather rainy.  Disagreeable day.  Stayed home and practiced all day.  Slept a little.  Began about 4:30 to fuss up for the evening.  Dressed Fran for a dance.  At 7:15 Al and Fred Zaurug (?) came.  Took us to Majestic.  Had a very delightful evening.

RITA'S IN DAY: A woman teacher in the US made an average of $50.08 a month while a male teacher made an average of $63.39 a month. Going to see a show at the Majestic would vary from 10 cents to a dollar for a special show.  On the 18th of January, Rita is going to see Caruso and she spends a dollar for the ticket!

Judy's Entry - Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011
Finally went out for snowshoeing at the park.  The trails were well groomed and we walked for about 2 hours before lunch and only 30 minutes or so after lunch.  It was a good workout.  Clear and cold but beautiful on the frozen lake.

TODAY: An average yearly salary for a high school teacher is $53,504.  Although there is no difference for males and females, the average salary for elementary teacher is less.  Is this hidden sexism since most elementary teachers are female?

Entries for Jan 12 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Thursday, Jan 12, 1911

Harmony lesson at 10.  Private lesson with Mr. Brune.  He seems very nice.  Fid lesson late.  Not extry but he "can see progress."  Lay around all afternoon.  Practiced a little.  Letter from E. C. B.  Fran got bid to dance for tomorrow night.  Wrote letters.

IN RITA'S DAY: Going to college as Rita did was unusal.  According to the American Association of University Women, in 1870 only .7% of the female population went to college and by 1900 it was 2.8% and 7.6% in 1920.  Not too surprising that Rita went to college, her mother received her teaching certificate in 1881. (see copy below).  Not sure what kind of college she attended to get certificate.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, Jan 12, 2011

Got a lot of snow.  I would say 16 to 18 inches, so I spent most of the day with the shovel.  The good thing was that I tried out different gloves, hats and scarves to find the best for snowshoeing tomorrow. (It's going to be cold).

TODAY: I think the biggest change in college education today are the online courses and online degree programs.  Even when my children went to college, I never thought the time would come when someone could get a degree without actually attending a class in person.



Entries for Jan 11 - 1911 and 2011

Construction of the Majestic Theater and Office Building

Rita's Entry: Wednesday Jan 11, 1911 - Chicago

Weather: dark and rainy.  Might have gone to orchestra practice but didn't because of rain.  Tin in all day.  Letter from Al S. asking me to go to Majestic Friday night.  Tin to go with his room mate.  Wrote to Mother and Frances Philpott and read.  Discussed fiddles and bows with Mr. Smith.  Practiced 3 hours 40 minutes.  Wore summer dress and slippers to dinner.  Letter from H. E. B.

IN RITA'S DAY: Majestic Theater was finished in 1906 (see picture of construction above) and was Chicago's first venue costing over one million.  It was also the tallest building in Chicago at the time.  Going there must have been an exciting time for Rita.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday Jan 11, 2011 - New York 

Did a lot of errands - bank, post office, Kmart, zumba class.  Tried to clear the last of the ice off the driveway before the storm tonight.  Not enjoying storms coming so close together.  Cancelled piano lesson for tomorrow.

TODAY:  Many venues today are being named for corporate sponsors.  Comiskey Park, which would have been in Chicago in Rita's day, is now called US Cellular Field and New York's Shea has been replaced by Citi Field.  It is no wonder that the Majestic in Chicago today  looks like the picture below and is called Bank of America Theater.

Entries for January 10, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1911 - Chicago
Weather - Fine.  Practiced hard.  Nothing doing all day.  Dressed in heliotrope dress for dinner.  Tin and I hurried to go to chorus class at 8.  Got there to find that the director had been called home on account of illness.  Had to beat it right back again.  Practice 3 hours 10 min.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Like most young women, Rita and her friends seemed to enjoy fashion.  They dressed for dinner most days.  In yesterday's entry (Jan. 9), Rita and her friend Fran were laughing about "hobbles."  I didn't know what that meant but discovered that in 1911, the hobble skirt was being shown by fashion designers.  This skirt was very narrow at the hem and women had to sort of "hobble" as they walked!  It really didn't catch on with the average woman.

Judy's Entry: Monday January 10, 2011 - New York

My friend, Sherry, brought over some insulated pants, gloves, etc. for me to try and then we practiced walking in snow shoes across the back yard.  We are planning to go to a park to snowshoe on Thursday since a big snow is forecast for tomorrow night into Wednesday.  My son brought a pizza over for supper.  Grocery stores were packed today because everyone heard it is going to snow.

:

TODAY: One of the hottest fashion trends this winter are the knee high and over the knee boots.  These will often make the modern woman "hobble" because of the high heels on most of these boots.  I'll be content to hobble on the snow shoes I tried today.

Entries for January 9, 1911 and 2011

Alexander Sebald - Rita's teacher

Rita's Entry: Monday, Jan 9, 1911 - Chicago

Practiced.  Fran home all day.  Lunch at 10:30.  Took lesson at 11:30.  "Bravissimo!!"  Funnier than ever.  Home about 1:30.  Talked with Fran.  Letter from Mother.  Laughed our fool heads off -- hobbles.  Wore Fran's black dress and garnets to dinner.  Played solitaire.  More laughter.  Wrote letters to Elon and studio.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Nearly 6 million immigrants came into the U.S. during the 1910s.  More than two-thirds were from Southern and Eastern Europe, like Sebald - Rita's violin teacher, whom she seems to find funny and delightful.  This doesn't mean, however, that there wasn't prejudice against immigrants.  The Asiatic Exclusion League was pressing for an amendment to the Constitution that would deny citizenship to all Asians!

Judy's Entry: Sunday, Jan 9, 2011- New York

Church this morning.  After lunch, went for a walk with Diane, then shopping, then picked up Mom and went for ice cream at Friendly's.  Diane suggested I add a short bit of info each day after Rita's entry about what was happening in the world of 1911.  I've decided to do this and also end my entry with a little about what is happening today.

TODAY: Immigration is probably the issue that creates the most hatred in Arizona and today there was a tragic shooting in that state and 6 people were killed.  The violence was directed at a Congresswoman who has supported some liberal legislation.  The atmosphere in politics now is filled with hatred and hate speech.  People call the President a Nazi and portray him with a moustache like Hitler.  Sarah Palin has a website where Congressional Districts she dislikes (including that of the attacked Congresswoman) are "targeted" in the crosshairs of a gun. 



Entries for Jan. 8, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday, January 8, 1911 - Chicago, IL:
Weather - windy and cold!  Tinnie and I started to go to Evanston Avenue Congregational Church.  Couldn't find Aldine Ave.  Walked about a mile.  Came back on Clark - found our street and followed it up to find the church.  It was an old thing with sign saying the church had moved.  So we came home.  Al came about 3.  A little after 4 we (Al, Tin and I) went to Evanston.  Al with a lot of nerve went into lunch with the girls.  First man who has dared.  Joe H. came later.  Played - sang - made fudge.  Home about 11:30.  Pretty good.

Judy's Entry: Saturday, January 8, 2011 - New York
Got more snow than I expected - still, I don't mind shoveling the walk and the driveway by the garage.  I have to be extra careful to get all cleared now because my 88 year old mother worries about falling.  Doug drove us (me and his grandmother) to a steak house tonight.   Came home for dessert and to watch football playoff games.  Spent time while game was on looking at old postcards of Chicago (like the one of Aldine above).  Imagining what it was like for my Nanny.