The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-28
Dick Dash's Diary.

January II, IssO-l2.O5 A. M.-Have
resolved, to Keep diary. 1t will help
me to careful habits. 49,,
Been sitting here in my room all the
evening, whiting for Jack and Fred,
who promised to drop in for punch, and
a.chorus tojwelccme the little new year.
BOYS hayen't come (on some other lark,
| suppose), and I've been thinking-an
exercise rather new to you, Dick Dash
thinking that the passing years,
marked off by these midnight bells,
aren't making me much wiser or better;
thinking that since the old university
times I've fallen into careless ways.
Rise in n hurry, past nine, take a swal
low of soda-water, and rush to busi-
ness; pitch into work desperately, al
ways too late for 4 fair start; feel very
much down about noon, and take game
pie and champagne at Delmonico's.
Afternoon, feel picked up. Go home in
horse-car with two or three fellows,
stopping on the way for drinks: Then
q rousing good dinner, generally at a
restaurant AS for the evenings, the
less said the better. At any rate, they
last into the small hours. Then tumble
into bed, Jump lip in hurry, and same
day over again. Bah! don't feel half
man - feel groveing, low-lived
wretch. There's the world of art,
science, and literature. See my old text
books there on the shelves; l never
touch 'em. Think of what might have
done in these past five years since l was
twenty. Let's see, for a regimen. One
hour before breakfast read Latin and
throw clubs; cold bath, breakfast, and
down town by $50. Correspondence
out OF the way by eleven, then time to
look after things generally: Frugal
lunch-say oatmeal or plain broth.
Clear head for afternoon hurry, brac-
ing walk home-no stopping on the way.
French literature or German before din
ner. After dinner, one pipe (no cigars);
then for an hour tutor--some fellow
to put you through the sciences. Quiet
evening with history; or, if you must
90 out, visit Corinna Solo for classical
music and solid learning. Home early,
and turn a verse or open an essay be-
fore sleeping. Why, by this time'I
might have been a magazinist gaining
!ams sow mneh and mSnsy monsyy G1sary fm in 0us
bad way-a "horrid boy" as Kitty
would say, By the way, there's Kitty.
She's not improving-not a bit; not up
to sonatas on the piano; doesn't know
German. Corinna's the girl to elevate
mans taste-tall, distinguished, stu
dious, proper; never at loss for facts;
never uses slang. Kitty once asked if
the EGzabethan period was ''horrid
punctuation mark" She says lawfully
Jolly" and higher than a kite" and
the other day, when | was telling her
some nonsense, she calculated. Tatty!
Have resolved to give Kitty up.
There's her picture-better burn it.
What an arch little face! Kitty Budd-
such bud Of XII, ny it is, to be sure, so
round and so pink; and tnat hair, fossy
yellow, and it curls so! then such great
gray eyes, and long yellow lashes that
catch the light The photographs q
libel on Kitty; it hides her dainty color;
and those funny little white teeth, like
a kittens; and those soft baby hands,
useless, but so pleasant to touch! Now
for figure Kitty's no Juno, certainly,
hardly Venus, but what lovely Bac-
chante! Kitty ought to be done in white
on Wedgewood vase. (Mem.-Must
get up in ceramics). Enough of Kitty:
here goes the picture into the fire. No.;
Jack Pennington might like it. There,
it's in a drawer with old gloves until
Jack drops in.
A new paragraph for my new life.
Tomorrow begin study, exercise, cold
baths and Corinna. (Mem.-Read up
for conversation with Corinna).
January /, 1892 Noon.-Awokc at
- he
bath. Could have sworn there was ice
in the water. Found there wasn't.
Took down the Commentaries and
opened Book First. Breakfast at eight.
Landlady surprised; boarders jocular
waiter giggled outright.
Find Latin very rusty. Have begun
on the declensions. Study aloud, walk
ing the floor. Must be thorough. Jack
Pennington dropped in. Hello" he
said; Thought you were drunk, old
boy, grumbling away at that gibber-
ish." Annoyed, but had to stop. Told
Jack had a present for him, meaning
Kitty's picture. Will give it next time
he comes. Shall make il few calls. .
January 1-Midnight.-Made calls
until seven. Corinna was magnificent IN
black and yellow-something like up
holstery stuff. Invited me to Join the
Omnivorous club. rs it zoologicalP'
I asked. Artistically omnivorous,
she explained; I'VE consume every.
thing. Intellectually; physically. only
bouillon." Tremendous girl is Corinna
Played fugue. (Mem.-Find out what
fugue is) Looked in at Kitty's JUS
for decency, it being New Years's day
the last time, of course. Kitty was likt
al rainbow, ali light and gossamer
"Dick." she said Mem. Must tell K
it's bad form to call men by their frs
names. Useless, though; forgot II
given X. up). She said, Dick" hold
fnp I'M q half-eaten 7,,arro,, gL1ce, ant