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.
They were building the railroad, laying track in the Canadian wilderness! I’m going to agree with you on “spreader”….
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.