February 28, 1938 Monday

P.P. Went back to school. Studied in p.m. In evening I went to “The Buccaneer” with Bob at the Scenic. It was an exciting story of Jean LaFitte, pirate, who helped General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans.

February 27, 1938 Sunday

Slept late. Went to S.S. and church. Mr. Conrad, ex-minister of our church, preached today because Mr. Ralph had gone to Boston with the S.S. teachers. Loafed. In evening went to movie at Colonial with Bob Nareau. Bob with to Bellows Falls with the A Capella choir today.

February 26, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. Loafed. Keene won the semi-final from Exeter at Concord in a.m. However, in evening they lost the final game to Portsmouth, 42-38 (oh, woe!). Worked at Doc’s in p.m. Went to movie at Scenic with Ernie in evening. Saw the Louis-Mann fight in the pictures.

February 24 and 25, 1938 Thursday and Friday

February 24, 1938 Thursday

P.P. Sherm came up in a.m. Loafed in p.m. Keene won the first game in the State Tournament at Concord, 43-20.

February 25, 1938 Friday

P.P. Loafed. Got a drawing book and took up drawing. There are so many hobbies I would like to have that I can’t do them all, however.

February 23, 1938 Wednesday

P.P. Loafed. In p.m. went to movie “Thin Ice” with Ernie. Am going to listen to a World Championship boxing match tonight between Joe Louis, champ, and Nathan Mann. In all probably [sic] Louis will win. It is a tune-up for Schmeling. Louis K.O.’d Nathan Mann in the third round.

February 22, 1938 Tuesday

Washington’s birthday. P.P. Played ping-pong and caroms some today. In p.m. I went to 10 cent show at Colonial with Bob and Laura. Worked on the Constitution.

February 21, 1938 Monday

P.P. We have a week vacation this week. In a.m. I went hiking up the R.R. tracks with Ernie. Slept in p.m. Started “The Constitution.” In evening I went to Keene Orchestral Society rehearsal. We play a piece “The Indian Village” written by Karl Beedle, the director. It is pretty good. Laura had a visit from a girl-friend from Vermont today.

February 19 and 20, 1938 Saturday and Sunday

February 19, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. Loafed. In p.m. I went to movie at Scenic with Earnie. Read the exciting account of the fall of the Bastille in Dumas’ “Ange Pitou.” We are still having awfully warm weather for this season – no snow at all. Pa traded our ’36 Ford V-8 for a ’27 Chevrolet and 4 or 5 hundred $ in cash. He plans to trade in the Chevy and get a ’38 deLuxe Ford.

February 20, 1938 Sunday

Slept well and late. Went to S.S. and church. In p.m. we went for a ride in the ’27 Chevy and liked it so well that we may keep it until fall so Laura and I can learn to drive on it. In evening went to Keene City Band rehearsal. Yesterday I fixed up an old watch I got last year so that it runs fairly well.

February 18, 1938 Friday

P.P.W.T.S. Kermit Davis came up in p.m. Loafed. Kind of sick. The minstrel show I was supposed to be in is tonight but as I don’t feel good and have no important part I am going to bed.

February 16 and 17, 1938 Wednesday and Thursday

February 16, 1938 Wednesday

P.P.W.T.S. Loafed in p.m. In evening went with city band to Simons school in West Keene and played a short concert at a P.T.A. meeting. It was my first appearance with the City Band, but although it sometimes gets money this was a purely amateur performance. Home at 10:30.

February 17, 1938 Thursday

P.P.W.T.S. Layed down most of p.m. I am sick with a cold-sore throat.

February 15, 1938 Tuesday

Ma’s birthday [44 years old]. Studied. Wrote an ending to the story “100 in the Dark” by Owen Johnson. I had Mrs. Cheevers the guilty one. In evening I went up to Franklin Junior High for a rehearsal for the minstrel show. It is lousy. I am supposed to be in a dance and waltz around but we haven’t even practiced it yet. The whole thing looks like a first rehearsal. It is fun, personally though.

February 13 and 14, 1938 Sunday and Monday

February 13, 1938 Sunday

Slept late and well. Went to S.S. and church. (No S.S. orchestra) In p.m. went to rehearsal for a minstrel show at Franklin School. Went to C.E. In evening at G.A.R. hall we had a Keene City Band rehearsal. We are going to play Wednesday. Bob, Ma, Pa, and Laura have gone to Brattleboro where Bob is singing in the very popular A Capella choir.

February 14, 1938 Monday

P.P.W.T.S. Bought Ma’s birthday present. Studied and going to bed early because I am not feeling well.

February 12, 1938 Saturday

P.P. = peddled papers

P.P. Collected. Rested. Went to movies at Scenic with Earnie in p.m. Bought some valentines in evening.

February 11, 1938 Friday

P.P.W.T.S. Ma had a party here in p.m. so I went to the library in p.m. and studied Latin. In evening I went to C.E. party at the church. We played games and had a good time. George Fraser and I had charge of the refreshments and we had cookies and made punch with grape juice and ginger ale.

February 10, 1938 Thursday

P.P.W.T.S. In p.m. went to Sunday School orchestra rehearsal. We did not play much, however. Studied. I lost another fountain pen and so I bought this 50 cent on today. I figure that if I am going to lose one a month anyway, I might as well lose a cheap one. In evening I went to the annual father and son banquet with Dr. Gillis as my “father.” We had a good supper and played games afterwards. I beat Bob.

February 9, 1938 Wednesday

P.P.W.T.S. Went up to Gilman Gunn’s to practice horn in p.m. He plays a clarinet. Went to 10 cent show in evening with Pa.

February 8, 1938 Tuesday

P.P.W.T.S. Studied. Read Dumas’ “Ange Pitou.” About all the snow has melted and the weather is quite warm.

February 7, 1938 Monday

P.P.W.T.S. = peddled papers, went to school

P.P.W.T.S. Worked over doc’s in p.m. Operated on two dogs. Ma and Pa went up to the farm this p.m. In evening the High School Orchestra played between the acts of the Woman’s Club play “Holiday” at city hall. We played some real music and I played some solo parts for the first time in public. The play was very good. It was a comedy with an undercurrent of seriousness.

February 6, 1938 Sunday

Slept late. Played in S.S. orchestra. Went to church. Studied in p.m. In evening went to Keene City Band rehearsal. Things went quite well. They are going to give a concert in a couple of weeks and they spoke as though I might go along. I hope I will.

January 30 through February 5, 1938

January 31, 1938 Monday

For some time at Tilden's the bosses have been taking away the privileges of the paperboys. This morning, for no reason, they said that the H.S. boys could not get their papers first. This would make me late most everyday so I came to school without peddling and at noon got the bass to let me get my papers first. Studied. Went to Orchestral Society rehearsal.

February 1, 1938 Tuesday

P.P. (got papers first of all) W.T.S. Studied. In evening I went to Franklin Junior High (my alma mater) and sang in the chorus at a rehearsal for a minstrel show. Mr. Morrison, a teacher who taught me math in 8th grade, was in it, too, and we talked about teaching and education. Mr. Morrison is working summer at Columbia U. for a masters degree.

February 2, 1938 Wednesday

P.P.W.T.S. In p.m. went to movie at Scenic “Victoria the Queen.” It is pure history and very good. Studied. In evening Belle Wright let me use her ticket to Cooperative Concert association program. Bob and I heard a concert by Toscha Seidel, violinist, accompanied by Eugene Kusmiak. It was good but the concerto was beyond me. I seem to like music that is calm, that I know, or that is mostly sensual.

February 3, 1938 Thursday

P.P.W.T.S. Studied in p.m. Loafed in evening. Meditated and read “Sir Roger De Coverley Papers.”

February 4, 1938 Friday

P.P.W.T.S. Went to movie “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” with Louie in p.m. In evening went to K.H.S.-Brattleboro game. Keene jayvees lost 27-26 but the varsity won 30-21.

February 5, 1938 Saturday

P.P. Collected. Loafed. In p.m. went to movies at Scenic with Ernie.