Iowa Soldiers Home - July 6 -- 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Thursday, July 6, 1911
About 4, Margaret Wasson - Miss Guilford and I went to Fran's.  Met the crowd and we all went to the Home for a picnic and band concert.  Afterward all but H.B. and Tin went to Colonial.  Maude S., Marion, F & F, Margaret, H.B., Tin, Miss G. and I.

Soldiers Home in Rita's day

IN RITA'S DAY:  The "Home" mentioned by Rita is the Iowa Soldiers Home, which was built in the 1880s and first called "Old Soldiers Home."  It was used as a recreational spot in Marshalltown Iowa for years, as well as to house veterans.

Iowa Veterans home in 2011

TODAY:  The Home is now called Iowa Veterans Home and is ungoing a multi-million dollar renovation.  I hope some of its original charm is restored because currently it looks like an ugly concrete dormitory (see above)

Louis Spohr - July 5 -- 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Wednesday July 5, 1911
Practice with Miss S. a little.  Tin and I assisted Florence Pemberton in piano recital.  Big rain storm therefore small crowd.  Got along beautifully anyway.  Played Spohr -- Petite Romanze and Obertass.  Granny's birthday.  Elon, M. and H. came down for day.  Had to give 4 lessons.

IN RITA'S DAY:  The composer and violinist Louis Spohr (above) was almost as famous as Beethoven and Mozart.  Around 1820 he invented the chin rest for the violin.  He was also one of the first conductors to use a baton and invented the lettering system on sheet music so a conductor can say (for example) "Start at Letter C"  He also could paint since the portrait above is a self-portrait. 

TODAY:  Spohr is "the forgotten Master."  Even though he was compared to Beethoven and Mozart and was quite popular into the beginning of the 20th century, Spohr is not well known today.  I even forgot that I had looked him up earlier this year because Rita mentioned him.  I guess he is forgetable???  The Nazis banned at least one of his works because in it a European was in love with an Indian princess.
Other news of today... A famous trial concluded.  Casey Anthony, a mother accused to killing her 2 year old daughter because she wanted to be "free," was found NOT GUILTY.  People are really upset by the verdict.  It seems pretty clear that she was involved in the death, but the cause of death could not be determined so the jury had "reasonable doubt."

July 4th Celebration = Entries for July 3 and 4 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Monday, July 3, 1911
We washed!  Rather Mother did.  Practiced with Miss S.  Some crazy vaudeville star came up and engaged a lesson for next Monday.  N.G.

Tuesday, July 4, 1911
Ironed - made salad, etc.  Read all P.M.  About 6 dressed.  Went to Fran's for a while.  She is ill - green apples or cherries.  Not even a firecracker!

IN RITA'S DAY:  A great heat wave was still hitting the U.S.  Mostly in the East by July 4th.  Reports of 100s of deaths.  Of course, 100 years ago the way they looked at deaths was different.  If someone drowned swimming (in order to beat the heat), that was recorded as a death caused by the heat.  One man took poison because he was confused by being too hot.  Another death attributed to the heat wave.  But there were plenty of deaths from heat stroke.  And rail tracks bent and caused trains to de-rail.
As far as fireworks, they were popular and just as today, there were accidents and some people asking for stronger laws against them.


TODAY:  It's amazing that it seems not so much has changed with the fireworks.  All are illegal in New York, but starting next year, sparklers and some "fountains" will be legal.
As far as July 4th cards, things have changed from the 1911 postcard.  Now there are e-cards like the one above.  The cute little dog moves and you can record a message for him to speak.

Working, Gadding and fashion - June 30, July 2 --- 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry:
Friday, June 30, 1911
Practiced some.  Gave Hill girl first lesson at 10.  Lots of fun.  Read quite a while.  Too hot to be energetic.  Up town about 5 for orchestra music.  Gadded with Tin and Fran.  Seemed good.  Orchestra didn't come except Roland and Roy.  Imps!  Dad saw Mr. Smith buy strings and asked where we live!  H. B. and I went to Colonial.  I stayed all night there.

daytime gadding outfit from Heilbrunn fashion history - http://www.metmuseum.org/

Saturday, July 1, 1911 - no entry

evening dress

Sunday July 2, 1911
Roy and I played for hymns.  N.G.  Marion over after dinner.  F and F said they had dates.  We didn't believe them.  Gadded.  Finally, Fran and Eq came for us.  Found Ralph W. and Clifford there.  Skinny came.  Had phoned me for date.  Ha!  Played Petite Romanze at church.  Dad met me and we went to McCord's.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Women were starting to wear the more tailored look during the day, but in the evening the dresses were still more flowing and soft looking.  I believe my mother has a couple of dresses Rita wore.  I'll look in her trunk.  Teaching was the occupation most women went into after attending college so it seems as if Rita is starting to build a little business around the Marshalltown Iowa area.  Her friends Tin and Fran (who lived in Chicago with her) are now back home too.  At this point in their lives, women usually married, so the social life is pretty active.  Not getting desperate yet.

TODAY:  Women of Rita's age (19) are just beginning to settle on possible careers.  Most don't know exactly what they want when the start college or even when they graduate college at 21 or 22.  And women in today's world usually have several careers by the time it's all said and done.  Gadding is still in, but now we call it "hanging out."

Back in Iowa - depots, chatauqua and lessons - June 26, 27, 28, 29 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Monday, June 26, 1911
We washed - rather Mother did most of it.  After lunch, Famie here to practice.  We all - F and F and I - went up town.  Gadded with Cleo.  At 7, Fam and I went out to Row's in Hill's auto.  Nice time.  Played lots.  Home about 1.  Fama here all night.

Rita's mother and father

Tuesday, June 27, 1911
Took early train for State Center.  Mrs. R. met me.  Went to her studio.  I played a little.  Very much pleased.  They are cmapers at Chatauqua.  Dandy time.  Played in the orches. at afternoon and evening performance.  Stayed all night with them in tent.  Very nice.

Wednesday, June 28, 1911
Home at 9.  Went direct to studio to take Mrs. R's pupils as she wasn't coming down.  Phoned home.  Mother said I had company.  Wouldn't tell who.  Bro't Oma up.  Lunch at Y. W.  Rested after noon.  Gadded more.  Saw parade, etc.  After supper Fran - Connie, Clare and I went to Rex and Elite.  Dandy time.  me all in.  4 lessons.

Thursday, June 29, 1911
Slept late.  Took Oma's dress to Mrs. N. to be fixed.  McCords for lunch.  Gadded in afternoon.  H. B. and I took Onia to train at 7:55.  Rested and read.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Performances by Chatauqua groups in tents set up in rural areas were an important entertainment.  I believe this June performance was the first by Rita in such a group.  Later in 1912 and 1913, she will travel the American West doing performances as part of the winter circuit of chatauqua.  The great tents and more famous performers of the summer are replaced in the winter by lesser know and smaller acts that perform in schools and churches.  Much more later in Rita's 1912 and 1913 diaries.  For now, she seems happy "gadding" back in her home town.
Trains were the main form of transportation and Rita will be seeing lots more than just the Marshalltown depot (above) when she is off performing.

TODAY:  The end of June 2011 is filled with conflicts between President Obama and the Congress.  Things are not getting done.  Perhaps the Republicans don't want the economy to get better because they really want to win the Presidency in 2012.

Changes (weather and same-sex marriage) - June 25, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday June 25,
Sunday school in A. M.  Good  visit.  Mr. Rubee offered offered me $2 per!!!!  Helen here all afternoon.  Too hot to do much.  Played a little.

IN RITA'S DAY: Rita may have felt hot in Iowa, but on June 25, 1911 the state of Kansas was setting records.  It was 114 degrees!  The spring and summer of 1911 was exceptionally hot from the middle of May until the middle of July...

TODAY: Things are heating up in the political arena... The bill to legalize gay marriage passed in New York!  Of course, Iowa legalized it years ago (because it is only fair).

Chicago to Iowa to North Dakota to Florida - June 23, 24, 1911 and 2011

Rita is going from this:

to this:

Rita's Entry: Friday, June 23, 1911
Hated to say goodbye to Father and Leslie.  Mr. P. went with us to train.  Poor Mother hated to have us go.  Hot, hotter, hottest.  Maude S. and Alice Manney joined us at Cedar Rapids.  Great gang to meet us.  Granny and Mother all in.  Neighbors nice with "welcome home's"  Ha. Ha.

 Thursday, June 24, 1911
Tired.  About all in.  Talked hard.  Went up toward evening to see Mrs. R. and bunch.  Up in evening with F and F.  Saw hosts of people.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I'm certain ladies didn't dress up to go into the Iowa cornfields, but the pictures above give a little bit of the different atmospheres in Chicago and Iowa. 

TODAY:  Today there is a bigger similarity in different sections of the country, I think, even though there are stereotypes of country and city.  The big difference today (June 24, 2011) is the different kinds of horrible weather each section has... too much water in North Dakota (see picture of Minot below) and too dry with horrible fires in Florida.(above)