Claudia Lea Phelps:
A Young Woman's Diary

Monday December 2^nd 1912

Tuesday a lot of us assisted at Mrs. Copeland's tea for Aileen. After the tea we had dinner. I sat between Misses Walker & Almy both strangers & the time wore calmly on. After dinner a few people languidly danced. Mother talked to "Mrs. B.G." & Mrs. Billy la du Pont & I returned to listen & allow my occasional partner to get away.

Wed. Mrs. Bissell gave me a dinner before the Bachellors. As little Alfred has diptheria Mother was hostess. Mr. Bissell seated the table rather badly. Mother was between Uncle Bill & Mr. Bissell & I had Newell & Mr. Fields ex. foot ball star at Yale, & very rude for he turned his back on me & conversed exclusively to Mary Thompson who feed him large spoonfuls of treacle. The dance was very slow about supper time and Mother went home for Mary had been very rude & paid no attention to the chaperon. After supper things were more lively & we arrived home at 2.30

Thursday rest & Thanksgiving. Wessie & Uncle Grant to dinner

Friday evening the dancing class. Mrs. Woolay had some people to dinner. In order of seating Mrs. W. Phil. Darling, Connie Morre, Mr. Leitch, Aileen, Harry Scott, Mrs. Walker, Mr. W., C.P, Clem Miller, Eliz. Ramsay, Waller Carpenter. Clem wasnt well so I was left without a supper partner. Grandmother told Mr. Ashton & the poor man had to take care of us. I said "Poor Mr. Ashton." when he had to dance with me & he gave a long lecture told me I was in the "light class" & then was as nice as possible & took me (also G.mother) home. So what might have been most unpleasant became quite the reverse.

Sat. Mr. Brooke brought Mother, Gramp, Mr. Suret & myself to Washington on his car & Mrs. McKim met us, also Dr, ^We/k maid & footman. Mother had tea with us & went on to Aiken where she arrived 2 hrs. late.

Sun. Mrs. McKim & I went to church & when we came back found the Dr. playing his marvellous organ. Mrs. Weck likes the harp stop that is really wonderfully lifelike. They had it in church & she wants to have in in theirs. Dr. McKim played a wonderful thing called "Vision" by Khunhardt. a lovely "mareage long of a nightingale" by etc. It is a fasanating thing to touch. Of course I couldn't remember a thing to play but it was wonderful to hold a note & then change it from violin down to flutes & trumpets. In the afternoon a Mrs. Burr had about 24 people to tea to meet me. This p.m. cousin Anne, Marian, & Doss. called & Doss & I went to see Aunty Flo who was sweet as possible & now a dinner of 18 awaits & I go.