1904 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY BY A CHARMING STOIC MASSACHUSETTS MAN WHOSE SISTER IS DYING OF CONSUMPTION

On offer is the 1904 handwritten diary of a charming, cultured 23 year old man living close to Lowell Massachusetts. On the first page of the diary there is a company stamp and the words "Am still bookkeeper for" WHITE MCGOURTHY & CO. There are a number of other clues, including the fact he went to the Bartlett Academy, that local historians or collectors may very well be able to piece together who the writer is plus there is a 1905 newspaper clipping detailing the marriage between a Frederick Allen Snow and Esther Perry Law. The couple was from West Chelmsford and may very well be the author but further research needs to be done. This diary is of particular interest on a number of levels. The sad, terrible underlying story of this man's sister Grace who is slowly dying of consumption and finally succumbs on September 18th, 1904 is heart rending to say the least even though our writer is stoic. Here are just a few snippets: 1904 "January 11th, Arose at 8:00 a.m. Had breakfast and went out and shoveled snow for two hours. Came in and took a cold bath (he seems to take a lot of "cold" baths) and then a short nap before dinner. Took a walk down to Harvard Square and back after dinner. Wrote two letters in the evening. Retired at 9:30 p.m. A perfect day. Mild. War between Russia and Japan seems certain." "January 14th, Very busy all day. Got my breakfast in town. Streets very bad. Went to Warston's on Washington St. to lunch with my friend, Mr. Sloan of Isaac Locke & Co. Sat most all the afternoon paying and collecting. Am feeling fine now. I get lots of exercise and my health was never better." "January 28th, Had a pleasant after dinner chat with Sloan and enjoyed a cigar in Hawke's reading parlor. Got home at 6:45. Supper at 7:15. Retired at 9:00 p.m. Cold." "February 28th, Got up at 8:00 a.m. Walked to Medford Sq. took the 10:00 car for Lowell, changed to a Chelmsford car. Miss Mansfield met me at the post office. Reached her home at about 12:30. Rained all the afternoon. At 5 p.m. Mr. M. drove us over to the center. Met her sister and brother. Church in evening, supper and departed for Boston at 8:45 via Lowell, Belvidere, Lexington. Reached home at 11:00 p.m." "April 5th, Over slept this morning but reached the market on time. Got a shave after 5:00 and supper at the Crawford House and took a little basket of fruit up to Mattie at the St. Elizabeth Hospital. W. Newton stayed with her from 7:00-7:30. She is gaining rapidly. On arriving home I found a pail of sugar from papa and a letter from Blanch. Cold bath and bed at 10:00. Elegant day." "April 8th, At 5:30 p.m. I went to the Board of Trade building and met Burnell and walked to his room with him. To the Hospital at 7:00 to see Mrs. Conway for a few minutes. From there out to see Mr. McGourthy, he has been sick for two days, nothing serious. Got home at 9:30. Rather tired and sleepy." "April 9th, Worked hard today. Out all forenoon gathering money and paying bills. Rainy. Sometimes it seems as though life is a desolate dream. How lonesome I get sometimes." "April 12th, Took a basket of fruit up to Mattie in the evening. Had supper at the Crawford House at 6:00 and then walked to the hospital. A letter from Blanch and one from Winona saying Grace is failing rapidly, can only life a short time. My sister dying of consumption. It does not seem possible." "April 17th, Got up at 2:00 a.m. and walked to Boston. Took the 3:45 "paper train" for Portland arriving at 7:00 a.m. M.C. train for Yarmouth Jct. Changed to Grand Trunk and arrived at Gorham at 11. Hired a team for Head's place. Found Grace on the piazza. Found Winona there. Grace very thin and low, looks very bad. Retired at 8:30 p.m." "April 21st, ……I am discouraged about four day in a week." "May 8th, Got up at 8:00 a.m. Walked to Medford Sq. and took 10:30 car for Lowell. Went to Will's and had dinner. Met Bertha Prescott at the Sq. at 2:45. Met her beau at Chelmsford, walked by the pond and met Miss Mansfield. Enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon at their cottage on Robbins Hill. Supper at Miss Mansfield. Home in the evening via Chelmsford Ctr. Lowell & Medford, electric. Elegant day." "May 20th, Arose at 4:30 as usual. Considering seriously the possibility of going into the hen business to make money and no simply a living. Mr. Ingerson is my future partner." "June 26th, Got up at 7:30. Had breakfast at 8:00. Enjoyed comfort on the piazza until 10:00. Wrote a letter and then went into Sullivan Sq. and met Mr. Ingerson. He had dinner with us and lunch at 6:00. Saw him on Dudley St. car at 7:00. Enjoyed a cigar on the piazza with Joshua in the evening and retired at 9:30. Very hot. Grace married three years ago today." "August 18th, G.A.R. week. The city is full of people. Parades and grand spectacles every day and evening. Miss Byrnes is away on her vacation and I am alone." "August 25th, Moonlight excursion down the harbor in the evening on S. S. New Brunswick with Mr. and Mrs. White and Miss Prescott." "September 18th, Received a telegram from Will at 11:30 p.m. that Grace died at 7:00 p.m. Poor girl. She was a loving sister, an obedient daughter and a true wife." "September 20th, Left Boston on the Portland boat at 7:00 p.m. Poor Grace, I dread the ordeal. Patient Grace, never complained or found fault with her lot. Her husband deserves much credit. He has proved his true worth. He has been true to her vow. He stood by her well. I cannot realize it. It does no seem possible." "September 21st, Arrived at Gorham at 11:30 a.m. Papa met me at the station. We buried dear Grace at 2:00 p.m. in a quiet little spot in the shade of the old mountains. Will carried me to Gorham and I put up at the Alpine House. Farewell dear Grace. We commit you to God and may he keep you." "September 29th, Retired last night at 7:45. I can sympathize with one who is discouraged, despondent and not in harmony with the world generally. What can an ambitions man do? A struggle against such frightful odds. Heaven send me aid. Give me strength and power to cope with competition and discontent." "October 26th, Walked up to Caine's Physical Culture College at 177 Huntington Ave. and talked with the professor in regard to forming a private class of six. Think I can get together that number. Bought a nice umbrella today, $2.50. Got home at 6:30. Read the evening. Cold bath and retired at 10:00." The writer does an admirable job in this ¾ full diary. He also mentions many names, some of which are; Whitney, Bertha Prescott, Mansfield, Byrnes, Aldrich, Rosenstein, Blanch Sarson, Conway, Coughlin, Wheeler, Carney, Cobb, Warston, Butler, Hollis, Norton, Fabyan Brook and more. The diary measures about 4" x 6" and overall G.; Manuscript; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; PUBLIC HEALTH, CONSUMPTION, PLAGUE, TB, TUBERCULOSIS, FLU, INFLUENZA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA, ALS, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, CIVIL WAR ERA, WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, GENEALOGY, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito,