One of the followers of this post (and a BU “classmate”) offered a suggestion. I’ve resisted putting the diary on a flatbed scanner for fear of damaging the spine. However, just a few days ago, I download an APP onto my smartphone called “GENIUS SCAN”. Not being a “genius”, I was understandably hesitant but willing to give it a shot. I’ve been playing around with some other documents but the suggestion gave me the impetus I needed to try it out on Clem’s diary. The results are below. So, now you’ll see the original with my transcription. If I misread a word, feel free to offer a suggestion!
Tuesday, February 11, 1913 “Lest We Forget”
Tuesday, February 11, 1913
“Lest We Forget”
Today Cullerne and I did not work because the spreader [?] did not come because Art did not send it.
I went up town in the after noon to the show. In the evening I went to Empire to a vod [vaudeville?] show it was very good. We stopped in Harry’s room.
Wow! The handwriting is really hard to decipher! I’ll have to look at it again to see if I figure it out.
I am thinking maybe speaker or spreader. I wonder what job specifically they were doing. I’ve heard my husband talk about a spreader in his construction field work.
They were building the railroad, laying track in the Canadian wilderness! I’m going to agree with you on “spreader”….