Reference
X928/1/4/1/4
Title
Boots Scribbling Diary
Date free text
1907
Production date
From: 1907 To: 1907
Scope and Content
Boots Scribbling Diary 1907. Buff coloured hard back with the legend 'Marigo Argenti March 21st 07. This is my personal diary - No one is to read it'. Marigo is 15, turning 16 in September. The diary has several pages of coloured advertisments for Boots products and various pages of general information. Contains the usual descriptions of daily activities such as lessons, play, meals, etc. but has a distinctly more mature feel than the earlier diaries, with opinions and irritations expressed about other people and rebellion against the authority of her governess and maid. Sometime previous to this diary Marigo has begun to attend school in Bedford, which she often mentions. Marigo gets her first spectacles. Marigos' handwriting is often difficult to read with additions squashed inbetween lines and in margins. She is frequently in trouble for poor work, and carelessness. Mentions on several occasions that her parents have been to Newmarket (horseracing) and lost. She pays several visits to residents of the almshouses, which are probably those in Turvey. Other noteworthy entries are:
Jan 4th Mother and Father are treating us to "Alice in Wonderland" at the "Prince of Wales". We all enjoyed it very much. I liked best Alice and the two flowers the lily who sang and the cornflower who danced.'
Jan 5th 'Cousin Rufus was treating us to "Robinhood" at the "Lyric Theatre", Louis Waler was Robinhood he is awfully nice and also Maid Marion's maid - something Minto she is called.'
Jan 7th 'Greek Xmas. We are going to buy Biddy a dress for Xmas so we saw some and they were sent on approval. None fitted.
Jan 8th 'Gina Biddy and I went to Oxford Street by motorbus to choose Biddy'scostume. A mauve one cost £3-7s-6d.'
Jan 9th 'We went to the Hippodrome where there was at the end "under the Sea" a rotten story with no talking and the rest of the performance was exactly the same as last year.'
March 22nd 'Mother says we must learn Greek and Angelica is to speak. The sneak told Mother we blocked our ears when she tried to. Mother was cross with us.'
March 26th ' I bought a 1/- china one (egg) for Gina for (to give to)Biddy, and a cardbord 6d one and 1/3d to fill (how expensive). Then for Boy I got a 1/-d egg and filled it which cost 3/6d.'
March 29th Good Friday 'I picked violets with Pullin and Parker (the new undergardener).'
April 5th 'Went birds nesting in Boy's Wood found thrush's nest with 1 egg. In Lover's walk blackbird's with 4 eggs.'
April 6th 'found 6 nests, blackbirds, thrushes, and 1 longtailed titmouse, which I saw.'
April 10th 'Mother has got a reformatory boy - Coleman - in a heart hospital because he has such a bad heart - age 18.'
April 16th 'Along the Turvey Road we found a robin's nest, in the wall near Priory Farm with 5 eggs in all forsaken so we took them and a wren's nest with nothing in it. Then we cam home in the garden and in the Lover's Walk there are two wrens and 2 blackbirds nests with eggs and birds.'
April 18th 'We went birdsnesting just in the fields behind the house. We found 3 thrushes, 2 blackbirds and above all (Ho! the joy) a long tailed tit with 7 eggs and also an unfinnished chaffinch.'
April 20th 'Went birdsnesting with Father, in fields towards Stevington. 3 thrushes, 2 blackbirds, 2 hedge sparrows, 1 with 1 egg, another empty new one. Saw 1st 2 swallows.'
July 26th Marigo uses code to disguise her writing, though not clear why. 's13d 1t lsmch my r2p4rt w45ld b2 2t45rd32 + c45ld d4 b2tt2r 3f tr32d' which could read as 'said ... ... my report would be ........ + could be better if tried'. This code occurs five more times before the year's end.
August 8th 'We three and Frau went to alms houses. We went to Miss Delley and (her) Father, showed lace. Next to Miss Rayner, lovely, dressed in black silk with pink shawl. Lovely paintings. Next to Mr Dellifield, generally alone but now had his daughter who is a lady (a governess) and knew Miss Belcher. Both he and Miss Rayner are quite educated. Enjoyed it very much.'
August 12th 'Went tohouse 2 - 7 of alms houses and asked them all to tea for Tuesday or Wednesday. Some are very nice, it was great fun.'
August 21st 'Alms houses to tea. At 4 people arrived. Went round garden etc, then had tea, Mrs Carr had it outside after the long meal was over (+ crackers) it began drizzling so they were shown into the drawing room where Mrs Palmer played piano. F (Father) brought the men pipes and tobacco. Miss Rayner mad with joy. Mrs Brightwell told me at teatime that she eat (sic) gingerbread because it was good for the b---ls (bowels.'
August 26th 'Frau and I went to the alms houses to see the ones who could not come.'
August 29th The family go to Lynmouth on holiday. Enjoyed sailing, fishing, riding and walking.
Sept 26th 'Mother went to the Reformatory harvest festival (at Carlton). All the boys have very smart new uniforms red and brown.'
October 30th. 'Father has gone in for a raffle, £2 for a pony and cart. I do hope he will win it.'
October 31st 'Father reads to us every evening after we are in bed.'
November 6th. The Jokers in Bedford getting up a play '3 Little Maids' J Harding was going to conduct but when he saw how badly they sang and how vulgar he refused, and also would not have his name on the programs but it was put on all the same. Instead of giving something to the church they are £30 out of pocket. Prince Olaf, King Queen and Son of Spain, German Emperor all here. Emperor not well and is going to the Isle of Wight late for a rest.'
November 9th 'Lord Mayor's Show, very grand, also a pageant of all the Edwards in Bedford. Mr Gilpin [Kilpin] new mayor. 50 years ago his father was made Mayor of Bedford.'
November 11th. 'Kaiser to England.'
November 13th 'Kaiser goes to Guildhall. Mother and Father went to see the procession with the Kaiser.'
November 21st 'Diptheria in Turvey.'
Level of description
item