In 1908, while attending Syracuse University, Alice Mabel Allen (1886-1976) kept a diary which is being published each week. In last week’s entries Mabel had returned to her hometown of Adams in Jefferson County, NY for winter break. This week she returns to school.
Monday, February 3
Very cold. After breakfast we all walked up to school with Edna [older sister]. Clara finished packing and I ordered transfer man. Della and I played Parlor Baseball. Went down to station to see girls off. Came back and waited for Edna at the library. After dinner wrote to father and at 4 met Edna again at library. Called on Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Willard. Went up to see about flowers for Mrs. Capron. Went to farce rehearsal and read part of sheriff. Went to two basketball games* at Comstock Opera House. Late in getting home.
Tuesday, February 4
About 25 below zero this morning. Went up to High School chapel and visited Edna’s Ancient History class. Came back and wrote to Herbert Jenkins and ordered carnations for Della and Clara to give Mrs. Capron. Walked down to post office with Edna and Miss Jones. Came back and packed. Wrote Edna a note and stuck it in mirror. Train 1 hr. and 40 min. late. Had sandwich and cocoa in Utica. Came there on fast train reaching here [Syracuse] about 8:30. Found letters from Dora [an older sister] and Mrs. Minch.
Wednesday, February 5
Learned I passed algebra but went to pieces in exams. Also passed Eng. VIII but very poorly. Have felt decidedly forlorn all day. Passed Latin also. Went over after Lu at five. Warmer out but there is a driving snowstorm. Studied in Lu’s room most of the evening but went to sleep for half an hour. Most of the girls have gone out to a Bible class meeting and the rest to hear Lillian Russel.
Thursday, February 6
Called on in math and of course did not know. The books have not arrived yet. Went to chapel with Emily Palmer. Went in Jean’s room after dinner. Studied trig afterwards. Went over after Myrtle Heath for a short walk. To-night studied Latin in Grace’s room as Lillian had company. Harriet broke electric globe in her room. Lu went down to Boys’ Club. Says it’s storming out. It seems ages ago I was home.
Friday, February 7
A hard snowstorm and a cold wind. Staid up at college all the morning. Found the Journal when I came back. After Latin went over to library and read in Furness’ ed. of Shakespere. Saw Harriet and went downstairs to buy cookies of the janitor’s wife. After supper served in Leta’s room, read Hamlet and went to sleep in Lu’s room. The girls tried to make fudge in my room. The alcohol [fuel] gave out so we went down to Leta’s room to eat wafers. Lillian ran down hall and Mrs. Campbell came on warpath. She sat on stairs. Fuzzie and Christine came up.
Saturday, February 8
Studied Hamlet after breakfast. Exam results announced in Shakespere but I did not ask. Studied Latin prose for Monday. After dinner swept the room and started letter to Edna. Myrtle Heath came for me to go downstreet. Walked down but found it very cold. Ordered Return of Native [by Thomas Hardy] at Foote’s. Took Myrtle into Schraft’s where we had hot chocolate and coffee. To-night Myrtle brot her sewing down and Lu made fudge. I sewed on a collar I copied from Fuzzie’s. Lillian is sewing on bathrobe while I am writing this. All the rest have gone to bed.
Sunday, February 9
After breakfast went in and helped Lu with her bed. It was so cold there last night that water froze in fudge pans. Ate buns and graham crackers with cream. Went to University Methodist Church with Harriet. Building was very cold. After dinner finished letter to Edna and wrote home. Lu and I went over to borrow a book of Miss Palmer. Saw Edith and visited with her. Lu and I walked down to Vespers. Late for lunch. Girls all piled butter dishes on center of table. Clara played afterwards. To-night started ‘Return of Native.’ E. told of Albert Washburn’s morning.
* The modern game of basketball was only 17 years old at this time.
Photo: W.Y. Foote Company, Booksellers, 212 South Warren Street, Syracuse, ca. 1910. The bookstore where Mabel bought her copy of Thomas Hardy’s Return of Native.
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