February 28, 1851 The Budget Box

Friday 28^th (February)

Friday has come at last but after having a meeting last night we have not met this afternoon. I am so glad for I would had to have had a composition. We loitered about the school-house all the afternoon, spent part of the time in the Lyceum room and then heard a few budget pieces read by Mr Lippett and were then dismissed after a few comments on the pieces by Prof Lippett.

Lucy Herron Parker will write reminiscences of the college and of the Young Ladies’ Lyceum, which she will read at the last public meeting in the College Chapel in 1866. She will describe the “Budget Box,” which is the “medium through which the pent-up feelings of the soul might find escape.” The students use pseudonyms such as “Hettie Hyacinth or Katie Caudle,” write about problems in society, and how they might be remedied (The Alumna 1866:10).

February 22, 1851 Serena's Feelings Are Hurt

Serena’s feelings are hurt

Saturday 22^nd (February)

The sun was shedding his golden rays, along the heavens when I arose to behold the beauties of Nature. I did part of the work in the morning and in the afternoon, the folks all went Down in town and I was left alone. I wandered about the house for some time and then Eve Marshall passed, but did not speak which of course hurt my feelings very much. Father went away in the morning, and after I had wandered about the neighborhood for some time I returned home.

Serena went calling with Eve Marshall just a few weeks ago. Surely it was disappointing to see Eve walk by without stopping in to visit. Eve lives in Ward 9, the same neighborhood as Serena.

February 21, 1851 Planning for Lyceum Meeting

…………….

The remainder of the week I head this this way because I am ashamed to tell it I have neglected writing so long I am not able to remember all that transpired. I received my note to play at the Lyceum meeting during the week, and consented reluctantly. I am to play a duette with Mr Pond and a playing I expect it will be indeed. Today is Friday and what is worse composition day. I am not to have one however and I hope to find a letter when I go home to-night. I shall try and not neglect my journal so long again.

H. Augustus Pond is the Professor of Vocal and Instrumental Music at Wesleyan Female College (Cist 68). Serena does not mention which instrument she plays. We can assume that it is not the guitar, because she never mentions Edward Thomas, Professor of the Guitar. We know that she and Prof. Pond will play piano solos at future Alumnae Association meetings (The Alumna 1859:78-80).

February 14, 1851 St. Valentine's Day

St. Valentine’s day

Friday 14^th (February)

This is St. Valentine’s day and I am wondering although it may be wrong whether I shall receive any valentines. Well I am going to school any how. I shall not to grieve much about it. It is not a very pleasant day and I have a dreadful head ache. I read my composition nevertheless and returned home and to my great surprise find a Valentine from Piqua. I tore it open and read a few sentimental lines and folded it up again thinking that some one had cheated me with it. However I content myself with remaining in the dark, hoping for better days.

“By the early nineteenth century the most popular token of love was the valentine card. Those fragile paper and satin concoctions surrounded by clouds of lace could make each postal delivery a crisis” (Etter 86). We wonder why Serena feels cheated. She says the message is sentimental, so the valentine is probably not the mean-spirited comic or “vinegar” type (Karl 21). Many early valentines were blank inside, requiring the sender to write his or her own message. “Valentine Writers” were published to help the inarticulate (Etter 119). Serena may be dissatisfied with the message or disappointed that the valentine is unsigned.

 

 

The Cincinnati Enquirer February 14, 1851

February 10, 1851 Serena's First Long Dress

First long dress

Monday 10^th (February)

I am still spared to see another day and oh! how thankful. I attended school but it was very muddy, however I rode down and had a very pleasant time. I am anticipating much pleasure to-morrow evening for I expect to go into the country with Mr B, Mr H, Libby, Cousin and Kate Spooner. I hope I shall have my composition commenced at any rate. This is my first long dress and how the girls at school did laugh at me to-day. I now must try to write some composition. Good Bye.

 

Kate Spooner is probably Catherine Smith Spooner, the wife of William Spooner. He is Serena’s cousin. According to the Spooner Memorial, he is the son of Reed Spooner and Serena’s aunt, Abigail Lewis (Spooner 152).

This may help explain Serena’s earlier bonnet problem. Serena seems to be making the transition from girlish clothing to adult dress. Bonnets are worn by women, while girls wear wide-brimmed straw hats. At about age sixteen, girls begin wearing full-length dresses, bonnets, corsets, and adult hairstyles. The dresses of younger girls are shorter, but well below the knee. Under these shorter dresses, the girls wear ruffled petticoats, pantalettes (trousers), and long stockings. Hoop skirts for women will not come into style until later in the 1850s. (Severa 107-109). Serena’s new dress was made by hand by a family member or a dressmaker. Isaac M. Singer patents his first home sewing machine this year, and they will become widely available in the next ten years (Severa 90). Men’s clothing is beginning to be made in factories by machine. (Cist’s Weekly Advertiser).

Cist’s Weekly Advertiser May 2, 1851

February 7, 1851 Should professing Christians visit the theatre?

Friday 7^th (February)

The sun rose as beautiful as ever this morning and as I walked down to school how refreshing was the morning air. We attended to our accustomed duties in the morning and in the afternoon the Lyceum met as usual and Mrs. Wilber was sick so we had a president and had the compositions read as usual, but the trying time when my subject was given me for this week, whith it is right for professing Christians to visit the theatre under any circumstances: Affirmative. In the evening I had a call from Mr Dills from Piqua, and after talking of that sweet place and other subjects we parted. Libby had not yet arrived.

This composition subject may well be a challenge for Serena. Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church does not specifically mention the theater, but it lists a number of examples of evil to be avoided, including “doing what is not for the glory of God: as,

The putting on of gold and costly apparel.

The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God.

Softness and needless self-indulgence.

Laying up treasure upon earth” (Doctrines 27-28).

 

Serena’s Uncle Samuel railed against the theater in a letter quoted in Petit’s doctoral dissertation: “Lewis’ religious principles and his reformer mentality helped to shape his narrow concept of amusement. The theater of pre-Civil War days probably was undeveloped aesthetically, but Lewis opposed it for religious reasons. He called the theater a ‘den of iniquity’ and counseled his brother not to visit any ‘theaters or other similar places of amusement as you value your life.’(Petit 22-23).”

The 1850 Federal Census shows a large Dills family living in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, near Piqua. There are three young men near Serena’s age.

February 4, 1851 The Mammoth Prize Concert

Tuesday 4^th (February)

Today I expected a letter but did not get one and therefore was much disappointed. I went into the Rhetoric for the first time but did not recite and think it is a very dry study. I am expecting to draw something at the prize concert this evening but am very much afraid that I shall be disappointed, however “hope on hope ever” is the motto. I was in hopes that we were going to have some sleighing but as the snow has melted I suppose we will not and how sorry I am for I expected to have so much pleasure. This day has been very pleasant and as I retire to night I hope to thank God for having spared me to see its close.

Writing in 1830, Richard Whately described Rhetoric: “In the present day . . . the province of Rhetoric, in the widest acceptation that would be deemed admissible, comprehends all ‘Composition in Prose;’ in the narrowest sense, it would be limited to ‘Persuasive Speaking.’” (Whately 6) Rhetoric includes grammar, but adds discussions of taste, genius and the sublime. Whately’s text is popular at this time (Farnham 75).

“Prize concerts” are lotteries. Holders of some of the tickets will be awarded gifts or cash prizes. The possibility of winning such a prize seems to be Serena’s main interest in the concert. It seems strange that our good Methodist, Serena, happily participates in this form of gambling.  Two such events are scheduled for this evening, a Mammoth Prize Concert and a Monster Prize Ball (The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 2, 1851).

 

 

The Cincinnati Enquirer February 2, 1851