Friday, February 14, 1919

Mild. Snow, Rain and sleet intermittently all day. Very sloppy. Feel better but nose plugged up. Received plant and valentines from N.M.C. Plugs in nose all night. Thank God for good Father and Mother.

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N.M.C. is probably Stanford's sister, Nellie May Closson. So there is some recognition of Valentine's Day. Here's an example of a 1919 Valentine's Day post card; it's for sale on E-Bay:


Thursday, February 13, 1919

Cloudy Early. Bright. Father let lower flat 108 P.P. In bed until 10 A.M. Had violent nose bleeds. Could hardly stop them. Sat up in A.M. John & Anna Myers here to dinner. Thankful for education.

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Stanford's symptoms were classic. Here is a description of some of the effects of the Great Influenza of 1918, taken from an article on the Stanford University website:
Patients with the influenza disease of the epidemic were generally characterized by common complaints associated with the flu. They had body aches, muscle and joint pain, headache, a sore throat and a unproductive cough with occasionally harsh breathing (JAMA, 1/25/1919). The most common sign of infection was the fever, which ranged from 100 to 104 F and lasted for a few days. The onset of the epidemic influenza was peculiarly sudden, as people were struck down with dizziness, weakness and pain while on duty or in the street (BMJ, 7/13/1918). After the disease was established the mucous membranes became reddened with sneezing. In some cases there was a hemorrhage of the mucous membranes of the nose and bloody noses were commonly seen. Vomiting occurred on occasion, and also sometimes diarrhea but more commonly there was constipation (JAMA, 10/3/1918).
108 Park Place is the house next door to Stanford's; they apparently owned that one, since they are letting the downstairs flat.  Not six months later, however, they are letting the flat again (see July 30th post).  Maybe that was common, though--people on the move.

Wednesday, February 12, 1919

Bright. Cool. Felt rather dull. Stayed in bed all day. Dr. here again at night. Temperature down to 99 3/4. Took sweat. H.H. at Silliman Hall to Student Volunteer Banquet. Thankful for life.

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See Date Book 1920, February 12 post for information about Student Volunteers. 

Tuesday, February 11, 1919

Bright but cold. 10 degrees above zero. Did not go to college but feel better. Slept off & on most all day. Dr. Kathan here in evening. Had a temperature of 102 1/2. Gave me a whole lot of pills. Retired & took sweat.

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Dr. Kathan was D.L. Kathan, who graduated from Albany Medical College in 1886 and had a practice in Schenectady.

Monday, February 10, 1919

Bright. Cool. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Do not feel well. Have sore throat, head-ache, chills etc. Slept in P.M. H.H. out in P.M. Doped up and Retired 8 P.M. Thank God for all worldly pleasures and comforts.

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Stanford's symptoms are the beginnings of a serious bout of influenza, which affected a great many citizens of Schenectady and other cities around the world in 1918 and 1919.  Over 400 people died in Schenectady alone.  Here is a chart that plotted the deaths at the time:

 

Sunday, February 9, 1919

Bright. Mild. Turned colder at night with little snow. To Trinity M.E. in A.M. to hear Bishop Warne from India. To S.S. at F.M.E. Nap in P.M. To Epworth League. To bed 9:15.

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Bishop Warne was Frank W. Warne, a Methodist missionary Bishop of India, elected in 1900. There seems to have been great interest in India during this time. For the Indians, however, 1919 would prove to be a bad year. Here is an account of the Massacre at Amritsar which in part sparked the revolt led by Ghandi:

Saturday, February 8, 1919

Cool. To College 8:30 to 12 A.M. Delivered sewing machines from church used by Red +. Studied in P.M. B.B. game at night. Syracuse vs. Union. Union lost. Score 12-8. Good game. To Church. Bowled at Morse & [star drawing]. To bed 12 P.M. A little snow FLURRY.

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Good grief!! Imagine a basketball game in which the winning team only scored 12 points! How could that possibly be called good??!

Friday, February 7, 1919

Bright but cool. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Downtown. Bowled at star alleys. Supper. To Get-together at Union 7-9 P.M. to revive pre war time spirit. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for opportunities.

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Interesting idea--to "revive pre war time spirit." I wonder who and what that involved?

Thursday, February 6, 1919

Fair. Rather mild. To college from 8:30 to 12. In P.M. Candled eggs. Studied and went downstreet. K.S.P. in Evening. Bowled at Y with C.W. [Charles Wagner] & L.B.L. [Lewis Larkin] Retired 10:30.

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What a busy guy!

Wednesday, February 5, 1919

Cloudy and rather cold. Cleared up in afternoon. Bright. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Studied. To Armory to see about drill for students. Payed [sic] tuition for second term at College. Supper. Candled 6 cases eggs. Studied. No snow on ground. To bed.

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I wonder if this was the first time Stanford signed up for ROTC drill?

Tuesday, February 4, 1919

Cloudy. To College 8:30 to 4:30. Studied. A little rain at night. In Evening to Classical Club. Prof. Bennett spoke. Down town. Bowled at Morse & star. To bed 11:30. Thankful.

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Professor Bennett was John I. Bennett. He taught Greek at Union College. Unfortunately, he died the following year summer (1920).

 

Monday, February 3, 1919

Bright. Mild. Ideal Spring day. Streets bare. No snow. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Bowled at star (184). To Library. Supper. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. Thank God for all good.

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Did Punxsutawney Phil miss his prediction? Is winter almost over? We'll see.

Sunday, February 2, 1919

Ground Hog day. Sun shone bright all day. Cold. Bright & Windy. To Church & S.S. In P.M. walked with H.H. and Lewis Larkin. To Epworth League. Home. To bed 9:30. Thank God for peace, a dry nation, parents, food, clothing, shelter etc. Scarcely any snow on ground.

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Groundhog Day is apparently a very old holiday, also known as Candlemas. This website gives some of its history: Groundhog Day.

Saturday, February 1, 1919

Cold. Windy. To College 8:30 to 12. Delivered eggs. Took a nap. Studied. To Church. Down town with H.H., Charles Wagner, Everett Young & Lewis Larkin. Bowled at Y. Retired 11 P.M.

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What did they do down town?

Friday, January 31, 1919

Colder. Slight snow flurry in A.M. Bright. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at Y. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. To armory. Moving pictures. To bed 11:15.

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I'm still wondering what the "treatment" was for . . . ?