Did not rise till 12:15 noon. The latest I have ever been in bed on a Sunday or any other day. Mrs Wagstaffe is still unwell but slightly better.
I leave for home at 7:50 pm
Arrive home at 10:45 pm
Archives for September 2014
Saturday 19 September 1914
Rain all morning. No work
I leave early for Burnaby & arrive at Ruth’s at 12 noon. At 12:25 noon to Wagstaffe’s. Mrs Wagstaffe is ill with grippe. I to Mrs Wagstaffe’s with Mabel & to theatre also. Back home at 6 pm.
No change in the position of the Germans.
Stayed all night at Wagstaffe’s
*Grippe – Influenza
Friday 18 September 1914 – rain
Heavy rain all day
No work
Our men are fighting in rainstorms & in trenches half full of water. The Germans are still holding our Allies at bay. I send $4.50 to Sir [Hiram’s] Laboratory.
To a meeting of the North Vancouver Home Guard at Larson’s] Pavilion. I spoke twice regarding Lynn Valley Company. I get my family tree from Ruth & bring it home to Lynn Valley.
*possibly Sir Hiram Maxim, inventor of the Maxim gun.
Thursday 17 September 1914 – fair in noon but rain in afternoon
Working on Keith Road School till 4 pm. Quit on account of rain.
Wednesday 16 September 1914 – rain
Raining all day
No work
Germans have retreated to the Vosges Mountains & their front extends 150 miles
They have over 1 ½ million men in the field. Their losses have been enormous. Our total losses are 15,000 killed, wounded & missing
Tuesday 15 September 1914 – cloudy
Germans are committing terribly atrocities in Belgium & France.
To work at Keith Road School all day
Hugh Neill calls at night & plays cards with Charles & myself.
*The Rape of Belgium – During the occupation of Belgium German troops were accused of killing civilians en masse on multiple occasions as well as destroying large amounts of civilian property. The events were quickly used as anti-German propaganda in England and North America and referred to as the Rape of Belgium.
Monday 14 September 1914 – rain
Raining all day. Stayed at home & painted house in morning. In afternoon to Neates’
Mrs & Miss Lilian at home
Stayed till 4:15 pm
Jack Neate calls in evening “sans peur et sans reproach”
* “without fear and beyond reproach” – Alluding to a French soldier from the 13th century named Pierre Terrail, Seigneur de Bayard. He was known as “the knight without fear and beyond reproach” (le chevalier sans peur et sans reproche).
Sunday 13 September 1914 – cloudy, rain at night
I paint house in morning. Mr MacHugh a Dublin University man calls & we have an interesting chat.
In afternoon I go to Rev. N.J. Thompson to take few flowers then onto Mrs Esdaile’s. Jack & George Barker’s Residence on Doran Road at 5 pm. I stay for supper, then to Church at 7 pm. After Church, take a walk alone, then home at 9 pm. Mr. Hugh Neill is chatting with Charles. Hugh leaves at 10 pm. Jack Neate calls at 10:15 pm & wants to know reason of my displeasure relating to him. I tell him to stay away from house on account of his intimacy with Mrs. Haswell.
Saturday 12 September 1914 – cloudy but no rain
To work at Keith Road School till 12 noon. Working on house till 5 pm. Charles & me go to Vancouver at 6:30 pm. Go to Rex Theatre & see “The Million Dollar Mystery”. We meet John Neate Jr. in company of Mrs. Haswell. Home at 10:30 pm. J. Neate & Mrs Haswell ride in same car as me.
*The Million Dollar Mystery– A serialized 23 chapter film starting Florence La Badie and James Cruze, chronicling a secret society attempting to find a million dollars that had been lost.
Friday 11 September 1914 – rain
Raining hard. Slight earthquake struck at 8:25 am
At 7:30 pm I go to the Public School Ground with Mr. Purdie. Instruct the members of Lynn Valley Home Guard in Military Drills. At 8:40 pm to St. Clements Church to attend choir. Hugh Neill called in evening.
