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Sat Aug 17
Last night we called on Mrs. Ole Bull, and I cannot say that proved a thrilling visit; merely mildly entertaining with Betty and myself doing most of the entertaining. Miss O'Neill (who looked so pretty in white) introduced us. Mrs. Bull is very distinguished looking, beautifully gowned, and welcomed us cordially, tho' quite conventionally. Several other guests came in and were introduced and sat down and talked conventionally -- in fact if Betty had not chattered as hard as she could, the evening would have fallen flat -- as I was quite frozen by the lack of enthusiasm in the atmosphere. Then it irritated me that, altho' both Miss O'Neill and Mrs. Duncan are singers they were both very coy in refusing, yet expected me to perform quite as a matter of course. The "sing for your supper'' effect did not appeal to me at all. Miss O'Neill did finally consent to sing and has a sweet voice. Altogether it was not a hilarious evening; and when the Swami and his Italian friend came in they were not introduced to us, which was wierd piece of rudeness, I thought. The house is charming and I look upon it as a little sally into "hig lif'' which was an interesting experience, if not especially edifying.
Sun Aug 18
Had a glorious dip into the river at 6:30 A.M. and a woman snapshotted us. The water was icy cold so we slipped in bed again and read some of De Musset's naughty "Chandelier'' before breakfast. After breakfast, Lieut. Morton, an aged friend of Betty's took us for a row over to N.H. where we alighted and had a long walk till we came to a lovely grove of pines. There we halted and lay flat on our backs, imagining we were mermaids lying on the sea-bed and the sun on the swaying green needles far above was the surface of waves. We did not stay nearly long enough to suit me, but we shall go over again in the P.M. I sang "I Know'' and "Come Unto Him'' fairly well, altho' the effect was ruined by the dreadful piano which simply doesn't sound at all in places. I wanted to groan between each phrase. The lecturer was Miss Ninomiya, a most winning little Japanese woman who has such a charming manner and spoke so prettily that every one was very enthusiastic. Of course, Mrs. Sewall marred the effect of the speech by appending one of her own, much too long as usual. We cut supper, in order to take another dip, and afterward, with Mr. Hill (the owner of the shoulders and eyes) sat on Sunset Point and watched the moon on the water. Betty and I are much amused by the gentleman's chastened and humble attitude, for we have politely ignored him since he was introduced and I think he realizes that we are not hanging on his looks. He is really very nice and well-bred, knows the proper thing to do and does it, and is interesting to talk to. But we have decided that every ghost of an advance must be on his part.
Mon Aug 19
This afternoon Mrs. Sewall's lecture struck me as an attempt on her part to present what seemed to her, startling ideas in a clever manner. She succeeded in making some very absurd remarks on prisons and hospitals and other benevolent institutions, and some old fashioned remarks on the way that daughters of the rich are educated do nothing because they have no need to. I should think that an up-to-date woman would know better. Miss Farmer spoke afterward and oh! the beauty of her face and personality! She simply held me fascinated by her wonderful voice and the light of peace and joy which shines in her face. A Most unique personality!
Tues Aug 20
We took our first strenuous walk today and it will probably be the last, for the roads here abouts are vile, and I nearly grew dizzy with the heat. We were glad to get to our cool porch again and I really have acquired the gentle art of being lazy to such a degree that I shall never want to stop. We simply lounged all day. In the evening, Mrs. Lucas sang charmingly, and then Betty and I took all our bedding and embarked on a wild adventure. We climbed to Prospect Point-- a hill overlooking the river, where there was a hollow in the sand, and spread our blankets and spent the night out under the stars. And what a night it was! I shall never forget the sensation of lying flat on the grass, the wonderful canopy above us, and the full moon flooding its light on the river below. We woke up several times and each time the sky showed some newly-shaped clouds and the moon took on an orange color towards dawn. At five we trudged home and finished our naps in bed, as we did not care to have the public view our sleeping quarters.
Wed Aug 21
Our lives have taken a new bent, rather a malicious one, owing to the arrival of two of Miss Fuller's friends -- two "gay N.Y.'ers'' with a taste for the masculine. A tooth and nail rivalry is on -- perfectly amicable on the surface, but sharply waged nevertheless, as to which porch has the most men oftenest. The game seemed theirs on Thursday evening, when the two White boys from N.Y. who had made a half-engagement with us, calmly left us to walk home alone and spent the evening on Fuller's porch. Betty was so furious at the cut that, just to show her sporting blood, she sat out on the porch and smoked 3 cigarettes straight under their noses, chattering French all the while. But against that score, we had two pies which Mr. Kennard a jolly, strapping "Maniac'' had "persuaded'' to come over, and which he had tucked under our coverlet, while we had been napping upon the hill in the P.M. It was the most amusing thing to come upon just as we were about to turn in at 11.15, and made an excellent impression on the "Rivals''.
Thurs Aug 22
Tried to be very quiet, to be in trim for the Recital in the evening. Had very little chance to practise, as a meeting was held here by a Eliot society, who monopolized the Eirenion. Mrs. Fiske decorated the stage very prettily and (not to toot our own horn -- far be it) Mabel and I knew that the picture was not bad when we began the program. After the corsetless comfort I have been indulging in, it did seem good to get into my "aolian'' and realize that the "lines'' were still there and that a delicate cream color is very becoming to a blonde, especially when she seats herself gracefully in a yellow velvet arm-chair. The program went very well, altho' I have sung some of the songs better, and people said nice things. The wierdest thing was when the words of "Hai Luli'' suddenly left me after the first verse, and I stood, marking time, with my mind a perfect blank. I realized I must do something so I interpolated a long, tragic "Ah!'' on F while Betty squirmed behind me, wondering what was happening. Just before it became conspicuous that something was wrong the words came and I went on with a dash, and made the song very effective. But now I realize what it means to stand before people, with your mind an utter blank, and the seconds seeming hours. "Struna nalad\u{e}na'' made a hit, tho' I sang it wretchedly, and of course "Dearie,'' with Betty's banjo accompaniment had to be repeated. But oh, how I wish Mrs. C. or Mr. Sch. could have heard and judged from a strictly commercial point of view!
Fri Aug 23
Betty and I, (like true artists -- in novels) decided to stay abed all morning and it was a treat! We breakfasted on a bit of pie crust and two sips of milk, and rose at 12.30. We had been feeling rather "under it'' on account of those wretched White boys, so we gloated inwardly when Mr. Kennard tooted across the campus in his machine and made a formal call of three hours. Oh! It did our souls good and all of York County took in the effect of a perfectly good auto, standing before our cottage. Marguerite Fuller cast meaning glances from her porch, for the machine was standing between the cottages, which Kennard calmly ignored, and finally, when Mr. Hill sauntered along and joined the group, the three girls came out, and some pictures were taken, the girls included, much to my disgust! For they are "tr\`{e}s-ordinaire'' in their methods with men, being the well-dressed, respectable type of sports, who cannot have a good time with men, unless they are sitting in dark corners holding hands. Bah! it is nauseating! Well, tastes certainly do differ! Then to cap the climax, Hill came over and fussed over our lanterns till it was time for the lecture; Kennard steamed up and accompanied us to the Eiren. and afterward whizzed us past the Fuller-White faction in the car and took us for a spin up the road. And yet the end is not come! For when we returned, we lit up the porch, a very "flossy'' effect! As Betty would say, and Dr. Martin, the charming lecturer of the evening, brought out some fruit; we all sat and talked till 11. The day was ours!!!