Emma #142: January 1939 (part 2)
Baby things for Ruth; Emma goes to Washington and does some major sightseeing
As these entries begin, Emma is in Philadelphia, where Ruth is expecting her first child. She’s staying with Ruth and Robert, who is a voice student at the Curtis Institute of Music. Tell is back in Iowa keeping things going on the farm.
Tue 17. We got up rather late this morning. Ruth & I did the ironing. After that we sewed & had lunch. Went up town to buy some cookie pans. Passed a Beauty Parlor where a wave and shampoo were advertised for 50¢ so we each got one—as we are invited over to Elizabeth McCleary’s this evening. We were ready to go just as Robert got home & discovered that the girls choir was having a shower on Ruth. We went. There were 12 of us altogether. They gave Ruth a lovely Baby Bunting & 3 blankets. They served luncheon cafeteria style—sandwiches, apple salad, little cakes, coffee or tea. Stood around the table to eat. We got home about midnight. Ruth is tired. One girl offered Ruth the use of her scales. Another wants to come spend the day with her. The choir gave another girl who has had her baby a scales. We got a letter from Uncle Chris today.
A baby bunting is a one-piece garment designed to keep babies warm and cozy. It typically has a hood and openings for the arms and legs.
Wed 18. Ruth & I have been home all day. It has been snowing and blowing. We made cookies this morning with the butter I brought. I finished the little jacket & booties and have worked on the quilt. Got a letter from Dad but he did not send any money. We got a check for 15.00 from Katharine but sent it back because she said she was broke. She spent too much on me. Ruth feels badly tonight. She is anxious and restless at times. Robert is away so much.
Thu 19. The snow has melted a lot today. Robert left about 10 A.M. Ruth & I cleaned up the house. Katharine Donahue called that she would not come today but Mrs. Dickson and Miss Mitchell came about 2:45 and staid till 5 P.M. They brought Ruth 14 yds of white material that can be used for many things, 4 pieces of new sheet samples—enough for 4 crib sheets—a little begonia in a raffia harness to hang it up by. Marge Moore also came. Ruth served tea, turkey sandwiches & cookies. We plan to leave soon for the Opera La Boheme held at the Academy of Music which Robert is in. Well, it is 12:35 & I have just got to bed. Robert rather wanted to stay for the feed but he didn’t. It took about an hour to come home. My impression of the opera was not so good. Some of the singing was fine but the people are worldly & I am sure it is not worth the effort for all the good it does. Ruth feels badly tonight.
La bohème is a four-act opera composed by Giacomo Puccini. It is set in Paris about 1830 and shows the bohemian lifestyle of a poor seamstress and her artist friends.
Fri 20. This has been a lovely day but no word from Dad. Ruth & I went to town to buy a few groceries. Katharine Donahue came out to spend the afternoon. Was here for lunch—we had a nice time. Her mother died just two months ago. She was interested in Ruth’s baby things. After she left Ruth & I had lunch, listened to the Radio, & I got a phone call from Rachel about 10:25. They did not get my last letter. She wants me to come over tomorrow and I will if I get any money tomorrow which I think I will. Got word from Chris & Lou that they intend to come Feb. 3. Bob & I may take them to New York if all goes well. I’d be so happy to see the city. Bob got home about 11:00. He sang at Curtis tonight but Ruth did not feel able to go.
In the files I found a postcard from Tell’s brother Chris, who was in the oil business, that tells of his (and wife Louisa’s) plans to travel to Venezuela with a stop in Philadelphia.
Sat 21. It was snowing this morning. Robert went to his French class and we were glad to have him home for lunch. Ruth had succotash. We have been sewing. I got an Air Mail letter from Dad with 5.00 in it so could go to Washington but will wait till Monday. Robert is going to Wilmington. No mail on Sat. P.M. Decided not to go to Washington till Monday so sent a Special Del. to Charles. He called me about 10:30 said he had waited at the bus station for seven hours. I felt dreadfully bad about it but I had not said sure I’d come. I am terribly blue tonight. It just makes me sick. Robert had 5 students & got 5.50. Janet Dickson called & brought Ruth a lovely nightgown. Robert had almost 2.00 expense on the train.
Emma’s brother Charles and his family were living in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the government printing office.
Sun 22. Ruth and I went to hear Bishop Richardson at the dedication of the Lansdowne church this A.M. It is a nice building. I liked the sermon. It was about Abraham building an altar in Canaan. I am very much bothered because my glasses are broken. Found them broken in the case last night. We planned to go down to hear the choir sing this afternoon but the carfare is so much & the walk so long that I gave it up. I didn’t want to walk alone after night around a cemetery, and I thought Ruth might get too tired. Mrs. Dixon has invited her over for afternoon and evening tomorrow. Ruth so wishes her Daddy could have come.
Mon 23. I got up early and did the washing for Ruth. Sent Robert for a washboard. Had lunch & Robert took me to the Terminal to get a bus for Washington. It is a beautiful day tho’ a little cold in the bus. Noticed a sign in Newark—Marriages, License, Preacher. We are waiting 15 minutes at Havre de Grace for passengers to get out at a hotel. I have eaten my lunch & it was good. Glad Dad sent the 15.00. Robert had to pay 10.80 for a license. He paid the rent & telephone. Had McCurdy advance him 10.00. Came through New Jersey. Charles & two of his boys met me at the train. We drove to the Gov. Pr. Office & sat in car & visited till he had to go to work. Saw the Capitol, the new Supreme Court Building (on the outside). Came to his home and it is perfectly lovely. Have staid up and visited till it is now 2:30 A.M. The boys are so kind to me. Richard fixed my glasses.
The US Supreme Court building was started in 1932 and completed in 1935.
Tue 24. We slept late. We had breakfast about 10:30. After Charlie got up he & Chas. Jr., Rachel & I went sight-seeing. We went down town first and did some shopping. Found some paper for Ruth & Rachel insisted on paying for it. Then we drove around through the city. Saw many of the gov. buildings: the Capitol, Senate & House on either side, Supreme Court building, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial. The last two named & the Capitol are in a straight line. The Lincoln Memorial is wonderful. We crossed the bridge into Virginia. Went to the Lee Mansion. Visited the Arlington Cemetery. Saw the great amphitheater (out doors) which is of white marble. I sat down where the Pres. sits. Happened the see the guards change. They serve for two hours night & day. Saw an American Legion decorate the Un. Soldiers grave. Drove around by the cherry trees. Saw the place where the Jefferson Memorial is building. This evening we took Gertrude down to play for Ms. _____. Got in on the choir practice. Rachel took me to a movie “Sweethearts”—Nelson Eddy & Janet McDonald starred.
Wow! What a full day! Here’s a 1939 map of the National Mall in Washington.
The 24/7 guard presence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier began in 1937 with a guard change every 2 hours. It is now every ½ hour in the summer and every hour in the winter.
Wed 25. It has been much colder today. Chas. Jr. drove us to the Capitol. Rachel & I visited the many spots of interest. Saw where the dead lie in State. Visited the Statuary Hall. Copied the inscription from the Frances Willard statue. Visited House of Rep and the Senate. The Senator from N.C. had been reading for 2½ hours & only ten senators were in the room. Saw Garner & Borah. Saw many beautiful paintings & statues given by the States. We then spent about an hour in the new Supreme Court building. It is gorgeous. We got into the International room & saw the picture of Chief Justice Marshall whose head seems to turn as you walk in front of him. We saw the winding stairs—7½ stories. Saw the suites of rooms for the Judges—3 apiece—27 in all. The Courtroom itself is wonderful. The heavy velour curtains each weigh 100 lbs. Cost $250 apiece. Only four of the suites are occupied. The magnificent wood & marble is almost indescribable—$10,500,000 was the cost. May go back Monday when Court convenes. Found a letter from Ruth when I got home enclosing one from Katharine. Thought Dad would write. Plan to visit the White House tomorrow.
Oh, my goodness! I could write a whole post just on this one entry. I am guessing that the NC Senator was filibustering to stall an anti-lynching bill that had recently been introduced. Frances Willard was president of the WCTU from 1879 to 1898. The marble statue by Helen Farnsworth Mears was given to the National Statuary Hall by the state of Illinois in 1905. The inscription on the pedestal honors her work in the womens’ suffrage movement:
Ah! It is women who have given the costliest hostage to fortune. Out into the battle of life they have sent their best beloved, with fearful odds against them. Oh, by the dangers they have dared, by the hours of patient watching over beds where helpless children lay, by the incense of ten thousand prayers wafted from their gentle lips to heaven, I charge you give them power to protect along life’s treacherous highway those whom they have so loved!
Thu 26. We went sight seeing again today. Was so thrilled to see all I did today. Went to the Congressional Library—a most beautiful building. Was privileged to go into a room where the old books and old Stradivarius violins were kept. It was all so very interesting. Then we went to the Episcopal Cathedral on Washington C. It has been building since 1907 and is about 1/3 done. We were too late to get into the White House, as the hours are from 10 till 2. We will likely go tomorrow. Saw the Mile of dimes that is being collected by boy scouts for the benefit of Infantile Par. Patients. We went into the building which used to be the Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot. Then the biggest thrill was to go down to the wharves to buy oysters from the oyster boats. They had to be taken to the shuckers, where the negroes shucked them. A peck cost 40¢—15¢ to get them shucked. I brought home several shells. Then Rachel bought a peck to shuck at home. We had stew for supper & it was good. Got several letters today—one from Dad, one from Ruth with several enclosures, John Lohr, Stella, Uncle John etc.
Another amazing day! This entry took me to the Library of Congress’s instrument collection, a picture of the Washington National Cathedral under construction, the March of Dimes, Ford’s Theatre, now a National Park Service site, and oyster shuckers on the wharves.
Fri 27. Sent Dad a long letter today. We all got up late. Got started in time to go to the White House. Saw the east corridor and the rooms adjoining it, also the famous East Room where so many functions are held. The new grand piano has golden eagles for legs. It is a large room with four large fireplaces, mantles, looking glasses, hard wood inlaid floor. Busts of G. Washington, Lincoln, Benj. Franklin & Jefferson on mantles and three large glass chandeliers. (Used the toilet here & glad to find one). From there we went to the top in an elevator and looked out of each of the four windows over the city. It was a clear day & we could see a long way. To the south was the Potomac river—Alexandria. To the East the Capitol, Lincoln monument to the west & the White House to the north. It was a wonderful view. Then to the Smithsonian Institute & old & new museums. Everything closes at 4:30. We stopped for meat. Got home & we took Gertrude for her music lesson at Mrs. Hendlys. It was very interesting. Then to Sears Roebuck store for Charlie and home. We visited awhile. Did the dishes. I took a bath & am going to bed. It is almost 2 A.M. Saw Andrew Mellon’s home. President’s Appropriation plan for WPA voted down by one vote.
In 1938, Steinway & Sons replaced the gold-leaf gilded concert grand piano that was presented to Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 (its 100,000th piano) with its 300,000th piano, presented to Franklin D. Roosevelt and also elaborately decorated. The video below is a short and quite delightful one about the FDR Steinway piano (it shows the earlier one as well).
Here is a (very dry) transcript of the Senate proceedings on this date that include the discussion of the W.P.A. appropriation. This was part of the New Deal program to employ Americans during the Great Depression, and both Robert and Ruth benefited from it in previous years.
By the way, you can still visit the White House, but you have to use the toilets in the Visitor Center.
That’s a nice note to end on. You’re just going to have to wait for the next entry to learn about the baby…we’re almost at the end of the month, I’m about to hit the maximum post length, and I want to shine a spotlight on the big event.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for the exciting conclusion of January 1939.