Busy all day. Went to the organ at night and didn’t manage very well. Met John Wilkinson and Chapman and talked to them a bit.
The Jews’ chimney on fire and Joe was in putting it out1. We didn’t go to bed until after midnight.
Joe commenced nice work at Dr Todds’.
“Chimney on fire”: most people seem to have been accustomed to performing minor tasks which Jewish neighbours could not do on their Sabbath, which began at sunset on the Friday; a chimney on fire seems rather more than ordinary. ↩
Got up about 8 o’clock. Pretty busy at work. Finished in decent time. Tried to write some of the story, but gave it up, Went out last thing. Played a bit on the piano.
Lot of interest in Ulster and rumours of officers resigning their commissions1 because they will not fight against their countrymen.
Joe commenced at Durham.
Got through work in decent time. Joe received message from Newcastle with regard to the place he applied for. He went to Newcastle and practically fixed it. At night he went to see Dr Todd in regard to a postcard he had received.
Band of Hope Concert1. Very poor house. The social a success from a musical point of view. Pye and Charlie sang all right and Miss Robson was not so bad. Briggs managed all right. I played pretty well. Miss Hunter and the children were pretty well taken with. Mr Morley was good but had poor reception. Mr Chadwick didn’t turn up except for his speech. A lot of excitement at home about it.
Band of Hope: See note on 13 January. ↩
Not very much to do at work. Played at night and went down to the chapel last thing and helped Jim to put up the curtains and things. Came round with Willie Marshall. St Patrick’s social at the Victoria Hall1 and there were a lot of drunken Irish people dancing beside the Palatine2 last thing at night. I went up to Brumwell’s3 and got Father a fiddle string. Joe at Leeds. He wired to say he had taken the place to start on Monday next.
Victoria Hall: See note on 10 January. ↩
“Palatine”: the Palatine Hotel, in South Bridge Street. ↩
“Brumwell’s” (if correct): hardware shop in John Street (or Frederick Street?) with very comprehenisve stock. ↩
Got up about 8 o’clock. Fine morning. Busy at work. Finished in good time. Walked over to Roker with Joe. Big tide on the sea washing up. Road at seaside last†. I went down to Briggs’ and practised a bit. Had short walk with Charlie afterwards. Mother got wash-leather for the boxing gloves.
Got up shortly after 7 o’clock. Drilled. Wrote a bit. At work in good time. Not much to do. Mr Briggs came at night. We played until after 9 o’clock. Charlie sang a few songs. Went down to see Mr Morley afterwards and arranged with him for a few “darts†”1. Posted letter for Joe last thing about a job at Newcastle.
“Darts” is a possible reading, but being in inverted commas, it evidently had some special meaning at which it is now impossible to guess. ↩
Got up at 8 o’clock. Mr Aitken away at London. Called round by the dock and got Father’s compensation money. Finished in decent time. Played a bit at night and then went down to Briggs’ and practised with him. Called for Willie and went to the Victoria Hall1 and saw Cherry Kearton’s Pictures of wild animals2. They were very good and interesting. Joe reporting3 at a meeting in the afternoon and got 5/- for it. Went to bed late.
Victoria Hall: See note on 10 January. ↩
Cherry Kearton: early wildlife photographer, recently (2013) re-popularised. ↩
“Joe reporting”: Joe Wiseman wrote excellent Pitman’s shorthand; he and ALL did verbatim reporting at political meetings etc for practice, and evidently for income in Joe’s case. ↩
Got up about 7.45. Drilled a bit. Pretty busy at work. Finished soon. Played a bit. Went to the library. Shaved. Went to the choir practice and played for the anthems. Walked round with Willie. Told him about Joe being out of work. Arranged to go to the pictures tomorrow night at the Victoria Hall1. Went to bed late. Father sat up for a bit.
Victoria Hall: see note on 10 January. ↩
Got up about 7.30. Finished shortly before 2 o’clock. Had walk to Whitburn in the afternoon with Charlie and Joe. Grand day. Went down to Briggs’ at night and tried some fiddle pieces there. Uncle Ned and his wife in. Went out with Charlie after 10 o’clock. Met Thorp Newby and walked round with him. Went to bed about midnight. Thorp said John Hugill had said I had preached a good sermon and that he would go again when I preach1.
“A good sermon”: ALL was persuaded to start as a local preacher, but soon gave it up. ↩
Got up about 8 o’clock. Joe went to Huddersfield. He got back at night and said he was to hear next week. Charlie off work on holiday. He went up and saw Mr Pike and he promised to sing. Played piano a bit at night. Went down to see Mr Briggs, but he was not in. Father still improving. Received rather alarming news with regard to Mr Whittaker.