Alice Mabel Allen (1886-1976) grew up in the village of Adams in Jefferson County. In 1908, while attending Syracuse University, Mabel, as she was known, kept a diary which New York Almanack is publishing each week.
Monday, April 20
Late for breakfast. Mary foned [phoned] and objected because we had planned to spend the evening at Louise’s. Harriet and I went downstreet to do some shopping. Ironed the shirt waists and fixed collar to shadow embroidery waist. Planned to go to Mary’s early but Alma and Jessie came in. Edith stopped and we all walked down together. Mary seemed rather cool about accepting apologies for lateness. Mrs. Wick told about the trip to Jamaica. In the evening we went up to Louise’s and popped corn & talked over old times. Harriet, Edith & I walked up around sand pit with Katherine.
Tuesday, April 21
Slept late; had graham gems for breakfast. Alma came down for us to go to chapel. Came back to iron blue Peter Thompson and found Sarah had already ironed skirt and started on the waist. At two went up to Miss Frazier’s to have the green gingham fitted. Went down to see about having green hat fixed over. Left Harriet to go home alone while I went down to see Cousin Fannie. It seemed strange not to see Uncle David sitting by the stove. Went to Episcopal Easter tea and afterwards walked down with Jessie. Asked girls up and we cracked nuts. Went over to see Edith who’s sick.
Wednesday, April 22
This is Saturday morning and I am writing before I go to Shakespere. It seems ages ago that I was home. In the morning Harriet and I went over to the dressmaker’s. After dinner I cracked some nuts and made fudge for Lillian. Sarah made some maple sugar candy. Packed some while Harriet slept and then we went over to see Mrs. Cooper. Went driving with the horse up to the dressmaker’s and down to get my hat. My black one I like but the green is terribly vivid. Had to hustle at the last minute as staid downstreet until 5:30. Father drove us down to station and Lu and Alma came down. Saw Winston Phelps on train. Did not reach the Campbell [her college residence] until after 10:30. Lillian was pleased with the box.
Thursday, April 23
Letters from Della and Rollin Thompson. Della and Clara will not be up to the lake until August. After Roman History, I wrote Rollin telling him I would come to the prom some way. I wish he had not written that letter. Helen Beattie came up to study math and afterwards we did Latin. Studied in the evening until quarter of nine when I met Emily Palmer and we went down to meet Lu and Hazel Thomas. Emily took me in to have something cool and I drank some orangeade. Lu came back all tired out. It seems good to have her here.
Friday, April 24
Got up early to study math. Journal, postal card from mother and my gold leaf pin which I lost. Late for dinner as I studied at Helen’s. The college is quite excited over the Chancellor’s requesting Dean Kent to resign. So warm this afternoon that I came home and took a cold bath and put on my blue Peter Thompson. Went over to library and studied until after six. Went for a long walk with Lu and stopped to see Katherine Arnold. We were both dead tired when we came back. I went to sleep and at quarter of ten went over to library with Harriet after Lillian. Jessie Barnes is back to [??].
Saturday, April 25
A splendid letter from Jo which I saved until late in the morning. In Eng. we discussed theories of Hamlet’s madness. Then I went down to Helen Beattie’s and wrote a Roman History outline. After dinner I swept the room. Took a bath and studied. The girls came in from 5 until 6 and we passed the time fooling. After tea we walked down to Genesee St. and bought some stuff for a spread for Jessie. It did not commence until 10 and after the lights went out. We lighted a candle and told weird stories.
Sunday, April 26
After breakfast I washed some of the spread dishes. Altho it was a perfect morning, I staid in the house and wrote to Betty and the people [her parents] and then learned Wordsworth’s Ode to Duty. It is powerful in meaning and it appealed to me only after I had said it over and over. Lillian was reading ‘Walled In’ and as I read to her, I became interested and finished it. ‘Lenny’ took our pictures out on the porch. Went with the girls to the last of the Harvard concerts and then Lu and I went to St. Paul’s for Vespers. After lunch filled the hollow in my stomach by eating popcorn and peanuts. Harriet and I walked. Went to bed early.
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