Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1915

February 1915 Sun. 21 Frightful day in room just fretted. Sickening depression. In evening Editha came to my room for supper & we went to Irvin Cobb war lecture.

Mon. 22 Stayed in room till evening. Went with Editha to Pkway for dinner thence to hear Prof. Moulton recite Alcestis. [previous word underlined] Wet night. Suffering such ghastly depression I cannot meet life.

Tues. 23 Depression lifting thank God. Another trial for own life from 2 till 5.30. Miss Wyatt & Mrs Carnovali present. In evening had dinner with Editha at Hearth & went home with her to her room & read till 10.30

Wed. 24 Ethel & I took up the glorious idea of chicken farming together & Editha as a summer boarder. Editha & I met at Ursula Club for dinner & I came home & went to [continued on next page]

1915 February. [continued from previous page] gymnasium. Called at Editha's room on Cars St. coming home but she was not in. Finished "The Magnetic North" & went to bed.

Thurs. 25 Pottered in office. Lunch with Ethel at Hearth. Dinner with Miss G & Miss H. then then Miss G & I went to hear Carolina White sing at Majestic. home late.

Fri. 26 Got to office at 9.45. Lunch with Miss H. also dinner with her at Hearth & went to Peace Committee at La Salle. Windy affair as usual nothing in it. Home with Editha colder, wearing fur coat

Sat. 27 Went to office early then via bank to peace meeting at La Salle & to lunch at College Club with Editha. Peace meeting afternoon. Dinner with Editha & Emma P. at Ursula & to peace speeches after banquet & pictures of B. Von Suttner's play

February 1915 Sun. 28 Went out to Brownes at Hinsdale on 11.40 & returned on 9.53 Saw Miss Henry there & had a sleep during the afternoon. Met the 2 lovely lovely little boys.

Mon. 1 March. Pottered around in office. Dinner with Editha late at Hearth went home & pottered till late & went to bed. Still feeling utterly hopeless & depressed.

Tues. 2 Pottered in office. Editha brought in Lala Lajpat Rai during the afternoon. Editha Miss G & Miss H. & I had lunch at Hearth. Miss H. went home the other 3 of us went to the Vagabond's Club in Studio. Mrs Udell spoke.

Wed. 3 Cold raw days at last. Pottering as usual. Ethel & I had lunch at Hearth. Mrs Robins in during the afternoon. Miss Galvin came to supper with me at Hearth I then [continued on next page]

1915 March. [continued from previous page] walked home practised for half an hour & then went to gymnasium in Turner Hall N. Clark St & came home very tired.

Thurs. 4 Got down at 10.30. Lunch at Hearth with Ethel & Julia Armstrong. Miss G & I visited Drs Young & Van Hoeson & Mr Bland. Dinner early at Hearth alone & walked home so tired I slept for over an hour then practised & finished reading "The Magnetic North"

Fri. 5 Got to office at 9.30. Lunch with Mary A. at Hearth. Went for singing lesson & returned to office meeting. At 6.30 went to Hearth & had dinner with Mrs Fursman, Miss G. & Miss H. Miss G & I went to see Marie Tempest in "The Marriage of Kitty".

Sat. 6 Got down at 10. Lunch with Ethel & Mrs Gunston at University Club. Went to John Crerar & wrote invitations with Editha & then to Hearth for dinner. Miss G dropped in & then E & I walked home. Lots of snow.

March. 1915 Sun. 7 Pottered in room till 5.30 then called for Editha & went to Alexandria Hotel for dinner & back to room & worked refreshingly Very cold & raw

Mon. 8 No Ethel busy day in office. Not v. well so went home at six & to bed. Passed a fair night considering & was in good spirits - marvel of marvels

Tues. 9 Stayed in bed till 11. Went to office thence to lunch with E Wyatt at Woman's Club. Back to office & met Rose Schneidermann. Found out we had put wrong invitation date but had reduced dinner at City Club for Lajpat Rai & Shriva Gupta. Ethelcalled up.

Wed. 10 Went to office via Mrs Butter's to get a room for Rose Schneidermann. She took up morning talking to me in office. Lunch at Hearth with my precious Ethel who called in.