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Sunday May 15
Rainy -- Heavy showers commencing at 6 AM & through the AM -- PM some sunshine occasionally -- PM about town some -- Evening same, with Prof Zimmer -- We had a game or two at Cards -- "7 up" & I beat him, went to a shooting gallery on C st, near Sutton Avenue and I beat him-- rang the bell -- Bed 1 --
I rehair the fiddle bow -- Warm weather Summer underwear
Monday May 16
Clear & pleasant -- warmer -- About town some -- PM I re-haired the bow that came with Fathers old fiddle from Plymouth -- I had lent it to Professor Zimmer, & he wore it out pretty badly, so I had to rehair it myself or send it to San F. I made a very good job of it -- Evening at Lodge -- Bed at 1 --
Tuesday May 17
Finest clear day of the season -- About town as usual -- Bed 1
Wednesday May 18
Still finer -- Passed about as usual -- Evening wrote item about father's old fiddle -- was at Enterprise & read proof, etc -- Bed at 2 o'clock --
Thursday May 19
Still finer & warmer -- 76 -- As usual -- Evening about town -- Bed 12 --
Friday May 20
Same -- Bed 1 -- changed to Summer underwear today
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Silver Convention -- New Shoes I take the old fiddle to Reno
Saturday May 21
Same -- As usual -- Evening attended, the big silver convention meeting at Opera House, Was on stage as one of the Vice Presidents -- Bed 2 --
Sunday May 22
Same -- [Nads Adntro?] -- Bed 12
Monday May 23
Variable -- but warm & very pleasant -- breezy -- About town as usual -- Evening at lodge -- Bed 2 -- Bought me a new pair of shoes this AM to take the place of those I bought in Austin of Bob Hogan, about 8 years ago, and which I have worn principally ever since --
Tuesday May 24
Clear warm & pleasant -- pretty hot day -- 76 -- About town -- got new pair of shoes at [Cleator's?] $4, yesterday -- got box toes, fitted into them for 50 cents by a shoemaker today & put them on, to wear this evening -- Took evening train for Reno. Took the old fiddle of my sire along for Bessie. Sam and Alf met me at the depot in Reno and escorted me home -- found everybody all right. Evening,
At Reno -- The Queen's Birthday Salvation Army
Bessie & Sam & I had music, she on the old violin, I on my old '49 fiddle, and Sam on banjo. Bed at 11 -- Queen Victoria's birthday today -- 73 yrs old
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Wednesday May 25
Same -- Busy about home all day with screen doors windows & general repairing etc -- didnt go down town at all. Looked both violins over carefully, glueing a crack in each of them. Both now in perfect order. Bed at 11.
Thursday May 26
Same -- At home most of day trimming trees, glazing windows etc. Evening down town awhile -- Saw Salvation Army on street -- Two women and 7 men including, a nigger. One woman beat a tamborine and a stout man lustily pounded the glory of God on a bass drum -- And they sung lots of jolly songs, related experiences, etc, and a crowd followed them down to the "Barracks" near the Virginia street bridge where the same sort of a show continued. Bed at 10
State University -- Gold Hill News File Brother Charley & Wife arrive
Friday May 27
Same. Wife extra busy at school exercises. PM I rode on 'bus out to State University. "Field day" Students had athletic games, sports, foot racing, etc, Large crowd of visitors, spectators etc on the grounds. I visited the library for an hour or so overhauling the bound file of the Gold Hill Daily News, which Mrs Gov Stevenson presented to the University a year or two ago -- After the Gov died. PM wife received following telegram: Woodland, Cal, May 27, 1892.
Mrs Alf Doten, Arrive Saturday morning. Wait few hours for special. Tell Alf. CC Doten. Sam, Alf & I went to work & cleaned up the yard & premises
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generally. Evening at home. Sam & I practiced violin & banjo. Bed 10
Saturday May 28
Same. 78[degrees] We all rose at 6 getting things ready for reception of Charley. Train arrived at 11 AM, 3 hours late. Charley & wife -- Mary -- arrived. Sam & Alf & I were at depot. Sam detected them first. Knew Charley by his photographs -- I had
Doten Family Reunion -- Charley!!! -- John Dennis
not seen him personally since March 18, 1849 -- over 43 years -- Recognized him, knowing he was coming, otherwise I should not. 3 yrs & 8 mos younger than myself. His wife a nice looking old homebody -- about his age. PM I took Charley about town -- across the bridge, around by the schoolhouse, etc -- Visited Gazette office, introduced him to lots of my friends, including Major JH Dennis. Dennis is stopping in Reno yet, journalizing, etc -- Evening Bessie on the old Violin, Sam on banjo & I on flute gave them a concert in the parlor, playing "On the Road to Boston" & lots of other old home tunes that Charley knows. They were very much pleased, and we got them a good place to sleep at Payne's across the street -- Bed at 10 --
Sunday May 29
Same. Up at 6. Breakfast. Train from California 2 hours late. I & my boys went with Charley & wife to depot. Their special cars, 4 of them were attached to rear
Chaley & Wife leave for Plymouth Plymouth Rock Pin -- Photos by Sammy
of the second section which pulled in as the first pulled out. Charley introduced
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me to several of his traveling editorial comrades -- They left for the East at 10:30 -- PM & evening at home -- Bed 9 -- This morning Sam took photos of our entire crowd, including Charley and wife, on front porch, also of Charley & wife by themselves. Charley presented me with a scarf pin, composed of a small square (1/3 inch) of Plymouth rock -- the rock on which the pilgrims landed in 1620 -- gold setting.
Return to Virginia -- More Photos -- Memorial Day
Monday May 30
"Memorial Day." Flags all displayed at 1/2 mast in Reno, but nowhere else. Train over an hour late. Morning, Sam took pictures on front porch of our band -- he, Bessie & I banjo, violin & flute respectively, instruments in laps. Also, of myself, alone, standing and sitting -- hat on and off, etc. At 9:20 left on train for Virginia -- Arrived just after noon just in time to see the parade procession pass down & out along C st to the cemeteries north of town to decorate the graves -- Very good. Prettiest procession I ever saw for size, kind & occasioin -- National and Emmet Guards, Battery A, artillery, Canton Silver State IOOF, Fourth Ward school girls & boys, military companies, two brass bands, Phil Kearney Post No 10 G.A.R. and carriages with officers of the day, etc. The battery fired guns while decoration went on. On return, usual services & exercises were held at Opera
My Old "Forty-Nine" Fiddle
House. Evening about town. Bed 1 -- I brought my old violin with me back to Virginia today -- It is the good fiddle I brought around Cape Horn in '49 from old
