In Florence’s young world, life was difficult, but it was also fun. It is easy to see a different world, without cards, TV, cable, Internet, cell phones, computers. People connected with one another, formed powerful friendships, had a great sense of community and although they had little money, they had all sorts of inventive ways to have tremendous fun, even in the midst of back-breaking work and hard times. People talked to each other, not through machines. Florence’s journals make clear that our new devices are powerful, but they have taken a lot from us. It is interesting about Florence and her writing. She stated no opinions about politics,  changing times, was not ever complaining or nostalgic. But her journals make clear how the felt about the changing world. Her own rich world had vanished.

 “Mother belonged to a Larkin’s* club, the neighbors meeting about every two weeks. She would get credit for what was sold and earned prizes like lamps, stands, chairs, and smaller things. There were card party’s which was held at different homes. We always went along. One night we all went to Henry Coulter’s home on Scotch Hill. While folks played, the children raised H—-. We were going up the stairs and sliding down the open stair rail. Bus Coulter was so anxious to beat us that he ran up, jumped for the rail going over to the floor below. This knocked him out and scared us so no more rail sliding that night.

  Other nights they had dances or kitchen hops. This was fun as I loved music. Dad would bundle us up, take a team on a sleigh and go over the mountains to a large house. This was near Dall Coulter’s home. I would take a nap all afternoon and stay awake all night. One night I sat on a mantle shelf and watched Matt Shields play the fiddle for the squares. That was the night Fayette, who was a sleep head, went to sleep on some coats in the hall. The hall was dark and others came and piled their heavy fur coats on top of him. He was nearly smothered before Mother found him. One day we were getting ready to go over for another dance when we received word the house was on fire. They had started the stove in the front room. The chimney caught fire. That was the last of a beautiful home. Burned to the ground.”

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* I researched the Larkin’s Club reference. John D. Larkin began a modest soap factory in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1875 and marketed two products: Sweet Home Soap, a yellow laundry soap, and Creme Oatmeal, a toilet soap. He began experimenting with the “Larkin Idea,” door-to-door sales to private residences using neighbors and friends. As part of the “Larkin Idea,” the company inserted a color picture with the company’s logo into every box of soap and customers could join his “club.”  His tactic of offering a gift directly to customers was a revolutionary approach at the time. By the 1890’s Larkin’s notion of “premiums” – now commonplace – was an integral part of his operation. Salespeople like Florence’s mother received a commission on sales. – jk