Sam Blick's 
 Diary
 
 Sam Blick's 
 Diary 
 
 By Stephen C. Noland 
 
 Harper & Brothers Publishers 
 New York and London MCMXXII
 
 SAM BUCK'S DIARY 
 
 Copyright, 1922 
 By Harper & Brothers 
 Printed in the U. S. A. 
 
 First Edition 
 
 K-W
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 January I 
 
 February 26 
 
 March 50 
 
 Apr* 75 
 
 May loo 
 
 June 126 
 
 July 151 
 
 August 176 
 
 September 2O2 
 
 October 227 
 
 November 253 
 
 December 276 
 
 2137450
 
 Sam Blick's 
 Diary
 
 SAM BUCK'S DIARY 
 
 January 
 
 Jan. I. Starting a diary this date to keep a 
 record of myself, family, friends, the weather, 
 and the neighbors for future reference in dis- 
 putes about what happened and when, having 
 been contradicted to-day by John Hartman 
 when I said the cold New- Year's Day was in 
 1865, which, according to him, is not right, but 
 a year late, as he says he remembers hearing his 
 father talk about it. But he is wrong, as usual, 
 as I can remember hearing my father say it was 
 in '65, but I'm not saying much, as when Hart- 
 man gets his mind set you can't change it. 
 Anyhow, I can flash this diary on him if he 
 starts an argument twenty years from now aboflt 
 how cold this New- Year's Day was, showing 
 what I now set down, namely, that the day was 
 bright and that the temperature never fell below 
 fourteen degrees above zero. Hartman is stub- 
 born in his opinions, but he can't change my 
 mind, as I have schooled myself to take a firm 
 stand on whatever I believe to be true and not
 
 2 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 to give in to any man simply because he has a 
 good flow of words and ideas and can talk longer 
 and louder than I can and maybe offer to bet a 
 little money. 
 
 Jan. 2. My wife and daughter talking at the 
 breakfast table about whether it is worth while 
 to make New-Year's resolutions and how funny 
 it is the way some people make them and break 
 them, and I saying it was all right when people 
 resolve to limit their expenses for the year to 
 a little less than, the family income and keep 
 the resolution. They pretending not to hear 
 me, but talking about how nice it would be to 
 resolve to say nothing but cheerful things at 
 breakfast for a whole year. I kept it to myself 
 that I had their goat, but I must say now, as 
 Fm sorry I didn't say then, that they were not 
 starting out very well by talking around the 
 bush and insinuating that the family needs a 
 larger income, when what it really needs is a 
 firm hand at the head of its financial department. 
 This year I intend to save a little money every 
 week and see that the family spends no more 
 than is left, even if we have to eat less or perhaps 
 even cut out a few automobile trips next summer 
 when the roads are decent again and a man can 
 take his car out on Sunday for a look at the 
 world. 
 
 Jan. j. Working hard at the office to-day 
 and coming home to a good dinner of tomato
 
 January 3 
 
 soup, thick T-bone steak broiled medium with 
 a lake of butter on it, baked potatoes, half a head 
 of lettuce with Thousand Island dressing, deep 
 apple pie, and coffee just what I like in the way 
 of a dinner. I felt fine and got off" some good 
 ones that made my wife and my daughter Ellen 
 laugh till I thought I'd have to let up, as they 
 might get hysterical. After dinner Ellen gave 
 me a good cigar Fred Thomas left for me, and 
 I topped the dinner off in fine style, reading 
 editorials aloud from the paper to the family 
 and explaining them so the family would miss 
 none of the good points. There ought to be 
 more of this in every family. Finding a mistake 
 in the newspaper and correcting it for them, 
 and Ellen saying she wondered if the newspapers 
 ever made mistakes in the ads, as they might 
 during the January sales, especially fur-coat 
 sales, where the prices were reduced almost to 
 nothing as compared with what they would be 
 next fall, when a person had to have one, any- 
 how. So I went to bed. 
 
 Jan. 4. Up early and getting my own break- 
 fast and out of the house without waking my 
 wife and daughter, as I believe a man should be 
 independent to some extent about such matters 
 and not afraid of his own cooking, even if only 
 toast and coffee, but able once in a while to show 
 his wife and daughter that he is not a slave of 
 household routine, but a free hunter, going out
 
 4 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 every day to capture the elusive dollar and bring 
 it home or not, as he pleases, but hardly ever not, 
 for the family is the backbone of the nation. 
 Finding the work in my department at the office 
 behind, so working all day and late this evening 
 to catch up, and home late to find my wife and 
 daughter out without saying where they had 
 gone or what time expected back, so getting my- 
 self something to eat in the way of toast and 
 coffee and going to bed. Weather satisfactory 
 and the health of all good, so that only a pessi- 
 mist or nickel snatcher could complain of this 
 life, even if I did have to work on Sunday. I 
 suppose my wife and Ellen are at the movies, but 
 that's nothing to me. 
 
 Jan 5. Waking at the first tinkle of the alarm 
 clock, for I sleep light, on the alert even in my 
 sleep, as a man should be, but letting the clock 
 ring, giving my wife a chance to hear it and get 
 up to get my breakfast, for I figured that she 
 might have felt hurt by me getting out so early 
 and quietly yesterday morning and want to 
 hop up and ease her conscience by getting my 
 breakfast and sending me to work with a word of 
 cheer and encouragement, which goes so far with 
 a home-loving man who gets his pleasure out of 
 the fact that he has done his duty as a man and 
 married and bought a home and dedicated his life 
 to keeping the bills paid and a little laid by for 
 taxes, repairs, and the like; but she not hearing
 
 January 5 
 
 the alarm, likewise Ellen, and I guess they must 
 have been out late, in which case the least I could 
 do was to let them sleep undisturbed, and, as 
 for myself, getting some toast and coffee and 
 out into the crisp morning air to join other men 
 going out to do battle for a living while the women 
 languish in indolence at home. Going to a show 
 and home late to find all asleep. 
 
 Jan. 6. Hearing a noise last night and asking 
 my wife if she heard it, but she not answering, so 
 listening again and discovering that it was her 
 shaking the furnace grates. The house cold, so I 
 down to the cellar to tell my wife to go on back 
 to bed, as I would get the house warm in a few 
 minutes, it being almost time to get up, anyhow, 
 and I telling her it was a wonder she didn't wake 
 me, as it was my business to look after the fur- 
 nace, and she saying that from the way I was 
 getting my own breakfast lately it looked to her 
 as if I was the cook or maybe wanted to be 
 grouchy and get my breakfast myself rather than 
 to ask members of the family to do their share, as 
 they took pride in doing. She back upstairs and 
 I building a fire and pretty soon hearing her in 
 the kitchen getting breakfast, which was probably 
 her way of showing that she appreciated me 
 taking the furnace job off her hands and she 
 wanted to do something in return. To work, she 
 saying as I left that she supposed Ellen got chilled 
 during the night and I saying I supposed she did,
 
 6 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 too, if she wore no more clothes than she wore 
 skating the other afternoon. 
 
 Jan. 7. A good breakfast of my wife's getting 
 this morning and to work in good spirits. Meet- 
 ing Albert Jackson on the street car and he telling 
 me how he is unable to hold his family down to 
 his income and they running up the bills faster 
 than he can meet them, so that he carries his 
 family troubles around all day with him at the 
 office and is losing his pep and afraid some of the 
 younger men will get his job. I giving him some 
 good advice about asserting his authority as head 
 of the house and making the family choose be- 
 tween driving him to an early grave and scaling 
 their living rate down to something within reason, 
 as I have done, beginning the first of the year; 
 not that I'm broke now, but a man always likes 
 to have a little put by. His daughter Beatrice 
 and my daughter are together a good deal and I 
 figure Al won't lose me anything by praising me 
 at his house so Beatrice will maybe say something 
 to Ellen about it. Working hard all day, and in 
 the evening taking my wife to a musical show, 
 we needing some new records for our singing 
 machine. 
 
 Jan. 8. My wife and Ellen both up for break- 
 fast this morning and bright as could be, showing 
 they must feel that I am doing the right thing in 
 deciding to save money this year, both even kiss- 
 ing me good-by and Ellen telling me not to work
 
 January 7 
 
 too hard at the office, as the work may be heavy 
 there from the fact that I worked last Sunday, 
 and the temptation to overload a willing horse 
 must be great, and not to let myself be imposed 
 upon. She needn't worry about her dad, as I 
 can take care of myself, but it certainly makes a 
 man feel right to start off to work with a pat on 
 the back from the women, who are staying at 
 home wearing themselves out with a monotonous 
 round of household duties, as my wife and Ellen 
 are doing, now that Ellen is staying at home to 
 help her mother until she rests up after finishing 
 school, which she did last June. Doing my share 
 of the work at the office all day and home to as 
 good a dinner as ever I sat down to, and com- 
 plimenting my wife and Ellen on it, and they 
 saying it is no trouble at all to cook for a man who 
 knows good food and is generous with his praise. 
 Jan. 9. My wife and Ellen sending me to work 
 in fine spirits. On the street car meeting Albert 
 Jackson again, and he saying my economy pro- 
 gram for the year must be a winner, as he heard 
 I was in the market for a fur coat for my daughter 
 Ellen, who told his daughter that, while my mind 
 was not made up, it was headed in the right 
 direction and no doubt I would see the true 
 economy of a fur coat, which lasts for years, and 
 it would appeal to my sound business judgment. 
 I keeping still, as it will do me no harm to have a 
 fellow like Jackson blowing around about me
 
 8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 buying a fur coat for my daughter, as I am known 
 to be conservative in money matters and people 
 will think I am stepping up in the world, which 
 is not far from the truth. Another good dinner 
 and my wife out in the neighborhood to talk about 
 our neighbor on the east selling his house; so 
 Ellen and I to the movies, and Ellen trying to 
 persuade me to buy myself a new overcoat, as 
 the worst of the winter is before us, but I saying 
 that mine is good enough, which I am right about. 
 Jan. 10. Getting paid to-day and finding $10 
 more than usual in my envelope, making $85 a 
 week, which is something like what a man that's 
 been with the firm for twenty-five years ought to 
 get, also a note from the chief saying he was sorry 
 the raise had not been approved in time to come 
 through the first of the year, when it should 
 have. This makes $500 this year that I had not 
 counted on, and if I tell the folks at home they'll 
 want to spend at least $1,800 on the strength of 
 it; so mum's the word for me, but, just to cele- 
 brate, calling Ellen up and saying to meet me for 
 lunch, and she coming. Then to look at the 
 windows, and I suggesting offhand that we look 
 at some coats, as she seemed to be interested. 
 Going into a place where the clerk said, "Have 
 you decided to take it?" and Ellen explaining 
 that she and her mother had looked while out 
 shopping the first of the week; so I looking it 
 over and paying the $249 as a good business
 
 January 9 
 
 man should, as there is nothing in holding out 
 on a good investment, likely to last some years 
 and save money in the long run. 
 
 Jan. ii. Doing chores around the house and 
 then rousing Ellen and her mother out in time for 
 a good breakfast. All to church, Ellen walking 
 between us and looking like a million dollars in 
 her coat, which I helped her off with in the church 
 and laid across the pew back so the lining, which 
 looks like another million dollars, would show up 
 well. Meeting the Jacksons after church, and I 
 could see from the way Al acted that he's a little 
 sore because I made good on the coat proposition; 
 but I hope he won't give in to his daughter on 
 same, because a man in his position cannot afford 
 to be bullied by his family. He'd better wait till 
 he's doing a little better, when he can afford to 
 buy the best on the spur of the moment, surpris- 
 ing the family and getting a lot of satisfaction 
 out of giving them some pleasure. Fred Thomas, 
 the young fellow that has been around here so 
 much lately to see Ellen, staying so late I had 
 to knock a chair over, which hint he did not take, 
 and my wife telling me to take up the matter of 
 hours with Ellen to-morrow. 
 
 Jan. 12. Getting a note from the chief this 
 morning telling me to lay off five clerks in my de- 
 partment, and believe me I made short work of 
 the worst loafers, the ones that have been holding 
 out on me when I needed them the most. Hardly
 
 io Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 had I passed the word out till most of the others 
 humped to the job as if their lives depended on 
 it. One fellow, a clerk named Scott Lowder, 
 telling me he was a sick man and would commit 
 suicide if I laid him off; so I kept him and will 
 watch him, as he has been a flat tire for some 
 time and looks sick all right. Laying off a girl 
 then, but she crying and saying she expects to get 
 married in the spring and must have clothes, 
 which she can't buy unless she works, so laying 
 off a desk lizard that shoots craps during working 
 hours, as he had no excuse. Home to find that 
 Ellen was going to the theater with Fred, so 
 not saying anything to her about Fred staying 
 late, as a man should use judgment. Polly talk- 
 ing about the house next door being sold to a 
 middle-aged man named Walker and his young 
 wife just come to town from the East, he an 
 executive in a new factory recently established 
 here. 
 
 Jan. Jj. Getting my own breakfast this 
 morning, the morning being cold and the house 
 chilly, and there is no use of getting my wife and 
 daughter up in a chilly house just to get a man's 
 breakfast. At the office all day and looking for- 
 ward to a dull evening, but Harry Vickers, a 
 neighbor, phoning to know if I cared to sit in on a 
 little penny-ante game and I consenting, for it 
 does a man no good to turn down an invitation 
 from a neighbor like that, especially as a man can
 
 January n 
 
 sit in on a harmless game like that and play close. 
 So playing along easy and 33 cents to the good 
 when the phone began to ring and so many 
 husbands having to leave that the game broke 
 up, and I home to find Fred Thomas here and 
 telling him about winning. He saying rhum was 
 the game, so we getting into it for a cent a point, 
 as a man should do the right thing by his daugh- 
 ter's friends. Ellen going to bed and we playing 
 till I A.M., and I finding him all right, I winning 
 $1.15 cents from him. 
 
 Jan. 14.. My wife asking Ellen at the break- 
 fast table what time Fred left last night and Ellen 
 saying she didn't know, as he was still here when 
 she got tired playing audience to a rhum game 
 and went to bed. This leading my wife to talk 
 about what would the neighbors say if they saw 
 him hanging around here till all hours, probably 
 starting talk about Ellen being engaged, which 
 remark got Ellen's goat, as naturally it would to 
 think of a girl her age thinking of getting en- 
 gaged for several years yet. I was tempted to say 
 something about how long he hung around 
 Sunday night, but saying nothing, as a man 
 should exercise a little restraint now and then 
 when around women who are worked up about 
 trifles that amount to nothing, anyhow. Home 
 in the evening on the street car with Bill Hines, 
 a neighbor, who talked all the way about a man 
 never getting anywhere on a salary and he is
 
 12 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 making a little on the side selling oil stock to 
 friends who are broad-minded enough to know 
 it's a gamble and sporty enough to take a chance, 
 but I not stopping the car to buy any from him. 
 
 Jan. 75. Ellen rather cool about that rhum 
 game, so, thinking to square things all right, I 
 hatching up a little surprise for the family, and 
 calling up Fred and asking him if he wanted to 
 take in a show to-night with a couple of girls, 
 meaning my wife and Ellen, but he thinking I 
 meant girls and saying that I must be in worse 
 out at our house than he is, to be driven to such 
 desperate reprisals, all over an innocent rhum 
 game. I putting him right and calling up my 
 wife and Ellen to tell them they were to go to a 
 show to-night, which they accepted, and then 
 calling Fred up again and telling him to meet us 
 in the lobby, as it was all right, and getting four 
 tickets. The plan didn't work well and my wife 
 and I had to sit between Ellen and Fred at 
 Ellen's request, and when we started home Ellen 
 asked Fred if he was still here. When we got 
 home the furnace was nearly out and there were 
 some chores to do around the cellar till by the 
 time I got through my wife and Ellen were in 
 bed and we had no chance to talk about the 
 mistake somebody had made. 
 
 Jan. 16. Getting my own breakfast this 
 morning, which is not a bad thing, as a man 
 never knows what will happen and should be able
 
 January 13 
 
 to take care of himself. Seeing Al Jackson on the 
 street car and he saying I had got him in bad on 
 the fur-coat business, because his daughter 
 Beatrice had to have one or die of shame, and if 
 he doesn't get it for her she is going to give up 
 her job in the public library and go to work in a 
 box factory where she can earn some money. I 
 came back with a hot one, saying it was a good 
 thing she didn't have a friend with a couple of 
 limousines, and he saying he guessed they 
 managed to enjoy life at their house as they went 
 along and he was going to see that she had the 
 coat to-day, as she was going to a dance to-night 
 with Fred Thomas. I saying nothing, as a man 
 should use judgment in a delicate case like that. 
 Home in the evening to find Ellen doing tatting, 
 which I said was pretty, she replying that she 
 was glad it was, as no doubt she would have to 
 earn her living that way in her old age. My wife 
 and Ellen to the movies, I deciding to stay at 
 home and figure on what it will cost me to have 
 the car overhauled, the weather looking like 
 spring. 
 
 Jan. 17. Getting my own breakfast, and, this 
 being pay day, calling up Fred and taking him 
 to lunch to square myself with him, and he taking 
 it all right and telling me he took another girl to 
 a dance last night to see if Ellen would get 
 jealous, in which case he could figure that he was 
 not permanently barred from my house. I
 
 14 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 hardly knew what to say to that and let him go 
 ahead and tell how he and Ellen had planned to 
 go to that dance for a week and she had backed 
 out over the rhum game, and he had taken 
 Beatrice on account of her not getting to go 
 much. Intending to say something about it 
 in the evening, but forgetting it till some fellow 
 named Caldwell showed up to take Ellen to a 
 party, when I thought of it and asked him if he 
 knew Fred, but not getting to find out if Ellen 
 was jealous, as her mother called me to come and 
 see why the kitchen sink was stopped up, the 
 reason being a piece of newspaper that had some- 
 how got into the dish water, as anybody could 
 see merely by looking at it. But, of course, 
 women do not understand such matters. Read- 
 ing the newspaper all evening and figuring out my 
 income tax, as I shall have to fill out the blank 
 soon, which is one of the drawbacks of getting 
 on in the world. 
 
 Jan. 18. Ellen acting sort of absent-minded at 
 the breakfast table, so I cheering her up with a 
 remark that not to worry, as Fred was probably 
 a good fellow, but not worth worrying about, 
 being perhaps like most other fellows, attracted 
 as much by her pretty clothes and comfortable 
 home as by anything else. This, however, being 
 a little mistake on my part, as she immediately 
 said she would not stand for such abuse in her 
 home, Fred having been at the party last night
 
 January 15 
 
 and been very attentive, even bringing her home 
 while that Caldwell fellow was looking for his hat 
 and overcoat, which were lost some way or other, 
 and Fred was all right and a dinger if only not 
 misled by older people with a mania for winning 
 a few pennies at a card game; so I to shovel the 
 snow off the walks, about a foot having fallen 
 overnight. Who should show up but Fred, say- 
 ing he had come over to go to church with Ellen, 
 as no doubt my wife and I would not care to 
 venture out in the storm, but, as the storm was 
 over long ago, I finally argued my wife into going 
 with them, making things all right. 
 
 Jan. ig. Ellen getting breakfast for me this 
 morning and singing around the house like a 
 wren back for the summer. It certainly does a 
 man good to be able to doll his family up so they 
 are happy all the time, even the daughter 
 getting up bright and early Monday morning to 
 get her father's breakfast, knowing that he's able 
 to get his own. Her mother down just as break- 
 fast was ready, and asking what was the matter, 
 did she have insomnia, but Ellen ignoring the 
 question, probably thinking that her mother was 
 a little jealous from being a little late in getting 
 her husband's breakfast and having some one 
 else getting all the pleasure out of it. Working 
 all day, and in the evening figuring what I am 
 going to do with the money I am going to save 
 this year. Nothing risked nothing gained, as they
 
 16 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 say, and I've found out that a man never gets 
 anywhere on a salary and must look around for 
 something good and use his head. 
 
 Jan. 20. Ellen getting the breakfast again this 
 morning, and she and her mother sending me 
 away to work in fine spirits, which is good for a 
 man, as there is nothing like a friendly pat on the 
 back when you are setting out for your daily 
 struggle for the dollar. But that fellow Lowder, 
 who said he would commit suicide if I fired him, 
 worrying me to-day. He came to me with a 
 sealed envelope, saying to keep it and not to 
 open it unless something happened to him, as was 
 likely, for the wages of sin is death, and a lot of 
 other bunk like that, which made me suspicious, 
 as he looks and acts like a sick man. I trying 
 to get him to go to the company doctor, but he 
 wouldn't. Asking him to come out to the house 
 to dinner, as he lives alone in a furnished room 
 and eats wherever he happens to be, but he saying 
 never mind, he was past that stage. Ellen having 
 a lot of friends in for bridge, and from where I 
 was sitting reading, down in front of the furnace, 
 I could hear Fred's laugh, indicating that I am 
 square with Ellen again. I know how to handle 
 them. 
 
 Jan. 21. Bad weather to-day, the night turn- 
 ing warm and a rain coming to make slush out 
 of the snow and make the walking bad, and things 
 go wrong at the office, as they do in bad weather,
 
 January 17 
 
 the clerks being affected by the weather, which I 
 guess is why they are clerks, as the weather never 
 affects busy men with minds on something besides 
 bad weather such as we had all day, cloudy and 
 damp, so that a man could hardly help wishing 
 spring would come, also looking out the window 
 and being thankful he had an inside job and did 
 not have to go out and work in the slush and rain 
 all day. Figuring on what I am going to do with 
 the $500 I will get this year over and above what I 
 expected to get, and seeing that I am getting to a 
 place where a man must not figure too close, but 
 must think in big figures and turn a little of his 
 salary into something likely to produce a hand- 
 some return. An oil circular coming through 
 the mail stating how new oil ventures are mostly a 
 gamble and now appeal only to men and women 
 with enough money to risk in large figures for 
 handsome returns. 
 
 Jan. 22. No weather to-day to speak of, the 
 weather being clear after the rain, and cold 
 enough to freeze what is left of the slush. My 
 wife up to get my breakfast, and a good one it 
 was, reminding a man that he can do his part in 
 the middle of the day if he is fed well at the begin- 
 ning of the day, and the end, when he comes 
 home worn out from work and worry and desiring 
 only the peace of his own fireside. She telling 
 me that she and Ellen are going shopping to-day, 
 and I saying by all means shop while the sales are
 
 i8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 on, and almost telling her about my increase in 
 pay, but catching myself in time, as a man must 
 not tempt women to spend too freely. Lowder 
 asking me if I still had that letter he gave to me, 
 and I saying I had but what was the matter with 
 him, and he said to tell the truth he was de- 
 spondent and likely to do anything. I cheered 
 him up getting off a couple of good ones and 
 sending him back to work feeling all right. In 
 the evening hearing about the shopping trip. 
 Thinking some of seeing Hines about some of that 
 oil stock, as a man surely likes to see a little 
 money coming in on the side, especially if he has 
 a wife and daughter to indulge in their every 
 whim. 
 
 Jan. 25. Getting my own breakfast and away 
 to work in good spirits, as becomes a department 
 head, who must be punctual, setting an example 
 for his force, who make a habit of being ten 
 minutes late. Jim Wilkins, who sold me my car 
 two years ago, coming in to see me about a new 
 one, saying mine probably needed overhauling, 
 and when I figured what I could trade it in for on 
 a new one and the satisfaction and prestige I 
 would get out of a new one, I could make about 
 $300 over and above the expense of the trade, 
 but I would have to get my order in right away if 
 I expected to have the use of the new car in the 
 spring, as the factory was now closed down for 
 inventory and would probably fall behind on its
 
 January 19 
 
 production schedule, but, of course, would favor 
 present owners as against outsiders who are just 
 getting to a place where they can own and drive 
 an automobile for pleasure without being talked 
 about among the neighbors for their extrav- 
 agance. His line of talk is good and I can spare 
 the money all right, as I informed him, but a 
 man should not buy on the spur of the moment. 
 Jan. 24. A fine, bright day and everybody 
 at the office, self included, working hard, as Fve 
 noticed people do when the weather is good. 
 Scott Lowder seems in better spirits now, show- 
 ing that all he needed was a little sympathy and 
 cheer from an older person who understands 
 human nature and has a sense of humor. Settled 
 for the evening with my slippers on and the paper 
 to rerad, when Fred Thomas came and pretty 
 soon he and Ellen got ready to go to the movies, 
 and just as they were going out the door Fred 
 said "better come along" to me. I had no desire 
 to go, as after a week's hard work a man likes to sit 
 at home and rest through one evening, but never- 
 theless saying I would -go if they would wait a 
 minute while I got ready and persuaded Ellen's 
 mother to go, too, but they saying not to go to 
 all that trouble and Ellen panning Fred for dis- 
 turbing me when I was settled for the evening. 
 But I was ready in no time, having difficulty, 
 though, in persuading my wife to join the gay 
 party, as she whispered to let them have a
 
 20 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 moment to themselves, but I saying she is losing 
 her pep and must get out more with young 
 people. All to the show, but my wife and I not 
 staying long, as she did not seem to like the 
 picture as the film was about an elopement and 
 there was a draught in the theater, so home to 
 read the paper and to bed, not caring whether 
 Fred liked it or not, as a man should not care 
 what other people think. 
 
 Jan. 25. Ellen not down to breakfast when 
 my wife and I ate, and the wife criticizing me for 
 not letting Ellen and Fred have more time to 
 themselves, as one could plainly see, she said, 
 that Fred was interested in Ellen, and a girl has 
 a right to look around a little and see how 
 different men act under different circumstances 
 and for me to show some regard for Ellen's 
 future and not to tag along to movies and the 
 like. She even saying something to the effect 
 that she was no better off for having jumped at 
 the first man that wanted her, the same being 
 me, not that she would have chosen another, but 
 no doubt she would have been able to appreciate 
 my sterling qualities had she been free to pick 
 me from a bunch, as she was urged to do by her 
 parents. I came back hard with something about 
 when was Caldwell coming out to the house 
 again, so Ellen could see how he acts, but it seems 
 that he has been dropped along with the boys who 
 used to come here when Ellen was in school. All
 
 January 21 
 
 to church. After dinner taking a nap, as a man 
 should do after a week's hard work, and in the 
 evening reading a novel of Ellen's and to bed. 
 
 Jan. 26. Riding down on the street car with 
 my new neighbor, Walker, and asking him how 
 he liked the town and he saying it was all right he 
 guessed, although he knew little about it, he and 
 his wife being newly married and content to stay 
 at home in the evening. He surely waited a long 
 time to get married, as he is older than I am, and 
 I am married and have a daughter that looks to 
 be about the age of his wife, but there's no telling 
 what a man will do once he realizes that it is his 
 duty to get married and settle down to a peaceful 
 life with all the comforts a loving family can 
 provide. Telling my wife about it in the evening 
 and she saying that she and other women in the 
 neighborhood were to call on the newlyweds this 
 week and would try to make friends with the 
 bride, who must have a history, else why would 
 she be married to a man old enough to be her 
 father? Talking about our neighbors, including 
 Mark Pond, a widower of six months, who 
 mourns poor Mrs. Pond all right, but is looking 
 ten years younger on downtown food. 
 
 Jan. 27. Getting my own breakfast, including 
 some pancakes made by mixing water with a box 
 of something on the pantry shelf, as directed, but 
 the direction being wrong, as I was compelled to 
 throw them into the furnace, the same being a
 
 22 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 lesson on a man confining himself to a simple diet 
 when preparing his own meals. My wife rushing 
 down in her kimono just as I was leaving, but 
 not in remorse. "Sam," she said, "I smell 
 smoke. Is something burning?" I told her no, 
 it was only the furnace and perhaps a piece of 
 toast, as will happen when a man's trying to make 
 coffee and toast at the same time and wondering 
 what life would be like if he never had to get his 
 breakfast but found it waiting for him every 
 morning when he was ready to go out to his 
 place in the world of affairs. Working hard all 
 day. Keeping up my interest in Lowder, who 
 seemed to be in low spirits again, recommending 
 that he seek the companionship of some nice 
 girl. Possibly this was the wrong thing to say, 
 he replying that girls were a hollow mockery. 
 Home to a fine dinner and to hear about the 
 Walkers, where my wife called to-day, she 
 reporting the bride lovely but unhappy, far from 
 home and friends and merely a girl in age and 
 experience. 
 
 Jan. 28. This morning a fine breakfast of my 
 wife's getting and away to work in high spirits, 
 thinking of my finances, which are good, pro- 
 vided I can invest some money in a more or less 
 risky venture of some kind, like the Hines oil 
 stock, which may turn out to be a gold mine, a 
 fellow like Hines, with lots of friends and a good 
 business reputation, hardly daring to unload a
 
 January 23 
 
 lot of stock on his friends if he wasn't pretty sure 
 it would pay big money some day. Trying four 
 times to get Hines on the phone, and every time 
 he was out of his office but expected back soon. 
 Asking the chief if he knew a good investment 
 for a man in my shoes, and he saying the company 
 could arrange to let me have a little of its stock 
 half a point under the market and to see him later 
 about it. That's all right for some clerk who 
 can't afford to take a chance and wants to play 
 close, but not for me. In the evening Ellen and 
 Fred to a dance and my wife and I to a show, a 
 bright girl show with good music, just what I 
 needed after a day's hard work. 
 
 Jan. 29. Calling my wife Polly as we sat at 
 breakfast and she blushing with pleasure, as I 
 haven't called her that in years, having called her 
 mother since Ellen came. Deciding to call her 
 that hereafter, as any little thing a man can do to 
 keep his wife in mind of her girlhood is a good 
 thing. Calling Hines up and asking him to have 
 lunch with me. When he showed up he looked 
 fifteen years older and said to me," Sam, it's sure 
 good to know I have one friend left." And I 
 saying he had that all right, what was hurting 
 him the most. He saying he had the greatest 
 confidence in the world in that stock he was sell- 
 ing and was as much surprised as anyone when 
 the company blew up and had no assets but some 
 forged deeds and leases. He was knocked cold.
 
 24 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Said he could count the friends he had left on the 
 fingers of one hand. I saying nothing at the time, 
 but Hines got about what he had coming to him, 
 as he is a salaried man like me and old enough to 
 know better than t risk his standing on shady 
 deals that might cost him his job and a new start 
 in life at his age. 
 
 Jan. jo. Polly getting my breakfast this 
 morning, which helps some, as no doubt a wife 
 is better off for feeling that she has started the 
 day right by doing the right thing by her husband. 
 Figuring on my income to-day and wondering 
 how I had better invest what money I can save. 
 I was certainly right in passing up that Hines 
 deal, as at lunch I heard a dozen men say he had 
 surely used his friends rough and about ruined 
 his chance of going into business for himself, as 
 he was planning to do when he got hold of a little 
 more capital. I said the suckers that bought 
 blind, instead of using their heads, as I did, were 
 as much to blame as Hines, and nobody saying 
 anything. It does a man no harm to let it be 
 known that he has been too smooth for a little 
 game that looked all right on the surface. One 
 man asked me if I was buying anything at all, and 
 I said the only thing I had in mind was some of 
 my company's stock; then I went back to work 
 to let them talk. My friendly interest in Lowder 
 is bearing good fruit, he admitting to-day that 
 he is glad he has one friend in the world. Happy
 
 January 25 
 
 to know that I have handled another matter with 
 good judgment. 
 
 Jan. jj. Polly and Ellen both up to get my 
 breakfast and I returning the favor in kind by 
 inviting them to have lunch with me to-day, 
 which they did, the bill being $4.55, or $5 in- 
 cluding the tip, which is pretty steep for a man 
 on a salary and with two exacting women to 
 support and keep looking so that he is not 
 ashamed to be seen in public with them, where 
 he is always running across business and lodge 
 friends who are shrewd enough to go a long way 
 in judging a man by the way his family looks. 
 But they enjoyed the luncheon and it is over now 
 and cannot be helped, and I also enjoyed it, too, 
 except for the outlay, which was not as much as 
 it might have been, but every little spent means 
 so much less toward getting a new car in the 
 spring, as I explained to Polly and Ellen, as they 
 will probably insist on having one, as they say the 
 old one is getting to the point where it looks old 
 and needs overhauling. But a new one will do me 
 no harm, as a man rises in the esteem of his 
 friends when he shows up in the spring with a well- 
 dressed and happy family in a new car. All to 
 the movies in the evening.
 
 February 
 
 Feb. i. Fine weather to-day and all to church 
 in good spirits, and afterward talking with Albert 
 Jackson, among others, and he asking me if I 
 lost much in the Hines oil deal, and I saying no, 
 how much did he lose, and he saying he lost some, 
 and between what he had lost and the family 
 expenses he was hard hit and would like to have 
 a little personal talk with me some day soon. I 
 told him I was in my office any day and every 
 day, as a man can't turn another man down cold 
 on a loan proposition sprung like that right in 
 church. In the afternoon Polly and I going 
 downtown with Ellen and Fred, they to the 
 movies, we to the art institute to see an exhibition 
 of landscapes, which I like to look over every so 
 often, as a man that is country born has got 
 to have some relief from streets and buildings 
 now and then or go stale inside. Glad to see 
 some American painters handling colors as if 
 they are not afraid of them. Home Reeling a 
 lot better, resolving to see more art exhibi- 
 tions from now on. Fred staying for supper, 
 and after supper I read a story aloud till 
 
 26
 
 February 27 
 
 I sort of dozed and, finding myself alone, went 
 to bed. 
 
 Feb. 2. Getting my own breakfast of toast and 
 coffee, and a good one it was, too, and to the 
 office to make things hum all day. Glad to note 
 that Lowder is not coming to me with his troubles 
 any more, but is standing on his own feet and will 
 soon be all right. Al Jackson in to see me and 
 telling me he has to have money, so I letting him 
 have a hundred, as a friend indeed is a friend in 
 need, and he, poor devil, saying he was happier 
 to know I had faith in him than to get the 
 hundred. Home in the evening to a good supper 
 and Fred Thomas showing up with a Boston 
 terrier puppy in a shoe box, given to him by a 
 friend; and as Fred had no place to keep it, he 
 brought it to Ellen as a gift. Polly and Ellen both 
 asking wouldn't the friend take it back again, 
 but Fred saying it was too late to give him back, 
 I saying the pup would stay at our house, as we 
 need a watchdog, anyhow, and I'd always wanted 
 a pup. Naming the pup Pep, as he is so full of 
 same, and feeding him milk till he looked as if he 
 had swallowed a baseball. Spending the evening 
 fixing him a comfortable bed in the basement, and 
 at present writing he is down there, but wailing 
 pitifully, being only six weeks old. 
 
 Feb. j. After writing in this diary last night 
 I went down to the cellar in my bathrobe to see 
 what I could do for Pep to make him stop crying,
 
 28 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 and found him out of his bed and at the top of the 
 basement stairs; so, taking him back down and 
 drawing my steamer chair up in the warmth of the 
 furnace and holding him in my lap, scratching 
 his head, he went to sleep in no time. Not caring 
 to start him howling again, so holding him awhile, 
 and dozing longer than I thought, when I looked 
 up the basement was cool, so to fix the fire and 
 feed Pep again and seeing by the hall clock that 
 it was time to get breakfast. Leaving Pep on a 
 cushion in front of the living-room fireplace, I 
 went to work. Phoning about three o'clock to 
 find out how he was, and Polly saying she let 
 him out for air and he ran away; so getting out 
 home as soon as possible and finding him in the 
 park playing with some boys. Polly and Ellen 
 to the movies, but I home with Pep, as a dog is a 
 social animal and should not be left alone in a 
 strange house while a pup. 
 
 Feb. 4. Pep doing well enough last night. He 
 howled some, but I let him howl, as a man should 
 use judgment in raising a pup and teach it some 
 good habits at the outset, as he would his own 
 child. The weather cloudy, with snow falling 
 now and then all day. Pep is a smart dog. I 
 played most of the evening with him. He pulled 
 on a furnace glove till I thought he would pull 
 his teeth out. As soon as I let go he lost interest 
 in the glove, being somewhat like some people, 
 liking the fight better than the victory. Getting
 
 February 29 
 
 my own breakfast this morning and taking Pep 
 out for some exercise before going to work. 
 Polly and Ellen saying they will give him away if 
 they find some one who will take care of him, and 
 I having to give some pretty strong orders about 
 him. Buying a book on the care of dogs and 
 reading it all evening, but finding it wrong in 
 some places. This dog will be raised right, with 
 plenty of red meat to eat to make him dangerous 
 to prowlers and the like. Taking him for another 
 walk in the evening and rolling him in the snow 
 to harden him. 
 
 Feb. 5. Up early and romping with Pep, 
 chasing him and he chasing me and barking, 
 waking Polly and Ellen, Polly then coming down 
 and getting my breakfast, and we having words 
 because I put a saucer of milk for Pep on the floor 
 in the dining room, she saying he must eat in the 
 cellar or back yard and that she had no milk to 
 spare for him, anyhow, so I ordering her to get an 
 extra pint a day from the milkman, for if a man 
 is going to keep a dog the least he can do is feed 
 it right. Walker, our new neighbor, away on a 
 business trip and his wife and Ellen to the movies 
 in the afternoon and his wife at our house for 
 dinner. She a pretty girl with a hurt look in her 
 big blue eyes and setting me to thinking that she 
 ought to be playing around with Ellen and her 
 crowd instead of married to an old duffer like 
 Walker. After supper playing bridge and I telling
 
 30 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 a few stones to cheer her up, b&t she seeming to 
 enjoy her game more, being a wiz at it. Pep 
 sleeping all evening in front of the fireplace, 
 looking satisfied with his new home in which there 
 is one who knows what is good for his welfare. 
 
 Feb. 6. Getting my own breakfast and Pep's 
 this morning, giving him some exercise, and rid- 
 ing down on the car with Al Jackson. He asking 
 me if I had a piece of change to put into an in- 
 vention which looks good to him and a couple 
 of engineers with his company. I saying I be- 
 lieved not, what was it, a nonrefillable fountain 
 pen, but he not getting the point. He said he 
 thought of buying a fourth interest in it to help 
 the inventor get his patent, and a salesman at his 
 office thought he could market the thing. I said 
 nothing, but a man as hard up as Jackson is had 
 better stick to his salary and spend his money 
 for paying his debts and keeping his family. 
 Getting a brace of theater tickets for Ellen and 
 Polly, I not caring to go, as Pep might howl and 
 disturb the neighbors. Having Harry Vickers 
 and a few neighbors in for a little penny ante. Fill- 
 ing a full house against Tom Burrage's one-card 
 draw and he finally winning on four queens, I 
 saying that a man should play for the fun of the 
 game and not for a few paltry dollars. I showing 
 Pep to them and all agreeing that he has the 
 points of a good dog and should take a few 
 prizes some day.
 
 February 31 
 
 Feb. 7. This being pay day, splurging a 
 little bit by getting Pep a blanket, brass-studded 
 collar, and a chain. He looks like a million dol- 
 lars in them, so dressing him up in the evening 
 and taking him for a walk to the drug store to 
 buy a box of candy for Polly. Polly still thinks 
 she will get rid of Pep, as he is a nuisance in 
 the house sometimes, perhaps, being only a pup, 
 but I figure that with this new outfit she will 
 take him for a walk now and then and perhaps 
 get attached to him. He no longer howls, but 
 thrives on his milk and seems to be glad he has 
 a good home where there's a man to look after 
 his interests. Fred Thomas out in the evening to 
 take Ellen to the theater and saying his friend 
 would surely be glad to know that the pup has a 
 good home, so perhaps Ellen will quit talking about 
 getting rid of Pep. My wife asking what present 
 I was going to bring Pep next pay day. This 
 set me to talking over the January bills with Polly 
 and telling her how we must cut down expenses. 
 
 Feb. 8. Out to the garage this morning where 
 I have the car jacked up for the winter, as it is 
 an open car and we use it only for pleasure, and 
 finding it in good shape except for some rust 
 here and there and dust all over it. Polly and 
 Ellen to church, but I taking Pep for a long walk 
 in the park, as a man must get out in the open at 
 least once a week. So must a dog. Enjoying 
 wading in the snow and feeling like a boy again.
 
 32 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Pep getting tired and cold, as he is only a pup 
 and is kept confined in a warm house all the time, 
 so I carrying him. A good dinner and after 
 dinner feeling a bit tired after the long walk, so 
 lying down for a few minutes on the davenport 
 in front of the fire and sort of falling asleep. It 
 was six o'clock when I wakened, and Polly, 
 Ellen, and Fred were having a salad and cake 
 <md tea in the dining room. Ellen and Fred out 
 with friends, Polly doing a little work on a dress 
 she must wear to a tea to-morrow, and I looking 
 wer my Bible, which is a good habit, as a man 
 should read at least one chapter from the Bible 
 every day. 
 
 Feb. p. Jim Wilkins was in to see me to-day 
 about a new machine, and I told him that I 
 looked my wagon over yesterday and she's a 
 good little bus and just what I need to wheel 
 the family and dog around in this summer, as I 
 am saving a good deal of money this year, with 
 a view to having a little fluid capital put by for 
 anything good that may come along. He as 
 good as saying that I must be afraid to spend a 
 dollar to keep the ball rolling, but I saying 
 nothing, as he is only a business acquaintance of 
 mine and does not know me well enough to 
 make allowances for a hot one or two I might 
 have shot back and I might have offended him. 
 Mrs. Walker, whose husband is still away, at our 
 house again this evening, Polly and Ellen calling
 
 February 33 
 
 her Janet, so I did, too, which made her feel a lot 
 better. Fred out in the evening and talking of 
 dancing and showing Janet some new steps and 
 dancing with her, then with Ellen to show how it 
 went. I asking Janet if her husband was a good 
 dancer and she saying he didn't dance. I replying 
 courteously that I supposed he was too old for 
 that sort of thing. 
 
 Feb. 10. Getting breakfast for Pep and me, 
 both eating in the kitchen, as it is warm there 
 early in the morning. Taking Pep for a turn 
 around the block, then to the office to work hard 
 all day. Home in the evening to find the house 
 dark and chilly and remembering that Polly 
 and Ellen were at some tea; so taking Pep for a 
 walk and still no one at home; so finding some 
 bacon and eggs and potatoes, which I baked, and 
 making some coffee. Getting an excellent supper, 
 as a man ought to be able to do, not get sore be- 
 cause women show so little regard for the com- 
 fort of their families as to herd around a tea 
 table till all hours of the night. Polly and Ellen 
 blowing in after a time and I saying nothing, but 
 reading the newspaper with Pep in my lap. After 
 all, there's no friend like a dog. Polly and Ellen 
 talking about what each woman wore and how 
 most of them showed little or no taste, until I 
 took Pep for a walk to get away from their 
 talk and came home and put the dog in his bed 
 and went to bed myself.
 
 34 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Feb. ii. My dog and I having breakfast to- 
 gether this morning and I taking him for a run 
 around the block and hating to go to work and 
 leave him, as he and I have become great friends 
 and I don't know how I've got along without a 
 dog around the house. Overhauling my depart- 
 ment to-day and rinding out where I can save 
 company some money. The last of the January 
 bills for the house paid and I figuring where 
 Polly will have to cut down expenses if I am to 
 put by some money this year. Getting my 
 dinner downtown this evening, as a man should 
 not be a slave to home meals, and home to find 
 the house dark, but a note on the living-room 
 table from Polly saying, "We had a good dinner 
 and have gone to the movies." They must have 
 felt remorse because of not being home yesterday 
 evening to get something for me to eat, and de- 
 cided to be away when I came home this evening. 
 This suiting me all right, as Pep was there with 
 bells on. Taking him for a long walk and 
 spending the rest of the evening reading a 
 magazine, then to bed. Pep is a good dog and I 
 think more of him every day. 
 
 Feb. 12. No work at our place to-day, so 
 sleeping a bit late and spending most of the 
 morning, after a good breakfast of Polly's getting, 
 fooling around the basement and the garage and 
 thinking some about Abraham Lincoln, who was 
 a great and good man. In the afternoon two girls
 
 February 35 
 
 in to see Ellen and one of them suggesting a 
 penny-ante game, I never knowing before that 
 Ellen knew anything about poker. They getting 
 me in to make four and I going easy on them until 
 I found that one of the girls, Margie Shanley, 
 with whose mother I went to school thirty-five 
 years ago, was out for blood. But you can't play 
 poker with a woman, as their minds never work 
 twice alike. In my day girls didn't play poker, 
 and for all the good they do the game they 
 shouldn't play now, as it is not a woman's game. 
 I held back when I saw that they were all trying 
 to make the game steep, but even at that they 
 got better than $4 from me. They all went over 
 to Margie's house, where Fred and some of the 
 boys were expected to show up for dinner, so 
 Polly and I having a bite together, she telling me 
 I should not encourage gambling among young 
 girls, and I suppose she is right. 
 
 Feb. 13. This is Friday, the thirteenth, and I 
 suppose a lot of superstitious people are going 
 around with their nerves on edge to-day wonder- 
 ing if the sjreet car will be wrecked or a building 
 will fall into the street, killing hundreds. A 
 man should not be superstitious, although I 
 always say, jokingly that it's bad luck to walk 
 under a ladder, as you never can tell when it will 
 fall on you. Ellen saying that the girls got the 
 boys into a game at Margie's last night and the 
 boys won every cent that the girls won from me,
 
 36 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 and more. She saying that the girls wanted to 
 know if I would play again this evening, but I 
 saying that a man should not strain his luck on 
 Friday, the thirteenth, this being my way of 
 following Polly's advice not to encourage idle 
 card playing among Ellen and her friends. Fred 
 coming in the evening and asking me how I 
 expected to win last evening when I had only one 
 deal to their three. I saying nothing but letting 
 Pep out of the basement and giving him the run 
 of the house, and Fred and I having a lot of fun 
 chasing him till I knocked a floor lamp through 
 the front window and decided to quit, making 
 everybody laugh with a remark about breaking 
 up housekeeping. 
 
 Feb. 14. This is pay day, a good thing, as it 
 will cost me something to get a new glass for the 
 front window, the neighborhood handy man 
 telling me that no plate glass is to be had, all 
 going into glass automobiles, but he agreeing 
 to get a piece big enough from a building that 
 is being torn down. I pointing out to the family 
 the need for strict economy so that the little mis- 
 hap may prove a blessing in disguise. Ellen 
 dropping in at the office just at noon and going 
 to lunch with me, which I enjoyed, as she cer- 
 tainly looks good in her new coat and a credit 
 to her family. After lunch Ellen and I strolling 
 around looking in shop windows, she getting a lot 
 of fun out of this inexpensive pleasure, and acting
 
 February 37 
 
 like a child about it and laughing heartily at my 
 jokes. Going back three times to look at a window 
 full of silk hose on sale, very cheap, Ellen thought, 
 compared with window glass. I buying six .pairs 
 for her and she as much pleased as if I were a 
 millionaire and had bought her six dresses from 
 Paris. 
 
 Feb. 75. Missing church last Sunday, so get- 
 ting out early this morning and taking Pep for a 
 walk in the park. John Hartman coming along 
 with that ragged Airedale of his and his dog got 
 rough with Pep, who is only a pup and got scared, 
 and I telling Hartman he'd better get a chain for 
 his dog, as he might get into trouble with some 
 stranger about letting a fool dog run loose. One 
 word leading to another until I took Pep up under 
 my arm, as Hartman has a chronic grouch, and 
 I wonder how a smart Airedale sticks to him. 
 Getting back just as Polly and Ellen were start- 
 ing to church, so telling them that I would come 
 later, but fixing the fire so Pep would be warm; 
 and then it was too late to go, so reading the 
 Sunday paper and getting my sermon second 
 hand at the dinner table, though Polly and Ellen 
 knew little about what was said, as is usually the 
 case, but could tell what every woman wore and 
 how often each woman had worn the same dress 
 or hat, as the case happened to be. In the after- 
 noon to a lodge funeral, Dave Bishop having 
 died, as I put it, of too many charge accounts.
 
 38 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Feb. 16. This afternoon a fire breaking out in 
 the wholesale millinery house across the alley 
 from the office and that gloomy fellow Lowder 
 getting it into his head that some girls were 
 trapped on the third floor. We tried to stop him, 
 but he ran down into the alley and through the 
 police lines, and the next thing seen of him was 
 when some firemen carried him out in a blanket. 
 He was dead and the fire had got at him. A lot 
 of other clerks were looking where he was looking 
 and no one saw any girls or anyone else, and as a 
 matter of fact there was no one in the building 
 after the fire got under way. The company 
 authorized me to see that Lowder was properly 
 buried, no doubt realizing that I was the one 
 person who understood him and knew the stuff of 
 which he was made. I wired his mother in 
 Mondell, some little upstate town, the news and 
 for orders, and we shall ship his body to-morrow. 
 He had a queer streak of some kind in him, but it 
 took a good man to run into fire to save life. The 
 firemen agreed that he had more nerve than they 
 would have had under the same circumstances. 
 Seeing an undertaker and home late to tell Polly 
 and Ellen about it, making a good story of it and 
 bringing tears to their eyes. 
 
 Feb. 17. Polly getting my breakfast and I 
 taking some clerks from the office and going 
 before the coroner and then sending Lowder's 
 body to Mondell and sending two clerks along to
 
 February 39 
 
 represent the company till after the funeral. Back 
 to the office and thinking of the letter Lowder 
 gave me to open in case something happened to 
 him. It began, "This finds me a suicide." He 
 went on to tell about how he saw no other way 
 out. There were four inclosures, notes to his 
 mother, each of his sisters, and to a girl here in 
 town. They were stamped and addressed, but I 
 tore them open and they were all about his sui- 
 cide. The note to the girl was full of reproaches 
 showing that I was right in my suspicion that he 
 had been disappointed in love. The newspapers 
 are full of stories about his heroism, and the 
 chief told me that the company wired from the 
 main office to see that his family was rewarded. 
 Officially he is a hero. So I burned all the letters 
 in my furnace and decided to carry a flag in 
 Lowder's parade along with the rest of the office 
 force and every newspaper reader in town. No 
 one will ever know the truth from me, and I hope 
 he didn't plant other letters around that might 
 cost him his fame. . 
 
 Feb. 18. Polly and I having a few words at 
 breakfast about feeding Pep, she saying that 
 she will not feed him, even though I may be up- 
 set by troubles at the office and forget him once 
 in a while, and I saying as long as we kept him 
 we had to be human and feed him, and she miss- 
 ing the point and thinking I was hinting at getting 
 rid of him, which I was not, as I intend to keep
 
 40 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 him until he dies of old age. She said that of late 
 Pep seems to be my first thought around the 
 house. I seeing that I have made a mistake with 
 him, so resolving to say something bright and 
 personal to Polly and Ellen every chance I get. 
 Beginning by telling Polly that the rice muffins 
 she made for breakfast were the best I had ever 
 eaten, but getting in wrong there, as Mrs. 
 Walker, our new neighbor, had brought them 
 over while I was fixing the furnace. Going to 
 work in low spirits and trying to get the office 
 down to work again after two days of doing little 
 but reading about Lowder in the newspapers and 
 talking about him. Home on the street car with 
 Bill Hines and feeling sorry for him on account 
 of the way people gave him the cold look. 
 
 Feb. 19. Taking Pep for a run around the 
 block while Polly was getting my breakfast, and 
 away to work in good spirits. The two clerks 
 who went to Lowder's funeral reporting that he 
 was buried with the honors of a hero and that 
 the preacher paid a fine tribute to his memory. 
 Glad I have done the right thing by the Lowder 
 family and that I am through with them. Al 
 Jackson dropping in on me to talk more about 
 putting a piece of money into the patent he is 
 interested in, but I telling him I was putting 
 nothing into speculative ventures, but was stick- 
 ing to sound investments. I also talking a good 
 deal about money matters to keep from telling
 
 February 41 
 
 him that he had better hold on to what he is 
 getting every week and make it cover his bills 
 and not bother his mind with gambling on a 
 patent. It does a man no harm to give a fellow 
 like Jackson to understand that I am not worry- 
 ing about running expenses, but give a good deal 
 of thought to big-time financial matters. His 
 daughter, Beatrice, at our house for dinner when 
 I got home. She has some advanced ideas and 
 talks about the liberation of the women -from 
 domestic bondage, and the freedom of the soul to 
 drift on whispered zephyrs, which sounds like a 
 book. That's all she'll have to drift in if Al keeps 
 on throwing away his money. 
 
 Feb. 20. Polly and I having words at break- 
 fast about Ellen running around with Beatrice 
 and her revolutionary ideas, I saying that 
 Beatrice needs a husband, three children, and 
 six rooms on her mind and hands eighteen hours a 
 day, but Polly saying Beatrice is a genius in her 
 way and it would do Ellen no harm to know that 
 there is solace in the world of ideas above and 
 beyond the cares of a household and a conceited 
 husband. Thinking while on the way to work 
 that Polly is not too old herself to take up with 
 some of Beatrice's ideas and if she does there will 
 be hell to pay at our house, as I am in no mood 
 to put up with domestic unrest. Eating dinner 
 downtown and when I got home Polly and 
 Ellen wanted to know where I had been. I
 
 42 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 came back with a hot one about how my soul 
 was wafted on a whispered zephyr to a good 
 restaurant and cruelly deserted there, so that the 
 only thing I could do was to eat a square meal, 
 free from the thought that my food was pre- 
 pared by the drudges of my household. Taking 
 Pep for a long walk and enjoying every step of it, 
 as there is no friend like a dog. Polly and Ellen 
 to the movies. I going to bed early, glad that I 
 took the matter in hand promptly and settled it 
 decisively. 
 
 Feb. 21. This pay day, so I getting myself a 
 pair of cheap overshoes as a present for Pep, he 
 having chewed mine up. Calling up the house, 
 but getting no answer, so out to see if anything 
 had happened to the family, but finding no one 
 at home, not even Pep. Looking around the 
 neighborhood for him and seeing him looking out 
 of Walker's window, so inquiring about him, and 
 Janet saying that she saw him whining on our 
 front porch and supposed Ellen and Polly had 
 forgot to put him back in the house when they 
 went away. She likes Pep and we talking about 
 him for some time. Walker is certainly a lucky 
 man to have a beautiful young wife waiting for 
 him at home, always there when he returns from 
 a day's hard work, tired and hungry, and wishes 
 food and sympathy. Getting my own dinner of 
 bacon, eggs, and baked potatoes, thinking she 
 must be Walker's second wife, as few men wait till
 
 February 43 
 
 they have sense enough to choose well before they 
 get married, and then marry a girl and train her 
 right. Most men make a bad bargain early and 
 put up with it as long as they live. Spending a 
 happy bachelor evening with a novel and early to 
 bed. 
 
 Feb. 22. Sleeping late on this, the anniversary 
 of the birth of George Washington, a good man. 
 Saying to Polly and Ellen, "Good morning, 
 how are your souls?" But they not getting 
 the point and I having to laugh it off as if 
 nothing had happened. Then, thinking of Pep, 
 telling them that a dog had a soul, too, and did 
 not enjoy being locked out in the cold, but that 
 it turned out all right, as he was taken in by a 
 charming woman who had room in her heart for 
 a kindly feeling for dumb animals. This getting 
 a rise out of Polly and she asking where I found 
 Pep, but I holding that out on her, merely saying 
 he was in good hands. She asking me where he 
 was while we were going to church, and twice 
 during the services she asked me if I was sure I 
 had locked him in, but I saying that was not 
 worrying me, as I enjoyed finding him where I 
 found him yesterday. In the afternoon Polly 
 went alone to call on two or three neighbors and 
 hasn't said anything to me since, leaving me alone 
 with my novel. 
 
 Feb. 23. I guess Polly is more sensitive than I 
 thought, for she has found out where Pep was
 
 44 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 when she locked him out and acts as if Mrs. 
 Walker and I had conspired to have Pep locked 
 out so we could have an intimate little talk about 
 him. Polly and I having a few words about the 
 incident at breakfast, Ellen not being there, and 
 Polly crying a little, the first time I've known her 
 to do that since I refused to jump into a cold 
 river, her new fall hat having blown out of the 
 car into it. It does a man no harm to let it be 
 known that he is an object of friendly interest to 
 certain parties. Telephoning in the afternoon 
 to learn that Ellen and Fred had a dance on, so 
 asking Polly if she would come downtown to 
 dinner and a show, and she saying that she would, 
 so I sending some violets to her. She showing up 
 in good time and happy with the violets, and we 
 to as good a show as I've seen in many a day, 
 then getting a soda and home. Thinking that a 
 man certainly gains a lot by marrying early in 
 life and he and his wife sharing their joys and 
 what troubles they have and pulling together for 
 the good of the family. Pep having been in the 
 house all day, I took him for a run and then read 
 until Ellen and Fred came home from their dance. 
 Feb. 24.. Polly sending me to work with a good 
 breakfast and a pat on the back, so I guess she's 
 over her jealous spell and not afraid that Mrs. 
 Walker is trying to vamp me on account of being 
 unhappy with Walker, who certainly took a 
 chance in thinking he's young enough to hold the
 
 February 45 
 
 affections of a girl. Beatrice Jackson sitting 
 down beside me in the street car on her way to 
 work at the library, and I telling her what a 
 beautiful coat she had and what a good fellow 
 her father was to manage to get it for her, as it 
 does a man like Jackson no harm to get a little 
 advertising in his family circle. She saying that 
 she worried about her father sometimes, as he 
 was so given over to business that he had no time 
 for higher things. I said no, I thought he had 
 gone as high as could be expected when he got 
 the coat, but she not getting the point, saying 
 nothing more all the way to town. A good 
 dinner waiting for me when I got home this 
 evening, and I enjoyed it, as a man never relishes 
 foo.d so much as at his own table, food prepared 
 with loving care by his devoted women folks. I 
 returning the favor by keeping up a steady 
 stream of jokes. 
 
 Feb. 25. Polly and Ellen both down to break- 
 fast this morning, and Polly making waffles, of 
 which I am very fond, though I don't think 
 they're the thing for a man to load up on when 
 he needs a clear mind all day at his business. 
 Ellen remarking about the bright morning and 
 saying that it would soon be time to get the car 
 out and enjoy the first spring days, and asking 
 me if the car would hold together for another 
 season, which it certainly will, as I have given 
 my best attention to it and not hesitated at
 
 46 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 getting up early Sunday mornings and working 
 on it. It could probably stand some paint, as I 
 washed it in the sun a couple of times before I 
 knew better. Figuring to-day how I am going 
 to save some money this year and deciding not 
 to be a nickel pincher, but to live well and 
 to keep up appearances, at the same time putting 
 a little money away. Already I have a tidy 
 little sum tucked away, and you can trust me to 
 hold on to it in a tug of war against the adver- 
 tising writers. Fred Thomas out in the evening. 
 He's about the only one left of a crowd that used 
 to loaf here a good deal. 
 
 Feb. 26. Putting in a good day at the office. 
 Jim Wilkins in to say that he was passing my 
 house to-day and dropped in to ask if he might 
 take a look at the wagon, being interested in it as 
 the man who talked me into buying it, and my 
 Polly and Ellen to the garage with him while he 
 looked it over. He said that it was in good 
 mechanical condition and showed that it had 
 been properly cared for by an expert mechanic. 
 I explained to him that it had hardly been touched 
 by any one except me, he being surprised. He 
 then began to talk about trading it in on a new 
 one, as according to him it is just ready to begin 
 to show the kind of wear that will cost money, 
 but could not be sold at a good price. I told him 
 to look me up later. Wilkins is a good fellow 
 and he knows motor cars. Home to a T-bone
 
 February 47 
 
 steak dinner. Polly and Ellen saying Wilkins 
 showed up in a new car and took them for a spin, 
 as they wanted to see how the riding qualities of 
 our old boat had been improved. They talking 
 about a new car nearly all evening. Wilkins 
 surely got them going, taking advantage of their 
 inexperience. 
 
 Feb. 27. Another fine morning, so I calling up 
 the battery people and telling them to take my 
 battery out to the house and put it in the car, as 
 I intend to put the old money consumer into shape 
 by Sunday and take a spin if the weather is at 
 all warm. Out to lunch as usual with a bunch 
 from the office, and Arthur Rogers telling how he 
 had been playing the stock market for five 
 months in a notebook and if he really had $1,000 
 to begin with and had played his hunches as he 
 figured, he'd be better than $100,000 to the good. 
 I saying that he was like the rest of us. If he had 
 $1,000 to play the market he would buy clothes 
 all round for his family and probably lose about 
 $200 on the deal, but it set me to thinking and I 
 believe I'll look around for a place to put a little 
 money, as it jazzes a man up to have a little jack 
 stuck around where it may either evaporate like 
 bootleg whisky or put him on his feet for life. 
 Home to find the batteries in the car, so putting 
 in some gas and oil and trying the engine out, 
 which runs like a sewing machine. 
 
 Feb. 28. When I got home this evening Polly
 
 48 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 asked me if the car could be run to the agency 
 on its own power or would it have to be towed 
 down. I explained that it is in perfect condition 
 and good for the season, and she said she thought 
 I was going to apply it to the cost of a new one. 
 Ellen joining in at this point and she and Polly 
 rooting for a new car till I was about ready to 
 give in, but Polly changing her tune and saying 
 that if I was in some kind of financial trouble 
 which I was keeping to myself it was the plain 
 duty of my family to stand by me even though it 
 involved riding in a car which would soon be 
 eligible for the neighborhood first settlers' club. 
 I saying nothing to this except that the car was 
 in such bad shape that she and Ellen would 
 probably have to push it if we got any good out 
 of it, and taking Pep for a walk, smuggling him 
 into a movie, which I had to leave on account of 
 him sniffing a nervous woman's ankles under the 
 seat in front of us. 
 
 Feb. 29. Up early and getting my own break- 
 fast, and taking Pep in the car to limber it up 
 and work it in after the winter's rest. About 
 ten miles out in the country when she went dead 
 on me, owing to trouble somewhere in the 
 electrical system, so I was laid up for some time, 
 finally having to get a man from a garage. A 
 rain coming up and he towing me in to his garage, 
 where he took $4.60 worth of time to find the fuse 
 blown on the starter, which I should have
 
 February 49 
 
 noticed at the start. Testing it out and finding 
 that it ran all right, so starting home, but missing 
 Pep, who should have stayed in the car. Looking 
 for him for about an hour and finding him with 
 some boys down along a creek. They were 
 teaching him to swim by throwing him in, and he 
 was covered with mud. Getting a puncture, and 
 as I had no spare, not thinking I would need it, 
 losing some time fixing it. Finally getting home 
 about dark. Polly saying nothing about the car, 
 but getting a good meal for me. Ellen gone 
 somewhere with Fred. Giving Pep a bath and 
 going to bed early, as I am tired, as a person 
 always is after the first ride of the season.
 
 March 
 
 Mar. i. Not feeling very well to-day, as I 
 exerted myself too much yesterday doing all a 
 man could do to work the car in so his family 
 could have a ride in the afternoon, as they enjoy. 
 Not disturbing any one this morning, but getting 
 my own breakfast and taking Pep for a run and 
 going to work and doing my duty as a man 
 should that has a family to look after and a good 
 job to live up to. As I expected, at dinner Ellen 
 and Polly began to get curious about why I was 
 out so long in the car yesterday, and I figured 
 that if I blamed the car they would ask for a new 
 one on the strength of my own experience, and 
 that if I blamed Pep they would demand that I 
 get rid of him right away, so I said that I didn't 
 care to risk tire trouble with the family along in 
 the car, so I picked up a couple of friends and 
 gave the car a good work out, at which Polly 
 remarked that the speedometer must have 
 broken down after I went twenty miles. I said 
 nothing, as a man should be a little reserved at 
 times, when people are poking into my affairs, 
 but went to call on our preacher, who is a victim 
 
 So
 
 March 51 
 
 of drink, this being my little joke, he having 
 caught cold in the rain and slush while going to a 
 prohibition meeting. 
 
 Mar. 2. Polly sending me away with a good 
 breakfast, but just as I got started on my day's 
 work I caught a couple of clerks shooting craps 
 on a desk blotter. I called them hard, as a man 
 cannot stand for this in his department, even 
 though it seems that everybody is gambling. 
 One of the shooters saying that he would shoot 
 me to see whether he must quit then or could go 
 ahead and make his point, which he said he was 
 just about to do as I came up, and as I don't 
 wish to blue-law my department, I took him up. 
 He won from me and then won his point, and in 
 ten minutes had cleaned the other fellow. I 
 never saw a man handle bones like that, but that 
 doesn't mean much, as I've never seen much 
 craps shooting, nor do I care to see any more, as 
 when I turned around the chief was standing 
 there. He said nothing, and I guess he doesn't 
 care as long as my department delivers the goods, 
 which it does, as I have the discipline. Fred 
 Thomas at the house in the evening and I telling 
 him about it, and he tried to show me a few things 
 with some bones Ellen had in her handbag, I 
 losing $5.60. A young girl like Ellen ought not 
 to have dice. 
 
 Mar. J. Working hard at the office all day and 
 home to dinner hungry and tired. Meeting Pep
 
 52 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 at the end of the block, and he was glad to see 
 me, as he always is, and never asking for any- 
 thing but food and shelter and such attention 
 as a man is bound to give to any living thing that 
 is always in good humor and has lots of pep. We 
 walked home together and Polly met us at the 
 door and refused to let Pep in, saying that while 
 she was out this afternoon and forgot to lock him 
 in the basement he got loose in the house and 
 pulled the curtains from two windows and tore 
 up a cushion, spilling feathers all over the house. 
 She said there was no longer any room for 
 argument, I'd have to give Pep the air for life as 
 far as our house was concerned. 1 told Pep to 
 wait on the porch while I inspected the damage. 
 No harm to speak of was done. I kept still till 
 after dinner, as a man should go easy when he's 
 hungry, then I took Pep over to Mrs. Walker's 
 house and she agreed to keep him for me for 
 awhile. I to the movies and home to find all in 
 bed. 
 
 Mar. 4. Polly and Ellen both up for break- 
 fast and wanting to know what has been done 
 about the dog, but I giving them no satisfaction, 
 merely saying that I had found a temporary home 
 for him where he will be in sympathetic hands 
 until they decided to let him come back where 
 he belonged or until I could find a little flat down- 
 town where he and I could live in peace. Calling 
 up Mrs. Walker two or three times to-day to find
 
 March 53 
 
 out about Pep. She has a sweet voice and I 
 wonder how a clod like Walker ever managed 
 to get a sensible girl like that. She enjoys Pep, 
 as she says she is lonely and he brightens the 
 house with his cute antics. Home to find Fred 
 there for dinner, and a good dinner it was. Polly 
 and Ellen acting queerly. Fred asking about 
 Pep and I saying he is doing all right. Fred said 
 the man who first owned him now wishes to have 
 him back again and is willing to pay a fair price 
 for him, but I not falling for that line of talk and 
 saying I'd think about it. Getting Pep and tak- 
 ing him for a long walk and coming back through 
 the rear of the house with him under my arm and 
 putting him down in his bed, where he is happily 
 sleeping. 
 
 Mar. 5. Up early this morning and taking 
 Pep for a walk. Breakfast ready when we got 
 back and Polly, seeing me coming with Pep, 
 came to the door and said that he could not come 
 in. I said that that would be all right with me, 
 as I would take him back to Mrs. Walker, who 
 had a kind heart as well as a sense of humor. 
 Polly's eyes flashed the way they do when she 
 makes a costly misplay at bridge, and she said 
 that if that was the case bring Pep on in and 
 put him in the basement, as the neighborhood 
 was probably seething with gossip and the sooner 
 it was stopped the better. Pep still here when I 
 got home this evening and now he is back where
 
 54 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 he is happy and contented, and all's well. I 
 suppose the gossips are busy. I know what I'd 
 think about Harry Vicker's wife, for instance, if 
 she ran his dog away and almost caused him to 
 leave home in reprisal, as they say in the news- 
 papers. But I make it a rule never to consider 
 what other people may think about my actions. 
 Mar. 6. A man never knows who his friends 
 are till he overhears them talking about him. 
 Sitting in the street car this morning behind that 
 Jackson girl, and she was telling some hatchet- 
 faced woman with her that men are pure selfish- 
 ness itself, like the father of a friend of hers who 
 keeps a destructive dog which nearly ruined the 
 house furnishing, so that his wife attempted to 
 persuade him to get a gentler dog, but he flew 
 into a rage and threatened to desert his family 
 and go elsewhere to live with the dog, and actually 
 did secretly take the dog to a rather queer woman 
 who lives within a stone's throw of his own home. 
 That only goes to show how a lot of foolish women 
 will pass a story along like the village bucket 
 brigade, suspecting a thing one minute and 
 repeating it for a fact the next, until a man 
 stands no chance at all. After dinner calling 
 up some men in the neighborhood and getting 
 up a poker party, as it hurts no man to be 
 known among his neighbors as a good fellow and 
 happy in his home. We playing till late and 
 enjoying every minute, I winning $2.37.
 
 March 55 
 
 Mar . 7. Working on the car most of the day 
 and finally getting it to run all right and asking 
 Polly and Ellen 'if they would go for a ride. 
 Things going all right, as they seemed glad to go, 
 and Pep sat on the front seat beside me and en- 
 joyed himself all the time. I driving around the 
 neighborhood for a few minutes, as it does a man 
 no harm to be seen out in his car with his family 
 and dog all looking prosperous and well and living 
 happily together. But as luck would have it, 
 as soon as we got out in the country a few miles 
 the car went dead, and while I was looking for 
 the trouble the sun went down, through no fault 
 of mine, and the wind got cold, and Polly and 
 Ellen began to ask how soon the car would be up 
 and around again. Letting Pep out to run 
 around to keep himself warm. Finally, when we 
 were all pretty cold, finding the wire to the 
 battery disconnected, as I forgot to put the nut 
 on when I cleaned the terminals. Just then Pep 
 started across the field after a rabbit, and it was 
 dark when I got hold of him, so the trip was not 
 what I expected; but a man's family should 
 make allowances for a car that has given a lot of 
 service. 
 
 Mar. 8. Asking Polly at breakfast this morn- 
 ing how she squared herself with the neighbors 
 after boasting that she would never have Pep 
 in the house again, and she said that a woman 
 whose husband had threatened to leave her for a
 
 56 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 dog didn't have to square herself with any except 
 those who believed that she made a mistake in 
 not taking advantage of the chance to get rid of 
 two nuisances at one stroke. I can tell from that 
 that Polly is still a little jealous of Pep, but she 
 will get over it in time and appreciate me all the 
 more. To show that I was bluffing when I talked 
 about getting a place to live with Pep, inviting 
 Polly, Ellen, and Fred to dinner and to the 
 theater, and, as luck would have it, one of the 
 characters in the play said, "show me a man that 
 dogs like and I'll show you a good husband." 
 Glad to see more realism of this kind on the stage, 
 showing that the authors are going to real life for 
 their material. I'll have to go to the theater 
 oftener, as that sort of thing should be en- 
 couraged. 
 
 Mar. 9. Polly saying something about a new 
 dress this morning, and I saying that I hoped 
 she would get what she wanted, as a man in my 
 position should treat his family right and not be 
 tight with his money within certain limits. 
 Riding down on the car with that Jackson girl, 
 who seems to get some kind of pleasure out of 
 sitting beside me when I would rather read the 
 newspaper. She asking how Pep is and I saying 
 that he is still displaying more than human in- 
 telligence, at least not running around repeating 
 idle gossip about people. This would have floored 
 an ordinary person, but she acted as innocent as
 
 March 57 
 
 a doll and merely said that, judging by a dog's 
 standards of decency, perhaps he saw nothing 
 scandalous worth gossiping about. I said nothing 
 as a man cannot say things that might be repeated 
 among his daughter's friends and cause them 
 to think things were not all right in her family. 
 Talking about the weather and glad when she 
 got off the car. Home to a good dinner and 
 reading the newspaper, as I didn't get to read 
 same this morning on account of that Jackson 
 girl. 
 
 Mar. IO. Getting my own breakfast this 
 morning, not wishing to disturb Polly and Ellen, 
 as they have their hands full taking care of the 
 house and need all the help they can get, and a 
 man should be able to get a meal for himself 
 once in a while so he will appreciate the efforts 
 of the women of his family to make him comfort- 
 able and happy. Working hard all day. They 
 are putting more work on me at the office every 
 day now, but I'm not kicking, as I don't let 
 any one disturb my peace of mind. A letter to- 
 day from Ethel Lowder, one of the sisters of 
 Scott Lowder, saying she was coming to the 
 city soon and would like to see me, I replying 
 in the affirmative, as it will do her good to express 
 their gratitude for what I did for her brother. 
 Fred out in the evening and Margie Shanley 
 coming in with a fellow named Ashcroft. Margie 
 suggesting poker, and all agreeing, including
 
 58 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Ashcroft, who said he was willing if we would 
 teach him, which we did, he learning rapidly, 
 winning $4.15 from me when I tried to bluff him 
 just after we started. I had to work on my 
 income-tax return then, and the young people 
 made Ashcroft take them to the movies and for 
 candies and sodas. He was a good sport and 
 said he would go if they'd let him pay for every- 
 thing, which was all right with me, as I was 
 ready to read the newspaper and talk to Polly. 
 Mar. n. A bright day to-day and the temper- 
 ature about right, which I put down through 
 having run across John Hartman at lunch to-day 
 and hearing him arguing with someboily, remind- 
 ing me that he started me on this record. 1 had 
 nearly forgotten about it, but keep the diary, 
 anyhow, because people are always starting 
 diaries and not keeping them up, but none of that 
 for me, as, whatever my faults, nobody can 
 accuse me of not knowing how to make up my 
 mind to what is right and then doing it in spite 
 of anything. The same is true of the way I have 
 been saving money this year, as I now have quite 
 a little put away to the credit of my resolution to 
 save some money this year. Telling Polly and 
 Ellen about how I am keeping my resolutions, 
 but saying nothing about this diary or my savings 
 account, as a man should use a little judgment 
 about talking of his personal affairs around the 
 house. In the evening telling Polly and Ellen
 
 March 59 
 
 that I would read editorials from the paper to 
 them when I came back from taking Pep for a 
 walk, but they had gone to the movies when I 
 got back. 
 
 Mar. 12. Polly not well to-day, having got a 
 cold from wearing pumps through the slush to a 
 meeting to raise money for the starving and 
 freezing children of Europe. I called her up dur- 
 ing the day and found out from Ellen that Polly 
 is staying in bed. Planning a surprise for her, so 
 going around to a place that is pretty well adver- 
 tised in the newspapers through being raided so 
 often, and getting a little something for her cold. 
 Also taking some violets home to her. She liking 
 the violets, but saying she had all the medicine 
 she needed, as they put anything in bottles these 
 days, and to try it on Pep, but, instead, trying a 
 little of it myself and rinding it good stuff, and, 
 Pep having chewed up my overshoes, taking a 
 little more, as the best time to cure a cold this 
 slushy weather is before you really begin to 
 notice it. Reading a story to Polly and explain- 
 ing it as I went along, which cheered her up a 
 good deal, as she dropped off to sleep, and I went 
 down stairs to read the rest of the story to Fred 
 and Ellen, but Fred had to go right away, and 
 Ellen to bed, so to bed myself. 
 
 Mar. 13. Polly staying in bed this morning. 
 About noon I telephoned to her that I was sorry 
 that she could not come downtown and have
 
 60 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 lunch with me, and she saying that she would 
 bring Ellen and come right down, as she felt 
 much better at the prospect of getting out in the 
 air and jazzing around a bit. She looking well 
 when she showed up, and I saying she must have 
 taken some of that real medicine, after all, and 
 she giving herself away by saying she couldn't 
 find it, and I joking her about looking for it, and 
 she saying she found the bottle all right, but 
 Pep must have got into it, which is strange, as I 
 remember leaving a little in the bottle. So I said 
 nothing, but mentioned a matinee and they were 
 strong for it. After the matinee I was hungry, so 
 we had dinner downtown and then Ellen said she 
 was going to the theater with Fred, but I called 
 him up and he met us and we all went together. 
 Counting the bottle and to-day's expenses, I 
 won't save a cent this week, but a man has to get 
 out of the rut now and then and enjoy life. 
 
 Mar. 14. After jazzing around so much yes- 
 terday, Polly and Ellen sleeping this morning, 
 which was bright and mild, so after getting my 
 own breakfast as a man should be able to do, 
 went out to the garage and fooled around with 
 the car, which runs like a new watch, except that 
 it makes a little more noise, as any car would. 
 Taking Pep on the seat beside me and we going 
 for a spin in the country. Pep is good company 
 while driving a machine, as he never gives a lot 
 of advice about which road to take and never
 
 March 61 
 
 keeps asking if a tire is down and if the brake 
 bands are all right and if I am sure we have 
 enough gas, but as long as the wind whizzes past 
 him he is happy and so am I, though, as a rule, 
 there is little that a dog and man have in common. 
 Meeting two girls on the road who said they were 
 country school-teachers going to the interurban 
 line to take a car to town, so I hauling them into 
 the city car line and they enjoying it. Passing 
 that Jackson girl in a speedster with some simple- 
 looking nut. Home before noon and spending 
 the afternoon fixing up the car for spring. 
 
 Mar. 75. Up a little late this morning and 
 Polly getting my breakfast in a hurry and I 
 rushing away to the office. About four this after- 
 noon a girl coming into my office carrying a suit- 
 case and saying she was Ethel Lowder, sister of 
 that fool clerk who was here, and that since the 
 company thought so much of her heroic brother, 
 she had come to take his place and seek adventure 
 and fame in the city as he had done, as the family 
 at home needed the money. What could I do 
 but give a job to her, though she has no experi- 
 ence in an office? She is quite good looking, for 
 which I am sorry, as anything I might do for 
 the Lowder family might be misunderstood by a 
 certain class of people. She asking me where there 
 was a good hotel at a dollar a day till she could 
 find a boarding house, and I taking pity on her, 
 as she is not used to the city, and taking her
 
 62 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 home to supper with me, figuring Polly or Ellen 
 would know a place she could stay. I was sort of 
 afraid Polly and Ellen would be sore about 
 bringing her home, but they saw that she should 
 not be wandering around in a strange city at 
 night, and asked all about her folks and made her 
 feel at home. We had a good dinner and went 
 to the movies and Polly and Ellen made her stay 
 all night. 
 
 Mar. 16. Snow falling during the night and 
 was cold this morning. Polly up to get my 
 breakfast and I asking her if she and Ellen 
 would try to find a place for the Lowder girl 
 to stay, so she could get settled to-day and come 
 to work to-morrow, as it will be hard for her to 
 catch on and there is no use rushing matters, 
 and Polly coming through like a good sport and 
 saying she was glad to do something for a hero 
 like Lowder, so I leaving Ethel in their hands, she 
 not being up, knowing she was in good hands, as 
 you might say, and going to work. During the 
 day telling the chief about the girl and he saying 
 I was doing the right thing and had shown the 
 right spirit in taking the girl home with me where 
 she could have the protection and comfort of a 
 happy family. Home in the evening to find no 
 one at home and no note to tell where they 
 were, so getting a snack of supper, as a man must 
 do who has to put up with a couple of women that 
 chase around and are movie-mad half the time
 
 March 63 
 
 and can't be found, and early to bed, thinking 
 they might at least have let me know. 
 
 Mar. 17. This has been some St. Patrick's 
 day, as when I got up this morning Polly was al- 
 ready downstairs and when I went down to fix 
 the furnace she was sitting in the kitchen as if 
 she had nothing to do. I asked her what was the 
 matter, old dear, did she feel remorse over run- 
 ning off last evening without a word about where 
 she was going? She couldn't see the point at all, 
 and I suppose I shouldn't have tried to joke about 
 something like that, as you never can tell in the 
 morning whether a woman is doing penance or 
 sleepy. By the time I was ready for breakfast 
 she had it on the table, but she would not say a 
 word to me or even sit at the table. On the car 
 going to work that Jackson girl sitting down 
 beside me again and asking me if I enjoyed 
 motoring Sunday morning and I saying I did, 
 who was that nut she had picked up, trying to 
 silence her so I could read the paper, but she 
 saying that as she was not married and went 
 riding with only one man at a time she couldn't 
 see that I had any room to question her, showing 
 she's too fresh for Ellen to be running around 
 with, as I'll tell Ellen. 
 
 Mar. 18. Well, that Lowder girl showed up 
 to-day about noon, and when I said where have 
 you been? she began to cry and asked me if I 
 didn't know that she had taken her suitcase and
 
 64 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 sneaked out of our house Tuesday morning with- 
 out a word to anyone. She did it, she said, be- 
 cause she had resolved to be independent and 
 could not bear the thought of being treated as a 
 little girl alone in the big city. She said she was 
 now living at the Y. W. C. A. and had not been 
 to work because she had been hanging around a 
 movie studio, trying to get into the films. She 
 said she had given up the idea of a career and 
 decided to go to work. I put the case up to the 
 chief and he said to put her to work and keep an 
 eye on her, which I will. Home in the evening to 
 tell Polly and Ellen about it and asking them 
 why they didn't tell me what had happened to 
 her. They looked at each other kind of funny 
 and laughed as if it was a good joke, but they 
 looked as if they had been caught stealing dolls 
 out of an orphanage, and I gave them a piece of 
 my mind about harmony in the home. 
 
 Mar. IQ. Polly cried on my shoulder this 
 morning and said she was sorry that she and 
 Ellen kept still about the Lowder girl, but they 
 thought I would be terribly worried and would 
 blame them for not locking her in her room. I 
 said it was all right with me, as what else can a 
 man say in a case like that? Riding down on the 
 street car with Albert Jackson, who sat down be- 
 side me and nudged me in the ribs and winked as 
 if we were the only two men that knew where the 
 last quart in the world is, and said something
 
 March 65 
 
 about daylight joy rides. Well, Jackson is an 
 easy one and I gave him a line about a man 
 owing it to himself to keep in touch with youth, 
 as he gets in a rut on a down grade and is likely 
 to land in the grave any time, and as far as is 
 known a man has only once to live, anyhow. 
 Jackson is an old man and he gave me some 
 friendly advice about the straight and narrow 
 and I let him rave on, as it is good for a man like 
 that to give advice, as he might overhear him- 
 self talking and take it to heart. In the evening 
 to a jazzy film with Polly and Ellen and home to 
 play with Pep till bedtime. 
 
 Mar. 20. Pay day again and I took no 
 chances, but slipped a piece of money in the 
 bank to the credit of my savings account, as a 
 man never knows when something good will 
 come along where he can put a little money and 
 make enough to take care of himself through 
 old age, if he lives that long, or otherwise leave 
 his family well off. Home in the evening with a 
 box of candy for the girls, and Polly breaking the 
 news that there is a vacancy in the new dancing 
 club organized out here since the war and we 
 have been invited to join if we care to. I saying 
 I wasn't conscious of getting old, but if there were 
 enough people around who thought they were 
 tottering on the brink of the grave and had to 
 skip back to safety, all right, I'd join up. Fred 
 and Margie and Ashcroft coming in the evening
 
 66 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 to play cards and Ellen saying, "What do you 
 think, mamma and papa are going to join the 
 creaking knees?" and I said ,a man's knees don't 
 creak till his daughter is too old to spank. Not 
 that I was sore, but young people should be more 
 respectful, so Polly and I to the movies. 
 
 Mar. 21. Up early this morning, but not too 
 early for Polly and Ellen, as they looked as if 
 they had been up long enough to want to take a 
 nap. "What is the matter, is the house afire?" 
 I said, and Ellen said it wasn't, but they were 
 wakened by Harry Vickers making such a noise 
 getting his car out of the garage to take his 
 family riding in the clean air before church. I 
 saying nothing, but after breakfast saying I was 
 going to take Pep for a walk, but instead going 
 around the house to the garage and dusting the 
 old ship off and running her out and then asking 
 the girls if they cared to go. They were certainly 
 willing, as I thought they'd be, as sometimes you 
 can read a woman's mind like print. We were 
 out all morning and the boat ran like a bird, and 
 both Polly and Ellen admitted that it had a lot 
 of pep yet and might be made to last another 
 season, so I figure I just about made the price of 
 a new car on the trip. In the afternoon sort of 
 dozing, as a man who's been out in the air will, 
 and spending most of the evening reading the 
 Bible, circumstances having kept me from church. 
 
 Mar. 22. That Jackson girl sitting down
 
 March 67 
 
 beside me in the car this morning and saying, 
 "Well, did you have the same ones yesterday?" 
 I saying no, I had a couple of good lookers, why 
 was she curious ? She said she was writing a book 
 on the stupidity of men, and I said she ought to 
 get plenty of pointers from the ones I'd seen 
 her out with and I was grateful for an explanation 
 of her curious taste, thinking I would silence her, 
 but she had nothing to read and said something 
 about me being the inspiration of the booic and 
 chattered that way till I got to thinking that she 
 works in the public library and may be in earnest 
 about writing a book about the stupidity of men, 
 as there is certainly plenty to say on the subject, 
 and I sort of closed up, as you might say, and let 
 her do the talking. Between her and that 
 Lowder girl at the office I'm beginning to wonder 
 if I hadn't better drive my car to work and get a 
 new job. The Lowder girl has her desk littered 
 with pictures of movie stars and works in a sort 
 of daze, as if waiting for her chauffeur to change 
 a tire on her limousine. 
 
 Mar. 25. Bill Hines in to see me to-day and 
 saying he has quit his regular job and joined the 
 sales force of some sure-fire oil company, a new 
 company just organized last week and now on 
 the verge of leasing a farm in Arkansas which is 
 near a town in which some oil prospectors re- 
 cently make inquiries which point to the success 
 of any play made in the neighborhood. Bill
 
 68 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 finally told me he had lost his job on account of 
 being unable to get along with the people at his 
 place because of that oil deal he put over, and he 
 is going to play the game alone from now on. He 
 tried to sell me some, and I said no, I wouldn't 
 take it as a gift. He then said he would give it to 
 me less his commission, and I still said I wouldn't 
 take it as a gift, but he failed to get the point. 
 Too bad about Bill, peddling blue sky and may- 
 be on the road to the poorhouse when he might 
 be taking life easy, as I do, and not worried 
 about my friends, whether they are his or his 
 money's. Home in the evening to chase Pep all 
 over the house, he being almost human, but, 
 fortunately, not enough to talk or sell oil stock. 
 Mar. 24. Taking Pep for a walk this morning, 
 having got up early on account of the clock being 
 fast, and passing Walker's house as Walker was 
 leaving and Mrs. Walker lighting up when she 
 saw me, as if Walker was mistreating her and I 
 happened along just in time. She calling Pep 
 to the door while Walker and I talked for a 
 minute in front of the house, Walker acting to 
 me as if he thought it was not a mere happen-so 
 that I came along just as he was leaving. I 
 suppose he's jealous of his wife, as he has reason 
 to be, and I'll say she looked as if she was 
 happier to be with my dog than to be with him, 
 which speaks well for Pep, as I have brought 
 him up right and am glad to see that she knows
 
 March 69 
 
 he's a good dog, properly trained. Keeping my 
 department running smoothly all day, as I 
 always do when the chief or some one doesn't 
 interfere, but worried about the Lowder girl, 
 who looks like a total loss. Home to a good 
 dinner, and in the evening to Harry Vicker's 
 house to play poker. 
 
 Mar. 25. Getting my own breakfast this 
 morning, as a man should, and not let himself be 
 a slave of household routine so that when he gets 
 off the schedule he has a grouch at his work and 
 gets the reputation of being a sorehead. Some 
 of the clerks in my department complaining that 
 the Lowder girl will not learn anything and can't 
 even copy a list of figures without making a lot 
 of mistakes which some one has to correct. I 
 asking her how she liked her work, and she saying 
 it suited her all right till she could find something 
 worth while, but she could not live on the salary 
 she was getting, much less send money home to 
 her mother and sister, who are in need, the sister 
 being a country school-teacher. I asked her why 
 she didn't go to night school and learn to be a 
 stenographer, and she said that after bending her 
 knee all day to the iron discipline of a grasping 
 corporation she had no energy to devote to self- 
 improvement. I said all right, as what else could 
 a man say to a girl that has no sense of gratitude 
 and talks as if she was studying to be a Russian 
 suffragette ?
 
 70 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Mar. 2.6. Some of the girls in our neighbor- 
 hood that Ellen runs around with a good deal 
 deciding to have a party at our house to-night, 
 so they could have a good time without a lot of 
 men hanging around, so Polly and I deciding to 
 let them have the house to themselves and going 
 downtown, but too late to get theater tickets 
 and so going to a movie and having a soda and 
 home a little earlier than expected, but at that it 
 was late enough and all of those children should 
 have been at home and tucked in bed. When we 
 walked into the house six or seven girls were in 
 front of the fireplace, standing there looking 
 busy, and a couple of them were just getting up 
 off their knees, and that Margie girl was half 
 under the davenport. Ellen explained that one 
 of the girls lost a button and it must have rolled 
 under the davenport, as they'd looked every 
 place else for it. I said that hereafter we'd better 
 stay at home, as the boys had been here and left 
 their smoke, and pretty soon the girls began to 
 drift out and Polly and Ellen cleaned the room, 
 which needed it. 
 
 Mar. 27. Polly to some meeting this after- 
 noon, and, as Ellen had no place to go, I asked her 
 to come downtown and have lunch with me, 
 which she did, and after lunch I intended to take 
 her to some points of interest in the city, like the 
 State House, which, although born here, she'd 
 never been in, but on the way over there
 
 March 71 
 
 passed a window and she began to rave about a 
 suit until by the time we had gone in and looked 
 at several hundred suits more or less, and finally 
 bought one that looked jazzy to me but seemed 
 to suit Ellen, it was too late to go to the State 
 House, so we went home. The suit had to be 
 altered a little, so will not be delivered till 
 Monday, and Ellen and Polly sat and talked 
 about it all evening, Ellen, who can't remember a 
 telephone number two minutes, describing every 
 stitch of the suit and talking a streak about it for 
 an hour. That suit cost a peck of money, but it 
 was worth it to get a line on how Ellen's mind 
 works, as, although I employ and understand 
 women, I'm always learning something new 
 about them. 
 
 Mar. 28. Another Sunday rolling around as 
 usual and it rained too much to have any fun in 
 the car, so all of us went to church, where the 
 minister talked at great length about studying 
 the Bible and making it your constant companion. 
 I deciding on the way home to have more religion 
 in my home, as a man sometimes forgets his 
 responsibility as head of the house and the 
 spiritual guide of his family, so in the afternoon 
 reading the Bible aloud to Polly and Ellen until 
 Fred came and took Ellen calling somewhere. I 
 said to him that it was too bad he was not at the 
 party at our house Friday night with the rest of 
 the boys, as I had heard Ellen say nothing of
 
 72 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 him being there. He said he had to work, but 
 hoped to get here next time, and I said if he did 
 I wished he would hold the crowd till I had a 
 chance to look them over and find out how they 
 could leave so much smoke that it was thick 
 here long after they left. While we were talking 
 Polly said she guessed she'd go to see a neighbor 
 for a minute, so I put the Bible away and played 
 with Pep, breaking the china-closet door. 
 
 Mar. 29. Going down on the street car this 
 morning with Al Jackson, who said we must be 
 flying pretty high at our house, as he heard his 
 daughter Beatrice talking about a big crap game 
 at our house last Friday night. He said he drew 
 the line on this modern stuff for his daughter, 
 but, anyhow, she had too much sense to be shoot- 
 ing craps like a pool-room loafer, but, of course, 
 everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I'll 
 have some words with Ellen about that, but Al 
 Jackson has no right to call my daughter a pool- 
 room loafer and I cut him down with a few hot 
 remarks about critics being outsiders without 
 enough life in them to do anything but talk 
 about people who have the pep to get out and do 
 things. Anyhow, I told him, maybe your daugh- 
 ter might win a hundred dollars if she had any 
 luck. That closed him up for good, showing that 
 he hasn't forgot he owes me a hundred, and I 
 guess that after this he'll confine his moralizing 
 to people who can't come back at him with a
 
 March 73 
 
 squirt of liquid fire. Few of them get the best 
 of me in an exchange of hot shots. 
 
 Mar. 50. Ellen down to breakfast this morn- 
 ing and I saying something to the effect of how 
 about the crap game here at the house Friday 
 night? She saying the girls were just having a 
 little diversion to while away the time. I said 
 I didn't care about the girls, though I thought 
 they might be in better business, like bridge, 
 which is all right for women and can be gambled 
 at, but that I thought girls had no business 
 deceiving their parents and luring a lot of boys 
 into a crap game, and as for me, I wanted it 
 understood that it had to be stopped, which it 
 will be. Ellen then saying that to tell the truth 
 there were no men here, the smoke came from a 
 cigarette one of the girls smoked and they'd 
 vowed they'd never tell who brought it into the 
 house. Ellen was about to cry and I saying 
 nothing, as a man should kind of hold in a little 
 and Ellen is going to spring her new suit to-day 
 and I didn't care to have her feeling badly about 
 anything, so going to work. In the evening 
 Harry Vickers calling me up about a little game, 
 but just as we were getting ready to play his 
 wife's parents coming, so we had to play at our 
 house, which was all right. 
 
 Mar. 37. Walker hauling me down to work 
 this morning in a new sedan he just got and tell- 
 ing me he is worried about his wife, as she seems
 
 74 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 to spend a good deal of time to herself and he is 
 afraid she will get morbid, but he is doing the 
 best he knows how by her and trying to show her 
 a good time. He has a heart, after all, and seems 
 to be a pretty sensible man, and I heard the other 
 day that he makes $12,000 a year. Who knows 
 but she sort of vamped him and he didn't wake 
 up till they were married and she had him 
 anchored for life? She is a little flirtatious and 
 that's about it, she sort of married him against 
 his will. He hauled me to the office in his big 
 car, and as I got out some of my clerks were 
 getting to work on time for once and it does a 
 man no harm to be seen riding with a man like 
 Walker, who is prosperous and a good fellow to 
 boot, as you can see by getting acquainted with 
 him a little. I inviting him to drop over to the 
 house any time for a pleasant hour or two and to 
 bring his wife along, as she could have a lot 
 of fun with Pep.
 
 April 
 
 April i. Ellen looks like a million dollars 
 in her new suit and Polly is getting herself rigged 
 out for spring, so I guess my family is not so 
 bad off. The whole family turning out for break- 
 fast this morning and I suspecting that they 
 would try some prank on me as they once did 
 some years ago, but I guess they did not know 
 what day it was or more likely concluded that 
 I was getting too sharp to fall for anything 
 they could think up. Ethel Lowder telling me 
 to-day that her sister Minnie wishes to come 
 to the city and take a job in my office, but will 
 not come unless I pay more than I am paying 
 Ethel. Ethel seems to think that I can do any- 
 thing, probably because I treated her right and 
 showed that I was willing to do anything for the 
 good of the Lowder family, but I must say she 
 might have asked me for a job for her sister 
 instead of saying the sister was coming right 
 along as soon as I agreed to pay more. Ask- 
 ing Ethel about her work and finding that in the 
 time she's been here she has learned nothing 
 but the life history of two more movie stars. 
 
 75
 
 76 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 She's not worth desk room. If I can get rid 
 of her in some decent way I am going to 
 swear off on Lowders for all time. 
 
 April 2. When I got home this evening 
 Polly was crying and alone, and all I could 
 learn was that she had always suspected it, 
 but after about fifteen minutes of questioning 
 I discovered that the real trouble was that 
 Al Jackson's wife had been to our house this after- 
 noon, and for Polly's own good and not that 
 she wished to meddle, had stated that Beatrice 
 had seen me with her own eyes out jazzing with 
 a couple of girls the other Sunday. I started 
 to explain, but I was too shrewd for that, and 
 merely said that if the Jackson girl, whose 
 reputation for truth was beyond question, had 
 seen me with her very own eyes, that should, 
 of course, settle the matter. I held my temper 
 and did not get sore as a man might have because 
 that crazy Jackson girl is trying to break up my 
 family and wreck my life, but instead I gave 
 Polly a friendly pat on the shoulder to show 
 that I had nothing to be remorseful over, and 
 fixed the furnace and took Pep for a run. If 
 they are that quick to think the worst of me, 
 there's little I can do to stop them, especially 
 as there's not a gray hair in my head and I'm 
 younger than I look. 
 
 April j. This morning at breakfast Polly 
 was as meek as a kitten. She must have spent a
 
 April 77 
 
 hard night, and I felt sorry and told her that any 
 woman who had a husband as open to suspicion 
 as her husband was deserved a lot of praise for 
 sticking to him when he was the subject of gossip, 
 and she might easily blow up and tell her troubles 
 to the neighborhood and have everybody saying 
 what a pity! She said that she had been a fool 
 for taking in all that old lady Jackson said with- 
 out a word of protest or denial, but it was not 
 too late, as she had said nothing one way or the 
 other to the old lady. I let the matter rest 
 there and went to my work as cheerful as a 
 man could be. Several people I spoke to on the 
 car looked at me as if they had heard that I 
 was getting to a place in life where I could hk 
 the high places once in a while, if so inclined, 
 and I must say it does a man no harm to be an 
 object of interest to his neighbors, especially 
 when his conscience is bright and clear and his 
 family knows that he is falsely accused. Polly 
 and Ellen and I to the theater this evening. 
 
 April 4. A beautiful morning and there was 
 nothing I wished to do more than to take the 
 old surrey out for a whiz along the country 
 roads before the afternoon crowds of joyriders 
 began to clutter the place up, but going to church 
 instead, as when a man is the hero of a neighbor- 
 hood scandal it does him no harm to be seen 
 with his family in a place of unquestioned 
 respectability. The minister preaching a fine
 
 78 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 sermon on the sanctity of the home, and I looking 
 over at the Jacksons lined up in their pew as 
 much as to say to Al that he ought to take it to 
 heart and not let that family of his make a fool 
 of him over money matters and in the end 
 probably send him to an early grave, but he 
 not getting the point, as I could tell by the 
 sanctimonious way he stared back at me. 
 After church Polly telling the minister that the 
 parish needed a sermon like that to silence some 
 of the gossips and he said, "Did it?" and 
 blushed, and you could see that Polly had busted 
 him one in his spiritual solar plexus. In the 
 afternoon all for a spin in the old rocking chair, 
 which runs like a fish and looks all right. 
 
 April 5. That Jackson girl getting on the car 
 this morning, but not sitting down beside me, 
 so as soon as she sat down I went and sat down 
 beside her and told her that I was certainly 
 glad she saw me giving a couple of country 
 school-teachers a lift the other Sunday morning, 
 as some fool neighbor had also seen me and 
 circulated a false story which had got home to 
 my family, causing a lot of distress, and was 
 certainly glad that one of Ellen's friends knew 
 the facts and had seen the teachers with her own 
 eyes and, if called upon, would be glad to tell the 
 truth. This floored that Jackson girl, as I figured 
 it would, much better than if I had let on that 
 I knew she was responsible for the story. She
 
 April 79 
 
 had no comeback, but said that she would imme- 
 diately tell every one she knew that there was no 
 truth in the story at all, as I had explained to 
 her that the girls were country school-teachers 
 unknown to me. This will square me all right 
 and people will admire me for managing to 
 make that Jackson girl eat her words. Spending 
 the evening teaching Pep to sit up, which he 
 hates to do. 
 
 April 6. Riding down on the car with Harry 
 Vickers this morning and he saying that last 
 evening that Jackson girl called his wife up and 
 asked her if she had heard the story about me 
 and the girls I had out the other Sunday, and 
 when his wife said she had heard the neighbor- 
 hood gossip to that effect, the Jackson girl said 
 it must be a mistake, as she had only seen me 
 out with a strange woman or two that morning 
 and that I asked her to say that I was only 
 doing a favor for some school-teachers or some 
 one like that. Harry said the Jackson girl has 
 told this new story all over the neighborhood, 
 so I guess I am square and people will know that 
 I don't give a hang for their opinion one way 
 or the other, but only wish to shut the gossips 
 up. Harry gave me the laugh over the whole 
 thing, showing that he knows that Jackson girl 
 has it in for me for some reason or other, which 
 I'd like to know. Home in the evening to a 
 good dinner and a bunch of young people coming
 
 80 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 in later to play bridge, but lacking one player 
 so I suggesting poker, and all playing till late, 
 Ellen winning the money. 
 
 April 7. Telling the chief to-day that that 
 Lowder girl ought to be given the air ;n some 
 nice, decent, gentle way, as she is knocking the 
 pep out of my department, and he getting a 
 little sarcastic, as he does sometimes when some- 
 body shows him up, and saying that if my 
 department is so weak as to be demoralized by 
 a single incompetent employee, I ought to get 
 rid of more than the Lowder girl, showing how 
 little he knows about my department, which is 
 running like a clock, as he'd soon find out if I 
 was to quit and leave the company stranded for 
 want of some one to give the service as I can. 
 Anyhow, he said to put the girl by herself some- 
 where and let her know that she was on pro- 
 bation, which I did, she saying it was all right 
 with her, as she was glad to do anything she 
 could to help out in the office to which her dear 
 brother had given the best years of his life, and 
 if it was better for her to work alone, where she 
 would not lure the men from their tasks, all right. 
 I then saying nothing about the probation, as 
 a man should use some judgment now and then 
 and not be hasty. 
 
 April 8. Polly getting a letter to-day saying 
 her sister at Oldcastle is not well, so Polly and 
 Ellen going down there. Her sister is having
 
 April 8 i 
 
 a hard time, as her husband died last fall, leaving 
 her with a little girl about five years old and a 
 baby boy now about one year old, and not enough 
 jack to pay funeral expenses, they having lived 
 up to all he could make as fast as it came in. 
 I send her $25 each month and each of her four 
 brothers at Oldcastle gives the same, so she is 
 making out all right as far as money goes in 
 a little town like that, but, of course, if she gets 
 sick she will be in a bad way, but luckily she 
 has brothers there who can take care of her. 
 So I am left alone. Planning to put on a little 
 party with a bunch down at my lodge club, but 
 finding out the game they play is too steep for 
 me, as a man never knows when he will lose, 
 sometimes holding just enough to stay on all 
 evening and dropping a pile of jack, so I staying 
 out and home to take Pep for a long walk and 
 calling at Walker's house and Mrs. Walker saying 
 she will keep Pep till the folks come home. 
 
 April Q. Thinking I would go to a show this 
 evening, but wondering if Pep got any exercise, 
 SO out home and dropping in at Walker's to ask 
 about Pep. Mrs. Walker asking me to sit down 
 awhile, as Cyrus, which is her husband's name, 
 would be home any minute, but I saying I 
 believed I'd take Pep for a run, as, anyhow, 
 you never can tell, as this neighborhood is a 
 hotbed of gossip. For instance, I said to Janet, 
 Mrs. Vickers or somebody might drop in this
 
 8i Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 minute, and if so, before two hours there would 
 be a story floating around this neighborhood. 
 Just then Walker drove in with his car and on 
 back to his garage, and I took Pep and went out, 
 as you never can tell about an old man married 
 to a young girl like Janet Walker, as sometimes 
 they get jealous for no reason whatever, you 
 might say. Meeting Mrs. Vickers in front of 
 Mrs. Walker's house and, remembering what I 
 had just said about her merely by way of illustra- 
 tion, acting as if I did not see her. Taking Pep 
 for a long walk through the park and home to 
 read Lorna Doone, which is a great novel. 
 
 April 10. Figuring up my finances to-day 
 and finding I am in pretty good shape and will 
 get through the year with a fair saving to my 
 credit, which is something that doesn't often 
 happen, as, of course, I've been paying for my 
 home or something most of the time. Polly and 
 Ellen blowing in from Oldcastle to-day and I 
 surely glad to see them, and they asking me if 
 I had been painting the town red while they 
 were gone and trying to have a little fun at my 
 expense, but they got nothing out of me, as a 
 man should say nothing about what he does 
 when his wife is away, leaving her to guess, which 
 makes him a riddle to her and she won't lose 
 interest in him, and will always have something 
 to worry about. All going to the show, including 
 Fred, who seemed as glad to see Ellen as I was,
 
 April 83 
 
 only I didn't hold her hand in the theater and 
 I can't say that he had any business to do that, 
 a couple of children like that. When we got 
 home I spoke to Polly about it and she said I 
 had too many eyes and, anyhow, she and I did 
 the same thing the first time we went to the 
 theater. I saying there was no similarity in the 
 cases and putting an end once and for all to that 
 kind of talk. 
 
 April ii. This was a fine day and I telling 
 Ellen to get hold of Fred and we'd all four take 
 a ride in the car and get dinner at some country 
 hotel. The roads good and everything going 
 all right till after we had dinner, when Fred 
 climbed in the front seat with me an Pep, instead 
 of in the back with Ellen, and after we were 
 about halfway home, and as I was easing around 
 a sharp turn in a long hill with a big car crowding 
 me for room, he leaned over and said he was 
 making $40 a week now and able to support a 
 wife, and between the brakes shrieking and what 
 he said I found out that he and Ellen wish to get 
 married. I nearly ditched the car and finally 
 I said I'd have to talk it over with Ellen's 
 mother and would give him an answer some 
 day soon, as, of course, there is no hurry, they 
 probably figuring on getting married in about 
 four years, as both are only children. Fred 
 saying nothing and staying for supper and I 
 finally treating him all right, as if nothing had
 
 84 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 happened, as he is a good fellow and all right, 
 and he and Ellen are good friends and I wouldn't 
 do anything to break up their friendship, anyhow. 
 
 April 12. Instead of saying anything to Polly 
 about what Fred said to me yesterday, I said 
 nothing, as there is no use worrying her about a 
 thing like that until they begin to talk in earnest 
 about getting married, but Ellen and Fred and a 
 bunch of their friends all to the movies, leaving 
 Polly and me at home, and after I read the 
 paper and took Pep for a run I relented and 
 remarked to Polly that Fred seemed to be 
 interested in Ellen, and Polly said I must have 
 read it in the paper, as I never would have 
 known it otherwise. But I in no mood for foolish 
 talk and asking her if it wasn't about time to 
 break the thing up and tell them to be nothing 
 more than friends and keep on having a good 
 time, and she saying she thought it was a little 
 late for that, as they had been secretly engaged 
 for a month, nobody but Polly and a few of Ellen's 
 friends knowing it, and Ellen's trousseau was a 
 third done and Fred had signed a lease on a 
 bungalow down the street beginning the first 
 of June and now all they wanted was my con- 
 sent. I said I would think it over, as a man 
 should not use snap judgment in such important 
 matters. 
 
 April 13. Saying no more about Ellen and 
 Fred, but doing a good deal of thinking and
 
 April 85 
 
 about coming to the conclusion that Fred is a 
 good man, as I know a department head where 
 he works who says Fred was the second best 
 salesman they had last year and ought to be 
 sales manager in no time at all, as he has the old 
 stuff that rings the cash register. Al Jackson 
 in to see me to-day and he handed methat$ioo 
 the first thing and said he had cleaned up in 
 good shape on that patent he was interested in, 
 which turned out to be a play some big company 
 had been trying to make for ten years. He 
 had on new clothes and talked about buying 
 a machine. Well, I'm glad to see him make some 
 money, as he needs it, and if he can keep it a 
 secret from his family maybe he will have a little 
 peace at home, but money is not everything. 
 I'll bet he'd give nearly every dollar he has if 
 that daughter of his could land a bright, promis- 
 ing young salesman and settle down to the 
 normal life intended for all women. If she gets 
 married now people will say the man was at- 
 tracted by her money. 
 
 April 14. That Jackson girl riding down on 
 the car with me this morning and I saying, in 
 a very friendly way, just what was it made her 
 jump on me all the time? She saying, to be 
 frank, it was the way I had attempted to influence 
 her father in managing his own private domestic 
 matters, and I finally got out of her that Al told 
 his family all that bunk I gave him about
 
 86 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 economy and an early grave, and all that bunk, 
 and he had used my name pretty freely, and 
 his family had got the idea that I am the 
 cause of most of their troubles, and that I 
 actually tried to keep Al from buying that fur 
 coat for Beatrice. Well, I smoothed things out 
 as best I could, telling her that her father and 
 I are old friends and might have given each 
 other rather intimate advice at one time or 
 another and she said she was glad to have it 
 explained, as she did not enjoy getting even with 
 me for the whole family, especially since she 
 and Ellen are such good friends, and I felt better 
 all day from learning the truth about the way 
 that girl treats me. Home in the evening to a 
 good supper and to read the paper through. 
 
 April 15. That Lowder girl getting on my 
 mind again to-day, and after thinking her case 
 over getting a bright idea, that is to appoint 
 some young fellow to take her case in hand and 
 teach her the essentials of business life. It's funny 
 that that solution never occurred to me before and 
 I think that I have the man who will fill the bill, 
 a young fellow in my department named Ancil 
 Carder, a good, steady worker and about her 
 age. No sooner said than done, I called him in 
 and told him that I was going to intrust her 
 instruction to him, as it was an important 
 assignment, she being a very domestic girl, a 
 homemaker, and not accustomed to the hurly
 
 April 87 
 
 burly business world. Telling him to be tactful 
 and take a real interest in her, to find out how 
 she spent her time outside of business hours, 
 and to see that she was properly amused if 
 possible, etc. He jumped at the chance, as I 
 thought he would, having sized him up right, 
 and I think my troubles are over. Home to a 
 good dinner and after dinner suggesting that we 
 invite the Walkers in for bridge, but Polly against 
 it for some reason, so to read all evening. 
 
 April 16. Another fine day and some of the 
 boys saying that it would soon be time for a 
 little spring fishing before long, so in the evening, 
 after a good dinner, I went to the attic and got 
 my fishing tackle and brought it down to the 
 living room, where there is a good light, and 
 gave it a thorough overhauling, finding a little 
 rust here and there, as is likely to happen no 
 matter how careful you are to put tackle away 
 in good condition. Fred dropping in for an hour, 
 as he does nearly every evening now, and I 
 explaining all about the tackle to him, showing 
 him how to cast with a short rod, as he had 
 never fished with anything but a hook and line. 
 He was interested and we spent the greater part 
 of the evening with the tackle, I telling him 
 about the different fish I had hooked with each 
 bait, especially the black-and-white plug that 
 I hooked the four-pound bass with three years 
 ago. Polly and Ellen finally going to the movies,
 
 88 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 as I could not blame them for doing, they having 
 heard my fish stories before, and such stories are 
 apt to lose interest when heard too often, but 
 I felt that my first duty was to my guest. 
 
 April 77. This pay day, and I putting by 
 quite a little money, as a man never knows when 
 he is going to need all he can lay his hands on 
 without robbing a bank. But thinking it over 
 and deciding to increase Polly's allowance for 
 the house and her clothes and Ellen's to $45 a 
 week, the extra $5 being not enough to make 
 her suspect that I got a raise the first of the 
 year, as if she knew that I would have to come 
 through with more. The extra $5 will furthermore 
 probably come in handy in getting some little 
 things a girl like Ellen is likely to yearn to put in 
 her hope chest for her marriage. Telling Polly and 
 Ellen about it in the evening and they having 
 little to say. If they had been surprised I would 
 have been disappointed, as their surprise would 
 have shown that they thought I was in a rut 
 and not a man still in his prime and doing better 
 right along. It's worth a good deal to a man 
 to know that he is making ample provision for 
 his family and they do not have to bully him 
 for a nickel, as that Jackson family used to bully 
 Albert before he accidentally, as you might say, 
 made a piece of money. All to the movies. 
 
 April 18. Up at daylight this morning and 
 careful to wake no one till my minnow bucket
 
 April 89 
 
 rolled down the attic stairs, when I had to 
 explain to Polly that I was taking it to the cellar 
 to see if it leaked. Getting Pep and myself 
 some breakfast and making my getaway in my 
 car and going up the river four miles where I 
 fished a few times last year, and hiring a boat 
 from a farmer and out on the river early enough. 
 Having no luck at first, but soon getting a strike 
 back of a big rock. Working upstream and 
 back to the rock with the current again and this 
 time I got a real strike. He left the water to 
 grab it and he must have been hungry and an 
 old timer at the game, as it took me ten 
 minutes to get him near the boat, and 
 then Pep barked till I was tempted to throw 
 him at the fish. Finally getting the fish in, 
 a three-pound black bass, and then going home, 
 where Polly and Ellen raved over the fish. I 
 went to church with them, telling several about 
 the fish, and calling up others. Most called it 
 great luck, but there is something in knowing 
 how to land a big fish like that. 
 
 April 19. This evening at dinner Polly and 
 Ellen talking about nothing but the fish, and 
 it was certainly fine, Polly being a good cook 
 at things like that. Polly and Ellen insisting on 
 hearing all about how I caught him, so I telling 
 them every detail, as you must humor women 
 with your sport stories, as they crave out- 
 doors sports, but are unable to indulge in
 
 90 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 them, and if they get any good out of hearing 
 about them a man should not hold out. Having 
 a little family council in the evening in which 
 Polly explained that Ellen would need a good 
 deal of money in order to live up to the family 
 standard in the matter of her wedding, and I 
 saying that it was all right with me and to hit 
 up the charge accounts on me, as a girl is entitled 
 to the best wedding her dad can give her, and 
 I'm no pauper and will do the right thing by my 
 daughter. Getting out my tackle and putting 
 a spool on the line and using the davenport as 
 the rock, showing just how I caught the bass, 
 explaining as I went along so that Polly and 
 Ellen understood. Fred coming in, and giving 
 the show over again for his benefit. 
 
 April 20. The chief coming through my 
 department to-day and, seeing Carder and that 
 Lowder girl hanging over a desk with their heads 
 almost together, asking me what was I running 
 here, a matrimonial bureau? I saying nothing, 
 but remarking that what youth needs is sym- 
 pathy, which it can get only from those still 
 young at heart, which will hold him for 
 awhile. But I was glad to find out that Carder 
 is right on the job, as I hadn't noticed it 
 before. Looking them over a couple of times 
 during the day, I came to the conclusion that 
 the chief may have stumbled on to the truth 
 and that Carder and Ethel might be getting
 
 April 91 
 
 really interested in each other. So much the 
 better; then he would marry her and I would 
 be through with the Lowders for good and all. 
 Furthermore, noticing that two or three other 
 pairs in my department are killing a good deal 
 of time hanging around each other's desks. I 
 thought I had weeded that out of my department 
 years ago, but I see I must begin all over again, 
 yet must allow Carder a free hand. Polly saying 
 at dinner that Ellen's wedding day has been set 
 for Wednesday, June 16, and I saying well, all 
 right, and not remembering till an hour later 
 that the same is our twenty-second wedding 
 anniversary, but saying nothing about it, as 
 Polly will be surprised when she remembers 
 it herself. 
 
 April 21. Well, Fred coming out this evening 
 and I taking him down cellar, telling him I needed 
 help to lift a box, but after the box was lifted, 
 which there was no need of doing, I sprung a 
 surprise on him by saying I had an answer ready 
 for the question he asked me the other Sunday 
 when we were going down the steep hill, and 
 since he was a good fellow and all right and all 
 that, it was all right with me for him and Ellen 
 to get married, as while I thought they were 
 both too young, at the same time Polly and I 
 were about the same age when we were married 
 and we had no cause for regret, as I have taken 
 care of my family and Polly has reason to con-
 
 92 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 sider that she has done well, as I am a home- 
 loving man and have never, as you might say, 
 given her a moment of anxiety. He shook my 
 hand and gave me a manly promise that he would 
 try to do as well as I had done, so upstairs, 
 where I broke the news to Polly and Ellen and 
 gave Ellen and Fred some good advice about 
 making allowance for the other's point of view 
 in domestic trouble, then all of us to a movie, 
 which turned out to be about why change 
 your wife ? 
 
 April 22. Polly telling me this morning that 
 we are to go to that dancing club to-morrow night 
 and must be prepared, and asking me if I knew 
 the new dances, as she did, having learned them 
 when Ellen's crowd was dancing around the 
 house to the phonograph. I getting a bit worried, 
 as, while I used to be second to none when I came 
 to tripping the light fantastic, as they say, I may 
 be a little out of date on some of the new dances. 
 So at noon asking this boy Carder for a few 
 pointers in my office and he showing me about 
 the fox trot, camel walk, one step, etc., and 
 saying that the Lowder girl could show me right, 
 so calling her in, and while Carder whistled she 
 and I picked up the steps in no time, not noticing 
 what time it was until the chief stepped in and 
 made one of his sarcastic remarks about this 
 being a cabaret, or what? I sending Carder and 
 Ethel back to work and telling the chief the plain
 
 April 93 
 
 truth, and he said, "That's good," and laughed, 
 but the laugh is on him, as he doesn't know 
 about my plans for the Lowder girl and Carder, 
 which are working out all right, else how did 
 he know she is a good dancer? I can see through 
 him, all right. 
 
 April 25. Fred and Ellen to a show to-night 
 and Polly and I, togged out in our best, hitching 
 up the old surrey and wheeling over to the 
 dance, and I'm now sorry we didn't renew our 
 interest in dancing years ago and don't see why 
 we ever stopped, as all the people in the club are 
 about our age, people we know and nevef before 
 thought they were having so many good times 
 that we were missing out on, and I must say 
 it's partly my fault, as I remember saying that 
 we were past that stage several times when Polly 
 mentioned it. I danced the first dance with Polly 
 and she wanted to know where I learned that 
 jazz stuff and I saying one of the boys at the 
 office gave me a few tips to-day, which she said 
 explained it. But we got along all right, she 
 teaching me a good deal, as did the other women 
 I danced with, so I had a good time, and as for 
 Polly, she's a wiz at it, and, being slender and 
 quick, surely made a hit, as I found out when 
 I tried to get a dance with her. Some of the 
 women not caring to dance when I asked them, 
 so sitting around getting some valuable pointers 
 for future use.
 
 94 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 April 24.. Feeling a bit stiff this morning, 
 as a man is likely to after that fishing trip last 
 Sunday, but putting in a good day at the office. 
 Carder and Ethel in to ask me how I got along 
 and saying that, if I wanted some real dancing, 
 to come and go with them to-night to a real 
 drag where the jazz birds shook a mean foot, 
 but I not caring for such a suggestion, as even 
 if I do want to get rid of that girl I must have 
 discipline in my department and not have the 
 employees breaking in on my morning to talk 
 about dances, so I said I was sorry I had a pre- 
 vious engagement and could not go. Fred and 
 Ellen downtown to dinner together this evening, 
 and Polly saying that we should give them more 
 time together, as this is the happiest part of their 
 lives and they should not have to drag us around 
 with them. I took the hint, so Polly and I had 
 dinner at home and went to the theater together, 
 a detective play with a fine murder in it, enjoyed 
 by all, then home. Noticing that Pep was dirty, 
 so giving him a bath in the cellar, and he hated 
 it, showing that he is a good dog, a sure sign. 
 
 April 25. As fine a spring day as ever I saw, 
 but we went to church. Fred came out to dinner, 
 and after same we all loaded into the car, I kidding 
 Fred along a little by asking him if he didn't 
 prefer riding in the front seat, and he said no, 
 unless Ellen was going to drive, so in the end 
 Ellen driving, which was all right with me, as,
 
 April 95 
 
 while I like to drive, I want to see Ellen have 
 as good time as she can for the next few weeks, 
 and if she wishes to drive, all right, that suits me. 
 Besides, a girl makes a good driver, as every- 
 body gets out of her way, fearing that she will 
 pay more attention to her nose's reflection in 
 the windshield than to the road ahead. Anyhow, 
 we had a good time, Polly and I holding hands, 
 as we are not too old to do, going to dances and 
 the like. Pep getting the habit of barking at 
 farm animals and other automobiles, and I had 
 to call him down a couple of times, but he will 
 do better as he becomes used to riding. Reading 
 the magazine part of the paper and early to bed, 
 as the country air always makes me sleepy, this 
 having nothing to do with being old enough to 
 have an engaged daughter. 
 
 April 26. Trouble in my office to-day, as 
 Carder came into my office and said that Ethel 
 has a sister Minnie and he wished I would give 
 Minnie a job in the office, as she was smart 
 and as pretty as a chorus girl, only different. I 
 asked him some questions, and found out that 
 Ethel went to her home over Sunday and Carder 
 went up Sunday to see her and met Minnie, and 
 must have neglected Ethel and fallen for Minnie. 
 I told him I would think it over. Calling Ethel 
 later and asking her if her sister still needed a 
 job, and Ethel saying she did not, that the city 
 had brought death to one member of her family
 
 96 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 and nothing but hardship and despair to another, 
 and Minnie must stay at home, where she would 
 be safe from fickle office clerks and the like. 
 " Do you ever think of going back home to stay ? " 
 I asked, and she said she didn't, as she still had 
 hopes of a career, so, of course, I could do nothing, 
 merely saying that I thought one representative 
 of the Lowder family at a time was enough. 
 In the evening playing a little poker with Vickers 
 and his crowd, his wife giving me a hard look, as 
 I guess she doesn't like to have poker at her house. 
 April 27. Polly somewhat worried about her 
 sister at Oakcastle, who writes that she is ailing 
 again, after seeming to be all right when Polly 
 and Ellen were down there, so I sending her some 
 flowers by wire to buck her up, and telling Polly 
 about it in the evening and she not thinking 
 much of it, for some reason, saying it would be 
 different if her sister were sick in bed and all 
 that. The neighborhood buzzing with gossip 
 this evening, as Mrs. Walker went away with 
 two suitcases this afternoon, and this evening 
 Walker came home as usual, and after a time 
 he came over and asked Polly if Mrs. Walker had 
 spoken to her of going downtown or anything, 
 as she was not home yet, and Polly saying that 
 Mrs. Walker had said nothing. After about an 
 hour Walker came over again and asked me if 
 I would keep an eye on his place, as there would 
 be no one there for a few days, and I saying that
 
 April 97 
 
 I would. Polly asking me what he said, and I 
 told her that he made me an offer for Pep, as 
 a man must use judgment now and then, even if 
 Polly does get sore and demand to know the 
 truth about everything. 
 
 April 28. That Jackson girl sitting down 
 beside me in the car this morning and asking 
 if Ellen was going to have a big wedding, and 
 I saying that it was going to be the biggest one 
 in our end of town, and she asking if Ellen had 
 selected her attendants. I never thought to ask 
 Ellen about her wedding plans, and it does a 
 man no good to have a girl like Beatrice chasing 
 around saying he does not know what is going 
 on around him, so changing the subject as best 
 I could, which was hard, as she did not seem 
 to care to talk about the library, as you would 
 think a girl would who works among books all 
 the time and might pick out a lot of stray pieces 
 of information. She asking where the wedding 
 was to be, and what social functions had been 
 planned for the bride, and I finally saying that, 
 if she must know, to find out from some of Ellen's 
 friends, as I was giving out nothing, letting her 
 down easy, as she is all right, only brought up 
 wrong. And not the kind of person to tell all 
 my daughter's plans to. 
 
 April 29. Riding down with Walker this 
 morning, he stopping at the house for me, 
 showing a friendly feeling which a man surely
 
 98 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 appreciates. Asking about his family and he 
 saying all are well except his wife's mother, who 
 was taken suddenly ill the other day, so Janet 
 made a hurried trip to see her, just having time 
 to catch the train, and it seems Walker went 
 east, too, and found the mother much better, 
 so he and Janet came right back; so it seems 
 that all of the gossip buzzing around the neighbor- 
 hood the other day was bunk, and the unhappy 
 bride, as the women call Janet, is merely a 
 dutiful daughter kept from her sick mother's 
 bedside by love for her husband, which is enough 
 to make any girl a bit sad, so she does not sing 
 around the house all day. Polly calling me up 
 as soon as I got to the office and asking about 
 the Walkers, and I saying that they were all 
 right except for the neighborhood they live in, 
 which answer was more expressive than polite, 
 as must have been evident from the way I 
 spoke. Nothing said about it in the evening, 
 as Polly and Ellen were busy. 
 
 April 30. More talk about the Walkers, as 
 their maid told somebody's maid that she heard 
 Janet tell Walker that the next time she left 
 she would not yield to persuasion so easily, but 
 would stay away long enough to get a good view 
 of her life and would do as she pleased. I telling 
 Polly that Janet must be torn by conflicting 
 desires to be at home with her mother and here 
 with her husband, and needs sympathy, but
 
 April 99 
 
 Polly saying that two women in the neighbor- 
 hood called on her this afternoon and received 
 hardly more than civil treatment. Well, who 
 knows, for, as I have noticed, a man of Walker's 
 age runs an awful chance picking out a young 
 girl that way and trying to mold her high ambi- 
 tions and the like to his set habits. Now Ellen 
 and Fred make a good match, as rhey are about 
 the same age and upbringing, and Carder and 
 Ethel will get along all right, and I think I 
 have made a wise play in both cases. Taking 
 Fred, my new son, and the rest of the family to 
 the movies, and a good one it was, a cop falling 
 off a building through four skylights.
 
 May 
 
 May i Well, here's another month here. 
 They seem to roll around faster than ever after 
 a man gets to the point where he is doing pretty 
 well in life and really has nothing much to 
 worry about, except, of course, his daughter 
 leaving his roof to make her home, as it seems 
 only yesterday that Ellen used to climb up on 
 my knee and ask for one of those stories I used 
 to make for her. But far be it from me to stand 
 in the way of my daughter, as she is doing the 
 getting married and is old enough to know what 
 she is doing, and there's nothing to worry about, 
 as Fred is a good fellow and all right, and they 
 will live close to us here, so Ellen and Polly can 
 run back and forth every hour or two during 
 the day and exchange cake receipts and the like, 
 which is better than if she went away to live. 
 Taking a few liberties with my savings account 
 to-day and giving Ellen $50 pin money for 
 sundries now and then, as that is the thing a 
 man should do on such occasions, as Polly 
 pointed out to me, and I give her credit for having 
 the right idea. 
 
 100
 
 May ioi 
 
 May 2. Ellen's engagement announced in the 
 paper this morning, also her picture with three 
 other June brides, and I must say they gave her a 
 good write up, though on such occasions a little 
 more should be said about the parents, as when 
 you come down to bedrock it is the father who 
 gives his consent to the wedding and sets off 
 the skyrocket, as you might say, yet you never see 
 in the paper that John Jones has generously 
 consented to permit his daughter to take a chance 
 on marrying some young man, as such things 
 are governed by custom and not by the truth 
 of the matter. All to church and everybody 
 gathering around Ellen and saying what a lovely 
 bride she would make, and the women and Polly 
 seeming to have a good deal to say that I wasn't 
 asked to sit in on, so I slipping out and going 
 home, where I found Pep jumping for a run, 
 so taking him for a long run in the park and 
 turning him loose on spite of the law, as a dog 
 is a man's best friend and should have more 
 rights. For a ride in the afternoon and reading 
 a book all evening. 
 
 May j. Getting my own breakfast this morn- 
 ing, as is quite usual, Polly being so busy getting 
 Ellen ready, and Ellen not getting up till a 
 sewing woman who's at the house most of the 
 time now gets her out of bed for a fitting or 
 something. But I don't mind a little thing like 
 that, as a man should be independent of house-
 
 102 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 hold routine and not a slave to meal hours and 
 the like, a sign of old age. Carder and the 
 Lowder girl are as chummy as ever, as I noticed 
 when I saw them whispering over a book that 
 neither one of them had anything to do with, 
 so I guess he must have got over Minnie and 
 proved that I was right in figuring that Ethel 
 was the one girl in the world for him, once they 
 were left alone long enough to get acquainted, 
 showing that I was wise in not sending for 
 Minnie. The day bright and warm and the peo- 
 ple at the office staring out of the windows and 
 dreaming of being in the country, I suppose, 
 where they would soon find out what real work 
 is and be glad to get back in an office under an 
 easy boss who understands human nature. Ellen 
 smashing a lamp on the car to-day, just when 
 I am short of money, but a man has only once 
 to live and so I saying little or nothing. 
 ; May 4. Learning this evening that the wed- 
 ding is to be at our house, which is all right, as 
 while a church wedding is all right, there's 
 nothing like a girl being married in the ancestral 
 home, as they say in the books, though I suppose 
 it will clutter the house all up and I will have to 
 make some plan to get rid of Pep for awhile that 
 day, as it would never do to have him get excited 
 at so many people in the house, as he did when 
 Polly had her card club at our house, and start 
 to barking in the cellar, which would scare a
 
 May 103 
 
 lot of women. I could leave Pep with Mrs. 
 Walker, but I suppose she will be at the wedding. 
 I don't like to hire some boy to take care of him 
 during the wecTding, as boys are always throwing 
 things for him to chase, and as there are too 
 many automobiles, so you never know when he 
 will chase a ball or stick across the street in 
 front of a machine and be killed; but I suppose 
 I could ask Mrs. Walker to lock him in her 
 basement during the wedding, which would be 
 a good plan. Glad to know that I have all plans 
 for the wedding now made, and nothing more 
 to worry about. 
 
 May 5. Going to a dinner to-night given 
 by the company for department heads, officers, 
 some salesmen, and a few others whose brains go 
 to make the company what it is, and enjoying 
 the dinner all right till we got through eating 
 and one man after another got up and told how 
 production could be increased, or costs lowered, 
 or sales promoted, or one thing after another, 
 from polishing the brass sign out in front to 
 gilding the ball on the flag pole. The big chief 
 calling on me out of a clear sky and I had nothing 
 on tap but the temptation to say that the business 
 is all right, but what it needs is to be left alone 
 and run by the old timers around here. But 
 as soon as I got to my feet I got an idea and let 
 them have some advice straight from the shoulder 
 about the advantages of co-operation among all
 
 104 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 departments, saying that the motto of everybody 
 should be all for one, the one being the welfare 
 and prosperity, prestige and reputation, of the 
 company. The idea thus tersely put left them 
 all pretty thoughtful, as they didn't raise a big 
 racket, as they did after some of the speeches, but 
 remained thoughtful. They probably expected 
 me to get off some good ones, but I thought it 
 was the time to be serious. 
 
 May 6. These are great days at our house, 
 with all hands busy with preparations for the 
 wedding. Polly telling me this morning that the 
 car went dead on Ellen yesterday and she left 
 it in a garage, so waking her up and finding out 
 about where the garage is, and going around 
 there to-day and they telling me that the engine 
 was pumping oil and badly shot up and probably 
 needing new rings and overhauling, so I calling 
 up Jim Wilkins and he saying they could promise 
 no date on it if they ran it into their shop, as 
 everybody is buying a new car in the spring 
 rush and they have all they can do to make 
 minor adjustments on new cars, and so on, so I 
 telling the garage to give it the once over and 
 let me know the damage, as what else can a 
 man do who cannot afford a new car and has 
 the bad luck to buy his of a fellow like Wilkins, 
 who can't give service, though the car is about 
 new, as you might say, having been run less 
 than 20,000 miles. Saying nothing about it at
 
 May 105 
 
 home, as there is no need of clouding Ellen's 
 life just on the brink of her wedding, and, besides, 
 getting little attention to my remarks on any 
 subject. 
 
 May 7. The bandit chief of the garage calling 
 me to-day and saying the tax would be about 
 sixty berries and I finally saying to go ahead, as 
 what can a man do when he is helpless in the 
 hands of an armed garage? But, anyhow, the 
 man talked all right and I believe he will do a 
 good job, which often happens in some small 
 garages where the proprietor takes a personal 
 interest in every job and tries to build up a 
 steady trade. Fred and I having quite a talk 
 this evening, as Polly and Ellen were at a neigh- 
 bor's house, Polly saying she was too busy to 
 go to the dance to-night, but wished to finish 
 some napkins the neighbor was showing her how 
 to do. I told Fred that married life is all right, 
 but a man must make allowance for the fact that 
 a woman is human and as likely as not has 
 temper and will show it if she can find company, 
 but will keep her temper if the husband keeps 
 his, and, while Ellen knows all about running 
 a house, a man should give his attention to 
 expenses, etc. Talking till Ellen and Polly 
 came home, Polly to bed and Ellen reminding 
 me that I hadn't taken Pep for a run, which 
 I did, and glad that she is getting thoughtful 
 about my dog.
 
 io6 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 May 8. Settling a bunch of bills by check 
 to-day, and I must say that Polly and Ellen 
 haven't spared the family mint any in buying 
 for the wedding, and I a little peeved at first 
 and inclined to say that they had better put it 
 off till I got to be a millionaire, but withholding 
 such sarcasm, as I am able to give my daughter 
 a wedding such as perhaps she has dreamed about, 
 and the worst that can happen is that I shall have 
 to sell a few of the Liberty bonds that I picked 
 up during the war and have held on to, not 
 dumped on the market to cut the price down, as 
 a lot of foolish investors did, people who had not 
 figured on a rainy day or an emergency like a 
 wedding. Making up my mind that I will will- 
 ingly part with them in order to make my share 
 in the wedding a big success, but I hope there 
 are no more parties like that one last Saturday 
 when Ellen let the cat out of the bag to her 
 girl friends, but, after all, on second thought, a 
 girl is married the first time only once, so I have 
 nothing to worry about, as sooner or later Ellen 
 will get all I have accumulated, and what will 
 be hers then is hers now. 
 
 May g. This didn't seem like Sunday without 
 the car, but we managed to get through the day 
 all right. To church, where Polly and Ellen 
 both wore new dresses that were as spring as 
 the wild flowers in the park, and Fred and I were 
 certainly proud of them, as why shouldn't a man
 
 May 107 
 
 be, as a little pride does a man no harm, he having 
 as much right to think about how he is getting 
 on in the world as other people have to think 
 the same thing about him. In the afternoon all 
 for a walk in the park, but Fred and Ellen soon 
 getting tired, as they were not equal to the pace 
 set by older and stronger people, and they sitting 
 on a bench looking out over the lake and basking 
 in the comfortable sun like a couple of birds, 
 but Polly and I hurrying on, as I wanted to 
 give Pep some exercise, having to keep him on 
 a chain, as the park was full of people who 
 have nothing to do but flock around a park on 
 Sunday, and many are afraid of a dog, thinking 
 he is going to jump them, probably because their 
 ancestorswere thieves and had reason to fear dogs. 
 May 10. Well, you could have knocked me 
 over with a club this morning, as not long after 
 I reached the office Carder and that Lowder 
 girl walked into my office and she held up her 
 left hand and said what do you think of that? 
 And I got the point, as she had a new wedding 
 ring on. I cleverly got the facts out of them, 
 and it seems that they have been engaged for 
 ten days and were married at her home Sat- 
 urday evening, which was all right and strictly 
 according to Hoyle as far as my plans are con- 
 cerned, but it seems that they have decided that 
 since they are broke, and two can make more 
 money than one, they are going to move into a
 
 io8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 couple of rooms somewhere and both work here 
 till they get enough jack and Carder's salary is 
 boosted so they can set up for themselves and 
 Ethel can stay at home. There was little work 
 done in my place to-day, as the men were all 
 kidding Carder, and Ethel was running from one 
 girl to another all day. Telling Ellen and Polly 
 about it in the evening, and they said a girl 
 who acted as funny as she did got just what 
 she deserved and maybe she'd be happy, I saying 
 little or nothing about my part in this affair. 
 
 May II. The chief came in to-day and asked 
 what was it he heard about a couple in my 
 department getting married, and I told him a 
 few of the facts of the case, and he said the 
 company would do something for them, which 
 it did, sending a committee of girls from my 
 department to buy something for the newlyweds, 
 which, when the committee came back, proved 
 to be a tablecloth, six napkins, and enough 
 candy to supply all the girls in the office during 
 the rest of the day. I made the gift speech, 
 getting off a few witty remarks about the table- 
 cloth and the courses of true love that would 
 rest thereon, some getting the point, but I drew 
 it a bit fine for most of them, I guess, which is 
 why they are only clerks, in all probability. 
 Winding up with a few remarks about discipline 
 in my department and a full day's work, but 
 even at that there was little work done during
 
 May 109 
 
 the rest of the day, and I shall have to fire some 
 of the ringleaders if they don't settle down to 
 business. Telling the folks at home about my 
 speech, and repeating it for them, and they 
 saying that I was up to my usual form all right, 
 and laughing heartily. 
 
 May 12. Meeting John Hartman at lunch, 
 which reminded me that he's the man that 
 started me on this diary, which was intended to 
 be mainly about the weather, but has departed 
 somewhat from its course. As a matter of fact, 
 we have had no weather to speak of lately, the 
 days, as a rule, being bright and sunny, and the 
 spring being normal in all respects, no big April 
 snowstorms or any killing frosts this month to 
 ruin the peach crop. But I am not much in- 
 terested in crops any more, as, since we got the 
 machine I raise little if any garden, except to 
 keep the perennial flowers in some kind of con- 
 dition and to take care of the shrubbery around 
 the house and garage and back fence, but even 
 at that we have one of the neatest places in the 
 neighborhood, which is a neighborhood of small 
 but pretty homes, all looking about alike except 
 for class in some. Getting my car out of the 
 garage to-day, and it has more pep in it than it 
 had the day I bought it and runs like a new car, 
 so I am well satisfied with my little investment 
 and took the car for a spin this evening to give 
 Pep some air without wearing him out.
 
 no Sam Blick's Diary- 
 
 May JJ. Noticing this evening that Polly 
 and Ellen are getting nervous from chasing 
 around for one thing or another to make some- 
 thing for Ellen's wedding tackle, and saying to 
 them that they had better just let things slide, 
 as Ellen will be right in the neighborhood and 
 there will be plenty of time after the wedding to 
 embroider things, and to come along and we'll 
 run over to the state park Saturday in the machine 
 and stay at the hotel there and come back 
 Sunday and take Fred along and have a great 
 time in the open. They getting the point, and 
 grateful to me for considering their health, but 
 seeming to think that some fun is to be had out 
 of working like the head of a big family and 
 wondering how many of each size bath towel 
 there ought to be, etc. Ellen's friends are giving 
 parties for her, and she comes in too tired to 
 enjoy her happiness, and the other evening, when 
 I joked her about whether she could cook to 
 suit Fred, she sat on my lap and cried against 
 my shoulder and acted more like a nervous 
 wreck than a buoyant bride, but a man can't 
 do much in such cases. I told her she must not 
 expect too much of Fred at first, but perhaps 
 I did not choose the right time for this speech. 
 
 May 14. As near as I can tell, I did not need 
 to worry about how Pep would act during the 
 wedding. He was a good dog, and as soon as 
 the excitement around the house is over and a
 
 May in 
 
 man can settle down to normal habits again, I 
 am going to have another dog. And they needn't 
 have blamed me for it, nor Pep, either, for that 
 matter, as neither of us made it rain so Polly 
 and Ellen had to hang a tablecloth, which they 
 had just finished and washed, in the cellar to 
 dry instead of in the yard, and Pep couldn't be 
 expected to lock himself in the furnace room, 
 where he sleeps; but, of course, he might have 
 left the tablecloth alone, and I suppose that if 
 I hadn't left the door to the coal bin open he 
 wouldn't have dragged the tablecloth in there 
 and played tag with it, being only a puppy. 
 Anyhow, hiring the ash man to get rid of him 
 was going pretty strong, but I saying little or 
 nothing, as Polly and Ellen are worked up over 
 this wedding and I can expect no sympathy 
 from them. Wondering where Pep is sleeping 
 to-night probably on an ash dump somewhere, 
 and hungry at that, and it's raining, too, and 
 pretty cold. 
 
 May 75. Here it is pay day again, and I 
 would give my week's pay to have Pep back 
 again, for I never realized how much a dog could 
 mean to a man until they gave Pep away to the 
 ash man and bribed the ruffian to get rid of him. 
 And Pep probably slept on an ash heap in the 
 cold rain last night, which he is not used to. 
 Home in the evening about ready to say some- 
 thing about Pep being mistreated that way, but
 
 ii 2 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 finding that Ellen and a bunch of her friends were 
 having a party of some kind at our house, they 
 having arranged a picnic in the afternoon, but it 
 rained. They had been here quite a while and 
 seemed to be losing their pep, so I handing out 
 a few remarks offhand about when they were 
 going to be brides, and getting a laugh or two, 
 and finally asking Ellen on the side if I could 
 take the whole bunch in the car downtown to 
 the movies, and they jumping at the chance. It 
 was quite a load, but we made the grade and 
 afterward I took them all home, as I like to do 
 a little thing like that for Ellen's friends, they 
 being a fine crowd of girls and I not too old 
 for companionship. 
 
 May 16. Raining this morning and unfit for 
 a trip into the country, but a good day to do a 
 little fishing if a man was foolish enough to go 
 after bass when they are nesting, which ruins 
 the sport, so no more fishing for me till the 
 middle of the summer. All to church in the car, 
 which runs better than ever except that the 
 battery is getting a little weak and I suppose I 
 will have to have a new one some day to remind 
 me that, like a family, it isn't the car that sets a 
 man back, but the upkeep. Fred not showing 
 up to-day, as his mother is sick at Hamilton, the 
 little town which he came from to the city, and 
 he is down there to see her, leaving Ellen moping 
 around the house as if her wedding had been
 
 May 113 
 
 called off. Rain all afternoon and I reading a 
 story aloud from a magazine until Ellen and 
 Polly decided to take a nap and left me to finish 
 it to myself, they probably knowing that I get 
 more pleasure out of reading to myself. The 
 rain stopping toward evening, and I taking a 
 long walk in the park and keeping a careful 
 lookout for Pep, but no sign of him, so I guess 
 that to-morrow I'll see the ash man. 
 
 May 77. This morning I was awakened about 
 3 A.M. by a burglar cutting the screen in the back 
 door, but on looking out the back window saw 
 that it was not a burglar, but Pep pawing at 
 the screen. Without waking Polly or Ellen, going 
 down and letting him in, and he was surely glad 
 to see me, jumping up and trying to lick my face, 
 and it was all I could do to keep him from 
 barking. Taking him to the cellar, where I got 
 some warm water and gave him a bath, which 
 he surely needed, and then giving him the 
 chicken we had left from dinner yesterday, and 
 he ate as if he hadn't been fed since he was 
 thrown out of the house. Back to bed about 
 4.30, and in the morning waking Polly and tell- 
 ing her that Pep was in the cellar. I made it 
 clear that he was back for good, at which we 
 had some words leading up gradually to an agree- 
 ment that he could stay at the house twenty- 
 four hours, but must be got rid of, so to-day I 
 arranged with a dog boarding-house keeper to
 
 ii4 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 keep Pep for the time being, till Ellen gets 
 married and I can call my home my own again. 
 Taking Pep to the kennel this evening and seeing 
 that he is all right, but surely hating to leave 
 him there. 
 
 May 18. Fred not showing up this evening, 
 and when I asked where he was Ellen started to 
 cry and went to her room, and I finally got out 
 of Polly that Fred reported last evening that his 
 mother was all right, just had a spring cold, but 
 he spent the whole evening talking about what 
 a great old town Hamilton is, and how many 
 friends he has there and what good times they 
 used to have, till Ellen, being somewhat tuned 
 up over going to so many parties, showers, and 
 the like, said he'd talked himself into being a 
 stranger to her, and one word led to another, 
 and so on, as such things will, and she said 
 something about a hick town, and he took it as 
 a reflection upon himself, and in the end took 
 his hat and went home mad, and Ellen has not 
 heard a word from him to-day. Well, as I told 
 Polly, it is far better that they discover that they 
 cannot get along together now, rather than after 
 their marriage, and I wishing to comfort Ellen 
 by telling her there are plenty of other men, but 
 Polly saying to leave her alone, which I did, as 
 there are some cases where a man had better 
 go easy. 
 
 May 19. Ellen spent a very unhappy night.
 
 May 115 
 
 as we could tell by hearing her cry once in awhile, 
 and Polly going into her room and they having 
 a talk or two, so at the breakfast table I telling 
 Polly that I guessed I would take Fred out to 
 lunch to-day and give him a raking over the 
 coals and finish the job right, as, although Ellen 
 shouldn't have let him get cross if she thought 
 so much of him that she was likely to have a 
 hard time giving him up, we could not side with 
 Fred in this matter, but must do what we could 
 to protect Ellen, and for my part I am willing 
 to take the young fool by the scruff of the neck 
 and let him know that he fooled with the wrong 
 man when he abused my hospitality. But 
 Polly saying to do nothing whatever, but let 
 matters take their course, and not to say any- 
 thing about it to any one, for if I did it would 
 be all over the neighborhood like wildfire and 
 Ellen would grieve more than ever. Troubled 
 about this and finding some of my clerks loafing 
 to-day, and firing three of them without cere- 
 mony and calling others down. Ellen better 
 this evening, but about all in. 
 
 May 20. When I got home this evening I 
 thought the wedding date had been changed, as 
 flowers all over the house, it seemed to me, or at 
 least four vases of them, and Ellen was sitting 
 on the davenport, eating out of a five-pound box 
 of candy and staring into the fireplace, which, 
 of course, had no fire in it, and when I entered
 
 n6 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 the room she jumped up and kissed me and gave 
 me a hug and ran on upstairs, singing like a bird. 
 I went out to the kitchen to see what happened, 
 and Polly said Fred had called Ellen up early 
 this morning and said he hadn't been able to 
 sleep a wink since they had a few words, and 
 he had done nothing but walk the streets in the 
 depths of despair, and he wanted to know if she 
 would take him back. I was hoping Ellen let 
 him broil for awhile, but as near as I could 
 find out she said all right, and asked him 
 to come out to the house for luncheon, which he 
 did. I suppose that if Ellen insists upon taking 
 him back it will have to be all right with me. I 
 went alone to the movies, and did not see Fred 
 when he came out this evening, as he's still in 
 bad with me. 
 
 May 21. Fred Thomas calling me up to-day 
 and asking me to have lunch with him, and I 
 finally said I would. He is worried about Ellen, 
 saying he wished I would put in a word for a 
 plan he had to get to cut out some of this jazzing 
 around that she is doing, as she is so nervous that 
 he is afraid that she will be a wreck by her wedding 
 day, and he seemed to be so much worried about 
 her that I could see that there was another 
 chapter to that quarrel between him and Ellen, so 
 I said I would do what I could. In the evening 
 asking Ellen about it and telling her what Fred 
 had said and how serious it was, as he had felt
 
 May 117 
 
 that he ought to get me to help him. But she 
 is still up in the air, for she said to me that she 
 thought that she was equal to her own affairs, 
 and she thought Fred was going out of his way 
 to tell her what to do, so I changing the subject, 
 as a man should use diplomacy in a case like this, 
 and not force, so I asking her to go with me to the 
 kennel to see Pep. We got home and took a 
 long drive and she felt much better, and said 
 she guessed Fred and I were right about taxing 
 her strength, so I have settled another difficulty 
 all right. 
 
 May 22. Thinking about those clerks I fired 
 the other day, so sending for them and offering 
 to take them back, which two of them jumped 
 at, but the other one called me a hot-tempered 
 old skunk and refused to return to work, which 
 was all right with me, as I want no clerks around 
 me that have no more sense of loyalty than to use 
 violent language toward a man who has befriended 
 them. Figuring on my expenses, which run 
 pretty heavy these days, and deciding to save 
 every cent I can to defray the cost of Ellen's 
 wedding, for I am going to spare nothing to give 
 Ellen what she asks for, within reason, for a 
 man should not lose his head. Fred out in the 
 evening, and Margie and this Ashcroft, and we 
 got into a poker game and I pulled a few old 
 ones on them, like passing four treys under the 
 gun and hesitating about staying and then run-
 
 n8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 ning into a full house and an ace-high flush and 
 winning $3.10, even with a ten-cent limit. Get- 
 ting even with that fellow Ashcroft by saying 
 that I wanted excitement and would go out and 
 walk around the block, which I did, Polly and 
 I going to the movies and to buy candy and cigars. 
 May 23. An ideal day and I planning to give 
 Ellen a good rest by taking a long trip with 
 Fred along, and also persuading Polly to let me 
 pass the kennel and get Pep, who was glad to see 
 Polly, and she finally patted him on the head 
 and asked him how he was. That shows how 
 forgiving a dog is, as he does not blame her for 
 giving him to the ash man, but is willing to over- 
 look her temper and start over again. I drove 
 for a couple of hours, and then Polly and I traded 
 seats with Fred and Ellen, and Ellen drove. 
 Presently I noticed that we were in fresh gravel 
 and Ellen was having a hard time keeping the 
 old bus in the road; and as a matter of fact I 
 should have noticed sooner, as she was almost 
 exhausted, for the old wagon steers a little hard 
 now, as I guess she needs oil in the steering 
 housing. Polly bawled me out in front of Fred, 
 and Fred said something about me being the only 
 one who knew how hard the boat steered, and 
 by the time I got home you would have thought 
 I was a criminal, so I taking Pep back to the 
 kennel, and, leaving the car there awhile, taking 
 him for a long walk.
 
 May 119 
 
 May 24. Riding down on the car with Albert 
 Jackson this morning, and I thought I would kid 
 him a little and asked him if he had bought that 
 automobile he was talking about. This started 
 him, and he finally told me that his syndicate 
 had not really sold its patent, but had sold the 
 privilege of making certain tests of it, and if it 
 would do what was claimed for it a company 
 would buy it outright; but as yet the patent 
 had not tested out, but he was satisfied with his 
 investment so far and hoped for the best. I 
 figured that this company which they expect to 
 sell out to will find out how the machine works 
 and put some sharks on the job and manage to 
 get around Jackson's patent, so it may be that, 
 after all, Al is no better off than the man who 
 saves his salary and does not jump at every 
 chance that comes along to throw his money into 
 some scheme that he knows nothing about, but 
 who tries to do the right thing by his daughter. 
 Al is right and I hope he makes a go of his 
 invention, but if he doesn't he will make about 
 as much as he could have made if you figure the 
 money value of his lesson in following the advice 
 of a man who knows when I am well off". 
 
 May 25. Bill Hines blowing into my place 
 to-day, looking like a million dollars, and saying 
 he had certainly thought a lot about me during 
 the last few days, as I am one of his best friends 
 and about the only one that is not sharing in the
 
 120 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 profits of that little deal he spoke to me about the 
 other day. But I saying that I am satisfied, 
 as a man is bound to make a few mistakes now 
 and then when he has a number of small invest- 
 ments to keep active, and I hope that when he 
 has a sure winner to offer again he will look me up. 
 Hines is a good example of a man that took a 
 long chance, even at the expense of losing some 
 friends, and won out. He had the nerve to back 
 his judgment against a lot of petty fault-finders 
 who could see nothing in his new venture but 
 sure ruin. Looking over my financial affairs and 
 wondering if I will ever get anwhere on a salary, 
 and thinking that as soon as the wedding is over 
 and we have only small bills to meet I will look 
 around for something like the scheme Hines has. 
 Home to a good dinner and to read a fishing 
 story by an author who knew nothing, as he called 
 a fisherman an angler. 
 
 May 26. This evening I thought up a little 
 scheme to get Pep back, as I miss that dog and 
 see no reason why Polly and Ellen should not 
 be cooled off enough by this time to make some 
 concessions to a man whose daughter will soon 
 be married, leaving him without children in his 
 home and with a soft spot for a dog, as people 
 have when they have no children on whom to 
 bestow their affection, and poor Pep is down 
 there in that kennel with a lot of dogs of one 
 kind or another, and is probably having to fight
 
 May i2i 
 
 for what he gets to eat and may lose his good 
 temper. Thinking it over and deciding that the 
 way to win Polly and Ellen over is to give them 
 a shock -that will make them appreciate Pep 
 nothing rash, as when I once threatened to leave 
 home on account of him, but something that 
 will impress them. A man might put on a fake 
 robbery of some kind, showing that if Pep had 
 been around the house we should not have been 
 robbed. Deciding finally that this will be a good 
 scheme, and only waiting for a chance to carry 
 out the plot, deciding first what I can best steal. 
 May 2J. That Lowder girl getting huffy to- 
 day because I forgot she was married to Carder 
 and called her Miss Lowder, and when she got 
 mad and said she would leave if I persisted in for- 
 getting that she is now Mrs. Carder, and would 
 do so, anyway, if her husband was not on a star- 
 vation wage. This putting an idea into my head, 
 and with my usual promptness I put it into 
 immediate effect. I called the Carders into 
 my office at closing time and offered him a 
 substantial raise, making it quite clear that 
 he could now afford to support a wife without 
 her assistance, they falling into the trap and 
 Ethel agreeing to resign. So at little cost the 
 company is rid of the Lowder family queen. 
 Now going ahead with my other plan, as a man 
 who could get rid of an incompetent girl can 
 easily get back a dog that others have got rid of.
 
 122 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 In the evening saying casually at the dinner 
 table that I had heard of several robberies in the 
 neighborhood among people who are so careless 
 as not to keep watchdogs. Polly said there was 
 nothing in the paper about it, but I said that 
 people who are so foolish as not to keep a good 
 watchdog are ashamed to report burglaries to 
 the police, hence the newspapers never learned 
 about them, which was killing two birds with 
 one stone, for I don't want Polly to report my 
 fake robbery to the police when she finds it out, 
 which will be soon, my plans being nearly com- 
 plete. Telling Polly, to change the subject, about 
 my clever scheme in getting rid of Ethel Carder, 
 she replying that it was a clever scheme on some- 
 body's part. 
 
 May 28. Working around my yard this eve- 
 ning and talking with Janet Walker, telling her 
 about Pep and asking her to put in a word for 
 him if she got a chance, saying something to 
 Polly and Ellen about how much she misses Pep 
 in the yard. Hinting to Janet that it will be all 
 right with me if she intimates to Polly that I 
 look worried lately and am losing flesh, sort of 
 mourning, so to speak, the loss of my dog. A 
 little propaganda like that does a man no harm, 
 but I doubt if Janet helps me much, as I don't 
 think she is on very good terms with the neigh- 
 bors. When I came in the house, Polly asked me 
 if Walker came home and scared me away. I
 
 May 123 
 
 asked her why she said such a thing, and she 
 said something about how chummy Mrs. Walker 
 and I were while she was down at Oakcastle to 
 see her sick sister. I had a few words to say 
 about idle women having nothing to do but run 
 a man down, etc., besides, I told her Mrs. 
 Walker was kind to Pep and naturally a man 
 would show some interest in any woman that 
 didn't give his dog to the ash man. 
 
 May 29. Well, the house is quiet and the 
 robbery scheme is all worked out. Fred and 
 Ellen to the theater, and while Polly was out 
 somewhere to a meeting of the membership com- 
 mittee of her club, I broke the cellar window. 
 Reading till all returned and went to bed, then 
 I took the silver-backed mirror from Polly's 
 dressing table and put it away in my tackle box 
 in the attic. The whole scheme shows what a 
 man can do in the way of gaining his ends by 
 using his head instead of by asserting his au- 
 thority, as I have no doubt that I could have had 
 Pep back at any time by getting sore and raising 
 a rumpus, threatening to have my way about 
 some things. But Polly and Ellen would have 
 taken it out on the poor dog, whereas now they 
 will look to Pep for protection and treat him 
 right. I broke the glass with a piece of coal and 
 cut my finger a little, but it is on the inside of my 
 hand and not likely to be noticed. The plot is 
 complete and this time to-morrow night I expect
 
 124 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 to have Pep back in the house for the rest of his 
 life. 
 
 May 30. This is Decoration Day and I guess 
 I ought to be decorated for bravery, as I still 
 have the mirror. Polly missed it the first thing 
 and went to Ellen's room to look for it, while I 
 pretended to be asleep yet, though my head 
 was aching. Finally I got up and she asked me 
 if I had seen her mirror, and, of course, I said I 
 hadn't, but I said I thought I had heard glass 
 crashing during the night. Together we ex- 
 amined the house, and when we reached the 
 cellar I pointed to the window and said, "That's 
 where the burglar broke in, and he never would 
 have got in if Pep had been here to raise the 
 alarm." Polly ran upstairs to the phone and 
 would have had the police here if I had not 
 stopped her by saying that it was our fault and 
 we would be the joke of the neighborhood. All 
 would have been all right if Ellen had not 
 noticed that the glass from the cellar window 
 was on the outside, and I had to explain that 
 the burglar probably expected to take the glass 
 away with him and forgot it. Anyhow, I now 
 have Pep back, and all is well except Polly said 
 that since Pep was back she thought her mirror 
 ought to be returned. 
 
 May 31. Polly or Ellen must have told about 
 the burglar at church yesterday, as that Jackson 
 girl sat down beside me in the car this morning
 
 May 125 
 
 and said she heard we had burglars. Well, no- 
 body knows the truth, so I told her that it was 
 nothing much, as I discovered the man just as 
 he was reaching for Polly's jewelry and chased 
 him downstairs and thought I had him trapped 
 in the basement, but he plunged headlong 
 through a window and escaped, the only loss 
 being a beautiful silver-backed mirror of Polly's. 
 And I asked Beatrice not to tell, as Polly and 
 Ellen did not know that I saw the man and would 
 probably be badly frightened if they knew the 
 truth. That Jackson girl will tell our whole end 
 of town, and such things do a man no harm, 
 showing that he has courage to defend his family. 
 Polly noticing the cut in my finger as I reached 
 for bread at the dinner table and asking me 
 about it, so I saying that I cut it while picking 
 up the glass which was broken out of the cellar 
 window. A new window to-day costing me $i .65, 
 which is a lot cheaper than paying board on Pep, 
 and I have him back where he belongs. Some 
 day I may tell Polly the truth and we will have 
 a good laugh together.
 
 June 
 
 June I. New trouble to-day at the office, for 
 Carder came in and said that Minnie Lowder was 
 here to see me about the matter talked over with 
 Ethel. I was at loss to know what he meant, but 
 asked him to send her in, Minnie proving to be a 
 very pretty girl if a man likes that kind of thing. 
 She said she had come to take up the burden 
 which Ethel had laid down, since I had said the 
 family had to be represented. I had never said 
 any such thing, but did not tell her so, as a man 
 cannot tell a pretty girl she is lying, especially 
 at first sight so giving her a job at low wages. 
 Think she will prove to be more intelligent than 
 Ethel, having learned to judge people pretty 
 well. Polly saying at the dinner table this 
 evening that she thought the right thing to do 
 was to report our robbery to the police, as they 
 are probably searching second-hand stores every 
 day and can look for her mirror, which was a 
 wedding present from her rich aunt the one 
 who died and left all her money to be divided 
 among six churches and a lot of lawyers who 
 defended the will and she prized it for its tender 
 
 126
 
 June 127 
 
 associations and ought to have it back. This 
 setting me to thinking, and I finally decided that 
 I will contrive some scheme to return the mirror 
 without doing anything that will cause them to 
 suspect that the robbery was a fake. Later I 
 said something about my tackle and went to the 
 attic for the mirror, which I took out and hid by 
 the garage. 
 
 June 2. This morning I dropped a casual 
 remark to Polly about the garage lock being 
 broken and I wondered if the garage was locked, 
 so I went out after breakfast to see, and pretty 
 soon I ran back to the house breathless with 
 excitement and gave the mirror to her, telling her 
 where I found it, in the bushes near the garage, 
 where the thief had thrown it as he ran out the 
 back way and through the alley. Polly was 
 qertainly glad to get her mirror. The whole 
 scheme was worth while for the sight of her face 
 as she reached for the mirror and kissed it, as if 
 she had recovered a long-lost child. She could 
 not wait till Ellen got up to break the news, but 
 went right up to Ellen's room and told her about 
 it, and as I went to work I could hear them laugh- 
 ing, so I guess the incident is closed and I have 
 done by tact a thing that could never have been 
 done any other way. I have my dog back, 
 Polly has her mirror back, and Ellen no longer 
 fears that a burglar may steal her wedding 
 clothes, and it is certainly fine to have Pep back.
 
 128 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 All showing that it is better to use my head than 
 mere brute strength. 
 
 June 3. Charley Quinn, head of the repair 
 department at our place, trying to put one over 
 on me to-day about some stuff which he said was 
 billed out wrong, and he caught me just right, as 
 I have wanted to land on him for sometime, and I 
 let him have both barrels at once, saying that 
 while some one in my department might have 
 made a mistake, as was likely to happen in any 
 department, no one was trying to get his depart- 
 ment in bad, as no one in my department was so 
 dumb as not to know that his department is too 
 far gone to be helped, anyhow, and the best thing 
 he could do for the company is to lock up and 
 quit as he is unmarried and has no responsibilities. 
 He changing his tune, merely saying that he 
 wished to correct an error which might be costly 
 to the firm and that he had no intention of causing 
 me to lose my temper in the presence of my clerks. 
 I secretly determining to watch for a chance to 
 put one over on Quinn. It helps a man to let it 
 be known around the works that I will allow no 
 one to run my department down, but will make a 
 fool of anybody that knocks it. In the evening 
 Polly saying that she had lost her scissors and 
 Ellen saying that I might find them near the 
 garage, but I saying nothing, as I did not want 
 to risk saying something that would make her 
 suspect.
 
 June 129 
 
 June 4. Well, tonight was the last dance of 
 the season for that fool dancing club that Polly 
 made me join against my will and better judg- 
 ment, and between the heat, which must have 
 been around a hundred, and some women who 
 cannot dance but think they can and crave a lot 
 of fancy capers instead of regular dancing, I am 
 about all in as I write, which is long after mid- 
 night. But I will say that some of the women I 
 danced with were not trying to act like sixteen- 
 year-old girls, and they knew good dancing when 
 they had the right kind of partner, as one woman 
 said to me that for a man who had not danced for 
 years I was doing very well indeed. I let it go 
 at that, as it would probably have disappointed 
 her to learn that I was at a dance a month ago, 
 when she wasn't there. Summer is no time for 
 dancing, especially when a lot of women forget 
 that they are grown up and are not supposed at 
 this late date to act like high-school girls. Polly 
 saying on the way home that I should take some 
 dancing lessons, but, as far as I can see, it is most 
 of that crowd that needs the lessons, as I am 
 satisfied. 
 
 June 5. Calling in Minnie Lowder and asking 
 her how she was getting along, she saying that 
 she found everything hard and strange, but that 
 all the young men had been kind in helping her 
 to learn, sometimes two of them at a time, no 
 doubt out of respect for her brother. She is living
 
 130 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 with the Carders, but will move when her own 
 circumstances permit. Suppose she is already 
 hinting for a raise, but I pretending not to under- 
 stand. The invitations for Ellen's wedding are 
 out and some of the presents are coming in, and 
 I must say that Ellen's friends and relatives are 
 doing the right thing by her, no doubt feeling that 
 anything they do for her is not wasted on the 
 rest of the family, myself included. Fred's 
 people must be all right, as they are sending any 
 number of pretty things for Ellen, including a 
 check. This afternoon Ellen and Polly started 
 to fix up that bungalow which Fred got possession 
 of to-day, and this evening I went down with 
 them and Fred to look it over. It is just the 
 thing for them and I gaVe it my O. K. Polly 
 and Fred talking furniture, and from what I can 
 gather the boy has saved his money and is pre- 
 pared to furnish the house right, although I told 
 Ellen, while Polly and Fred were talking, that 
 she was to furnish the kitchen to suit herself and 
 charge everything to me, as I know the kitchen 
 will be her great pride and she will enjoy having 
 it to suit herself without having to defer to Fred's 
 views about it. Ellen is as happy as a bird and 
 Polly and I feel that we have done the wise thing. 
 June 6. All down to the bungalow to-day 
 after church and Ellen talking about where the 
 piano would go, and I finally learning that what 
 she meant by "the piano" was my piano, the one
 
 June 131 
 
 I bought for her when she was five years old and 
 first started to take music lessons. It is a good 
 piano and is an ornament to our home, and it 
 never occurred to me that Ellen would care to 
 take it along with her when she was married, 
 especially as she will live so near and can run up 
 to our house and play it whenever she feels like 
 playing. But she talked as if there could be 
 no two sides to the question of whether she should 
 have the piano, so Polly and I only looked at each 
 other and said nothing one way or the other, as 
 there was nothing to say that I could think of. 
 Anyhow, the piano will be near us, and when we 
 wish to hear Ellen play we can go down to her 
 house in the evening, as neither of us plays. 
 Fred and Ellen doing nothing all day but make 
 sketches and notes and figures and discuss how 
 rooms would be furnished and not calling on 
 Polly or me for advice, so we said nothing. 
 
 June 7. No sooner home this evening than 
 Ellen rushed me down to see her new kitchen, 
 showing she must have lost no time taking ad- 
 vantage of my liberal offer to furnish it for her. 
 A range, kitchen cabinet, refrigerator, electric 
 ironer, electric washer, electric dishwasher, fire- 
 less cooker, floor lamp, table, and chairs, and I 
 was tempted to ask her why she didn't get a 
 flivver, as it would be handy to run around in 
 while she was waiting for the machinery to get 
 her work done, but saying nothing, as what can
 
 132 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 a man do when his only daughter is getting 
 married, as I have some Liberty bonds tucked 
 away, anyhow, and will go the limit, within 
 reason. Having some private words with Polly 
 about the kitchen while Fred and Ellen were at 
 the movies in the evening, and Polly admitting 
 that Ellen was going pretty strong and should 
 have used more judgment, but she said it was my 
 fault, as I did not tell Ellen what I meant by 
 kitchen furniture, so I taking Pep for a walk and 
 passing Al Jackson's house, where his daughter 
 was sitting on the porch instead of getting into a 
 home of her own, having no generous father to 
 indulge her every whim. 
 
 June 8. That Jackson girl sitting down beside 
 me in the car this morning and asking me about 
 Ellen's wedding presents and I telling her in 
 detail about the kitchen outfit I bought for Ellen, 
 which, the more I think of it, is a good gift, as 
 Ellen is a home girl and will get a lot of satis- 
 faction out of her kitchen. And she knows how 
 to run it, too, and is starting off right, and not 
 starting off the way so many girls do these days, 
 with a lot of clothes and business experience, but 
 no money saved out of their earnings to help 
 furnish a house and no practical experience in 
 home making, and I telling that Jackson girl about 
 it and she said I am behind the times and must 
 not have had a new idea since the Spanish- 
 American War, to which I replied nothing except
 
 June 133 
 
 that if she ever got married she would learn that 
 I told the truth. Home this evening to find the 
 house looking strange and discovering that some 
 pictures are missing, Polly saying that Ellen 
 took them to the bungalow, saying two of the 
 water colors I bought at auction several years ago 
 are just what she needs to complete her living- 
 room color scheme. 
 
 June p. A hard day at the office. Straight- 
 ening out some difficulties caused by that new 
 Lowder girl, who has not yet begun to show her 
 abilities, in spite of much help from the new 
 clerks, and home to a meal that I couldn't say 
 much about, except to remark that I wished I 
 had got my dinner before I came home. Out 
 to the garage to get the car for a spin, intending to 
 stop somewhere and get food, but the car not 
 there. Asking Polly about it and she said Ellen 
 used it this afternoon and ran it into the garage 
 at her bungalow and came home and left it there. 
 Ellen and Fred downtown to dinner, which was 
 all that prevented a few remarks that I might 
 have regretted, but I laying down the law to 
 Polly and saying it was up to her to let Ellen 
 know that getting married did not mean taking 
 the family furniture with you. I went down to 
 the bungalow and ran the car home, and then 
 took Polly and Pep for a spin, as I saw that 
 Polly is worn out preparing for this wedding and 
 needs some recreation. We looking up a colored
 
 134 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 woman who used to work for us and she agreeing 
 to come and stay till after the wedding. Men- 
 tioning to Polly that if we have any money left 
 after the wedding we'll have to take a long trip 
 in the car and enjoy life and possibly get in a little 
 fishing. 
 
 June 10. Home to find that the movers have 
 been here to-day, and I guess that we are lucky 
 that we have a place to sleep to-night. Ellen's 
 mahogany bedroom suite, which I bought for her 
 a year ago when she was graduated from school, 
 is the biggest item on the missing list, and the 
 other items range down to a waste-paper basket 
 which matches the wall paper in Ellen's spare 
 bedroom. Fred was here for dinner, so what 
 could a man say, as it does no good to say any- 
 thing at such a time which might in any way mar 
 the pleasure they are getting out of building their 
 nest, and when I consider how Carder and that 
 Lowder girl, for instance, have to depend upon 
 my generosity to make a home for themselves, I 
 guess it is worth while to let Ellen take what she 
 has to have. But I did hide some of my books 
 and fishing tackle, and I took my big wicker chair 
 to the basement and wired it to a post. Down to 
 look at the bungalow. The new furniture that 
 Fred bought is good stuff, what there is of it, 
 which is the right way to buy, and I told both 
 of them that they are certainly making good use 
 of their heads.
 
 June 135 
 
 June II. Things are about ready for the 
 wedding, as to-day I told a florist to fix things up 
 for the occasion. This evening Polly and I talk- 
 ing things over, and I putting my O. K. on the 
 plans. It seems that Ellen and Fred are going 
 on a two weeks' trip on the lakes and will be 
 back around the first of July. Ellen has her head 
 set on the bungalow being ready for them to go 
 right into, so Polly is going to have it ready for 
 them, even to a steak on the ice in the refriger- 
 ator, and after they are back a couple of days 
 Polly and I are going to run the old bus out and 
 go where we please without any plans at all, 
 except to rove to the north, where I may be able 
 to get in a little fishing. Polly needs the rest 
 and agrees that it will be a good plan, as we shall 
 sort of go on a second wedding trip ourselves, 
 celebrating our release from twenty years' care 
 of Ellen, so to speak. July is early for my kind 
 of fishing, but if we get far enough into the lake 
 region I may have some sport. Getting my tackle 
 out this evening and putting everything in good 
 shape, so, as a matter of fact, I am all ready to 
 go now. 
 
 June 12. This is pay day, but I am not in- 
 terested in such things these days, as my pay 
 means nothing to me compared with the happi- 
 ness of my daughter. Lowder's wife coming to 
 see me and urging that I raise Minnie's pay, as 
 while she had every confidence in Carder, it was
 
 136 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 better for a young couple starting out in the world 
 alone to live by themselves, which they would do 
 when Minnie could afford a place of her own. I 
 promised to give the matter consideration, as 
 what else can a man do? Fred not at the house 
 this evening, as I understand some of the boys at 
 his place are giving a dinner in his honor, so all at 
 our house going to bed early to get a little rest 
 after our hard week preparing for the wedding. 
 June 13. Planning a day of recreation, but 
 when I came downstairs I found that my day had 
 been planned for me. My first job was to polish 
 the floors, which I said they might have hired 
 some one to do, but Polly said she never could 
 get anyone to do the job right, all leaving spots 
 unpolished, which was I careful not to do. Also 
 putting up a lot of curtains and moving furni- 
 ture around and missing church, and poor Pep 
 looking out at the bright day and then at me, as 
 if to say he certainly pulled a boner when he 
 happened on an owner that was a household 
 slave and had no time to play with his dog. 
 Fred showing up in the evening, looking as if he 
 had spent the night in jail or in a Turkish bath, 
 and Ellen getting curious, but I coming to Fred's 
 defense with a caustic remark about a man being 
 entitled to a last fling, as he would probably wind 
 up by spending a fine Sunday polishing floors, as 
 other good men had wound up. Taking Pep for 
 a walk in the evening.
 
 June 137 
 
 June 14. The Minnie girl showing up late 
 this morning and, as far as I can learn, doing 
 nothing of value after she arrived, so I finally 
 called her into my office and kindly explained a 
 few things about the company expecting some 
 work in return for the pay given, also giving her a 
 lecture on the value of discipline, punctuality, 
 neatness, and industry. If this has no effect I 
 must consider other plans. I was clever enough 
 to get rid of Ethel and I guess I am clever enough 
 to get rid of Minnie. Home in the evening to 
 find the place so cluttered up with wedding 
 presents that I could hardly get around. Many 
 of Ellen's friends who work all day find time in 
 the evening to come to the house and see what 
 she has got and to rave over her clothes, which 
 would be a credit to any bride, as I have not put 
 the brakes on the charge accounts, but have dug 
 up for what was needed, as a man should, there 
 being no other way out of it that I could see, as I 
 have only one life and one daughter and she can 
 have anything she wants, though I try not to 
 lose my head, as it seems to be the only one in our 
 family these days. 
 
 June 75. To-morrow is the wedding and I 
 was thinking to-day that it would have been 
 much better if Ellen had waited a year or two, 
 but I suppose it is too late now. A letter from 
 Oakcastle saying Polly's sister is bedfast now and 
 seriously ill, and Polly is very much upset, as she
 
 138 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 would like to be there, but owes her first duty 
 to Ellen, so not telling Ellen about the letter. 
 Helping this evening to put the finishing touches 
 on the bungalow, which is a bright and dainty 
 little place, a credit to all concerned, especially 
 the kitchen, which has been praised by all as 
 a model, complete in every respect, even to a 
 vacuum cleaner, which Ellen just thought of 
 yesterday and which will come in handy to clean 
 the linoleum. All practicing for the wedding, 
 and everything all right, as there was little they 
 needed to tell me about my part, as in such 
 matters I merely follow my instincts. And, any- 
 how, my main part in this wedding is not visible 
 to the guests, which is all right, as I am about 
 broke and I guess I am lucky to escape without 
 hanging a mortgage on the house, as some men 
 would have done. 
 
 June 16. Well, I can't say much for this 
 wedding, except that on such occasions it's a good 
 thing to have a dog around. The wedding itself 
 went off without a hitch, that Jackson girl catch- 
 ing the bouquet, as she was the only one with a 
 reach like a big-league first baseman, and Fred 
 and Ellen getting away in a taxi about two P.M. 
 to catch their train, with a string of people 
 trailing after them as if they had stolen the taxi, 
 and before we quite knew what had happened 
 there was no one left at the house but Martha, 
 the colored woman, the guests, caterers, and
 
 June 139 
 
 florist all having melted away. Looking all 
 around for Polly and finally finding her upstairs 
 lying across her bed and all in, poor girl, and 
 we getting out some baby pictures of Ellen and 
 trying to laugh about how cute she used to be in 
 her curls, but not having much luck at it, as 
 neither of us felt much like laughing, and for my 
 part I don't know how we'll get along around 
 this house without Ellen. Bringing Pep's old 
 cushion out of the cellar and fixing a bed for him 
 in the living-room. Reading nearly all night, 
 being unable to sleep. 
 
 June 77. Back to the office this morning and 
 finding that things went along all right yester- 
 day while I was away, as I have my force all 
 trained, as a good executive should have his 
 force. One clerk spoke to me about how much 
 they missed me yesterday, as he was stuck for 
 an important decision and had to wait till I 
 came this morning to set him right. He is a good 
 man and I shall have to look into his request for 
 an increase in pay, which he spoke to me about 
 a week ago. Home to find the house looking as 
 usual, except that you might think an auctioneer 
 or delinquent tax collector had taken liberties 
 with my furnishings unless you knew about the 
 bungalow. Another letter from Polly's sister, 
 and Polly saying she would have to go down there 
 right away, so planning to go to-morrow. Getting 
 out my fishing tackle in the evening and seeing
 
 140 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 that everything that I'll need is in the tackle 
 box, as Ellen and Fred will be back pretty soon 
 and Polly and I can start on our first real va- 
 cation in twenty years, and figuring that Polly 
 might want to try fishing, though it is not a 
 woman's sport. 
 
 June 18. Well, Polly got away to see her 
 sister all right, leaving me here alone, but in no 
 mood to enjoy a little liberty. At noon to a rail- 
 way ticket office to get some folders showing 
 vacation resorts where the fishing is good, having 
 found out that while the resorts advertised by 
 the railroads may be fished out, there is usually 
 some good fishing near same, which a man with a 
 car can reach all right. Out home in the evening 
 to ask Mrs. Walker if she would care to look after 
 Pep for a few days, and she saying she was glad 
 to, as she is very fond of the dog. Then spending 
 the evening figuring out a trip we can take as 
 soon as Ellen comes home and finds the steak on 
 ice at the bungalow and Polly and I are free to call 
 our time our own and to roam where we will, 
 without having to think of the comfort, health, 
 and future of a child, as we have earned the right 
 to live our own lives. Planning the whole trip 
 and figuring that we can cover about 1,000 miles 
 easily enough and have several days of loafing 
 without any cares at all. Also looking over my 
 tackle again, as a man ought to have everything 
 he may need and plan things ahead. Beginning,
 
 June 141 
 
 for the first time, to feel reconciled to Ellen's 
 marriage. 
 
 June jp. Pay day again and going over my 
 accounts and finding that except for the Liberty 
 bonds I sold I am not so bad off, and that by 
 saving more, which will be easy now that only 
 Polly and I are left, I'll be able to come out on the 
 year just about as I had planned. Estimating 
 how much I will have to save each week, and 
 putting myself on a sort of budget, and beginning 
 to-day by putting this week's share in the bank. 
 I am now in a place where I can put away enough 
 money so that with my insurance and property 
 I need not worry about a comfortable income in 
 my old age, which is a long way off; but a man 
 should figure on such things. Writing this on 
 the train, as Polly wired to-day that I had better 
 come to Oakcastle for the week-end, as her sister 
 is worse, so out to the house to see that every- 
 thing is all right and to tell Mrs. Walker that I 
 would not be at home for a few days and to say 
 good-by to Pep, then on the train to Oakcastle. 
 I hope Polly's sister gets better right away, as 
 otherwise Polly will not get the rest that she 
 needs after the hard work that she did for the 
 wedding. 
 
 June 20. Staying last night at the home of 
 Bob Pence, Polly's eldest brother, and this 
 morning over to see Mary Stark, Polly's sick 
 sister, and getting a shock, as it is plain that the
 
 142 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 poor girl, Polly's only sister, cannot live, which 
 is a pity, as she's only twenty-eight, the baby of 
 the family, and a widow with two children, 
 Louise and Conrad, Louise being five, and Con- 
 rad, the poor little devil, being only a little over a 
 year old. She's had more than her share of hard 
 luck now, as her four brothers, all living in this 
 little town, haven't done what they could have 
 done for her, and at that two of them have no 
 children. Mary seems to have lost courage, and 
 I was not surprised when Polly told me the doctor 
 said Mary was likely to die any time. I could 
 see her for only a minute, then went over to Jake's 
 house to see the two kids. They were playing 
 around as if nothing serious were the matter. 
 Back home this evening feeling pretty blue, and 
 to a movie downtown to lift my spirits, but still 
 thinking of Mary and hoping she will somehow 
 manage to pull through. 
 
 June 27. Hardly reaching the office when I got 
 a wire from Polly saying that Mary died early 
 this morning. I saw the chief about some leave, 
 then out to the house to get Pep to take along 
 with me, as I noticed that Louise and Conrad 
 have no dog to play with and they will have a 
 great time with Pep while I am down there, 
 as he will help them to forget the tragedy in their 
 lives. Polly meeting me at the station in a car 
 and saying that I would have to make all arrange- 
 ments for the funeral, as her brothers seemed to
 
 June 143 
 
 think that it was up to me, so I taking Pep over 
 to the kids, and they making friends right away, 
 Pep even letting Conrad pull his ears, which he 
 won't let me do. Spending most of the day look- 
 ing after little things and finding that Mary has 
 her home mortgaged to the hilt to her brother, 
 Bob, who confided to me that none of the funeral 
 expense would fall on me. I saying nothing, as a 
 man should hold his tongue sometimes, as when 
 among his wife's relatives, but wondering what 
 will become of the kids, as they are the main item. 
 June 22. Thinking we would get some word 
 from Ellen to-day, as I wired her at the hotel 
 which they expected to reach about Sunday, but 
 no word, so I guess I missed them, which is as 
 well, as there is no reason why she should come, 
 for it would break up her honeymoon. Playing 
 with the kids most of the morning, helping Louise 
 to build a doll house in the yard at Jake Pence's, 
 where they are staying, and watching Pep play 
 with little Conrad, who has just learned to walk 
 and is having a lot of fun finding out what a heck 
 of a man he is now that he can walk. A family 
 conference this afternoon, which I left in about 
 ten minutes, as they began to divide Mary's 
 belongings among them, which I suppose is all 
 right, as the estate will probably not net even a 
 nickel for the children. Back after awhile, and 
 they all trying to pass the buck about the kids, 
 none caring to take them unless they are sepa-
 
 144 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 rated, and some arguing against separating them, 
 but only showing that no one cared to take them, 
 and when things got warm I settled the matter 
 once for all by saying to put it off till after the 
 funeral. 
 
 June 23. Holding the funeral this afternoon at 
 two o'clock and the preacher giving a fine sermon 
 on adversity and sacrifice and the future rewards 
 of courage against great odds. After the funeral 
 Polly and I taking the kids over to Jake's house 
 and seeing that they were all right, which was 
 easy, as the baby did not know what was going 
 on and pretty little Louise could not realize what 
 had happened. Eating supper there, then Polly 
 and I back to Mary's house, where Polly cried 
 and told me that she hoped I wouldn't think 
 badly of her brothers for not seeming to care for 
 Louise and Conrad, but the fault was not with 
 them, but with their wives, some people being 
 selfish when it is not their own side of the family 
 which I, not being that way, could scarcely 
 believe. Finally I getting a bright idea and 
 springing it on Polly, to her great delight, so as a 
 result we are going to say that the children 
 should not be denied by the city's good schools 
 and propose to take them home with us. Bob 
 Pence's wife coming in just then for a floor 
 lamp, and I giving her a piece of mind and going 
 for a lawyer, making up my mind that if the 
 estate will net the kids a nickel they shall have it.
 
 June 145 
 
 June 24. Well, here we are at home again, 
 with Louise sleeping in Ellen's old bed, and 
 Conrad sleeping in Ellen's old iron crib, and Pep 
 sleeping on his cushion in the living room, and 
 Polly telling some women in the neighborhood all 
 about it, at the same time looking at children's 
 fashions in the back of a magazine, as both of the 
 kids are pretty low for clothes. Several letters 
 and cards from Ellen and Fred to-day. They are 
 as happy as a pair of birds. A picture of them 
 bathing at a lake resort, and a fine-looking couple 
 they make. As yet I haven't had time to figure 
 out where we stand on this new arrangement, 
 but Polly and I have decided to keep the kids a 
 secret from Ellen and Fred and have a surprise 
 for them when they show up with a lot of stories 
 about where they have been and what they have 
 done. Polly finding a lot of Ellen's old dolls and 
 toys in the attic, but I finding nothing for Conrad 
 to play with but my $8 reel, which he hated to 
 give up when he had to go to bed. He and Pep 
 are life-long friends, which is all right, as Pep 
 would have gone stale in no time with no one but 
 Polly and me around him. 
 
 June 25. Back to the office this morning in 
 good time, as Conrad wakened up at five o'clock 
 and as near as I can make out wanted the reel, 
 Pep, Polly^ Louise and me and his breakfast all 
 at the same time. Anyhow, that's what he got 
 before we could get him quieted. Things in
 
 146 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 fairly good shape at the office, as I have my force 
 well trained for just such emergencies; but, of 
 course, training wears out in time, as the chief 
 would soon find out if I should go away for about 
 two months. The Lowder girl still a problem 
 which I must solve. Home early in the evening, 
 but too late to play with Conrad, as he was in bed, 
 and when I wakened him for a little talk, I -doing 
 the talking, as he is not that far along yet, Polly 
 raised the deuce and said he was on a schedule 
 laid down by some woman in the neigborhood 
 and was not to be disturbed, so I telling some 
 stories to Louise as I used to tell them to Ellen, 
 some of the same stones, as a matter of fact, and 
 they are still good, as Louise got sleepy at once. 
 The children almost wore Pep out to-day, as when 
 I reached home he was too tired to get up from 
 his cushion. No movies, as we have to stay at 
 home with the kids, which is a good thing, as the 
 pictures have not been any good lately. 
 
 June 26. Leaving the office at noon to-day 
 and rushing home to take care of the children 
 while Polly went shopping for them, she taking 
 the car alone, as it would be too much for the 
 children to hang around with me in the car, 
 waiting for her. I taking Pep and the children 
 to the park, where we taught Pep to chase a 
 stick into the pond and bring it back. Louise 
 could not get enough of the swings, and while I 
 was swinging her and Conrad was playing in the
 
 June 147 
 
 sand box, Pep thought he smelled a rat, I guess, as 
 he began to dig in the sand, throwing sand over 
 Conrad and some other children and getting it 
 in their eyes and hair, so I taking him and the 
 kids away, as Pep should have been on a chain, 
 anyhow. Staying so late at the park that both 
 children were too tired to walk, so I having to 
 carry them home, where Polly was waiting to give 
 me the devil for not showing more discretion. 
 The children had their bath and their supper 
 and went right to bed, and Polly and I planned a 
 picnic for to-morrow. Neighbors in to see the 
 children all morning, Polly reports, and asking 
 all about them., and no doubt thinking that I had 
 done a fine thing. 
 
 June 27. Up at five o'clock again this morn- 
 ing, and I saying to Polly that if Conrad is on a 
 schedule, for Heaven's sake cut out the five- 
 o'clock station or put him on a through sleeper, 
 but she saying nothing, as by the time I was 
 through talking she was in Conrad's room, telling 
 him what an abused baby he is. Not that I 
 care to crab the deal, or anything like that, but as 
 long as a man doesn't have to get up at five 
 o'clock, and as long as a baby can do his sleeping 
 any time, I favor letting him cry it out a few 
 mornings till he learns to turn over and go to 
 sleep again, as he will have to learn some day. 
 All in the car, up the river ten miles to a place 
 where I have fished, and spending most of the
 
 148 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 day there, getting along all right till Polly told 
 me to watch the kids while she set out the picnic 
 dinner, but Louise chased a butterfly into the 
 woods, and, just as I went after her, Conrad tried 
 to throw a stick in the river for Pep, and fell in, 
 and I had to wade in with my clothes on and pull 
 him out, while Polly chased Louise, and Pep got 
 into the sandwiches, knowing no better, for he is 
 only a dog. 
 
 June 28. Riding down on the street car this 
 morning with that Jackson girl, and she asking 
 all about Louise and Conrad, and I saying that 
 with Ellen happily married, as a girl should be, 
 and settled for life, we made up our minds at our 
 house that since we are still young, as you might 
 say, we had better make some use of our time, so 
 we took Polly's sister's children to bring up, as 
 children are hardly any trouble at all to experi- 
 enced parents. Considering my success in 
 finding a husband for Ethel Lowder, I believe I'll 
 look around for a man for Beatrice. Telling her 
 also that, as I am doing pretty well, I might as 
 well spend some of my extra money on these 
 children, so somebody will get the benefit of it. 
 Beatrice is a great talker, and it will do me no 
 harm to have her going around our end of town 
 saying that I certainly did the right thing by 
 Mary's children, even if she does add," Well, he 
 ought to, he has the money." Home with a doll 
 for Louise and a ball for Conrad, but he was
 
 June 149 
 
 asleep. Louise taking the doll to bed with her. 
 Polly and I were tired, so we spent the evening on 
 the porch, I telling Polly that we might in time 
 grow somewhat fond of the children. 
 
 June 29. This morning Polly got a wire from 
 Ellen saying they expected to arrive this eve- 
 ning, so Polly taking the children down to the 
 bungalow and getting it in shape, including the 
 ice and the steak in the ice box, and seeing that 
 everything was ready for them to step into the 
 house and say, "This is our home." A little 
 trouble with Quinn to-day, he saying that he was 
 overworked in the repair department, while I 
 had things pretty soft with plenty of help. I 
 merely replying that a winning team always 
 appeared to be taking things easy. He getting 
 the point and not expressing himself to any more 
 hot shots. Home in the evening with a pair of 
 roller skates for Louise and a linen picture book 
 for Conrad, as he likes to tear books to pieces, and 
 at dinner Polly telling me all about the house; 
 so when Louise went to bed I got the key to the 
 bungalow and, without telling Polly where I was 
 going, went down for a look at the kitchen, to 
 see that everything was all right, and that Ellen 
 would have no reason to complain that I had 
 failed to do all I could to make her home coming 
 a success. Having a narrow squeak, as, just as 
 I was ready to leave, Ellen and Fred blew up in 
 a taxi, and I had to escape out the back way.
 
 150 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Home to sit on the porch with Polly, and pretty 
 soon here came Ellen for a minute to borrow some 
 salt. She is tanned up from being on the lake and 
 looks like a million dollars, and glad to see us 
 again. 
 
 June 50. Hurrying home this evening to see 
 how things went, and Polly reporting that when 
 Ellen walked in about noon and saw Louise and 
 Conrad playing on the porch, she almost fainted 
 and for a minute would not believe that her aunt 
 Mary is gone and the children have come to live 
 with us. She was so jealous that she went right 
 back to her bungalow and stayed an hour. 
 Evidently she fought it out and decided that we 
 have lives of our own to lead, now that she has 
 left us. I never thought of Ellen being jealous of 
 the children. Ellen and Fred up to the house in 
 the evening, and Polly and I letting them do all 
 the talking, hearing all about their fine wedding 
 trip and how glad they are to be back to make a 
 real start in life. They taking the car out for a 
 spin to see some of their friends, but Polly and I 
 sitting on the porch, it just occurring to me that 
 there will be no fishing trip, as we have to look 
 after the kids; but it's really too early for good 
 fishing, anyhow, so I saying little or nothing to 
 Polly about it. The kids keep her on the hum all 
 day, though, and I hope that she gets out oftener 
 in the machine.
 
 July 
 
 July i. Well, here it is another month, as I 
 see by the top of this page. They certainly do 
 come and go. No weather to speak of, as things 
 are about normal, except that it got pretty hot 
 to-day, being ninety-two degrees in the shade. 
 The clerks in the office are now taking vacations. 
 Two or three are away all the time, while most of 
 the others are talking about where they went, or 
 what those who are away are doing, or what they 
 intend to do when their vacation time comes. 
 For my part, I favor locking the office up for 
 two weeks and having it over. There is too 
 much lingering to suit me. Besides, a vacation 
 is not much use to anybody, anyhow, as I have 
 observed that the clerks who do the least work 
 spend the most time talking about what they 
 are going to do when they go on their vacation. 
 Many of the young clerks feel that they must 
 confide in the Lowder girl, who would demor- 
 alize any office force if it were not for my firm 
 discipline. The kids will keep me at home this 
 year, I guess, so I don't like to hear all this talk 
 about vacations from people who have no
 
 152 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 responsibilities. Ellen kept the kids this after- 
 noon while Polly went shopping, and this evening 
 she told me she hoped that Polly and I knew 
 what we were doing when we took them, as we 
 did. 
 
 July 2. As I went to the car line this morning 
 I saw a girl taking a couple of kids out for an 
 airing, and thought that Polly should have some 
 one to help her with Louise and Conrad, as other- 
 wise they will wear her out or something like 
 that, so in the evening saying something about 
 it to Polly, and she thinking it will be a good 
 thing and saying she thinks she can get a school 
 girl to help her for a few weeks, until she can find 
 some one with experience. This will shave my 
 savings a little, but it does a man no harm to 
 have people see a nurse girl taking a couple of 
 children out and saying, "Those are the children 
 the Blicks took to bring up, and from the way 
 Sam is going about it he must be getting some- 
 where in the world," which would not be far from 
 the truth. Most men my age would not think of 
 assuming the responsibility for bringing up two 
 babies, but I'm not that kind, and only regret 
 that I hardly ever see them except when they are 
 asleep. They are looking better on proper food 
 and plenty of play with Pep, and Pep is losing 
 weight but gaining muscle. 
 
 July j. Pay day again and I buying a lot of 
 fireworks for the children, which the police won't
 
 July 153 
 
 let us shoot in the city, but that not bothering 
 me, as I phoned to Walter Martz, who lives up 
 the river where I used to fish some, and has seven 
 or eight children and a farm, and telling him I'd 
 furnish the fireworks if he'd furnish the show 
 grounds, and he saying to come along. Polly 
 objecting, saying we could not shoot the rockets 
 till dark, and that would mean getting Conrad 
 home long after his bedtime, but I saying the 
 Fourth of July comes only once a year and Con- 
 rad has only once to live, anyhow, and he might 
 as well enjoy life as he goes along, as I remember 
 when I was a boy we looked forward to the Fourth 
 of July for a month. Anyhow, I finally won out, 
 as Martz's kids were probably expecting big 
 things and I had the fireworks bought, anyhow. 
 A man must be firm sometimes, as women don't 
 go to war and can't realize how much a lot of 
 noise and sparks mean to a boy on the Fourth of 
 July. Ellen and Fred going to a picnic; but I 
 don't worry about them, anyhow, as I have 
 troubles of my own. 
 
 July 4. Everything went off all right to-day, 
 as it was bound to, I having planned all details, 
 like buying the fireworks, but leaving the 
 children and the lunch to Polly and a girl named 
 Etta Berry, about sixteen, who is to come every 
 day and help with the children and leaves her 
 mouth open all the time. Taking the kids to 
 church in the morning, as it will do them good to
 
 154 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 get the habit, and it does a man no harm to be 
 seen coming into church at my age with two 
 young children he has taken from his wife's 
 relatives to bring up right, as I can say for myself 
 that not every man would do that. Driving up to 
 Martz's place in the afternoon, and after his 
 children and mine got over being afraid of one 
 another and got to shooting firecrackers, we all 
 watched them till dark. Then I shot the sky- 
 rockets, as children should not be trusted with 
 fire that way, and having a great time, except 
 that it was after Conrad's bedtime and the little 
 fellow went to sleep and missed it all; but Louise 
 had a good time learning about the Fourth of 
 July and will make a good citizen and vote 
 right, when I have explained to her the differ- 
 ence between the right and wrong parties. 
 
 July 5. One of the clerks back from his va- 
 cation to-day and telling me about catching nine 
 black bass in three mornings' fishing, casting at 
 daylight with a wooden plug along some lily 
 pads in a little lake up north; and though at 
 first I thought he was lying, he may have had a 
 little luck at that. Thinking that even with the 
 kids to look out for I might get in a little fishing 
 this year, as it unsettles a man's mind to sit 
 around and think that one of his clerks, making 
 thirty berries a week, has been out and had some 
 real sport, as you might say, while I have to sit 
 in the office and grind away all summer. Any-
 
 July 155 
 
 how, a man needs a change of scenery every so 
 often. Speaking to Polly about it in the evening, 
 and she suggesting that I get away by myself for 
 a few days, but I saying that I would not do 
 that, but would stay at home, unless all could go, 
 and help take care of the children and not waste 
 money on a vacation. Louise grew lonesome this 
 evening and cried for her mother and I had to tell 
 her fairy stories till nearly ten o'clock. 
 
 July 6. Riding down with Walker this morn- 
 ing and he asking how the children are, I saying 
 that they are all right and he has no idea what a 
 comfort they are to a man and how it bucks him 
 up to know that they are dependent upon him 
 and that he is largely responsible for what they 
 will be in this world, and a lot more talk like 
 that, I figuring that his best chance to hold Janet 
 is to have a large family, as otherwise she is 
 likely to get tired of him alone and never be 
 content. He saying nothing, however, but talk- 
 ing about the weather and asking me if my car 
 runs all right and a lot of other things not on the 
 subject that we were talking about at all. In 
 the evening asking Polly if Mrs. Walker ever 
 sees our children, and she saying that Mrs. 
 Walker is crazy about them and cries because her 
 husband thinks children are a nuisance, but I 
 saying nothing, as a man should not tell all he 
 knows all the time. Conrad is getting to be quite 
 a man, saying something that Polly says is
 
 156 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Pep's name, but I notice that Pep gets out of the 
 way when he hears it, as the children wear him 
 our every day, which is all right. 
 
 July 7. This is Louise's fifth birthday and 
 Polly having some little girls from the neighbor- 
 hood in to a party, at which I guess everybody 
 had a good time, as Pep hasn't come back from 
 Walker's house yet, where Polly says he goes 
 when the children razz him till he can't stand it 
 any longer. I getting a set of little dishes for 
 Louise and a little cart for Conrad, as you have 
 to be careful when there are two children that 
 way. When you get something for one you must 
 get something for the other at the same time. I 
 asking Louise who was the prettiest girl at the 
 party, and she saying she was, not being old 
 enough to know how conceited it sounded, and 
 I giving her a little talk on conceit, as these 
 children now have a chance to be brought up 
 right with people who keep their heads and are 
 doing more for them than most people would do. 
 The children seem to feel at home now, calling 
 Polly "mother" and me "dad," but they can't 
 figure Ellen and Fred out, so I told Louise to call 
 them aunt and uncle, as I am young enough to 
 pass for Ellen's older brother, having lived right 
 all my life, especially lately. 
 
 July 8. Calling that Lowder girl into the 
 office to-day and asking her some questions, 
 finding out that she knows a good deal about the
 
 July 157 
 
 office force, but very little about the office work, 
 I had a serious talk with her and was considering 
 letting her go, but she saying that it was hard to 
 do her best work because on account of her low 
 pay she was compelled to live with her sister and 
 things were not altogether happy there. Her 
 large blue eyes filled with tears and she looked 
 very helpless. She said she was sorry to take the 
 young men from their work, but this seemed to be 
 due to a cause beyond her control, I getting the 
 point. I ended by giving her the raise she asked 
 for so she could leave the Carders' roof. She 
 was pathetically grateful and I think will now do 
 better and be a credit to the department. 
 
 July 9. While at lunch to-day with a few 
 men from the office the talk turned to life insur- 
 ance, which reminded me that while I am getting 
 along all right, I should carry a little more life 
 insurance, putting my savings into it, for if 
 something was to happen to me now, Polly might 
 get along all right, but she could not take care of 
 the children very well and I might as well boost 
 my insurance while I am still a young man, as 
 you might say, and can get a comparatively low 
 rate, and will have no trouble about my health, 
 having always taken care of myself and gone on a 
 vacation every year to keep myself in good con- 
 dition. Saying something to Polly about it in 
 the evening, and she not saying much, but sort of 
 lukewarm on the proposition, perhaps thinking
 
 158 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 how much it cost, but more likely thinking about 
 what would happen if I was to have something 
 happen to me, which would naturally depress a 
 woman who has a good husband and provider. 
 
 July 10. Hurrying home at noon to-day and 
 spending the afternoon working on the car, ex- 
 cept that Louise gave a tea with some dishes that 
 I gave to her on her birthday, and came out to 
 the garage and invited me to the tea and finally 
 talked me around till I took off my overalls, 
 washed up, and went to her tea, which was a 
 great success, except that I was supposed to be 
 another little girl and had some trouble getting 
 my imagination to work, and then Conrad 
 finished his nap and played around, as a boy will, 
 finally pulling the tablecloth, with all the dishes, 
 off on the floor, and causing a row, which I 
 settled by allowing Louise to help me wash the 
 car, which she did all right till she turned the 
 faucet the wrong way and shot a stream of 
 water in my face. I can't see that girls are any 
 easier to bring up than boys, as it seems that 
 girls try to do not only everything that girls do, 
 but also everything that boys do, like helping to 
 wash the machine. All for a ride in the after- 
 noon, mostly around the neighborhood, as it does 
 a man no harm to be seen taking his happy and 
 well-dressed family for a ride. 
 
 July II. To church this morning, as all-day 
 automobile trips are too tiresome for the children
 
 July 159 
 
 and we might as well go over to church in the 
 morning, as I believe the children should be 
 brought up right. A good sermon by some young 
 preacher who filled the pulpit while our preacher 
 is on his vacation, but the congregation didn't 
 have much pep, and as for my part, I don't 
 think a man should be blamed for nodding a 
 little, and perhaps blinking from trying to keep 
 his eyes open, although Polly said that it created 
 a bad impression, leading people to believe that 
 I had been sitting up all night playing cards or 
 something like that, whereas I was not, but sat 
 on the porch till bedtime. Taking the children 
 for a ride in the afternoon and not having much 
 fun, as the roads were all cluttered up with cars, 
 there being too many of them, so that some law 
 ought to be passed prohibiting a man from 
 driving a car unless he can pay cash for it, etc. 
 But there are too many people, anyhow, and 
 most of them would probably get around the law 
 one way or another, that being what most people 
 think laws are for, these days. 
 
 July 12. Home to-night to find the neighbor- 
 hood buzzing, as Mrs. Walker came over to our 
 house this morning and told Polly that she was 
 going back east to her home to stay for good, as 
 she was convinced that she had made a mistake 
 in leaving her family and in marrying a man so 
 much older than herself. While they were talk- 
 ing, Mrs. Vickers came in, and Mrs. Walker told
 
 i66 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 the story to her, so it is in general circulation. 
 This afternoon Walker came home and in about 
 an hour he took Mrs. Walker and her baggage 
 away in his sedan, and no one has seen them 
 since. As far as I can tell, this is about what I 
 expected, as Walker should have known better, 
 though Janet should also have known better than 
 to encourage him; but as it was up to him to 
 make the decision, he is really to blame; but that 
 makes no difference to me, as I told Polly, for it 
 is their business and not ours, and I told her that 
 I didn't care to hear another word about it, which 
 does me no harm, showing that I am above prying 
 into neighbors' affairs and will have nothing more 
 to do with the scandal, if it is a scandal, as we 
 shall soon know. 
 
 July JJ. Riding down with Walker this 
 morning and he telling me that he is a pretty flat 
 tire, as he supposed I knew, his wife having told 
 him that she had to tell her troubles to some one, 
 and came over to our house and spilled the beans. 
 Walker is a good fellow and, as far as I can see, 
 he was probably led to believe that the girl was 
 crazy about him, when she probably only thought 
 of how she could make out on his $12,000 salary. 
 I finally suggested that some of us in the neigh- 
 borhood ought to write to Mrs. Walker and tell 
 her how we miss her, etc., as maybe that would 
 make her homesick. He grabbed at the straw 
 that broke the camel's back and said he thought
 
 July 161 
 
 it was a good scheme, and gave her address to me, 
 so as soon as I got to the office I sat down and 
 dictated a long letter to her, explaining that 
 Conrad cried for her and we all missed her and 
 thought she ought to come back to her husband, 
 as was her duty, she having married him with her 
 eyes open. Home in the evening to a good dinner 
 and to hear Louise tell about going to the park 
 with Etta and playing with a lot of other children 
 which is good for them, especially if the children 
 are all right. 
 
 July 14. Remembering at the breakfast table 
 this mprning what Walker said about the neigh- 
 bors writing to Mrs. Walker, and telling Polly 
 about it. She asked who suggested it, and I took 
 the credit, as was true, whereupon she said that 
 for a man that was through interfering in the 
 neighbors' affairs I was showing a peculiar interest 
 in Mrs. Walker. I said nothing, letting her be- 
 lieve whatever happens to be on her mind, but 
 merely remarking that I saw no harm in trying 
 to reunite a married couple temporarily separated 
 by a little tiff, as you might say. Riding down 
 town with that Jackson girl, who asked me if it 
 was true that Walker had locked his wife out of 
 the house and made life so miserable for her that 
 she had to leave him. I said no, but I did hear 
 that he had poisoned her coffee and set fire to 
 the house at least five times, but she not getting 
 the point, so I explained that I was joking, as
 
 162 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 you must be careful what you tell a woman like 
 that, who must have a card index of her gossip 
 to keep her from repeating it to the same people, 
 as otherwise she would lose her clients. 
 
 July 75. This was a hard day for Polly, as, 
 while Etta and Louise were hunting four-leaf 
 clovers, and Pep was getting a little rest behind 
 the garage, now that Walker's house is closed, 
 Conrad strayed down the street and gave them 
 all a fright until they found him eating gravel in 
 a driveway, and, not knowing how much he had 
 eaten, they sent for the doctor and worried about 
 him and thought he was going to die until the 
 doctor looked him over and asked who was sick. 
 I am sorry that I cannot stay at home and take 
 care of the children, as it should be no trick at all 
 to keep them in sight, but a man has to leave 
 such things to his family. Ellen and Fred up in 
 the evening to sit on our porch. Now that they 
 have been married a month they are beginning to 
 act human again, and I guess, from something 
 Polly said, that they had a little argument over 
 how a grapefruit ought to be .prepared for the 
 table, and Ellen came to Polly for advice, and 
 Polly had to beg off, saying that her husband 
 always said a grapefruit wasn't worth the trouble 
 of eating, as I guess I did once say. 
 
 July 16. Al Jackson coming into my place to- 
 day grinning all over and saying that the patent 
 he is interested in has turned out to be all that
 
 July 163 
 
 it promised to be and that he has been offered a 
 carload of money, more or less, for it, and that 
 any time I need a little jack to call on him for it, 
 as he will return past favors. I always knew that 
 Al would hit it right sooner or later, as a man who 
 is always playing some game like that on the side 
 generally manages to make a piece of money in 
 the long run. Al took me out to lunch and said 
 that the fact is that the things look so good that 
 he is going to quit work this fall and get a good 
 machine and take his family for a tour of the 
 West. I suppose he knows what he is doing, all 
 right, but I told him a few things for his own 
 good, saying he would probably have a good deal 
 of tire trouble in the deserts, but I could not 
 shake him in his determination. Telling Polly 
 about it in the evening and she saying that she 
 was glad to hear that Al had nerve enough to 
 break away from his desk and get out and take 
 a look at the world. 
 
 July 17. Pay day again and I figuring where 
 I stand, and none too well pleased, as, when I 
 count in the Liberty bonds I had to sell on 
 account of having some wedding expenses to 
 meet, I am not much ahead so far this year, but 
 in fact am in the neighborhood of $469 worse off 
 than I was the first of the year, which is not 
 worrying me much, as the money was spent for 
 good purposes and not squandered on some 
 patent or a bale of oil stock. But at the same
 
 164 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 time figuring how much I will have to save 
 every week to have plenty of money put by at 
 the end of the year, and figuring that by pinching 
 a little here and there I can come out all right and 
 have the satisfaction of keeping my resolution 
 to save something this year. Taking home candy 
 for Polly, a story book for Louise, and a ball for 
 Conrad, as he must sooner or later learn to play 
 ball. But when I got home the whole family was 
 out in the machine, and I felt pretty blue about it, 
 as when a man comes home after a hard week's 
 work and brings some trinkets for his family, he 
 likes to find some one there, if nobody but Pep. 
 
 July 18. A hot day and the children fretful 
 and hard to please, so I telling Polly to stay at 
 home and have a minute to herself and I would 
 take them for a ride out to the park where the so- 
 called zoo is, which I did; but as both children 
 and Pep insisted on sitting on the seat beside me, 
 I was cramped and nearly ran over a traffic cop 
 who made me pull into the curb while he bawled 
 me out in front of the children, saying a man my 
 age ought to have more sense than to drive a car 
 with children and dogs on the seat beside him, 
 and I saying that if he had more sense he would be 
 driving a car instead of standing in the middle of 
 the street all day Sunday telling better men how 
 to keep from running into one another. He not 
 getting the point, but giving me a summons to 
 traffic court in the morning, and I saying all
 
 July 165 
 
 right, I'd be there, as a man should not argue 
 with a cop too long. After I get through telling 
 the judge about the way the cop bawled me out 
 I have an idea there'll be a vacancy on the traffic 
 force. Going for a long ride in the afternoon out 
 in the country, where there are no traffic cops 
 and a man is free to conduct his own affairs in his 
 own way. 
 
 July ig. Going over to the traffic court to- 
 day and finding myself charged with violating 
 the traffic ordinance and disorderly conduct. 
 The judge asked me what I had to say about it, 
 and I told him it was pretty warm and I guessed 
 I spoke up pretty quickly when the cop stopped 
 me, and probably offended him, which I had 
 no intention of doing, telling the judge just what 
 I said. The cop then telling his side of the story, 
 and I could see that a man who has to stand out 
 there and dodge flivvers eight hours a day must 
 have a pretty hard job. The judge finally dis- 
 missing me, saying that if I ever came into his 
 court again he would throw me in jail. I said 
 nothing, as a man should keep his thoughts to 
 himself once in a while. Deciding not to try to 
 get the cop's job, as for all I know the man has 
 two or three kids at home and cannot afford to 
 be out of a job. In the evening buying a box 
 of cigars and driving out that way, getting there 
 just as the cop was leaving, and giving him the 
 cigars and hauling him down to the station and
 
 i66 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 finding out that he is all right after you know 
 him. 
 
 July 20. Home this evening to find a letter 
 from Mrs. Walker which Polly handed to me 
 already opened, the letter saying that she ap- 
 preciated the interest the neighbors took in her 
 affairs and that she was really sorry that the 
 children and Pep missed her so much, and they 
 were having lovely weather at her old home, and 
 a few more remarks like that. But nothing 
 about coming back to her husband. Polly asking 
 me what I had written to Mrs. Walker and I 
 saying little or nothing, except that I told her she 
 had better come back to her husband, as every- 
 body in the neighborhood sided with him and she 
 was losing out. I then saying that I would take 
 the letter over to Walker, as he had probably had 
 no word at all from Janet and would enjoy even a 
 look at a letter from her, but Polly saying that I 
 had made a bad matter worse and to keep away 
 from Walker. I guess maybe she is jealous of 
 Janet, thinking it funny that Janet and I should 
 be writing to each other about domestic affairs 
 and her separation, so I saying nothing, but 
 playing with the children a while. Polly's idea is 
 absurd, of course, but still it wouldn't happen to 
 everybody. 
 
 July 21. Riding down this morning with 
 Walker in his sedan and asking him how he liked 
 being a bachelor again, but he saying nothing, as
 
 July 167 
 
 he is not a talkative man, but rather standoffish. 
 Then asking him if his wife was still set on de- 
 serting him, and if so how soon did he intend 
 trying to get a divorce. He saying that it had 
 not occurred to him in that light, and then about 
 what a hot day it was yesterday, which it was, 
 as I have failed to note in this diary, always 
 forgetting to put down the weather every day as 
 a man should, especially if he has fished or 
 gardened much and learned to keep close track 
 of the weather. Conrad is staying up a little 
 later now, as it is too hot for him to go to bed 
 early, and I am getting acquainted with him. 
 He is a husky youngster, weighing thirty-three 
 pounds and looking to me like good material for 
 a ball player, as he throws his ball all the time, 
 trying to get Pep to chase it, which Pep does for 
 a while till he gets tired, when Conrad beats 
 him with a stick. Pep is having a hard time 
 these days, but he can put up with it. 
 
 July 22. Bob Pence, Polly's brother, dropping 
 in for dinner this evening, saying he was in town 
 to a lodge convention and thought he would come 
 out to the house and ask about the children. I 
 giving Polly the wink and telling Bob that the 
 children are perfect in every way, which is the 
 truth, and then I went ahead and told him that 
 all of our neighbors and friends think they are 
 wonderful children and that we are fortunate in 
 getting them, as it would have been a shame to
 
 i68 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 leave them down in that hick town where they 
 would have been neglected and probably never 
 would have amounted to anything. Letting him 
 have it with both barrels, so he will go home and 
 tell his relatives that we are proud of the children 
 and that the children should have been kept in 
 Oakcastle. Few people would have taken a 
 chance on bringing up two children as I have 
 done at my age, and it won't do me any harm for 
 that Oakcastle bunch to realize that I showed 
 them up as a lot of pikers, etc. Bob staying all 
 night and I talking all evening about the children, 
 not letting him get in a word. 
 
 July 23. I guess what I said to Bob last night 
 about the children had some effect, as after I 
 went to work this morning he told Polly that 
 they had had another meeting down at Oak- 
 castle and decided that since all had been con- 
 tributing to the support of Mary and her children 
 before Mary was taken, it would be no more than 
 right that they should contribute to the support 
 of the children now that I have them, saying they 
 would give $10 a month each, or $40 a month for 
 the two children. At first I was tempted to tell 
 Polly to write to them that we are perfectly able 
 to take care of the children and scorn their 
 money, but on second thought deciding that the 
 best thing to do is to take the money and put it 
 in the bank to the credit of the children. By the 
 time they are grown up it will amount to enough
 
 July 169 
 
 to send them both through college, so I saying all 
 right, as, anyhow, it would probably make 
 Polly's brothers feel mean to think that their 
 brother-in-law is the only one in the family 
 willing to do the right thing by their sister's 
 children, so deciding to take the money. 
 
 July 24. Dictating a long letter to Bob Pence 
 to-day and telling him that I was glad to learn 
 from Polly that he had seen the error of his ways 
 in not taking the right interest in the welfare of 
 Mary's children, and that since he had reformed 
 I would do what I could to ease his mind and 
 would therefore take the $40 a month for the 
 kids. But also saying to him that the money is 
 nothing to me, as it is the principle I am interested 
 in, and if it will pinch them to spare the $40 a 
 month, not to think of sending it, even though 
 anybody can see that it is the only fair thing to 
 do. I didn't spare him much. Figuring to-day 
 that with this 40 each month for the children I 
 will be able to come out pretty well this year, for 
 although I suppose the money is not really mine, 
 the Pences don't know that I am keeping it for 
 the children, and what they don't know won't 
 hurt me any. Home to play with the children 
 and for a ride in the car, Ellen driving, as she 
 keeps the car at her house a good deal of the time, 
 which is all right with me as long as Fred takes a 
 little care of it. 
 
 July 25. Remembering when I got up this
 
 170 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 morning that this is my birthday, and thinking 
 that no one else remembered it, as there was no 
 necktie at my place at the breakfast table, but 
 after we all went to church and finally had dinner 
 with Fred and Ellen up at our house, Polly sur- 
 prising us all with a big cake, but only ten candles 
 on it, and it was hard to tell whose birthday it 
 was till I spoke up and said it was mine. Enjoy- 
 ing the party, as few things make a man feel 
 better than to have some one remember when his 
 birthday is, especially if they tell him he looks 
 so much younger than he is. For a ride in the 
 afternoon, and in the evening, after the kids were 
 put to bed, tired out and happy after their day 
 of playing and riding, seeing Walker pottering 
 about his little yard and asking him to come over 
 and sit with Polly and me on the porch, which he 
 did, I asking him when Janet was coming back to 
 him and he saying he expected her to-morrow, 
 showing that I must have read his mind, a gift 
 I have when people are troubled with things I 
 know about. 
 
 July 26. Everything going all right at the 
 office. Noticing to-day that Carder seems to be 
 losing his pep, as I guess probably that Lowder 
 girl he married is sitting at home all day thinking 
 of something for him to do when he gets home in 
 the evening, or reading about some new movie 
 star to tell him about at dinner, which talk no 
 man cares to hear from his wife, but would like
 
 July 171 
 
 to hear something in praise or at least appreci- 
 ation of his efforts to make ends meet. I'll have 
 to keep an eye on him and see that he does not 
 slump off. He's with us for life, I can see that, as 
 generally happens when a clerk with no special 
 ability or ambition gets married on nothing but 
 his pay. Such men make good workers, as they 
 are generally too scared to take a day off and 
 look for a better job. Carder is probably that 
 kind, as I can tell by looking at him now, al- 
 though I'll admit that I once thought he was a 
 comer and might advance to the head of a 
 department. But even a man like me will some- 
 times make mistakes in judging men. Minnie 
 Lowder has gone to a boarding house, true to her 
 promise to me, but her work has not yet shown 
 the improvement expected. My secretary telling 
 me that the other girls in the office think I have 
 made a special favorite of Minnie because of her 
 good looks, but I have made it a life rule never to 
 consider what other people may think. 
 
 July 27. Mrs. Walker didn't come yesterday, 
 as expected, having missed her train, but showed 
 up to-day, bringing a Boston terrier almost like 
 Pep along with her, and hardly had the cur 
 landed at her house till he came over in our yard 
 to get an eyeful and got too close to Conrad, 
 which made Pep mad, as it would any respect- 
 able dog, so Pep did the proper thing and got the 
 cur by the neck, and women came running from
 
 172 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 all directions and tried to part them, and Mrs. 
 Walker finally did so by putting pepper in Pep's 
 nose, which made him sneeze and let go. When I 
 got home in the evening Louise and Polly and 
 Conrad all tried to tell me about it at the same 
 time, so I finally got the whole story, and found 
 Pep in the cellar without a scratch on him, which 
 was lucky, as otherwise I would have made short 
 work of that Walker woman's mongrel. She 
 coming over in the evening and trying to laugh 
 about it, and asking me what to do for her dog's 
 wound, and I saying that as she put pepper on 
 Pep she might try salt on her dog's wounds, but 
 laughing about it, so as not to offend a guest even 
 though owning a vicious dog. Mrs. Walker say- 
 ing nothing about my part in bringing her back 
 to her husband, perhaps not realizing that Polly 
 knew all about it. 
 
 July 28. Polly saying this morning at break- 
 fast that maybe we had better keep Pep in the 
 basement for a few days until Mrs. Walker's dog, 
 which is named Caesar, which is an insult to 
 Caesar's memory, I think, gets used to his new 
 home, as he was a gift from her father and she is 
 very proud of him and cried when he was hurt, 
 but I saying that since she brought a savage dog 
 into the neighborhood and he was licked by a 
 better dog, I thought it was up to her to cage 
 him and not up to us to tie our dog in a dark 
 cellar, which Polly presently thought was right.
 
 July 173 
 
 I suppose this is what I had coming to me after 
 bringing Walker and his wife back together 
 and saving him and her both from the divorce 
 court, as it was none of my business and I should 
 not have interfered. At noon going to a lawyer 
 to find out my rights, and he saying if the dog 
 trespassed on my property to attack my dog 
 I could go as far as I liked, which, as far as I am 
 concerned, is a grave in the dog cemetery for 
 Caesar. Home in the evening to find that Mrs. 
 Walker had a veterinarian for her dog to-day 
 and he is better, but I hope he has learned his 
 lesson. 
 
 July 29. That Jackson girl riding down on the 
 car with me this morning and saying that she had 
 been to see Ellen and thought I had certainly done 
 the right thing in fixing Ellen's kitchen up with 
 all modern conveniences, as housework and the 
 care of children are the two great drawbacks to 
 marriage, otherwise nearly all girls would be 
 married, and a modern kitchen cuts the house- 
 work in half. I saying that as far as I could see 
 the shortage of men is another drawback to some 
 marriages, and she saying it wasn't the quantity, 
 but the quality, which reminded me that I 
 intend to find a husband for her but haven't got 
 around to it yet. Home in the evening and sur- 
 prised to find Mrs. Walker and her dog both over 
 in our yard playing with Etta and the children 
 and Polly and Ellen acting as if they had been
 
 i74 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 playing, too. Pep must have made up his mind 
 that it will do no good to kill Caesar, and if he 
 cares to associate with him it will be all right with 
 me. Looking Caesar over and finding that he is 
 not much hurt and is only a pup, probably 
 knowing no better than to jump Pep. 
 
 July jo. All down to Ellen's house this eve- 
 ning for dinner, and I must say that she certainly 
 did well. She has her bungalow fixed up as snug 
 as a nest, and with everything bright and shining 
 she could not ask for a better start in life. Polly 
 and I going all over the house again. Every- 
 thing is perfect. The washing machine and ironer 
 have been moved to the basement, where the tubs 
 are, and both show that Fred has seen to it that 
 Ellen takes good care of them. The way Ellen 
 has her kitchen cabinet, range, electric dish- 
 washer, and refrigerator arranged could not be 
 improved upon. She hardly has to move out of 
 her tracks to get what she needs. The more I 
 think of it the more I think I did the right thing 
 in sparing no expense in furnishing her kitchen, 
 as housework is one of a girl's burdens when 
 she gets married, and it will do me no harm to 
 have people say that I was thoughtful and con- 
 siderate, providing just what was needed in the 
 kitchen. The dining room, living room, hall and 
 two bedrooms are pretty. Polly and I saying on 
 the way home that Ellen should be happy, 
 especially in her kitchen.
 
 July 175 
 
 July 31. Riding down with Walker and he 
 looking ten years younger since I persuaded his 
 wife to come back and live with him, as she 
 should do, as he is all right, the mere fact that a 
 man is a few years older than his wife making 
 no difference one way or the other if both are 
 determined to make a success of marriage, as I 
 have done, always making allowances for Polly's 
 opinions and getting my own breakfast nearly 
 every morning before we got hold of Louise and 
 Conrad, who naturally get up early and get us 
 up at the same time, which is all right, as early 
 to bed and early to work is a good motto to 
 impress upon children while they are yet young. 
 Asking Walker if his wife expected to stay with 
 him, and he saying she appears to be very happy, 
 so I saying no more about it, as in such cases a 
 man should use some tact, Walker probably being 
 sensitive about being deserted and thinking that 
 the neighbors are all talking about him, which 
 they are. Pay day and putting money in the 
 bank, in my economical way, then home with 
 little presents for all and to spend the evening 
 smoking my pipe on the porch.
 
 August 
 
 Aug. i. Up early this morning, a good habit 
 about which there is no choice, as Conrad wakes 
 up and demands food and his playthings, of 
 which he now has a small basketful, mostly balls 
 which I have brought home to him, being very 
 thoughtful in that respect. Grinding the valves 
 on my car, and while trying it out, along came a 
 flivver full of young people with a girl in front 
 learning to drive, and a young fellow teaching 
 her. She started toward me and he grabbed the 
 wheel, and although I climbed the curb trying to 
 get out of their way, I hit the flivver a glancing 
 blow and turned it over on its side and smashed a 
 front wheel and fender on my bus. The young 
 fellow admitted that it was his fault and the cop 
 arrested him for driving on the wrong side of the 
 street. Nobody was hurt, but we were knocked 
 out of a ride to-day, which is all right, as it rained 
 and the young fellow said he would arrange with 
 any garage I named to have my car put back in 
 the best of condition, so I will lose nothing by 
 the accident, but will go to court and tell the 
 judge that it was an accident. 
 
 176
 
 August 177 
 
 Aug. 2. Down to police court this morning 
 where the traffic judge tried to make me say 
 that the young fellow, Beecher by name, was 
 guilty of about six violations of the traffic 
 ordinances, but I saying he was a good fellow 
 and all right, so they let him go. Trying to find 
 him after court, but seeing nothing of him. 
 Thinking to-day that maybe I should have made 
 that letter to Bob Pence a little stronger, as he 
 is likely to get the idea that I will be sore if he 
 sends money to me for the support of the children. 
 It would be like him, as he can hold on to a 
 nickel as long as any man I know. Home to 
 find all well. Pep and Caesar romping on our 
 lawn, and Pep getting rough and I giving him 
 smack, as an older dog should not abuse a puppy 
 that way, a smart young puppy like Caesar, who 
 looks to me as if he would grow up to be a fine 
 dog. Beecher came to my house this evening in 
 his flivver, which looks as good as new, and took 
 me to the garage and arranged to have my bus 
 fixed up, which is all right, as I didn't really think 
 that he gave me the slip this morning, for judg- 
 ing people is one of my strong points. 
 
 dug- 3- When I got home this evening I 
 found a letter from Bob Pence inclosing a check 
 for $40, showing that they got together down at 
 Oakcastle and did the right thing, as I knew they 
 would if they got the point in my letter that I 
 thought they were a lot of pikers, and it would
 
 178 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 make no difference to me one way or the other 
 what they did. Polly asking how we had better 
 spend the money, and I saying by putting it 
 away where the kids could make some use of it 
 when they grow up. Explaining my plan to her 
 and she agreeing that it was all right and asking 
 how we would invest the money, showing how 
 her mind runs, as if there is enough yet to invest 
 except to put it away, but saying nothing to her 
 about it except that we'd wait and see, as it does 
 no good to make my wife think that I have a 
 poor opinion of her financial ability. Talking 
 with Mrs. Walker in the front yard this evening 
 and asking her if she and her husband are getting 
 along all right now, and she saying nothing, but 
 talking about her dog, which may not show that 
 things at their house are not all right, but 
 I too tactful to pursue the matter and not 
 interested in other people's private affairs. 
 
 Aug. 4.. Riding down on the car this morning 
 with Al Jackson and he telling me that he has 
 closed his deal and is now fixed for life and has 
 bought a car and intends to start pretty soon 
 for a trip through the West. He was certainly 
 lucky to have got in on that deal, and luck is the 
 word, as when he went into it any level-headed 
 business man would have stayed out, as I told 
 him when he came to me about it. As I see it 
 now, he didn't tell me all that he knew about the 
 deal, but merely mentioned it to me so as to square
 
 August 179 
 
 himself for a little favor or two that I had done 
 for him. Asking if he intended to take the whole 
 family, and he said that he did and would stay 
 all winter. This relieving my mind some, as I 
 intended to get a husband for Beatrice as soon 
 as I got around to it, but if she gets out West 
 where no one knows her she will probably land 
 a man on the strength of her money. Saying 
 nothing to Al about this, as he is probably 
 sensitive about that subject, and I don't care to 
 say anything that might mar the pleasure of his 
 trip, if he gets any pleasure out of it. 
 
 Aug. 5. The garage man calling me up to-day 
 and saying my car is ready and asking about the 
 young fellow who promised to settle the bill, so 
 I trying to find Beecher and getting no trace of 
 him by telephone till about noon, when he came 
 to see me, saying he was broke and couldn't pay 
 the bill without raising money on his flivver. 
 I said that if he could get his flivver fixed he 
 could get my car fixed, and that he had made 
 terms with the garage man and would have to 
 fight it out with him. Telephoning for the 
 garage man, who came down and said the bill 
 was $47 and Beecher would pay it or go to jail, 
 so the young fellow pulled out a $50 bill and asked 
 for change, showing what a four-flusher some of 
 these young upstarts can be. Out to get my 
 car, and the garage man told me Beecher is a 
 bootlegger making $20,000 a year, so I sorry I
 
 i8o Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 was so hard on him, as it might come in handy 
 to be in right with a bootlegger. The car runs 
 like a new watch, only a little louder, and I 
 would not trade it for a good many new ones I 
 see this year, owned mostly by people that think 
 paint makes a car, and know nothing about the 
 inside of the thing. 
 
 Aug. 6. Home this evening to take Conrad 
 for a ride in a little wagon that I got for him 
 and Louise, and which they enjoy more than the 
 bus, showing that people who say they can't have 
 a car, but stretch a point for the benefit of their 
 kids, are not around their kids long enough to 
 find out what a kid really likes in the way of a 
 wheeled vehicle. Conrad is doing pretty well 
 now as a talker, but it is hard yet to tell whether 
 he will talk English or Chinese, although Louise 
 can understand every word he says. While I 
 was pulling him in the wagon he cried, and I 
 found out that he was a good sport and would 
 like to try to pull me in the wagon, which, being 
 a strong wagon, would stand the weight, so I 
 sitting in the wagon to humor him and letting 
 him try to pull it while I pushed it along with my 
 foot, and an old lady coming along and bawling me 
 out for a heartless brute, to make a child like 
 that pull a grown man. I saying nothing, but 
 putting Conrad back in the wagon and bringing 
 him home, as the woman was probably cracked and 
 a man should use some judgment in such cases.
 
 August 181 
 
 Aug. 7. Some talk at lunch about fishing 
 and this reminding me that I'll get no fishing this 
 year on account of having to do my share toward 
 staying home with the kids, as it would be too 
 much trouble to take them along on a fishing 
 trip this year, but might be all right next year 
 when they are a little older. Talking to Polly 
 about it this evening, merely saying it was the 
 first time in several years I had not had a vacation, 
 and not making any complaint, as a man should 
 use tact in such cases and not give the impression 
 that his wife and children are holding his nose 
 to the grindstone to the danger of his health. 
 She saying she had a plan in mind, but I saying 
 nothing, as I am resigned to my fate and will 
 stay at home and let men go fishing who have 
 not taken on new family responsibilities late 
 in life, but have settled back to the selfish en- 
 joyment of every minute of their time. Getting 
 out my fishing tackle and going over it, as a man 
 should keep his tackle in condition, even if he 
 feels that he ought to stay at home on account 
 of doing something for his wife's relatives, as 
 a responsible business man should do. 
 
 Aug. 8. Working on the car this morning and 
 figuring that a man who takes care of his own 
 car spends enough time on it to make him a 
 millionaire if he used the time thinking up ways 
 to make money, and figuring that a good many 
 cars are sold to men who want some excuse for
 
 182 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 having a piece of machinery to tinker with. All 
 to church and Ellen and Fred at our house for 
 dinner, and after dinner all for a spin in the bus 
 and having a good time except that Conrad 
 couldn't get along with Pep in the front of the 
 car and we had a dispute as to which should ride 
 in the front and which should ride in the back 
 which reminded me that I was going to train Pep 
 to ride on the running board, so putting him out 
 there and driving slowly. Everything went all 
 right till we passed a cat on the sidewalk, when 
 he made a jump for it and rolled over two or 
 three times, giving the cat time to climb a tree. 
 I will not have my dog abused like that, so mak- 
 ing Conrad ride in the back with Ellen and Louise 
 and Fred, and letting Pep in the front and pay- 
 ing no attention to what they said about a dog's 
 life, if that is their idea of humor. 
 
 Aug. 9. Getting the surprise of my life this 
 evening when I got home to dinner, as Polly 
 showed me a letter from Bob Pence and his wife 
 inviting Polly and the kids to come down to 
 Oakcastle next Sunday and stay for two weeks. 
 They say they are eager to see Polly and to have 
 the kids visit around among their relatives down 
 there, and I suppose that it is best for the kids 
 that they keep in touch with their old home. 
 This lets me in for a fishing trip and I will make 
 all plans right away. Planning that I will take 
 Polly and the kids and Pep down in the machine
 
 August 183 
 
 next Sunday and leave all there, and come home 
 and then start out Monday for some fishing. 
 Thinking it over and deciding that I will not go 
 to a wild lake, but will go where there is a com- 
 fortable hotel and I can take things easy when it 
 is too hot to fish. This suits me all right, as it 
 will do me no harm to say at the office that I have 
 sent my family to one place for a vacation and 
 am going to another myself, showing that we 
 have various places to go and do not favor 
 tagging after each other to spoil a fishing trip. 
 Pep will be in good hands and no cause for worry. 
 
 Aug. 10. Speaking to the chief to-day about 
 my vacation and he saying all right, but failing to 
 say anything about how hard it will be to get 
 along at the office for two weeks without me. 
 Home in the evening to help Polly get ready for 
 her visit. Going over my tackle and finding that 
 I will have to buy a few little things, including 
 a pair of scales, as the ones I have are not right, 
 making a two-pound fish weigh about half a 
 pound. Now that the tackle is in shape, all 
 ready for a vacation, except a place to go. 
 
 Aug. II. Speaking to-day to that $3<>a-week 
 clerk at my place who had such bull luck fishing 
 and he saying he did same at Lake Hammond, 
 so deciding to go there, for if a clerk can catch 
 fish in a little lake like that, so can I. Writing 
 to the proprietor of the Pickerel Inn at Lake 
 Hammond for a room, and saying that anything
 
 184 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 would do, as I expect to be on the lake fishing 
 most of the time and will have little time for sleep, 
 as a man can sleep at home. As soon as I hear 
 from the hotel, all arrangements will be complete 
 and Polly and the children will have a fine 
 vacation, as I bought the things I needed for my 
 tackle to-day, including some new lures, war- 
 ranted to bring the members of the finny tribe 
 to time, and there will be nothing to hinder my 
 pleasure, as I am leaving the car and Pep down at 
 Oakcastle with Polly, so she and the children 
 will have what they are used to at home. Glad 
 that I have fixed matters up, as Polly needs the 
 vacation and will be a new woman when she gets 
 back. Urging her to take Etta with her, but 
 she saying she does not need help, as the girl 
 would only be in the way, which is probably 
 right, saving money. Minnie Lowder still giving 
 me concern and I giving her a little friendly 
 advice about her work while I am away. Quinn 
 of the repair department coming in just as she 
 is leaving, and I could see that he was im- 
 pressed by her chorus-girl type of beauty. 
 Suddenly the whole solution came to me in a 
 flash. I would get rid of Minnie and get even 
 with Quinn in one stroke of fine genius. Maybe 
 he would end up by marrying her. So I told him 
 that since he was always complaining of being 
 shorthanded, here was his chance to get help and 
 I would have her transferred. He asked what
 
 August 185 
 
 was the matter with her, and I said if being 
 promoted once or twice already since she was 
 here was a sign of feeble-mindedness, his depart- 
 ment could stand a few such imbeciles. He 
 finally agreeing to take her on trial, I merely 
 telling Minnie that Quinn's department was 
 shorthanded, she never suspecting the truth. 
 So now I am through with the whole Lowder 
 business forever and can take pleasure in my 
 fishing trip. 
 
 Aug. 12. Fred having to go to some kind of 
 sales conference this evening, so Ellen at our 
 house for dinner and I seeing that she and 
 Louise are now great friends, which is as it should 
 be, for we did the right thing by Ellen and she 
 has no business nursing a grudge because we took 
 two children to bring up while she was away on 
 her honeymoon. Ellen telling Polly and me that 
 she and Fred are having trouble living on Fred's 
 salary, and I guessed from what she said that 
 they are in debt, Ellen finally intimating that I 
 might put up a piece of money to help them out, 
 as now they have realized that they had to watch 
 every cent, and they know enough not to get 
 into a tight place again. I not taking the hint, 
 but saying that there is nothing like a little 
 hardship in early married life to test out people's 
 devotion to each other and to their home life, 
 also getting off a few more good ones of the same 
 kind, as a man who reads a good deal and
 
 i86 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 observes more can easily do, and letting her know 
 that they will never get anywhere except by their 
 own efforts. Polly saying, after Ellen left, that 
 I ought to be less firm in such matters, but I 
 was not impressed by her advice and regarded 
 the matter as closed. 
 
 Aug. Jj. Deciding to-day that I ought to do 
 something to help Polly with the children so they 
 will have a good time, so looking around and 
 buying a kite for Conrad, as, while it is not kite 
 season, he has never had one and will enjoy it. 
 Also buying some string and home in the evening, 
 carrying the thing on the car, as I am not ashamed 
 to do, as it will do a man no harm to have people 
 say that I am always carrying something home 
 to my children, even a kite, which is hard to 
 carry on a rush-hour street car. There was some 
 wind, so I fixed it up, and, Conrad being too 
 small to fly it, I flew it for him and let him watch 
 and showed him how it is done. Also showing 
 Louise, and all going well till I tried to show her 
 how to start it and was looking back while run- 
 ning, thus falling into Polly's geranium bed, 
 letting loose of the kite, as a man would when 
 falling, and it fell and I had to chase it about 
 three blocks, but recovered it all right; so now 
 all is ready for the vacation, Polly having only a 
 little more sewing to do, women being particular 
 about how they dress on a vacation, even though 
 going to a hick town.
 
 August 187 
 
 Aug. 14. Pay day, but that not bothering me, 
 as I said good-by to all at the office and took my 
 pay home, with the two weeks in advance coming 
 to me for vacation purposes, and giving half of it 
 to Polly, telling her that it was a little something 
 for her to have a good time on. Getting a letter 
 from the Pickerel Inn and finding that the 
 vacation will cost me very little, so doing the 
 right thing by Ellen and giving $50 in cash ta 
 her, as a man could not enjoy his vacation 
 thinking that his daughter is at home worrying 
 over some little bills. Conrad got hold of his 
 kite to-day and tookit outdoors, where he and Pep 
 and Caesar tried to fly it, I guess, as all had a 
 hand in tearing it up, which is all right, as 
 Conrad is too small to monkey with a kite. 
 Spending most of the afternoon tuning the bus 
 up for the trip to Oakcastle, 63 miles, to-morrow 
 morning, and in the evening smoking my pipe 
 on the porch and telling fish stories to Ellen and 
 Fred, who came up for a visit, as they enjoy my 
 company, and I supposed they are blue at the 
 prospect of me being away from them for a couple 
 of weeks, but will get along some way. 
 
 Aug. 75. An eventful day. All got up early, 
 and Polly, the children, three suitcases, the 
 wagon I bought for the children, and two baskets, 
 all away to Oakcastle, getting started at eight 
 o'clock and getting there before noon, as I am 
 best at shooting a car along on a long trip. Hav-
 
 188 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 ing dinner at Bob's and they showed some real 
 affection for the children, but I did not warm up 
 to Bob's people much, being merely decent and 
 polite, as I don't care for them to get the idea I 
 am licking their boots for the $40 a month, which 
 makes no difference to me one way or the other. 
 Coming back on the five o'clock train. Sorry to 
 leave Polly and the kids and Pep, but glad to get 
 out of the town, as you could not hire me to 
 hang around a hick town like that for any amount 
 of money. Back to the house in time to go over 
 my fishing tackle and make things shipshape for 
 a long stay away from the house, and Ellen 
 saying she would look in now and then to see 
 that all is well. Quite a relief to know that I 
 am doing what I can to give Polly and the kids 
 a good vacation, which they surely deserve, even 
 though I am practically forced to take a fishing 
 trip, though I had not planned to do it. 
 
 Aug. 16. Well, here I am at Pickerel Inn, 
 and I can't say much for the place, as there are 
 too many people around here who clutter up the 
 porch all day playing bridge; but that may work 
 out all right, for if they are playing bridge they 
 are not out on the lake worrying the life out of 
 some poor fish. Taking a swim as soon as I 
 reached here this afternoon, and in the evening 
 rowing around the lake a bit to look things over. 
 Taking a rod along and casting a few times, but 
 not wasting much time that way, as a man had
 
 August 189 
 
 better use his fishing sense on strange water and 
 find out first where the fish are likely to be. The 
 lake is about nine miles long and narrow, not 
 over a mile and a half across at the widest place, 
 so there is probably plenty of room for everybody. 
 Talking with a native this evening and he telling 
 me that no one has had much luck on the 
 lake this year, a few bass being caught, and, of 
 course, bluegills and such panfish, that no real 
 sportsmen would look at. This pleasing to me, 
 as it shows that a lot of dubs have been fishing 
 here and left the good fishing for men who have 
 been at it long enough to know how to think like 
 a fish. 
 
 Aug. if. Up this morning before three o'clock 
 and out on the lake before sunup, as that is the 
 time to go after the fish, long before the easy- 
 chair anglers, as they are called in books, get up. 
 Rowing over to a little cove that I picked out 
 last evening as being likely to harbor some fish, 
 and going alone, as, while it is hard to manage a 
 boat and cast at the same time, I'd rather do 
 that than have some boatman along to worry me. 
 Circling the cove and casting into the lily pads 
 and then working down the shore and studying 
 the lake pretty carefully. Getting a good strike, 
 but he missed the plug and only churned the 
 water. I could tell from the rumpus he raised 
 that he must have been a four-pound bass, and 
 where there is one there must be many, if a man
 
 igo Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 knows how to look for them in the right place. 
 Breakfast time before I knew it, so rowing back 
 to the hotel. Dozing awhile after breakfast, and 
 in the afternoon for a row about the lake and a 
 swim. Casting again this evening and study- 
 ing the lake, which may have something in 
 it. Catching nothing to-day, but that's all right, 
 as I am here to get the air and outdoor exercise. 
 Aug. 18. Up at daylight again this morning 
 and trying other parts of the lake. Seeing a man 
 haul in a two^pound bass almost in the center of 
 the lake, where any one would know a bass had 
 no business being in the morning, but should be 
 near the shore, looking for minnows feeding in 
 the shallow water. Catching nothing, but mak- 
 ing a study of the lake and figuring out several 
 promising places where I should get some good 
 fishing this week. Some people are lucky at 
 fishing, but I pay no attention to luck, as real 
 luck is nothing but knowing what you are doing 
 and using your head in casting instead of your 
 wrist only. A wind coming up and making the 
 lake too rough for fishing, so I loafed on the 
 porch awhile and finally got into a bridge game? 
 as when a man is invited he does not like to turn 
 people down when he is likely to be thrown with 
 them for two weeks. A nap and swim in the 
 afternoon, and as it was too dark in the evening 
 to fish, finally consenting to dance a little, as 
 there was no getting out of it, and managing to
 
 August 191 
 
 show some of the women a good time, as that is 
 what they came here for, not to fish, as I did. 
 Yet there is no reason why I should not make 
 myself agreeable, for these women do not have 
 much pleasure in their lives. 
 
 Aug. IQ. Up at daylight, as usual, and out 
 on the lake when most of these loafers here were 
 just settled for the night. Casting in the cove 
 again, and just as I was getting ready to leave it 
 I got a fish which must have been at least three 
 feet long. He acted like a pickerel, coming in 
 sort of sluggish, but when I got him about half- 
 way to the boat and was thinking what a sensa- 
 tion he would create at the hotel, he gave a flop 
 which almost pulled me into the water, and 
 jerked loose. Spending most of the rest of the 
 day going over my tackle, and writing to the 
 bait company which made the lure I had him on, 
 and telling them about the defects in the bait. 
 Out again in the evening and seeing an elderly 
 woman with as fine a string of bluegills as ever 
 I saw. She said she caught them with crickets. 
 But that's no way to fish, except for a woman. 
 Intending to go to bed early, but there's a dance 
 here every night, and a man can't sleep with a 
 lot of jazz buzzing in my ears, so dancing to kill 
 time till the acrobatic orchestra left and a man 
 could enjoy himself in peace. That music probably 
 scares the fish half to death and, of course, a 
 thing like that will counteract anybody's skill.
 
 192 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Aug. 20. Out on the lake at sunup this 
 morning and fishing for four hours. Seeing a 
 big pickerel loafing in the shade of some water- 
 lily leaves, showing that I am fishing in the right 
 place, but when I drifted away from him and 
 cast in his direction, he wakened up and made 
 for the center of the lake. Taking a little more 
 care this morning, but not even getting a strike, 
 which leads me to believe that this lake has been 
 fished out, probably by fellows like that clerk 
 who sent me up there, fish hogs who come along 
 with a streak of luck and land all the fish and 
 then go home and blow about it to their su- 
 periors. A letter from Polly to-day saying that 
 she and the children are having a good time and 
 that she is enjoying renewing girlhood friend- 
 ships. I suppose that they appreciate my getting 
 away from home so they can have a vacation 
 without having to worry about me. Polly saying 
 nothing about Pep, which disturbs me, as a dog 
 might get into all kinds of trouble at Oakcastle, 
 such as chasing sheep. Loafing around the hotel 
 to-day and helping a boy repair a reel, and going 
 to the dance this evening, as a man cannot very 
 well get out of it. 
 
 Aug. 21. No real fish in the lake again this 
 morning, so I listened to a man named Miller, 
 who said he knew all about catching bluegills, 
 which is not much, and invited me to go along. 
 I went, as I could not very well get out of it, and
 
 August 193 
 
 caught nine pretty good ones to his sixteen, I 
 getting fewer because I am not used to that kind 
 of lazy fishing, but favor the game fish. Anyhow, 
 we had enough fish to make a meal at our table 
 at the hotel, and the morning was not wasted. 
 This evening a boy caught a three-pound bass 
 off the hotel pier, showing that accidents like 
 that will happen. I went out after dinner and 
 fished for an hour, but caught nothing, as it was 
 probably too dark. Worrying about Pep this 
 evening, so writing to Polly to ask about her and 
 the children and if Pep is still with them. Not 
 caring to go to the dance, but I had to, as a man 
 cannot read or sleep with all that music pounding 
 in his ears and everybody dancing and having 
 a good time. Some widow trying to vamp me, 
 but not having much luck at it, as I am up here 
 to fish and not to get caught by good-looking 
 ladies. 
 
 Aug. 22. Fishing again to-day, even though 
 it is Sunday, as, while I believe in observing the 
 Sabbath, I also believe in making the most of 
 the few short days a man gets away from home 
 every year, so out at daylight and trying a 
 couple of new places that I picked out yesterday. 
 Meeting a man with three nice bass. He said 
 he came up here for the week-end and had to 
 make the most of his time, so went out early 
 and got his fish. I saying nothing, but it seemed 
 to me that he did not do the right thing in coming
 
 194 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 up here just for the week-end and grabbing off 
 fish that rightfully belong to people who have 
 really earned them by fishing for a whole week. 
 Getting a strike, but I think he was not on the 
 hook. Buying some new bait and out again after 
 breakfast, but having no luck, as the lake was 
 so full of excursionists that a man could hardly 
 pull a boat without bumping into them. A high 
 wind in the afternoon, so joining a penny-ante 
 game in the lobby of the hotel, some gray-haired 
 woman who should have been sewing for grand- 
 children taking all the money, playing poker like 
 a professional gambler, though she looked like 
 a saint, that probably being her poker mask. 
 
 Aug. 23. Not waking up this morning till the 
 breakfast bell rang, which is strange, as I usually 
 wake up well before daylight, when the fishing is 
 good. That widow, Mrs. Eastman by name, 
 practically compelling me to go with her to pick 
 water lilies, which I did, and she trying to find 
 out all about me, but getting nothing out of me, 
 as a man should be careful in such cases and keep 
 his affairs to himself. Then she told me the 
 story of her life, and it is too bad what a hard 
 time some people have in the world, especially 
 people who crave affection and are bereft of their 
 dear ones and left alone in the world. She is a 
 beautiful woman, too, once you know her, with 
 large brown eyes and olive complexion, and cheeks 
 that glow with perfect health. She asked me to
 
 August 195 
 
 teach her to cast, so taking her out this evening 
 and showing her the rudiments of the art, and 
 as luck would have it, she hooked a three-pound 
 bass right away and then screamed, as a woman 
 would, and I had to bring it in for her; and it 
 surely was a beauty, giving me as much sport as 
 if I had caught it myself. Fishing around there 
 some time, but catching no more, so going home 
 with our fish. 
 
 Aug. 24. Out early this morning, as after 
 landing that big one last night I took more 
 interest in the sport and had a lot of fun fishing 
 around the same place, but caught none, as I 
 suppose fish have a sort of way of learning where 
 one has been caught and they avoid that spot 
 for a few days. Mrs. Eastman and I walking to 
 the village near here, where she had to buy some 
 thread, and she telling me how much she enjoyed 
 learning to fish, and a lot of bunk like that which 
 did not impress me, as I took no pleasure in 
 having her remind me that she had a little luck 
 and knew practically nothing about fishing as 
 a real art. Feeling sorry for her, though, as she 
 seems to be so helpless. She lives alone in the 
 city, she says, and has only a few friends. She 
 has said nothing about her husband, but she 
 acts as if he had never understood her and had 
 died almost without warning. Playing in the 
 sand with some children this afternoon. A letter 
 from Polly saying that Pep roves around all
 
 196 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 over Oakcastle and seems to enjoy his freedom. 
 Trying to fish in the evening, but finally going 
 to the dance, which is exercise, at least. 
 
 Aug. 25. This finds me at home, as I am 
 disgusted with the lake and the hotel and the 
 whole place and feel that I have wasted most of 
 my vacation. Overhearing some women refer- 
 ring to me on the porch this morning as "that 
 grumpy old bird that Mrs. Eastman is flirting 
 with, v and deciding that if that is the kind of 
 people I am thrown with I had better get out. 
 Not that I care what they say about me, as they 
 cannot be much or they would not be at a bum 
 place like Pickerel Inn. So I packed up my tackle 
 and told the proprietor of the place that I was 
 going somewhere to get some fish, thus letting 
 him know what I think of his lake, where about 
 the only way you can catch a fish is to shoot it 
 with a rifle. Not seeing Mrs. Eastman when I 
 left, as she is nothing to me. Getting home 
 here at ten this 'evening and finding everything 
 all right. Down to Ellen's, as I was homesick 
 to see her, but no one at home, as I guess they 
 are out having a good time on that piece of 
 change I gave to Ellen before I left. Neverthe- 
 less glad I am away from that bunch of loose 
 talkers on the porch at the so-called Pickerel Inn. 
 
 Aug. 26. Well, it was quite a surprise for 
 Polly and the children when I blew into Oak- 
 castle without letting them know I was coming.
 
 August 197 
 
 They were glad to see me, of course, but I had to 
 look the town over for Pep, and finally found him 
 with a cat treed down near the bridge. He didn't 
 like to leave the cat, but I made him come on to 
 Bob's house, and I looked him over and found 
 that if he has been in any scraps he shows no signs 
 of it. Polly and the children well and looking 
 better for their vacation. Working on the 
 machine all afternoon and most of the evening, 
 as they have been running it fast and loose and 
 jolting it to pieces. They asking about my fish, 
 and I used a little judgment, as a man should in 
 such cases. Besides, no one at that mud puddle 
 of a lake knew me, so there is no reason why I 
 should not have a little glory out of my vacation, 
 even if the lake was fished out when I got there. 
 Saying that I would have brought some of my 
 fish down, but the weather was too hot and fish 
 packed in ice are too hard to carry. Smoking my 
 pipe on the porch in the evening and enjoying 
 the quiet of the town. 
 
 Aug. 27. Washing the car this morning, as 
 we must get ready to go home and get ready for 
 another year of life in the crowded city. Think- 
 ing that I would like to settle down here in this 
 peaceful, shady town and spend the rest of my 
 days here. After all, it is the people in small 
 towns who really enjoy themselves. Saying some- 
 thing about it to Bob, and he saying that there 
 is not a man in this town who doesn't regret that
 
 198 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 he didn't go to the city as a boy and become 
 a millionaire with a country home and five cars. 
 He's like a lot of men, never satisfied with what 
 he is or what he has done, and killing a lot of 
 time wishing that he had made another kind of 
 start when he was young and had the pep, instead 
 of staying here in a hick town. Bob's wife giving 
 a party in our honor, a quiet affair, so soon after 
 Mary's passing on, which I forgot and suggested 
 poker, shocking the women. Sitting around till all 
 got sleepy; then the guests went home. Polly and 
 I deciding to go home to-morrow, as I would like 
 to get settled before I have to go back to the 
 office, where things are probably in pretty bad 
 shape by this time, I being away. 
 
 Aug. 28. Making an early start this morning, 
 and somewhat sad, as Polly and both children 
 had tears in their eyes when we left, which made 
 a good impression on the family down there. 
 Getting a puncture about half way home, and 
 this seemed to start all the tires on a sympathetic 
 strike, as I had three more punctures and had 
 to fix every one of them, there being only one spare 
 tire on the car, that being all a man needs in 
 town. We reached home about three o'clock 
 tired, dusty, hungry, and wondering if the visit 
 was worth the trip, but feeling better after Polly 
 got the house opened up and we all ate something. 
 Pep glad to get back, as he ran around and barked 
 when I let him out of the machine in the garage.
 
 August 199 
 
 Conrad picked up quite a few words at Oak- 
 castle and now talks like a child twice his age. 
 He is remarkable in many respects, and so is 
 Louise. Both have developed rapidly in the 
 refining influence of our house and the neighbor- 
 hood, and I am glad we took them to bring up 
 right. Ellen and Fred up in the evening to hear 
 about our vacation, and I telling them several 
 fish stories, knowing their weakness in this respect. 
 Aug. 29. All to church this morning and 
 every one telling us how well we look after our 
 outing, making a man feel that he did the right 
 thing in arranging for his wife and her sister's 
 children to go back to their old home and visit 
 with their relatives for awhile. I telling a few 
 fish stories to those who asked how I got along, 
 which Harry Vickers did, but I staying in the 
 background, as it does a man no harm to have 
 people say that he is not disposed to blow about 
 what a fine vacation he arranged for his family, 
 but takes it as a matter of course, as if used to 
 it, which I am. Fred and Ellen asking for the 
 car in the afternoon, so I letting them have it 
 and spending most of the afternoon in the yard 
 playing with the kids, showing them how to 
 make a whistle, and fixing the bed of their wagon, 
 which they pulled apart while playing with the 
 young roughneck cousins of theirs at Oakcastle. 
 Seeing Mrs. Walker in her yard, I started over 
 to talk with her, but she went into the house,
 
 200 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 probably feeling that Walker ought to provide a 
 vacation for her and she not caring to hear 
 about our fine vacation. 
 
 Aug. 30. Back to the treadmill this morning 
 and finding things in pretty good shape, as I 
 have my force well trained and they know how 
 to run the details of my department while I am 
 gone. All asking about my vacation, and telling 
 the story so often that there was little work done. 
 One of the best parts of a vacation is talking 
 about it afterward, and a man should enjoy the 
 post mortem to the fullest extent. That clerk 
 who gave me that rotten tip about the so-called 
 Pickerel Inn asking if I caught anything, and 
 to get even with him I told a few fish stories 
 which left him breathless. While things have 
 gone smoothly in my department, it seems that 
 same is not true of Quinn's. He, hearing that 
 I was back, came hurrying in to complain about 
 Minnie Lowder, claiming that she was not only 
 no good herself, but that she had reduced the 
 efficiency of his force thirty-five per cent. I 
 handed him a hot one, saying that it was news 
 to me that he had that much altogether, which 
 floored him and he could only reply weakly that 
 he could not put up with the Lowder girl another 
 day, and if that was the kind of people who rise 
 rapidly in my department, it looked bad for the 
 others. So I told him to send her back to me, 
 as the girl was not lazy when directed with in-
 
 August 201 
 
 telligence, and what else could a man do ? Home 
 at night, thinking that my plan for marrying her 
 to Quinn was not working well and I must think 
 up one that is now better. 
 
 Aug. j/. Ellen and* Fred at our house this 
 evening for dinner and Ellen saying something 
 to Louise about her manners at table, which 
 are practically perfect, and I saying something 
 to Ellen about who was boss in this house, and 
 one word led to another until you would have 
 thought I was a Bolshevik of some kind, whereas 
 I only meant to imply that Polly and I are bring- 
 ing Louise and Conrad up right and do not enjoy 
 having Louise's manners criticized at our table, 
 especially when about the worst she did was to 
 feed Pep at the table, which is all right, as I 
 told them, the dog being hungry and Louise 
 having a tender heart. Ellen and Fred going 
 back home right after dinner, and after Louise 
 went to bed Polly made a few pointed remarks 
 about using a little tact once in a while. I say- 
 ing nothing, as naturally she would be sensitive 
 about her sister's children and would side with 
 Ellen against me, I being only her husband. 
 But she is nervous, and a man should use some 
 judgment now and then, and so I went down 
 to Ellen's to square things up, but they had 
 gone to the movies, I guess.
 
 September 
 
 Sept. I. Walker was starting out in his car 
 this morning just as I was starting to business, 
 but he did not ask me to ride with him, on the 
 contrary, he gave me one glance, then acted as 
 if he were running a car for the first time and 
 two fire engines were coming his way. Mrs. 
 Walker acted the same way when I saw her in 
 the yard the other day and started over to say 
 something to her about how she and her husband 
 are getting along. I don't know what could 
 make them act like that toward me unless it is 
 the fact that whenever I am around either one 
 of them they get to thinking about how different 
 things might have been if they had started life 
 as I did and married some one about the same 
 age and got along all right instead of quarreling 
 and separating every month or two. I am sorry 
 that I make them feel that way, but if a man's 
 example hurts other people's consciences it is 
 not my fault, but theirs. This would be a heck 
 of a world if a man acted so that no one would 
 envy him because he did the right thing. Telling 
 Polly about it this evening and she said that I 
 
 202
 
 September 203 
 
 might have offended them, showing how her 
 mind runs. 
 
 Sept. 2. To my surprise, the check for $40 
 from Bob Pence coming to-day. I thought maybe 
 he might not send it at all or might keep out 
 half of it as payment for board for Polly and the 
 kids while they were down at Oakcastle. Putting 
 the money away and writing to Bob, telling him 
 that the check arrived all right and would be 
 kept for the children as I do not need the money 
 and am able to take care of Louise and Conrad 
 and a few more, as, for instance, if my only 
 brother out West should die and leave his six 
 children on my hands. But I also told Bob that 
 the children would some day be grateful to 
 Polly's people for doing the right and only square 
 thing by them, as people with any sense of 
 decency would do. Telling Polly about it in the 
 evening and she saying that I am getting to be 
 a terrible pessimist here lately, and too surly. 
 Thinking this over and deciding that she is more 
 than half right, as a man should make some 
 allowance for the world's opinions, even when 
 they are wrong, and look at the bright side of 
 things, so resolving to try to see the best in 
 everything for awhile and see how it goes. 
 
 Sept. 5. Starting out this morning determined 
 to see nothing but good in everything that 
 happens, but the first thing of importance that 
 happened was when the street-car conductor
 
 204 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 bawled out a woman for giving a $5 bill to him, 
 and told her he had a notion to put her off and 
 make her walk. I tried to make allowance for 
 the chance that the fellow might have had a few 
 words with his wife when he left home, or some- 
 thing like that, but had no luck, so paid the 
 woman's fare and gave her my name and address, 
 as seven cents is seven cents. Minnie Lowder 
 coming to me to talk about wages, and, since I 
 had praised her highly to Mr. Quinn and asked 
 to have her back, was I now prepared to do the 
 right thing by the sister of one who had practically 
 given his life for the company? I trying to make 
 allowances for the inexperienced girl and finally 
 giving her the raise she asked for, together with 
 some straight advice about doing her work and 
 letting the clerks do theirs. 
 
 Sept. 4. Pay day today, so I figured a little 
 bit on where I stand in money matters and 
 found that I will have to save a little more. 
 But that does not worry me, as the money goes, 
 anyhow, and as long as we are comfortable 
 and healthy I have nothing to worry about. 
 Etta taking care of the children this evening and 
 I inviting Polly, Ellen, and Fred to Hemper's 
 roadhouse for a country chicken dinner in honor 
 of Polly's birthday, which is to-morrow, as Ellen 
 said when she called me up this morning to ask 
 if I knew whether the dinners at Hemper's are 
 as good as ever, we not having been there this
 
 September 205 
 
 year. Taking flowers home to Polly, and a pair 
 of silk stockings, which with the dinner made a 
 fine surprise for her and she was greatly pleased. 
 The dinner was up to Hemper's standard, and 
 all would have been well if some lizard hadn't 
 sprung a pocket flask at his table and made the 
 rest of us crave a chance to do something unopti- 
 mistic, so to speak, as you might say. Home 
 late, but feeling better after our spin in the cool 
 air and thinking that we shall have to go out 
 there again before winter sets in. 
 
 Sept. 5. To church this morning, and who 
 should be there but the Walkers. We thought 
 they never went to church, as we never saw them 
 leaving home Sunday morning. After church I 
 stopped them and shook hands, which they did 
 not hesitate to do, and welcomed them to our 
 church and said that I hoped they would come 
 every Sunday henceforth, which they promised 
 to do. On the way home Polly telling me that 
 I had better do less talking about the Walkers, 
 as the real reason they acted so cool toward me 
 was that it had got back to Janet that I was 
 talking around the neighborhood about her 
 domestic troubles. I was tempted to say that 
 it was their fault that they had domestic affairs 
 to create talk, but saying nothing, as here lately 
 Polly flares up when I exercise my gift for hot 
 comebacks on her, and it's not good for her to 
 get into the habit of opposing every one. All
 
 206 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 for a ride in the afternoon, and Louise, Conrad, 
 and I having a great romp with Pep in the eve- 
 ning, breaking the china-closet door again, but 
 laughing about it, as a man has only one life to 
 live, and with a family his money all goes for 
 something, anyhow. 
 
 Sept. 6. Labor day to-day and no work at 
 our place, but a lot of work at home, as I got 
 up early and spent the day till two o'clock 
 working on the car, cleaning the clutch, tighten- 
 ing the steering gear, grinding the valves, and 
 then washing the old bus and polishing her till 
 she looked like new. Giving Conrad a rag and 
 letting him work on the wheels and praising him 
 for his industry, as there is nothing like giving a 
 boy a word of praise now and then when he 
 shows a desire to do something useful, even 
 though he is too young to understand. For a 
 ride in the afternoon, and in the evening down 
 to Ellen's house to sit on the porch awhile and 
 smoke my pipe. Pep now knows how to find 
 their house, and when the children razz him till 
 he can no longer stand it he goes down to visit 
 Ellen, and for some reason she has taken a lik- 
 ing to him and feeds him, so he now spends a 
 good deal of his time there. Ellen and Fred 
 are getting along all right. They spend most 
 of their evenings playing cards with some 
 other young married couples, which is all right 
 as long as they get along fairly well that way,
 
 September 207 
 
 and a girl should learn to be independent of her 
 parents. 
 
 Sept. 7. Riding down on the car this morning 
 with Beatrice Jackson, and she said that this is 
 her last week at the library, as they are all going 
 to California in their new car pretty soon and 
 spend the winter there, while the rest of us stay 
 at home and shovel coal and snow. Glad to 
 see the Jacksons getting somewhere in the world, 
 even though they owe it all to luck. Giving 
 Beatrice a little advice about men marrying her 
 for her money. Seeing that it pleased her to 
 think of a man being interested in her for any 
 reason, so filling her up with stuff like that, 
 telling her the world is full of sleek adventurers 
 looking for charming heiresses, and she will have 
 to use all her brains developed in the library in 
 guarding her heart against a tendency to surrender 
 to one of the many handsome men who will 
 swarm abdut her. By the time we reached town 
 she was in the clouds. A little of that bunk 
 hurts neither her nor me. Telling Polly about 
 it in the evening and she saying I went too 
 strong, as the Jacksons made only $8,000 on 
 that deal and will soon be back home, flat broke. 
 
 Sept. 8. A steady rain falling this afternoon 
 and evening. Harry Vickers calling me up and 
 asking if I would sit in a 25-cent-limit game, 
 which I decided to do, as he is a good fellow 
 with nothing wrong about him except a twisted
 
 2o8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 sense of humor. Five others from the neighbor- 
 hood in on the game and I played close, as a man 
 loses nothing by being known as a good poker 
 player, keeping a straight face and playing a 
 pair of jacks or four aces with the same face. 
 Things going much as usual till I stayed on the 
 makings of a straight flush and made it. Twenty- 
 five was bet and she was raised twenty-five 
 before she got to me, and, of course, I upped it 
 and it went around. I studied my hand every 
 time and when there were only two of us left 
 I started to back down, but raised instead, and 
 when I raked the pot in I was a little better than 
 $14 to the good. I'll admit that I had the hand 
 and it was better than four aces, but I played it 
 right, and after I was seen I explained every 
 step, showing that I am willing to share my 
 poker knowledge with people who mean well 
 and do their best, but simply lack the power to 
 think. 
 
 Sept. 9. Getting news to-day that the chief 
 at our place is quitting and this causing a buzz 
 of excitement, for it seems that some department 
 head will go up to manager at $7,500 a year. 
 All hating to see the chief go, as he is going into 
 business for himself, where he may fail and lose 
 all his money, but glad that a change will be 
 made, as every one knows that I could hold the 
 job all right, and if I get in which is practically 
 certain they all know there will be some dis-
 
 September 209 
 
 cipline around the place, but all will get a fair 
 deal. The chief leaves at the end of this month 
 and I suppose the directors will say something 
 to me within a few days. I can show them a 
 few things about how the old plant ought to run, 
 even if I have kept pretty well to myself and not 
 butted into the affairs of other departments. 
 Running the whole works is like running a 
 department, only a little bigger job. I am next 
 to the oldest department head in length of 
 service, hence the job is as good as mine right 
 now. Saying nothing to anybody at home about 
 it, as I do not care to spoil the thrill they will 
 get when they read about it. 
 
 Sept. 10. Walker hauling me down in his 
 car this morning and acting pleasant enough 
 for a man who wouldn't act more than civil 
 toward me last week. He may have got some 
 hint from our place that I am soon to be made 
 manager, and decided that he cannot afford to 
 risk offending me again after acting all right 
 at church, where I had him cornered so that he 
 could hardly do less than shake hands with me. 
 The chief coming into my place this morning and 
 I asking him about how things are going, and 
 said that I hoped he would make a big success 
 of his new venture. But he gave me no hint as 
 to who his successor will be, saying that his 
 sudden quitting must have left the company up 
 in the air, for as yet it had done little but try
 
 210 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 to persuade him to remain, offering him an 
 increase in his salary of 33 per cent. I said 
 nothing, but if the company is that crazy to 
 hold him I believe it needs a general shake-up 
 at the top, as there are plenty of men, self 
 included, who will take the job for what the 
 chief is now getting and the plant will never 
 notice the change, except, if anything, it will 
 get along better than ever. 
 
 Sept. ii. Pay day to-day, and I thinking that 
 as likely as not I will be getting a lot more money 
 this time next month, which is no more than a man 
 who has been with the company as long as I have 
 deserves. Hearing to-day that the president of 
 the company is coming through here on a general 
 inspection tour of all plants, and deciding that 
 when he shows up I will get a word with him and 
 tell him a few things about how the output here 
 can be increased. Home at noon and working on 
 the car awhile, and then deciding that I was 
 wasting money, so taking it down to the garage 
 and having them fix it up for Sunday. It does 
 a man in my position and with my prospects no 
 harm to have people say that I am too busy to 
 give any time to my car, but run it to the garage, 
 even to have the grease cups filled. Taking the 
 children for a walk in the park, where they 
 enjoyed the bright fall weather and ran and 
 played till they were ready to drop and I had 
 to carry Conrad home. This is the life for me and
 
 Septembe 211 
 
 the kids, as I know they don't enjoy the machine 
 after about fifteen minutes and would rather 
 travel on their own power. 
 
 Sept. 12. All to church this morning, as every 
 family should do, as it starts them off right for 
 the week and does me no harm to have people 
 saying that I am a little strong on churchgoing. 
 In the afternoon out for a drive, and passing 
 Carder and Alice in a flivver which looked as 
 if somebody had abandoned it after a wreck. Ill 
 bet they have less than $10 between them and 
 poverty, but they look happy in their flivver, 
 and if they are happy I guess it is all right. Say- 
 ing something to Polly about it and she saying 
 that it was no worse than the Jacksons starting 
 out in a car to spend the winter in California on 
 $8,000 and having $2,000 mortgage on their 
 house. So I saying that if she felt that way 
 about it maybe we had better cash in and take 
 a trip around the world with the children, which 
 she said would be exactly the thing for her, so 
 I said no more, as a man who expects to get 
 somewhere in the world had better be careful 
 about putting wild schemes into his wife's head. 
 In the evening Ellen and Fred in for a bite, and 
 I am happy to see that Ellen and Louise are 
 getting to be great friends. 
 
 Sept. Jj. Calling Minnie Lowder into my 
 place this morning and asking how she is getting 
 along. She seems to think she is doing very
 
 212 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 well, though reports reaching me are otherwise. 
 Asking her if she expects to be married soon, and 
 she said that she had made up her mind never to 
 get married, but will devote her life to a business 
 career and to strengthening the position of 
 women in the business world. Where she gets 
 such Bolshevik ideas is more than I know, and 
 they do her no credit and hold out no hope that 
 she is. Perhaps when I am made manager I 
 can put through the right place for her disposal 
 by exercising my authority. Home in the evening 
 to find that Conrad ate some hard grease out of a 
 can in the garage, which the doctor said would 
 do him no harm, but I sitting by his crib nearly 
 all night, as doctors do not know everything. 
 
 Sept. 14. Busy at my desk to-day when the 
 chief came into my office with a stranger and 
 look around, and before I could say anything 
 they were gone again. Learning later that the 
 man with the chief was the big gun from the 
 East and that he was here only a couple of 
 hours and spent nearly all the time looking over 
 the plant. Asking the chief if the president had 
 any important news to break, and the chief said 
 no, except that he raised the devil about this 
 plant and said that the company might as well 
 close it up. I suppose the chief is passing that 
 word around the plant to make every one buck 
 up and have things in good shape for the new 
 manager. Unable to figure out what is going on,
 
 September 213 
 
 and saying nothing about it at home. Our plant 
 is not making the company a million dollars a 
 month, for I know about what it is making, but 
 at the same time it is making money, and if the 
 president really said that it is a poor plant, it 
 looks to me as if what the company needs is a 
 new president, as a lot of these men get crusty 
 and lose their hold long before they let go. 
 Smoking my pipe all evening. 
 
 Sept. 15. Albert Jackson into my office this 
 evening and saying that he now has his car, for 
 which he paid $1,900, and has learned to run it, 
 and that he and his family start Monday for a 
 tour of the West. He is not leaving his job for 
 good, but has permission to be away for six months, 
 showing that he still has some sense left in him. 
 But in such cases a man should not say what 
 he thinks, so I told him that I thought he 
 was doing the right thing, as he would get 
 a new slant on the world and would probably 
 be a much better man, both physically, 
 and mentally, after the trip. This seemed to 
 please him, as he trusts my judgment and 
 probably thinks that the last thing I would do 
 is to hand him a line of bunk just to make him 
 feel right. I saying to him that he is lucky to 
 put $10,000 into a trip like that, and he looking 
 guilty and leaving no doubt in my mind that 
 what Polly said about him having less than 
 36,ooo above the mortgage on his home is right.
 
 214 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 As for me, I'll get more satisfaction out of staying 
 at home and doing the right thing by my family 
 than he will get out of worrying a car all over 
 the West. 
 
 Sept. 16. Well, the worst that could happen 
 has happened, and I never suspected it, for 
 Walker always looked to me as if he was doing 
 all he could to please his wife and make her 
 happy, and no one around here ever thought he 
 was anything but a hard-working man who had 
 put off marriage till well along toward fifty, and 
 then married a girl with whom he probably 
 could not have had much in common. Polly 
 broke the news when I reached home, saying 
 that Mrs. Walker had spent the morning at our 
 house, telling Polly all about Walker and some 
 widow beingseen together at lunch in a downtown 
 cafe almost every day recently by a waiter who 
 knew Walker from coming out here to see the 
 Walker cook. The waiter told the cook, and 
 Mrs. Walker and the cook had a few words, the 
 cook being new and used to having her own way, 
 and the cook spilled the beans to Mrs. Walker. 
 This evening Mrs. Walker and her husband had 
 words which we could hear at our house, but not 
 understand, though we tried, and Polly has been 
 standing at the window all evening, expecting 
 to see Mrs. Walker leave with a couple of trunks, 
 but everything at Walker's house is quiet. 
 
 Sept. //. No sign of Walker this morning,
 
 September 215 
 
 but when I got home Polly reported that he left 
 soon after I left this morning, and Mrs. Walker 
 has not been seen about the house all day. The 
 neighborhood buzzing with excitement and all 
 wondering if they will be called upon to testify 
 at the divorce trial. Two or three women sitting 
 on our porch this evening, and I could not help 
 overhearing what they had to say, and all agreeing 
 that they thought there was something like that 
 going on all the time, but had said nothing about 
 it for fear of arousing Mrs. Walker's suspicions. 
 You never can tell about a man, of course, but 
 I will say for Walker that I never thought it of 
 him, as he looks to be too slow and deliberate to 
 make a hit with any gay widow who might be 
 running around stealing old husbands from young 
 brides. But even at that a man ought to have 
 some sense and not lose his head every time a 
 woman gives him a second look, especially an 
 elderly man. He has no business treating Janet 
 that way, and I, for one, am in favor of getting 
 up a committee here in the neighborhood and 
 presenting him with a resolution saying that he 
 is in bad and had better move, but Polly opposing 
 the idea, perhaps she still being jealous. 
 
 Sept. 18. As I suspected, that Walker busi- 
 ness was all wrong. Mrs. Walker came over to 
 our house this afternoon and told Polly that the 
 cook said that there had been a case like that in 
 the last home she worked in, and when she lost
 
 216 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 her temper she told Mrs. Walker about Walker 
 and the widow just to start something, as she 
 thought she was going to be fired, anyhow. When 
 Walker came home and Janet managed to tell 
 him why she was crying and to say that she was 
 going home right away, Walker got hold of the 
 cook and made her admit that it was all a lie. 
 They still have the cook, as Walker probably 
 figures she's worth more as a liar than the risk 
 of another who may have to be proved a liar. 
 Janet was so ashamed that she could not come 
 over yesterday. She asked Polly to keep the 
 incident a dark secret, but Polly has been busy 
 all evening telling the women in the neighborhood 
 that it was a false alarm. Glad that my opinion 
 of Walker proved to be right, and tempted to 
 say a few things to Janet about thinking the 
 worst of her husband on the bare word of a cook 
 who probably had too much vanilla extract, 
 but saying nothing. 
 
 Sept. IQ. Walker and his wife at church this 
 morning as if nothing had happened, and I 
 wondered how all the women who were talking 
 so much about them a few days ago could look 
 them in the eyes and say how glad they were to 
 see them and a lot of such bunk. As for me, I 
 made it plain to Walker, without saying so in so 
 many words, that I never believed the story from 
 the first. I would have said something to Janet, 
 but Polly asked me to look for Conrad, who was
 
 September 217 
 
 toddling down the aisle, not ten feet from us, 
 as anyone could see. Fall is now coming, so we 
 all took a long drive in the country, Ellen wheel- 
 ing the car along in fine style, and I glad to let 
 her drive, as I never get enough of the country 
 in the fall, when the air is sharp and the foliage 
 is turning and the trees blaze like fire in the 
 afternoon sun. Stopping every now and then 
 at a stream to give the children and Pep a 
 chance to stretch their legs and learn something 
 about the water, which every child should know 
 well enough to love instead of fear. Thinking 
 that if I am made manager I will get a place in 
 the country, where the children can grow up 
 strong and a man can do a little fishing once in 
 awhile. 
 
 Sept. 20. Putting in a hard day at the office, 
 spending some time trying to get a line on who 
 is going to be next manager and thinking it 
 strange that no one has dropped a hint to me, 
 one way or the other, as all know that I am in 
 line for the job and other department heads are 
 dropping in to ask me what I know about it. 
 Some acting as if they expected to get the job 
 themselves. I saying little, but sawing wood and 
 waiting for my chance. I'll certainly make a 
 housecleaning when I get the power around the 
 works. There are too many shellbacks there who 
 think that just because they have hung around 
 the place for twenty years or more the plant
 
 2i8 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 cannot get along without them. What we need 
 is new blood and lots of pep under the direction 
 of a man who has been there for a good many 
 years and still retains his youth and optimism, 
 and I will show them what I mean by pep when 
 I get the job. Janet Walker sitting on our porch 
 when I got home this evening, and telling Polly 
 that some one has stolen Caesar, so I taking Pep 
 and hunting for him, finding him prowling 
 around down toward the park, where he had 
 probably gone to get the exercise that he needs. 
 Sept. 21. Home this evening to find Polly and 
 Ellen talking with looks on their faces as if Pep 
 had been run over by an automobile. They 
 brightened up when I asked what was the matter, 
 but would not let me in on the serious business, 
 but continued to act as if they had given Pep 
 away or something. Ellen stayed for dinner, and 
 when I asked where Fred was she said he was 
 detained downtown. She and Louise played with 
 Louise's dolls after dinner as if they were the 
 same age, and both hopped on little Conrad when 
 he seized Kathleen, Louise's favorite doll, by the 
 hair and dragged her across the floor, with Pep 
 trying to pull Kathleen's shoes off. After the 
 children went to bed Ellen jumped at every sound 
 she heard in the street, and went to the door a 
 dozen times to look down toward her bungalow. 
 When it grew late I asked Ellen if Fred was 
 coming for her, and she saying she didn't know,
 
 September 219 
 
 so I went to bed, leaving her and Polly sitting up, 
 and each talking a streak, but I could make 
 none of it out, so writing in my diary and going 
 to bed. 
 
 Sept. 22. Asking Polly this morning at the 
 breakfast table how long Ellen stayed last night 
 and she saying that Ellen stayed all night, as 
 she did not hear from Fred and was afraid 
 to stay alone in the bungalow, also reminding 
 me that this is Ellen's birthday; so I went out 
 this noon to buy a present for her, and remember- 
 ing that she said something one day about a 
 frame for a picture she and Fred had taken the 
 day they were married, so buying a gilt one for 
 her at a jewelry store. When I reached home 
 in the evening she was there, so I handed it over 
 to her, but instead of even as much as thanking 
 me she began to cry and ran upstairs. Asking 
 Polly what was the matter, and she saying that 
 I might as well know the truth, that Ellen and 
 Fred are separated and Fred is going downtown 
 to live. They had a few words yesterday morn- 
 ing aboufc some coffee, and one thing led to 
 another until Ellen threatened to go home and 
 stay, and he told her to go ahead, and Ellen 
 went. She was upstairs all evening, and would 
 not come down, but she did the right 'thing and 
 is lucky to have a good home to come back to 
 when in trouble and a father who will take 
 her part.
 
 220 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Sept. 23. Ellen still at our house, where she 
 is safe from that young savage of a Fred Thomas. 
 This evening she and Polly let me in on the whole 
 story. It seems that Ellen and Fred have had 
 words pretty often here of late, and Ellen has 
 put up with him for the sake of all our neighbors 
 and friends, who might be shocked. He accused 
 her of being indulged by her parents and of 
 being brought up to be waited on by a dozen 
 servants all the time, and a lot of other bunk 
 like that, which shows what kind of people he 
 comes from and that he has no regard whatever 
 for Polly and me, never thinking, I guess, that 
 before he and Ellen were married he often told 
 her that her parents were the finest people he 
 had ever met. He has not shown up at the 
 bungalow for three days and Ellen will not go 
 near it, as she says she is afraid of the place. 
 Polly saying nothing, but I half believe that she 
 sides with Fred, and if she does there will be 
 another split in the family. Telling Ellen to do 
 as she pleases, and if she cares to get a divorce I 
 will hire a lawyer who will show Thomas up so 
 that no girl who knows his record will speak to 
 him. Feeling pretty low. 
 
 Sept. 24.. Well, the chief dropped into my 
 place to-day and said he supposed I would 
 be glad to learn that he will continue in charge 
 of the works. This killing my engine, but I 
 managed to ask him how it came about, and he
 
 September 221 
 
 said that after going over the field, the com- 
 pany decided that they could not get along 
 without him and made such an attractive salary 
 offer that he could not resist, but renewed 
 his contract for another year. I told him that 
 was fine, but if the company had taken a look 
 around the works it might have found what it 
 needed in the way of an executive that could 
 handle the job, as I will not stand for him casting 
 slurs on my ability to hold his job. He had no 
 comeback, but gave that affected grin of his and 
 went out. As likely as not he merely resigned 
 to wring a little more pay out of the company and 
 feed his vanity. Home to tell Polly about it, 
 now that it is all over, but not getting to it, as 
 she could talk of nothing but Ellen, who went 
 to the bungalow this morning to take some 
 things out of the ice box, etc., and found Fred 
 getting his breakfast, so they have gone to the 
 state park for a week-end in the woods. I am 
 sorry that a daughter of mine has so little pride, 
 but all is settled and I'm glad that I did not 
 interfere in a mere lovers' spat. 
 
 Sept. 25. Pay day to-day, and while I was 
 figuring where I stand in the world, Charley 
 Quinn dropped into my place and we got to 
 talking about the chief going to stay and who 
 might have had his job if he had been compelled 
 to make good his bluff to leave, and Charley 
 told me that as a department head for nine
 
 222 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 years he thought sure he would get the job. I 
 saying nothing, as Charley is a good fellow in 
 some ways, and we have worked together for 
 about twenty years and always got along all 
 right, but if he had been made manager of 
 the works I'd have got another job. We 
 agreeing that the chief is all right in some 
 ways and that we will stick to our jobs, 
 although neither of us could be blamed for 
 quitting and going somewhere to make better 
 use of our ability. Learning to-day that the 
 Jacksons left yesterday without saying good-by, 
 merely calling Polly up to say that they were 
 on their way. I suppose we'll begin to get wish- 
 you-were-here cards from them about Monday, 
 or I'll get a letter from Al saying he is broke and 
 would like to borrow enough money to get home. 
 Telling Polly about the chief's bluff, and she 
 agreeing that the job belonged to me. 
 
 Sept. 26. All to church in the morning and 
 I holding little Conrad on my lap and he falling 
 asleep, and I got to thinking that I wish I had 
 a son of my own, the preacher saying something 
 about the progress of the race is made on the 
 feet of the children, and thinking that as yet 
 Polly and I have not talked over the question of 
 adopting Louise and Conrad and having them 
 bear our name, so they will have the benefit of 
 the reputation which I have built up around it 
 in this end of town, where I am well and favor-
 
 September 223 
 
 ably known among the better class of people. 
 A damp wind in the afternoon and Walkers 
 asking us if we cared to go riding with them 
 in their closed car, which we did, having a 
 pleasant time except a couple of times when I 
 gave Walker some friendly advice about his 
 driving, he driving as if he had a fire whistle on 
 his glass boat and everybody had to get out 
 of the way. After we returned home and put 
 the children to bed, Polly gave me the devil for 
 talking that way to Walker, and I explained that 
 Walker probably invited me to go along for that 
 purpose, but she not getting the point. 
 
 Sept. 27. Fred and Ellen up to see us this 
 evening and acting as if nothing had ever hap- 
 pened, and I guess perhaps it didn't, so I used 
 a little judgment and said nothing to Fred about 
 how ready I was to back Ellen in court and ruin 
 his reputation. Polly and I talking it over after 
 they left and she saying that Ellen insists upon 
 cooking everything as she was taught to cook at 
 home, and, of course, Fred has his ideas about 
 some dishes and is very particular about his 
 coffee, and Ellen has learned by this time that 
 she cannot have her own way in everything, and 
 in the future probably will get along all right 
 with Fred, as he also learned a lesson from the 
 quarrel and he vowed to Ellen that he will never 
 speak a cross word to her again as long as he lives. 
 I guess all young married couples have such
 
 224 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 troubles, but saying to Polly that she and I 
 never went so far as to separate, and she saying 
 no, but she put up with a good deal, and I saying 
 that she put up with no more than I did, and 
 one word leading to another until I said she 
 ought to be grateful to me for rescuing her from 
 Oakcastle, and she said that it had been one of 
 the regrets of her life, so I for a walk to let her 
 cool off before she says something she will always 
 regret. 
 
 Sept. 28. Asking Polly this morning if she 
 still wished to go back to Oakcastle to live, for 
 if she did I would make liberal provision for a 
 home for her and the children down there, and 
 she could keep a maid and take life about as it 
 came, with no worries, and she saying that she 
 suspected my liberality, but would think it over. 
 But perhaps I shouldn't write the above down, 
 as about two o'clock she telephoned that Conrad, 
 fell against his wagon and cut a long gash in his 
 head, so I hurried out to the house and got there 
 just as the doctor finished sewing it up. He was 
 a game little devil and was ready to play again 
 in an hour, so Louise and I got the car out and 
 went downtown, where we got some red and 
 yellow balloons and a stuffed dog and two 
 picture books for him. When I started to rock 
 him to sleep this evening, Polly made no objection, 
 saying nothing, and after both children were 
 asleep, I said something to her about adopting
 
 September 225 
 
 them, and she began to cry and said she had 
 tried to ask me about it a hundred times, but 
 thought I might object, and we had better talk 
 it over with Ellen, who ought to know about it, 
 which is true, and a man of property must con- 
 sider such things. 
 
 Sept. 29. Things going easy to-day. Keeping 
 my department humming, as I can with half 
 my mind and half my time, as I have discipline 
 that gets results. The chief coming in to-day 
 and asking who was that pretty girl over there 
 and hadn't he seen her not long ago in Quinn's 
 department? I told him that Quinn had used 
 her while I was away, but that I had taken her 
 back at increased pay as she was a corker and 
 a member of the famous Lowder family. He 
 saying he was glad to hear it, as he took great 
 interest in the welfare of his employees. I 
 believe he is a little attracted to the girl himself, 
 perhaps being lonely, being a widower for five 
 years. Home in the evening to a good dinner, 
 Polly having a ham omelet, sweet potatoes, and 
 spinach. Little Conrad's schedule calls for bed 
 before our dinner time, so the three of us 
 Polly, Louise and I have our dinner together, 
 and Louise tells in detail about the dress worn 
 by every little girl at her kindergarten. Pep 
 and I for a walk after dinner. 
 
 Sept. jo. Going to a lawyer to-day about 
 adopting the children and finding that he can
 
 226 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 file the papers now, but that we shall have to 
 wait three months before we can adopt the 
 children, which will make about New Year's 
 presents of them, which mention of New 
 Year's reminds me that we have had no weather 
 to speak of here lately, all days being about 
 alike, bright or cloudy, with a little rain and no 
 very cold nights. This will make the children's 
 new birthdays come about Christmas time, so 
 that we can have a special celebration without 
 telling them why, as we plan to have them grow 
 up thinking that they really are our children, the 
 lawyer saying that he thought we could put up a 
 little story that would sound all right to Louise, 
 though I doubting it a little, as I can remember 
 that I knew my name when I was five years 
 old, though the cases are not exactly similar. 
 Home to report my visit to the lawyer to Polly, 
 and in the evening we asked Fred and Ellen to 
 come up and talk it over, and when we sprang 
 the proposition Fred said nothing, as there was 
 nothing he could say, and Ellen cried a little and 
 said it was the thing to do and kissed Polly 
 and me.
 
 October 
 
 Oct. I. Pretty sharp weather these days, but 
 not bad, being merely sharp enough to make a 
 man wish he could get out of the city and spend 
 his days in the open, where people don't crowd 
 a man, till sometimes I think I'd like to buy a 
 little farm and try to make a go of it, as hard 
 as it is to make even a living on a farm, just 
 for the pleasure of getting away from town, 
 where people crowd around each other as thick 
 as flies, making everybody, including them- 
 selves, half sore all the time. There are so many 
 people in the world as it is that there is no reason 
 why they should herd together in cities and make 
 matters worse. Fred and Ellen up to our house 
 this evening and saying something about poker, 
 which Polly refuses to play, so Ellen calling up 
 Mrs. Walker, they having played together some- 
 where, not long ago, and she coming over and 
 we playing seven-card stud, ten-cent limit, the 
 game being all right, except that I won nearly 
 all the money that was won, so that I was 
 tempted to turn down good hands, just to spare 
 the other players, but did not, feeling that if 
 
 227
 
 228 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 they couldn't afford to lose it was a good lesson, 
 and if they could afford to lose I might as well 
 win the money. 
 
 Oct. 2. Calling that Minnie Lowder into my 
 office today and telling her the chief was in- 
 quiring about her and glad to know that I was 
 doing, the right thing by the sister of Scott 
 Lowder, Minnie pulling down the curtains over 
 her eyes and saying that everybody had been 
 most kind to her. I wondering where she got 
 that "everybody" stuff, as it seems to me I 
 am the only one who has done anything for her, 
 but saying little or nothing along this line. I 
 would like to pass her along to the chief to use 
 in his own office, but it would do me no good to 
 have him find out what a false alarm she is. 
 Home to play with Louise, whose dolls have the 
 measles, and I am the doctor. Smoking my 
 pipe and thinking all evening. 
 
 Oct. 3. To church this morning, after spending 
 two hours working on the bus, which is worse 
 than a baby, needing attention all the time, so 
 that if I had my way about it I would leave 
 the thing parked somewhere till a thief came 
 along and stole it, giving me a chance to get even 
 with the insurance company, and the thief, too. 
 There is no sport in having to take care of your 
 own car, and if you hire some one to take care 
 of it the cost is so much that a man can't afford 
 it, so, as far as I am concerned, a machine is no
 
 October 229 
 
 good unless somebody asks you to ride down- 
 town or something like that, where it doesn't 
 cost you a cent any way you look at it. A good 
 sermon, our preacher being better this fall than 
 ever, as he knows everyone and says nothing that 
 makes anyone in the congregation feel badly, 
 or even ill at ease. In the afternoon taking 
 Fred and Ellen with us for a ride and passing the 
 traffic cop who arrested me this summer, and he 
 giving me the sign when he saw me coming, 
 causing people to look to see who I am, which 
 does a man no harm, as some of them may have 
 known me and wondered how I got in strong 
 with the traffic cops, and strangers probably 
 thought I was the mayor or a judge. 
 
 Oct. 8. Minnie showing up to-day in a new 
 skirt, blouse, and shoes, and showing that the 
 raise I gave her is being put to good use. She 
 hanging around my desk till I said something 
 about how well she looked; then she told me that 
 her sister Ethel, who now works in a department 
 store, helped her to pick out the stuff, accounting 
 for the general effect, which is good. Telling 
 Polly abo.ut it in the evening, and she saying 
 little or nothing, merely remarking that she had 
 been wearing a new fall hat for nearly five weeks 
 and I had never noticed it. Etta staying at the 
 house in the evening so we could go to the movies, 
 even though it was raining a little, and I saying 
 something about Polly's hat, but getting in a
 
 230 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 little bad, as it was not the new hat she had 
 been hiding from me, but the hat she had last 
 fall, so I saying no more, but enjoying the movie. 
 
 Oct. 5. Hearing from Al Jackson to-day, not 
 a card, but a letter written from St. Louis, ad- 
 vising me to sell out and arrange to follow him, 
 as he is leading the life. He had some trouble, 
 having been hit by a truck loaded with bootleg 
 whisky, which tore a wheel off and bent an axle, 
 holding him up two days for repairs. All are 
 well, according to him, but he said nothing about 
 whether Beatrice has captured a man yet. Show- 
 ing the letter to Polly, and she thought he was 
 serious about us selling out and putting our 
 money into a trip like that, when all we'd have 
 left in the end would be a ruined automobile and 
 maybe a bad opinion of a large part of the 
 country. I telling her that there was no chance 
 for anything like that, as even if I had money I 
 would not squander it that way, but would de- 
 vote more time to bringing these children up 
 as they should be brought up if they are to get 
 the most out of life. We having a few words 
 about what people are on this earth for, and then 
 I looking after my patients, Louise's dolls, which 
 are doing much better, but as yet are not able 
 to play in the light. 
 
 Oct. 6. Polly telling me this evening that while 
 she was out walking this afternoon with Louise 
 and Conrad, an elderly man stopped them and
 
 October 23 1 
 
 chucked Conrad under the chin and said he was 
 one of the finest babies he ever saw in his life, the 
 picture of health, and with a shrewd, smart look 
 about his eyes which shows that some day he 
 will be a good business man. Polly was very 
 much pleased with what the stranger said, but 
 I saw nothing to get excited about, as it is plain 
 to be seen that Conrad is a remarkable boy and 
 has developed wonderfully since we took hold 
 of him and I began to get the right kind of tops 
 for him, and to let him play around when I was 
 working on the car and not getting sore when he 
 lost a wrench now and then, but giving him a 
 chance to see how men do things, something not 
 everyone will do, but will take a baby like that 
 and raise Cain with him if he gets dirty or gets 
 hurt doing something he's been told not to do. 
 Conrad has quite a lot of words now and promises 
 to be a good talker, saying nothing unless he 
 knows what he is talking about and is in earnest. 
 Regretting that I cannot take him walking as 
 an example to some people in this neighborhood. 
 Oct. f. Things, have taken a serious turn at 
 the office to-day, as that fellow Carder looked a 
 little pale this morning, and when I asked him 
 if he was feeling all right, being interested in the 
 welfare of my employees, he told me he was out 
 on a little party last night and got in late. He 
 wanted to talk about it, so I let him go ahead, 
 being curious to know how my match is turning
 
 232 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 out, and I soon found out that what he wished 
 to do was to boast that he had been out on a 
 party with the chief, he and his wife and Minnie 
 and the chief. I said nothing, as there was 
 nothing I could say at that time, but it didn't 
 take me long to see through the chief's little game. 
 Of course, it made some difference since Minnie's 
 sister was along, and I'll give the chief credit for 
 using more sense than he usually displays around 
 this place, but I spent most of the morning try- 
 ing to think up some way to let the chief know 
 that I consider myself responsible for Minnie's 
 future and would rather he left her alone. Minnie 
 will be less use than ever now, dreaming of a 
 life of ease and luxury. 
 
 Oct. 8. The chief came into my place to-day 
 on some business and I ringing for Minnie about 
 some invoices. The chief and I were busy when 
 she came in, and he gave her no more than a 
 glance, and neither of them acted as if they had 
 ever seen the other before, which stumped me. 
 Thinking that maybe Carder's wife is trying to 
 work a little game to get in right with the chief 
 so Carder will get a better job. When Ethel and 
 Carder were married and all were talking about 
 it, I remember that Ethel asked the chief to come 
 to their house for dinner some time, and he said 
 he would consider that an invitation and would 
 be there whenever she said the word. The chief 
 is not old in years, but in holding a job too big
 
 October 233 
 
 for himself he has worried himself ten years 
 ahead of his real age, and when a bunch of 
 young people begin to work on a man who is 
 far enough along to see that he is soon going to 
 be lonely, there's no telling what kind of fool 
 they may make of him. I saying nothing, but 
 will drop a bomb among them some day. 
 
 Oct. g. Pay day to-day, and, as usual, I 
 figured on where I stand in this world, counting 
 what I have put away for the kids, that being 
 the money Bob Pence sends every month, as he 
 could not very well get out of doing as long as 
 he professes to be half a man, and also not count- 
 ing it, in which case I am not what you might 
 call rolling in wealth, but I can see that by the 
 end of the year I am going to have a neat little 
 sum put by as the result of my resolution to save 
 some money this year in spite of every tempta- 
 tion, as any man can do if he has some strength 
 of character and is not too soft-hearted with his 
 family about luxuries which they do not need. 
 Buying candy for Polly, .and a folding cardboard 
 doll's house for Louise, and a fine top for Conrad, 
 which he cannot spin, being unable to wind it 
 up, but which I can spin for him. Also buying a 
 new collar for Pep, somebody having stolen the 
 one he had. When Polly saw that the collar was 
 gone, she said Pep must be a good watchdog, 
 and she was glad he was around in case the 
 mirror thief came back again, but I saying
 
 234 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 nothing, as she cannot understand about a dog 
 being kept gentle for kids. 
 
 Oct. 10. Out early this morning to get the 
 car fixed up before church, but hardly had I 
 reached the garage when Harry Vickers came 
 along with his hip boots on and said this was some 
 day for fishing and asked me to go along with 
 him up the river to try some flies he tied last 
 night. Getting myself some breakfast and leav- 
 ing a note for Polly saying I would be unable to 
 go to church, and getting my tackle and up the 
 river with Vickers in his car. I never learned to 
 cast a fly, so taking my short rod along and cast- 
 ing plugs for bass while Harry worked the river 
 in his waders. He landed a couple of bass and I 
 watched him play a game which I'll admit is a 
 good one and he seems to be an expert at it. I 
 was tossing my plug out now and then just for 
 fun, when suddenly I got a strike that almost 
 pulled me into the water, and after ten minutes 
 of trying to keep him out of some roots I pulled 
 in a nice two-pound bass. Back home by noon, 
 running into the church crowd, which does me 
 no harm, showing that I am not a slave to habits. 
 Vickers and his wife came to our house, and at 
 four o'clock we had a fine fish dinner. 
 
 Oct. ll. Louise calling me up to-day about 
 her dolls, and while I was giving some learned 
 medical advice over the phone the chief stepped 
 into my place, and when I got through he said
 
 October 235 
 
 to me, "What are you doing, practicing medicine 
 on the side by telephone?" I thought of a hot 
 one about like this "No, I am attending to my 
 own business." But I said nothing, merely 
 asking him what I could do for him, paying no 
 attention to his question, ignoring it as if some 
 fresh kid had asked it, which is not far from the 
 truth, as I understand the chief thinks I expect 
 to get his job, and that accounts for the way he is 
 picking at me all the time, like a jealous child. 
 Making up my mind, though, that I will get up 
 some scheme that will take the sarcastic streak 
 out of him and maybe leave'him regretting to the 
 last day of his life that he ever crossed the path 
 of a better man. Home in the evening and look- 
 ing over Louise's dolls and telling her that they 
 are entirely well and will need no attention or 
 advice over the telephone, as I do not care to 
 risk another chance to jump on the chief as I 
 might have to-day. 
 
 Oct. 12. This being Columbus Day, celebrat- 
 ing it by telling the children the story of Christo- 
 pher Columbus, who, after many snubs by people 
 who thought he was crazy, set out to discover 
 the New World, which then had plenty of room 
 for everybody, but has since become so crowded 
 that a man can hardly get around in a machine 
 on Sunday, and is scared to death half the time 
 by the flivvers shooting out of side streets. For 
 a ride and nearly smashing two glass flivvers,
 
 236 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 both driven by women who acted as if I was a 
 collision cruiser working for the garage trust. 
 Thinking that I will get a five-ton truck, which 
 seems to stand some chance against everything 
 but railroad trains. This afternoon who should 
 come past our place, while I was spinning Con- 
 rad's top on the back walk, the Indian summer 
 being here and the day warm, but the chief and 
 Minnie in the chief's roadster? They said they 
 were just passing by and heard that I had a 
 beautiful place and did not intend to stop, but 
 saw me. Polly down at Ellen's, so I entertain- 
 ing them for a minute, as a man cannot bawl his 
 chief out on his own premises. Besides, the 
 children were there. 
 
 Oct. Jj. The chief coming into my place this 
 morning and saying he was glad that he stopped 
 at my place yesterday, as he has been living down- 
 town so long he had forgotten what the suburbs 
 are like except that they are places a man goes 
 through to get to another town, and he was 
 reminded of the pleasure a man must get out of a 
 nice house and lot among congenial people in the 
 same financial class. He talked like a man 
 suddenly smitten with the idea that a man is on 
 this earth to get married, establish a home, and 
 do what he can to start a few children in life a 
 little better than he was able to start. Feeling 
 sort of sorry for him, for when he talks about 
 something of that kind, something outside the
 
 October 237 
 
 regular routine of business at the works, he acts 
 almost human, as if he held his job because people 
 liked him and worked for him out of affection 
 rather than because they are afraid he will bawl 
 them out in front of a lot of people. Saying 
 nothing to him about Minnie, except what was 
 he trying to do, undermine the discipline in my 
 department? Hoping that he got the point in 
 spite of my joking manner. 
 
 Oct. 14. Polly telling me to-day that Walker 
 is going to be away over the week-end and she 
 has invited Mrs. Walker to go to church with 
 us and to have dinner with us, which news proved 
 to be just exactly what I was looking for, as my 
 brain acts like a flash in such cases, and I acted 
 immediately, saying to Polly that the Lowder 
 girl who was out here with the chief Sunday is 
 very lonely and I thought that in view of the 
 heroism of her brother we ought to do a little 
 something for her, as I know she would like to 
 see more of our place, and maybe we had better 
 invite her to dinner and be kind to a poor girl 
 trying to make her way in the world. But it 
 took some persuasion to make Polly see that this 
 should be done, as I did not care to tell her my 
 real reason, but finally said that the chief is 
 interested in Minnie and through her I may make 
 myself solid with the chief and get an increase in 
 pay the first of the year. This finally worked, so 
 to-morrow I am to say to Minnie that Polly was
 
 238 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 sorry she was not at home Tuesday and would 
 like to have her come to dinner. Saying nothing 
 about the chief coming, too, as he is nothing to 
 me. 
 
 Oct. 75. This morning at breakfast Polly try- 
 ing to hedge on the invitation to Minnie, but I 
 finally winning out, and as soon as I got to the 
 office calling Minnie in and asking her if she 
 could come, feeling that maybe she had a date 
 with the chief and would hold out, but she 
 jumped at the chance, saying that Ethel had told 
 her of my kindness to her when she first came 
 to the city a stranger, and the way she ran 
 away from our house, being merely frightened 
 and knowing no better, and Minnie was eager 
 to do what she could to show that the whole 
 Lowder family was not like that and to try to 
 excuse Ethel's conduct to Polly and Ellen. This 
 fitting into my plan as if I had thought that she 
 would accept for that reason and had dropped a 
 hint or two. Telling Polly about it in the eve- 
 ning, and she took a different view of the matter, 
 getting a little curious about Minnie, her appear- 
 ance and all, and deciding that, after all, there 
 was nothing wrong about inviting a person she 
 didn't know to the house for dinner. Mrs. 
 Walker in her yard looking rather sad, and prob- 
 ably thinking how happy she might have been 
 with a husband her own age. 
 
 Oct. 16. Pay day to-day and finding that I
 
 October 239 
 
 am getting ahead a little on my savings. Work- 
 ing on the car most of the afternoon, using some 
 new polish which makes it look well in spite of 
 the way I abused it by washing it in the bright 
 sun when I first got it, not knowing any better, 
 as no one ever told me. All set for the climax 
 of my plot, which comes to-morrow, the point 
 being that the chief is a much older man than 
 Minnie, and I figure that sooner or later, espe- 
 cially if I get in a hint, Mrs. Walker and Minnie 
 will get to talking and Mrs. Walker will have 
 something to say about what a fool a girl is to 
 marry a man so much older than herself that they 
 can have nothing in common except a desire to 
 be rid of each other. Minnie, being a smart girl, 
 outside of office hours, will believe a personal 
 experience like that, and if she is sensible, she 
 will give the chief the air for life, seeing not his 
 money and his job, but life with him day after 
 day as his wife. Mrs. Walker over in the evening, 
 and when Polly said something about Minnie, I 
 said, "Yes, and she's a girl that could profit by 
 some advice about marrying a man her own age." 
 Oct. 77. The dinner was a great success, the 
 chief and Minnie driving up in his car just as 
 we got from church, so that Mrs. Walker had a 
 chance to size him and Minnie up together 
 Polly said something about him staying, but he 
 excused himself on the ground that he had a golf 
 engagement at his country club, which may or
 
 240 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 may not have been a bluff. Minnie was soon the 
 life of the party, making a great hit with the 
 children, and she had on a dress which showed 
 she is not only making good use of her increased 
 salary, but also of her taste, as, taking her alto- 
 gether, she was enough to set any man guessing, 
 especially her eyes. The dinner went off all 
 right, and after dinner, while Polly was giving 
 some attention to the children, I strolled out in 
 the back yard and left Minnie and Janet to talk 
 it over, which they did, Janet filling Minnie to the 
 brim, as I could see by the way Minnie listened. 
 Taking Minnie home in the car, and I must say 
 she could look farther and do better in the way 
 of a place to live if she ever does get married. 
 Oct. 18. The chief into my place again to-day 
 for something besides business, trying to find 
 out from me about what my family thought of 
 Minnie, and I saying nothing at first, but finally, 
 when he hung around till he was interfering with 
 my work, which must go ahead as if the place 
 was run right, under the direction of a real man- 
 ager, I told him we were very much pleased with 
 Minnie and would like to have her come out 
 again, when we could have some of my daughter's 
 friends in for her amusement, as she is a bright 
 girl and it is a shame for her to waste her time 
 with people who are old enough to be set in their 
 habits and cannot appreciate her at her full 
 value. He failed to get the point, but acted as
 
 October 241 
 
 if he thought he was about her age and she had 
 better be jazzing around with him instead of 
 killing time at our house. I said nothing to 
 this, as I have planted the dynamite and expect 
 to hear any day that it has exploded and blown 
 some of the conceit out of him. Saying nothing 
 to Polly about it in the evening, as she persists 
 in thinking that my interest in Minnie is per- 
 sonal. When a girl allows an elderly widower to 
 pay her attention she is open to all sorts of 
 suspicions. 
 
 Oct. 19. Another mellow fall day and the 
 clerks around my place getting a touch of spring 
 fever, for which I could not blame them, as 
 people will be human in spite of all you can do 
 to keep them hard at their jobs. With every- 
 body loafing that way, Minnie Lowder does not 
 seem so bad, though running around with the 
 chief has done her no good. Fred and Ellen up 
 to our house in the evening, probably being broke 
 and no place to go, and they and Polly talking 
 about nothing but the price of groceries, telling 
 how they could save a cent here and two cents 
 there, provided they looked long enough and 
 maybe spent more for gasoline than they saved, 
 the gas, however, being on me, as from the way 
 Ellen runs the Car around you would think that 
 it was hers and she merely lets me have it long 
 enough to take care of it so it will run. This 
 making no difference to me, however, as she is a
 
 242 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 bride only once and the car will probably make 
 life a little easier for her until she gets used to the 
 idea of having a home to take care of and a 
 husband to look out for, which she is good at, 
 Fred looking happy and prosperous. 
 
 Oct. 20. Bill Hines into my place to-day 
 and telling me that the world looks rosy to him 
 and having the nerve to ask me what was the 
 matter with me, as I looked as if I had lost my 
 last friend. Saying nothing to this, as he is the 
 last man that has any business to speak of a 
 man losing his last friend, the way he trimmed all 
 his friends on that oil deal and lost nearly all of 
 them. If he had a conscience in his head he 
 would look like something pretty close to a 
 swindler. But I did ask him where he got the 
 nerve to think that because he was well dressed 
 he looked like anything more than a slick bunco 
 steerer of some kind, not wishing to offend him, 
 and knowing that as long as I called him well 
 dressed I could call him nearly anything else and 
 he would not hear me. He had some sort of oil 
 proposition, but I told him to try it on some 
 young fellow who had just inherited about $5,000 
 that his dad had spent a lifetime getting together, 
 and he saying that he might do that if he knew 
 of such a man, but he preferred a person of ripe 
 judgment, like Al Jackson. They are all talking 
 about Al's luck and calling it judgment. Home 
 to a good dinner and glad of it.
 
 October 243 
 
 Oct. 21. Fine weather these days, Indian sum- 
 mer being with us, according to some, and accord- 
 ing to others it is just the end of the summer, but 
 I am not one to dispute about seasons and 
 weather, taking what comes as it is served up 
 and making the most of it. Louise and I for a 
 walk in the evening, getting a lot of pleasure 
 out of walking, as she asks me dozens of ques- 
 tions and I take the time to give the best possible 
 explanation I can of everything she asks about, 
 not cutting her off short as many people do with 
 their children, so that the children grow up 
 timid and ignorant. Louise wanting to know 
 who hung the stars out at night and I told her 
 that God did, giving her to understand that 
 there is a great power which no one understands, 
 and not going into a lot of scientific explanations 
 about the sun, moon, and planets, which she 
 would never have understood and would prob- 
 ably have thought me foolish for trying to explain. 
 Meeting Herbert Koontz on the way home and 
 he telling me his domestic troubles, which I 
 closed him down on, as he acted as if Louise 
 wasn't there, showing what he knows about 
 children. 
 
 Oct. 22. To-day I lost a good man in my 
 department when I lost Carder, as he goes into 
 the chief's ofHce as a correspondent, which I'll 
 admit he is qualified for, as I put most of this 
 work on him in my department and developed
 
 244 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 him for the good of the firm. He and I had a 
 little talk when he came into say that he was 
 sorry to leave me, and I found out that the chief 
 got mixed up in their affairs about as I expected, 
 that Ethel girl having met him on the street one 
 day and reminded him that he had promised to 
 have dinner with them, and one thing led to 
 another till he promised to come that evening, 
 and Ethel had Minnie along to make it four, 
 and in the course of the evening the chief and 
 Minnie got to talking shop, as two people of 
 that kind would, and from that time since the 
 chief has been rushing her. After what Mrs. 
 Walker probably told Minnie about the Walker 
 troubles growing out of too many years between 
 them in age, it looks to me as if Minnie ought to 
 throw him over instead of dangling him along; 
 but he's a good spender, I suppose, and she is 
 human enough to like joy rides. Meanwhile his 
 work is suffering and my discipline will soon be 
 shot to pieces. 
 
 Oct. 23. Fred calling me up to-day and we 
 going to lunch together, and he asking for some 
 advice about family matters, telling me frankly 
 that he is up against it financially. He and Ellen 
 hadn't figured on clothes, so when the cool days 
 came this week he bought a suit and fall over- 
 coat, as he had to in order to keep looking well, 
 as a salesman must if he is to unload the stuff, 
 and then along came Ellen about a fall suit, hat,
 
 October 245 
 
 shoes, and other clothes, and there was no money 
 on hand for them, so I guess that's what started 
 the rumpus, though Fred hurried over that part. 
 He figures that he has to have the clothes, which 
 is right, and yet he thinks it is unfair to Ellen 
 to have to go without, having to wear last year's 
 clothes and feel a little out of place among the 
 girls she runs around with. I told him that it 
 was my experience on clothes that a man must 
 get them and trust to luck to escape bankruptcy, 
 but when Polly and I were first married we wore 
 our clothes for years. Telling Polly about it in 
 the evening, and she knew the other side of it 
 from Ellen, so I finally saying I could go $100, 
 which is a lot. 
 
 Oct. 24.. Ellen came out to the garage this 
 morning while I was fixing a tire, and acted as if 
 she had done something terrible, saying that she 
 didn't know that Fred was going to talk to me 
 about her clothes, and that Fred was sore be- 
 cause she had gone to Polly on the same subject, 
 and when Polly told her that I had said I would 
 stake her to a fall outfit, she was sure I would 
 think that she and Fred had been working a 
 game to get some money out of me. She said 
 that rather than take the money she would go 
 without any clothes at all. That getting my 
 goat, and I telling her that it was funny that a 
 man in my position could not make his daughter 
 a gift of a few clothes without being thought a
 
 246 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 fool. Telling her that if she did not get the 
 clothes at my expense I would consider myself 
 insulted, and she finally seeing it my way. The 
 news may get out, but it will do me no harm to 
 have people saying that I am certainly doing the 
 right thing by my daughter. To church, and 
 in the afternoon, the day growing warmer, for 
 a fine ride, enjoying the yellow and red foliage, 
 which is now at its best. Pep chasing a rabbit, 
 but missing it. 
 
 Oct. 25. A dull day to-day, as it was cloudy 
 and a cold mist flew around most of the day anck 
 I must have eaten something yesterday that did 
 not agree with me. A man's health makes no 
 difference, anyhow, as when he is ready to die he 
 will die, and when you get down to rock bottom 
 there's nothing much to live for, anyhow, just 
 plugging away and paying the bills, and for my 
 part the weather can be whatever it cares to be. 
 Home in the evening to play with the children, 
 fixing Louise's skates, and thinking that the 
 children will soon be grown up and married and 
 gone away from us and then there will be no one 
 left but Polly and Pep and me, and as likely as 
 not Pep will be gone by that time, as dogs hardly 
 ever live to be more than fifteen years old, and 
 he is nearly one year old already. Smoking my 
 pipe all evening and reading in the paper about 
 a murder and several divorces, robberies, suicides, 
 and a race riot, showing that human life is not
 
 October 247 
 
 held very high in this world. Taking some pills, 
 as I guess I am getting old and about ready to 
 pay for spending too many years at a desk, 
 where a man has no business being. 
 
 Oct. 26. I got more done in my department 
 to-day than any other department head can get 
 done in his department in three days, in spite 
 of the chief's doing all he can to ruin my dis- 
 cipline. Home early to find that Polly had a 
 bad blow-out on an old tire to-day and had to 
 get a new one, but that making no difference to 
 me, as a man has a long time to live and a tire 
 more or less means nothing to me. Taking the 
 children for a walk in the brisk late afternoon 
 air, and enjoying every step of the way, noticing 
 that people turned to look at me, and probably 
 they were saying to themselves that I look young 
 to be the father of those two children. Romping 
 on the floor with the children before they went 
 to bed and showing them that, although I may 
 have lived a few years, my heart is still young 
 and I have pep enough to amuse the most active 
 of children. Pep bringing an old stocking to me 
 for a tug, and I wore him out, even though the 
 children helped him, swinging him around my 
 head several times. In the evening getting in a 
 few neighbors, rousing them from their reading 
 lamps and easy chairs, and putting on a little 
 game, winning $4.60. 
 
 Oct. 27. Riding down on the car with Harry
 
 248 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Vickers this morning and he telling me that after 
 the game at my house last night he got to 
 thinking that perhaps I was the man he was 
 looking for to go with him on a sales agency here 
 in town. He knows the motor game from A to 
 Z and claims that there is a great future in farm 
 tractors and he has a chance to hook up with this 
 territory for a new firm which has a world beater. 
 He can handle the sales end all right and he has 
 a line on a man who can handle the service end, 
 but he is looking for some one with about $5,000 
 who will go into the office end and work like a 
 horse till the thing gets going. I'd have to hock 
 my home to the hilt to raise $5,000, but telling 
 him that I would think it over, which I will, 
 though I can't see much chance of getting a good 
 start in that game now, when the prices of farm 
 products have dropped to less than cost and 
 farmers can't buy what they have to have, let 
 alone take a chance on a new kind of tractor. 
 Telling Polly about it in the evening, and saying 
 that I might lose everything, as it was a big 
 chance, and she having little to say, preferring 
 to leave these matters to my better judgment. 
 
 Oct. 28. The chief all excited and blowing 
 into my place this morning as if the plant were 
 burning down and I had started the fire, and 
 jumping all over me about a mistake some clerk 
 made which nearly lost a good customer. I 
 telling him to cool off and get it off" his chest, and
 
 October 249 
 
 he looking at me as if he thought I was going 
 pretty far in acting like a human being in his 
 presence. One word leading to another and I 
 finally telling him that he would gain nothing by 
 trying to run down my department, as the whole 
 plant is going to ruin under his management, and 
 for my part I was even now entertaining a propo- 
 sition to go with a firm that knew ability when it 
 saw it and believed in putting the best man at 
 the head of things. Giving him no chance to 
 recover from this, I let him have the other 
 barrel, telling him that if there was any mistake 
 in my clerical department it would not be diffi- 
 cult to find the cause, as some girls, however 
 able, are not strong enough to stand attention, 
 and tend to ruin an entire department. The 
 chief went out and I suppose I went too far, but 
 I am not a slave to my job and can get another 
 one any time by turning my hand. 
 
 Oct. 29. The chief saying no more to me to- 
 day about the matter that came up yesterday, 
 except that he hopes I will not make any outside 
 arrangements until the first of the year, when we 
 will settle the whole matter. I am not sure what 
 he means by this, but I notice that he is a little 
 more pleasant, and I think I have him now 
 where, if he starts anything, I'll get back at him 
 by taking a good crack at him in the presence of 
 that Minnie girl, calling him something like a 
 cackling old man, so she will get to thinking
 
 250 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 along the lines Mrs. Walker started her on and 
 feel ashamed to accept his attentions, even 
 though he probably spends a lot of money trying 
 to entertain her. Down to Vickers's house this 
 evening and telling him that I will have to have 
 some more time on that sales proposition, as 
 my company may make me a very attractive 
 proposition, and yet it may not develop till the 
 first of the year. Making this strong, as it will 
 do me no harm in this neighborhood, where I 
 am already known as a substantial citizen and 
 have twice been listed in the newspapers as among 
 leading citizens who protested against wasting 
 public funds, to have a man like Vickers going 
 around saying that I seem to be in line for some- 
 thing big in my line, which is true. 
 
 Oct. jo. Pay day and figuring where I stand, 
 including the increase in salary which the chief 
 practically promised me after the first of the 
 year, and which will be at least $15 a week, 
 making $100 a week for me, which is about half 
 what I would be making if the company were run 
 on an efficient basis, instead of to provide jobs 
 for a lot of men who are a disgrace to the word 
 executive. Seeing that I am fixed all right, 
 speaking in the evening to Polly about winter 
 clothes for her and the children, and this after- 
 noon going around to my tailor, where I have 
 not been since the first fall after the war started, 
 and ordering a suit, as a man who is in line for a
 
 October 251 
 
 higher executive position should look and act 
 the part. As for acting it, I have been doing 
 that for ten years, but I have to dress well to 
 look it. Polly delighted, and asking me what was 
 the occasion for this splurging, and I saying that 
 I got a boost of $10 a week in pay, which is right, 
 even if ten months late, so relieving my conscience 
 of that little deception, which was justified at the 
 time, and has since slipped my mind. Polly and 
 I to the movies, Ellen and Fred volunteering to 
 stay with the kids. 
 
 Oct. JJ. Working on the car awhile this 
 morning and not noticing that Conrad was play- 
 ing with an old rag that I had used to wipe 
 grease cups and the transmission housing with, 
 and before I knew it had black grease from head 
 to foot, so I let him go ahead and enjoy himself, 
 as both of us would get the devil, anyhow, and he 
 got down on his back in the oil on the garage 
 floor and worked as hard as I did. Then we went 
 to the house and took our medicine, which was 
 not bad, as Mrs. Walker had stepped in for a 
 minute to ask Polly how she made apple dump- 
 lings, and Conrad was so dirty that he looked 
 funny. All to church, where Fred and Ellen 
 showed up in their new clothes, looking like a 
 million dollars, and I could see people looking at 
 them as if to say that they were surely prosper- 
 ing for a young couple who were married only 
 a few months ago without anything, which will
 
 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 do me no harm, as, while I have said little or 
 nothing about my generosity toward Ellen, I 
 suppose it is being talked of in the neighborhood, 
 where nobody's affairs are private. For a ride 
 in the afternoon, but the wind too cold for 
 pleasure, so home and all racing over the house 
 with Pep till worn out.
 
 November 
 
 Nov. i A cold rain falling this morning when 
 I got up, but I never let anything like that inter- 
 fere with me, as a man who gives in to the weather, 
 unless he has to work out in it, is looking only for 
 a chance to loaf on the job. Down on the car this 
 morning with a bunch of men from the neighbor- 
 hood, and from the way they talked you would 
 think the fate of the world depended on the way 
 they vote to-morrow. I saying nothing, as 
 politics means nothing to me, as I found out 
 years ago how to vote. Some of the clerks 
 arguing about who will be elected and betting 
 more money than they can afford to lose. Com- 
 ing home on the car this evening, there was an- 
 other argument, everybody being cold, wet, and 
 hungry, and one or two loud men acted as if they 
 wanted to fight, which was all I cared to know 
 about them, and I said nothing more. Playing 
 with the children until Polly said they must go 
 to bed, which is all right, I suppose, but telling 
 her that for my part I would as soon they took 
 a longer nap during the day so I could have a 
 chance to get acquainted with them, now that it 
 
 2 S3
 
 254 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 is dark so early and there is nothing much to do in 
 the evening. 
 
 Nov. 2. A lot of loose talk at the office to-day, 
 especially among the girls, about how they should 
 vote, and from what I could make out they are 
 all voting the way their fathers vote, which is all 
 right, as I vote the way my father voted and will 
 not stand for any arguments to the contrary, 
 being too strong-minded to have my opinions 
 changed by a lot of spellbinders and newspaper 
 editors. Home early this afternoon, and Polly, 
 Ellen and Fred and I all in the bus over to the 
 polls, where we all voted the straight ticket, and 
 then all back to our house to dinner and intend- 
 ing to play cards this evening, but Harry Vickers 
 calling up and asking if I cared to join a little 
 party in a hotel downtown where we could see a 
 newspaper bulletin board, so going down with 
 him. Herb Koontz went down with us and three 
 other men came in, all friends of Vickers's, and 
 we had a little game which went all right till 
 Koontz lost his temper on a misdeal and after 
 that he got sore twice because I beat him with 
 pairs. Staying later than I intended to stay, and 
 losing no more than I can afford, which is good 
 diversion for a man sometimes. 
 
 Nov. 3. Carder coming into my place this 
 morning and acting as if he had something on his 
 chest, so I letting him talk, as that is the only 
 way to get rid of him, and he finally saying that
 
 November 255 
 
 the chief and Minnie are getting pretty thick and 
 he does not quite know what to think. I saying 
 nothing, as there was nothing to say, merely 
 remarking that as Carder is her only male relative 
 around this part of the country it is up to him to 
 do something one way or the other. He needs a 
 bigger hat already, and I suppose that he feels 
 that he is already as good as promoted to the 
 first good job open around this place, and I am 
 glad I don't have to put up with him any more in 
 my department. Home in the evening and telling 
 Polly about it, and she saying that it looked to 
 her as if I was taking a lot of interest in people's 
 love affairs, and as a matter of fact that Walker 
 woman gave Minnie a line of talk about how a 
 girl had better marry some one much older upon 
 whom she could lean in time of trouble and be 
 petted, etc., showing that she must have decided 
 that Walker was the best she could get and she 
 had better put up with him, but that finishes her 
 with me. 
 
 Nov. 4. That story about Minnie running 
 around with the chief has leaked out and run all 
 over the shop, and this morning the girls around 
 the place were all buzzing away and doing no 
 work whatever. It suddenly seemed to me that 
 the situation was threatening to get beyond my 
 control, a thing which I never allow to happen 
 in my department. If Carder, whose natural 
 business it is to look after Minnie, will not do it, I
 
 256 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 must. With me to determine, is to act. So send- 
 ing for Minnie. Telling her that what I was about 
 to do might seem a little severe, but it was for 
 her own good and the time would come when she 
 would thank me for it. I then fired her, telling 
 her to take a week's salary, but under the cir- 
 cumstances it was better for her not to come 
 back. She seemed surprised more than dis- 
 pleased. And so at last I am through with the 
 whole Lowder tribe. 
 
 Nov. 5. Some snow flying to-day, causing me 
 to think that it is about time to jack the old 
 bus up in the garage, send the battery down- 
 town, take the tires off and store them in the 
 cellar, and put her away, as we have no use for a 
 car in the winter, the thing being more trouble 
 than it is worth. The dancing club danced to- 
 night, and Ellen and Fred up to our house, 
 bringing two other couples to play cards, while 
 Polly and I went to the dance, where I had a good 
 time for awhile, but finally only danced so that 
 no one would have to sit around, as there were 
 the same number of men and women, and getting 
 no good dancers later in the evening, as they were 
 all tired, or at least acted that way. Some 
 people not coming till nearly time to quit, 
 acting as if they had rested nearly all day in 
 order to have pep enough for two or three 
 dances, whereas for my part I had plenty of pep 
 and could have had a lot more fun if most of the
 
 November 257 
 
 women I danced with later in the evening had 
 not been so tired that I had to drag them around. 
 But Polly had a good time, and, as I told her, 
 I'll go again for her sake, she saying that it is a 
 good way to show that I am still young. 
 
 Nov. 6. The chief coming in to-day using a 
 matter of business as an excuse, but, seeing that 
 it was no use trying to fool me, asked whether it 
 was true that I had discharged that Minnie 
 Lowder. I giving him as much of the truth as he 
 is capable of understanding, saying that, while I 
 had once thought the girl had possibilities, it now 
 appeared that a little attention from certain 
 quarters which probably meant nothing had 
 quite turned her head, her work had suffered, and 
 the place had reeked with gossip. I ended by 
 saying that we would all be better off without her, 
 giving him a meaning look. He getting the point 
 all right, for he flushed up and soon went away. 
 Telling Polly about it in the evening, and she 
 saying that I should use a little more tact around 
 the chief. 
 
 Nov. "/. To church this morning, Ellen and 
 Fred going with us, and all of us togged out in our 
 new clothes, so that we made quite a hit, not 
 that anyone got up and told us how well we 
 looked as we came in, but you could see that 
 everyone was looking at us and I saw three or 
 four people whisper to people near them, so the 
 trip to church was well worth while, as it does a
 
 258 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 man no harm to have people say, "There comes 
 Blick and his family all togged out for the winter, 
 so Blick must be getting along in the world all 
 right/' Which is the truth, as, although I never 
 made much money, I live within my income, pay 
 my debts and take good care of my family. After 
 the sermon I talked to the preacher a while, 
 suggesting subjects for other sermons, such as a 
 little talk on thrift for the benefit of a few people 
 in our church who never save a cent, but spend 
 all they can make or get hold of on clothes and 
 cars. Home to a good dinner, and in the after- 
 noon all for a ride in the bus, which is about too 
 small for all of us, and I will see about getting a 
 new one in the spring. A little penny-ante game 
 in the evening, as I had too much pep to read. 
 
 Nov. 8. Riding down on the car this morning 
 with Harry Vickers and he saying something 
 more about me going into business with him, but 
 I telling him that while I was sure that he would 
 make a go of it and all that, at the same time my 
 company needs my services badly, explaining to 
 him that the manager is not as efficient as he 
 ought to be and is rather a gay bird. Vickers 
 saying no more about his new business after that, 
 as I guess that he came to the conclusion that 
 in fishing for me he is shooting a little wild, and 
 that when I decide to strike out for myself it will 
 be with some one who can put up better than 
 $100,000 against my experience and give me full
 
 November 259 
 
 authority to run the business the way it should 
 be run. Home in the evening to teach Conrad to 
 talk, as he now does very well, and giving Pep a 
 bath, as he now plays in the house with the 
 children and must be kept clean. Reading in a 
 magazine about how to succeed in life and 
 thinking I will try it. 
 
 Nov. 9. This morning at the breakfast table 
 Conrad was sneaking spoonfuls of his oatmeal to 
 Pep, who had no business being in the dining 
 room, and Polly got two or three clean spoons for 
 Conrad, calling him down each time and refusing 
 to let me take Pep out of the room, as she said a 
 child should be taught to obey, not robbed of a 
 chance to disobey, but encouraged to respect 
 discipline and to strengthen its character by 
 resisting temptation, and one word leading to 
 another till she slapped Conrad's hand and he 
 yelled in pain, and I saying something about 
 picking on some one your own size, or words to 
 that effect, till we had words and I left home in 
 bad humor, which is not good for a man, as his 
 wife owes it to him to send him to work in high 
 spirits, so he will be able to do his best along with 
 men who have not had words before they left 
 home, this being mentioned in the article on 
 success that I read last night. Discharging two 
 clerks in my department to-day, as they have 
 both been loafing on me and thinking they are 
 getting away with it. Not telling them why I
 
 260 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 fired them, but merely saying that we have to cut 
 down expenses. 
 
 Nov. 10. The chief coming into my place 
 to-day and asking what* it was he heard about a 
 shake-up in my department yesterday in which 
 I let a couple of valuable employees go, and I 
 telling him a few things about discipline, and 
 adding that somebody in the office had to con- 
 sider such matters or everything would go to pot. 
 I practically asked him whether he had seen 
 anything of Minnie since she left the place, but 
 he replied evasively that this need not worry 
 me, as it was no longer a matter of office dis- 
 cipline. I told him nothing suited me better 
 than to be rid of the entire Lowder lot. 
 
 Nov. ii. Having a few words with several 
 clerks again to-day, as, this being Armistice Day, 
 most of them stood around half the day arguing 
 that it ought to be a holiday, and two or three 
 who were overseas saying that during the war 
 everybody said that nothing would be good 
 enough for the boys who served overseas, whereas 
 now, as a matter of fact, everybody seems to think 
 that nothing is good enough for them. Thinking 
 that they almost told the truth, and remember- 
 ing that when the war was going on I used to say 
 that any time in the future I would always make 
 room in my department for a man who had been 
 in service, but I have several who were not in 
 service, and I am not giving the former service
 
 November 261 
 
 men any preference. Saying something about it 
 at home, Fred being there, and he was overseas. 
 He saying that for his part he had never expected 
 anything, hence had not been disappointed, so 
 I feeling a little better about it, and reading a 
 book of facts, sold to Polly by a smooth talker, 
 finding therein who Thor was and the height of 
 Washington Monument. 
 
 Nov. 12. The weather chilly these days, but 
 Polly wrapping the children up well and letting 
 them play outdoors most of the time, so when I 
 reach home in the evening they have rosy apple 
 cheeks and look 100 per cent, better than when 
 we first brought them here, showing what plenty 
 of sleep, plenty of good food, and a happy home, 
 such as I have made for my family, will do for 
 children who were having a pretty hard time in 
 the world. Taking Louise for a walk in the eve- 
 ning now, and whenever we stop to talk to neigh- 
 bors or meet friends in the drug store or in the 
 branch library, where I take her to get children's 
 books about fairies and animals, I always refer 
 to her as my daughter, and we have explained to 
 her that she might as well call herself Louise 
 Blick, which she now does. Going to the library 
 this evening and the girl there asking me if I did 
 not wish to take out one of the books I was 
 looking at while Louise was picking out a book to 
 suit, but I saying that I had a book of facts at 
 home which would last me through the winter,
 
 262 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 and I am not much of a hand at reading books, 
 having all I can do to read the papers and a 
 magazine or two. 
 
 Nov. 13. Pay day again to-day, but the same 
 amount of pay, not that I thought the chief was 
 going to make good on his promise before the first 
 of the year, but since he probably realizes by this 
 time that I brought him to his senses and saved 
 him from a fatal error, I thought he might revise 
 his ideas of gratitude and do what nearly any 
 reasonable man would do. A big romp with the 
 children in the evening, and Ellen and Fred 
 staying with them while Polly and I went to the 
 theater, where we haven't been in a coon's age, 
 and enjoying the girls and music and lights and 
 color. A bite to eat and home. 
 
 Nov. 14. This being a fine, mild day, probably 
 the last before next spring, thinking I might do 
 a little good fishing, so persuading Polly to 
 remain away from church once, as it will not 
 hurt us any, but will cause people to say that we 
 are not slaves to church, and she and the children 
 and Pep and I going up the river road in the bus 
 this morning, and I trying a few places in the 
 river which looked good, showing Conrad how to 
 cast, as I would like for him to grow up well 
 versed in some outdoor sport which will take 
 him away from the city and along streams and 
 among trees, where he will be at peace with the 
 world and enjoying himself as God intended.
 
 November 263 
 
 Polly and Louise tramping along the stream with 
 me, which was not to my liking, as a man should 
 fish, alone or with some one who has gumption 
 enough not to throw sticks in the water for 
 Pep to chase, but I saying nothing, pretending 
 I was having a good time, as a man should make 
 some sacrifices for his family, and as long as 
 they thought that I enjoyed having them along 
 it was all right. Home late in the afternoon, tired 
 and hungry and a lot better ofF for a day in the 
 open, where a man has real pleasure, even though 
 the fish are not biting. 
 
 Nov. 15. Out bright and early this morning, 
 feeling like a boy after being outdoors all day 
 yesterday, and down to the office ready to do 
 more work than any two men around the place. 
 The chief in to ask me whether I needed any- 
 body to take the place of Minnie Lowder, and 
 I giving him a hot one to the effect that her 
 absence meant nothing in my well-oiled depart- 
 ment, except that there was a little less gossiping 
 done. He evidently thought that I resented his 
 question, which I did, and saying to me that he 
 had always felt that we ought to get along better, 
 so I told him that I felt the same way, and one 
 word led to another until we agreed that in the 
 future we would make a little more allowance for 
 each other's ideas, and have less trouble. I was 
 willing to meet him halfway in spirit, as he means 
 well and would be a good fellow if he quit his job
 
 264 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 and got one that was cut down to his size, so he 
 could hold it without having to worry himself half 
 to death. Home to a good dinner and to take 
 Conrad and Pep for a walk. 
 
 Nov. 16. Snow flying again to-day and every- 
 body in the office standing around looking at it 
 as if there was only one snow every ten years 
 and a man had to pay to see it. I letting them 
 loaf, as a man cannot be asserting his authority 
 all the time and bawling people out so they will 
 get to hate him and loaf on the job every time he 
 turns his back, and get together on some scheme 
 to lower the standing of my department. Home 
 in the evening to shovel snow off the walks, 
 Conrad turning out to help me, using a little 
 broom of Ellen's and working like a man. You 
 can tell from the way he works that when he 
 grows up he will kill no time, but will be at 
 something all the time he is awake, as a man 
 should be, as I have noticed that the more a man 
 does the better he feels, that being the case with 
 me, and the first clerks around my place to get 
 sick when there is an epidemic of colds in the 
 office are the ones who work least, this being an 
 original discovery of mine. Hearing Louise 
 read her lessons till bedtime, which she does very 
 well. She expects to become a school-teacher 
 and I am encouraging her in her ambition. 
 
 Nov. 17. Snow falling all night, so I had the 
 walks to shovel again this morning, noting that
 
 November 265 
 
 several neighbors had gone to work, as I could 
 tell by the tracks in the snow, without cleaning 
 their walks, showing what kind of people they 
 are, but that making no difference to me, as my 
 motto is live and let live, or let die, as the case 
 may be. The Walkers over to our house this 
 evening, and I was tempted to say something 
 about the way Mrs. Walker tried to double-cross 
 me and how she chose the wrong person for that 
 sort of thing, but remembering that she was my 
 guest, so restraining myself and playing bridge 
 as if nothing had happened. I have got to the 
 place in the world where I can afford to have 
 people think that I am too broad-minded and 
 busy to feel offended about little things like that. 
 Mrs. Walker is probably punished enough by her 
 conscience, and I have the satisfaction of having 
 won out, though getting no credit for it, so I acted 
 as if I had forgotten the incident, .which I have. 
 i&. Nov. 18. All the snow melted to-day and I 
 was glad to see it go, as winter will come soon 
 enough without starting it in November, even 
 before the football season is over. Home in the 
 evening to find that Polly had ordered a sled for 
 the kids, other children in the neighborhood 
 having them, so it was up to me to take them out 
 on the sled before dinner and hunt for patches of 
 snow which had withstood the sun. Pulling the 
 sled along on the grass beside the walks and 
 people looking at me as if to say, "He is surely a
 
 266 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 devoted father," which is not far from the truth. 
 Conrad insisted on taking the sled to bed with 
 him, and was so determined that he would eat 
 no dinner, showing that he has a little temper, 
 which is a good thing. Finally agreeing to put 
 the sled on the floor beside his bed, which was not 
 a good compromise, but worked all right, as he 
 soon fell asleep. Spending most of the evening 
 putting my fishing tackle away for the winter, as 
 the fishing season is over and I have little to 
 show for it except a few stories which I have not 
 learned well enough to tell twice alike, but will 
 do better next year. 
 
 Nov. ig. Ellen and Fred agreed to stay at our 
 house this evening while Polly and I went to the 
 dance, Polly inducing me to go. It seems from 
 what Polly says that Ellen and Fred are saving 
 their money and figuring on getting somewhere 
 in the world, which is a good thing, Fred prob- 
 ably having found out about how I had to scrimp 
 and save when I was his age, and decided that 
 he would set out to be a man like me. Mrs. 
 Stivers, a neighbor, telling me at the dance that 
 she had always been interested in me and was 
 eager to get my opinions on various subjects, and 
 we having a good time together, dancing three 
 times, and I would have asked her to dance 
 again if Polly had not come around and demanded 
 a dance. Mrs. Stivers is a bright woman and a 
 good dancer. I got a lot of satisfaction out of
 
 November 267 
 
 finding out that she has observed me with interest 
 for seven years, showing that a man may stand 
 much higher among his neighbors than he 
 thought, if possible. On the way home Polly 
 saying that Mrs. Stivers is a vamp, and I saying 
 that if so it was because she regarded me as 
 something beside a pay check, and saying no 
 more, for fear of offending her. 
 
 Nov. 20. Taking home a box of candy for 
 Polly and a toy telephone for Conrad and a 
 story book for Louise, and Polly glad to get the 
 candy, as, while I said nothing, she understood 
 that I meant no harm by preferring Mrs. Stivers 
 yesterday evening. This making me feel better, 
 as when people get our age a man should be 
 careful and not do anything that would remind 
 his wife that she is showing her age more than 
 he is and he may get careless toward her. Work- 
 ing around my cellar most of the evening and 
 doing a little carpenter work, as to-day I got a 
 hint about where I might buy a case of good 
 Bourbon for $105, which is a lot of money, but the 
 case will last a lifetime, as I wish merely to have 
 it on hand when some one drops in who expects 
 a drink, and if no liquor was produced might go 
 around saying that I was either scared of the 
 law or too tight to spend a nickel on a friend. 
 Saying nothing about it to Polly, figuring that 
 she will be all right if she knows nothing about it 
 till the liquor is in the house, when it will be too
 
 268 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 late to say anything. Making a strong box which 
 I can bury in the coal pile. 
 
 Nov. 21. Too cold and wet to go to church to- 
 day, so, instead of wasting time complaining of 
 the weather, organizing a Sunday-school class of 
 my own this morning and teaching Conrad and 
 Louise a few things about the Bible which are not 
 taught in ordinary Sunday schools, but having 
 some trouble with Conrad; and finally I had to 
 strap him to a chair, as there is nothing like 
 teaching a child early in life that it must obey 
 superior authority. Going through King Solo- 
 mon's Proverbs, and putting in a few new ones, 
 so that it was a very profitable morning for the 
 children. There was a little sun this afternoon, 
 so Polly and I taking the children for a walk, I 
 pulling Conrad in his wagon, which he likes 
 better than anything he has. Afraid at first 
 that when we passed people on the street they 
 would say to themselves that it was strange we 
 were pulling a child along the street in a wagon, 
 as we look as if we were able to own a car, but 
 thinking that they probably saw that we were 
 doing it for novelty, and maybe it will become the 
 fashion in this end of town for people to pull their 
 children along in wagons. Reading all evening. 
 
 Nov. 22. Herb Koontz on the car this morn- 
 ing and giving me a line of talk about how he and 
 his wife have decided to get a divorce but cannot 
 agree on how they will divide their household
 
 November 269 
 
 goods, both wanting to keep the floor lamp. 
 Telling Koontz that if he is that kind of man his 
 wife ought to be willing to give the floor lamp 
 to him to get rid of him, and he saying that he told 
 her the same thing, but she could not see it. The 
 chief is away to-day and nobody seems to know 
 where he is, showing what kind of executive he is 
 and what would happen if it was necessary to get 
 hold of him quickly. Home unusually early, know- 
 ing that I can trust "my subordinates whether 
 their boss is there or not. Telling Polly about the 
 Koontz troubles and making it clear that I was not 
 interested in these family squabbles, Polly reply- 
 ing that she had noticed this in the Walker affair. 
 Nov. 23. Who should stroll into my office this 
 morning but Charley Quinn, saying the chief 
 had left him in charge of the works and asking 
 me how everything was getting along in my 
 department, and I told him, "All right," feeling 
 that the chief had put him in charge to reward 
 him for long service and not because he really 
 has any chance of becoming manager some day. 
 Asking him casually where the chief is, and he 
 looking as if I was joking and saying of course 
 I knew that the chief and Minnie Lowder were 
 getting married on Thanksgiving Day. I replied 
 casually, oh yes, for it does a man no good to 
 have it known that he has been kept in ignorance. 
 Of course the chief is sore because of the way I 
 have given Minnie the razz and I suppose I can
 
 270 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 expect nothing but the gate when he gets home. 
 Saying nothing to Polly as she would probably 
 worry over my losing my position, women being 
 that way, merely telling her that, after all, that 
 Lowder girl seems to have hooked the chief, she 
 pretending surprise at my being so slow finding 
 this oift. Hearing that Caesar and Pep had a 
 fight over a bone and Caesar narrowly escaped 
 death by running home. Thinking that this is a 
 world of unhappiness and needless cruelty. 
 
 Nov. 24. An easy day at the office, letting 
 things run themselves and not worrying much, 
 as I have found out that if you put off till to- 
 morrow about half the things that look as if they 
 had to be done to-day you won't have to do them 
 at all. Home in the evening to find that Polly 
 has everything set for a big 'dinner to-morrow, 
 including a nine-pound turkey. So I went over 
 to the drug-store and bought some candy, 
 grape juice, etc., to make the meal complete, 
 for it may be the last chance we have at a square 
 meal. Fred and Ellen are coming up and we are 
 going to have a real dinner. Walkers over at our 
 house this evening to play cards. They said 
 nothing about that dog of theirs, and neither did 
 I, as it is bad enough to have a coward dog with- 
 out having people remind you of it all the time, 
 so I merely remarking that I had heard from 
 various sources that Caesar is developing into 
 quite a runner and must have some greyhound
 
 November 271 
 
 in him. Mrs. Walker and I beating Polly and old 
 man Walker at bridge, which was not hard to do, 
 as, although we held the cards, we played them 
 right, and I will say that Janet is good, though I'd 
 as soon she had less to say about my style of play, 
 which is good. To bed resolved not to worry 
 about the office, as we have only one life to live. 
 Nov. 25. I suppose that by this time the chief 
 and Minnie are bound somewhere on their 
 wedding journey, although I would not be sur- 
 prised if she got her senses at the last minute and 
 deserted him at the altar, as they used to say in 
 books. All to church to-day and hearing a fine 
 sermon on how grateful we should be for all 
 blessings, which, in view of the big dinner we 
 were all thinking about, made quite a hit. Our 
 preacher gets better all the time. His policy is 
 that a preacher should serve the church so as to 
 have no discontent on account of his sermons. 
 He believes that the best preacher is the preacher 
 who is kept in one church the longest, and as far 
 as I can see he will be with us as long as he is able 
 to climb into the pulpit. Dinner at three o'clock, 
 and we ate and talked for an hour. Fred and I 
 loafing in luxury and ease in front of the fire- 
 place till Polly and Ellen finished in the kitchen, 
 then trying to get up a card game, but they too 
 tired, so telling Fred the story of my life, which 
 he enjoyed up to the point where I quit school, 
 when Ellen took him home.
 
 272 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Nov. 26. Carder in to my place this morning 
 and telling me that the wedding was a big success, 
 as the four of them went to the church in a taxi, 
 had the wedding, ate dinner at a hotel at the 
 chief's expense, and then the chief and Minnie 
 went to the train and departed on their honey- 
 moon. I said something about it being funny that 
 Minnie did not go back to her old home to be 
 married, but Carder said I would not think it 
 was funny if I knew how little the Lowder girls 
 were appreciated in their home town. He also 
 told me they are making a collection for a gold- 
 mounted cane for the chief, when he comes back, 
 which in my opinion should have been a crutch, 
 but I said nothing about that, as I have an idea 
 that Carder tells the chief everything he hears, 
 and parted with a ten, as what else can a man do? 
 The people in my place are buying a pair of silver 
 candlesticks for Minnie, so as far as I can see the 
 newlyweds have no reason to complain of the 
 way we shelled out for them. Looking around for 
 a girl to fill Minnie's place, and glad there are no 
 more Lowders to inherit the job. Loafing all 
 evening, just thinking. 
 
 Nov. 27. My pay the same to-day as last 
 January, which is all right with me, as I suppose 
 I cannot hope for the promised raise even in 
 January after the trouble the chief and I have 
 had. I decided to quit figuring every Saturday 
 on where I stand, as it looks tight in a man who
 
 November 273 
 
 has reached my place in life and can afford to 
 spend his money with some care and trust to 
 luck to see him through. I will say, though, 
 going on record here, that I am not as well fixed 
 as I thought I would be, but, of course, a man can- 
 not look ahead and see the unexpected expenses 
 that will come up, such as weddings. Maybe 
 if he could he would give up the ghost. Riding 
 home on the car with Bill Hines and he gave me 
 a line of bunk about the advantages of a man 
 breaking away from a job and striking out for 
 himself. I said that it sounded all right if a 
 man didn't collect from his friends at the outset, 
 referring to the time that Hines unloaded all 
 that fake oil stock, but he failed to get the point, 
 as he had no comeback. I notice that people 
 are getting so they leave me alone unless they 
 have a pretty clear record. 
 
 Nov. 28. The old bus standing in the garage 
 with the radiator drained, so instead of going to 
 church I turned out early and put her up for the 
 winter, jacking her up and shoving some blocks 
 under her, taking the tires ofF, letting half the 
 air out of them, washing them, wrapping them in 
 newspapers, and putting them in the cellar high 
 and dry. To-morrow I will have the battery 
 man come and take the battery down to his 
 place and store it for the winter, and I will have 
 one less worry off my mind, as from the way the 
 old battleship ran here lately she is likely to
 
 274 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 fall apart one of these days. But I got through 
 the season with it, as much as I thought last 
 spring that I would have to buy a new one 
 before the summer was half over. As things 
 look now, I shall have to make it do still another 
 season or even sell it entirely. Not that I am 
 worrying, for I only did my duty. After a day's 
 hard work in overalls, spending the evening loaf- 
 ing, as a man should on Sunday, the day of rest. 
 Nov. 29. Getting my own breakfast this 
 morning, as the children both have bad colds and 
 Polly made them stay in bed till the house was 
 well warmed, so I telling her to look after them 
 and pay no attention to me, as I am able to get 
 my breakfast, as a man should be, and not a 
 slave to household routine. Polly thinking that 
 the children have the whooping cough, as there 
 is a lot of it in the neighborhood, but I laughed at 
 such a guess, as I figure that children who are 
 well and warmly dressed and have their food and 
 exercise looked after will not get any kind of 
 cough, much less whooping cough, which is not 
 much of a disease, anyhow, and nothing to 
 worry about. Getting some toast and coffee, 
 which is not enough, but a man has to put up 
 with anything when he has his wife's relatives' 
 children to bring up and worry about in addition 
 to his own troubles brought on by being over- 
 zealous in the company's interests. Taking 
 things easy at the office, because if we do too
 
 November 275 
 
 much work the chief is likely to get the idea that 
 he is not needed around the place and feel that 
 he made a mistake in going on a honeymoon and 
 letting us find out that he is merely a figurehead, 
 as you might say. 
 
 Nov. 30. The children coughing some last 
 night, so Polly had the doctor for them to-day 
 and he said they might or might not have the 
 whooping cough, which is what I call a conser- 
 vative opinion and a great credit to the medical 
 profession. Going home on the car this evening 
 an elderly woman sat down beside me and looked 
 as if she knew something about children, so I 
 asked her what were the symptoms of whooping 
 cough, and she said a whoop, which the children 
 have not got, so that matter is settled to my 
 satisfaction, yet I must admit that they cough 
 a good deal and little Conrad has great trouble 
 with his meals after he eats them, and if he keeps 
 it up he will starve to death. Polly says the 
 children cough just the way Ellen did when she 
 had the whooping cough, which I had forgotten 
 about, as I guess she had a mild case, but I 
 believe in taking the optimistic view of such 
 things and argued that it must be some new 
 disease and we had better get a new doctor. 
 Calling up a few neighbors about a card game, 
 but having no luck, as they seem to think we have 
 whooping cough and they will track it home.
 
 December 
 
 Dec. I. The children coughed a good deal 
 last night and Polly was up with them several 
 times^ not getting the sleep she should have, 
 which is one of the drawbacks to being a woman, 
 having to worry about children and be up and 
 down with them in the night if they are sick. 
 For my part, I never lost any sleep when Ellen 
 was a baby, as she was seldom awake in the 
 night, and when she was I never heard about 
 it till the next day, when Polly might mention it, 
 as if proud to be able to get up in the night and 
 do something for her child. A man who has to 
 Worry about keeping forty people busy in his 
 department needs all the sleep he can get. Things 
 going all right at the office. You would never 
 know the chief is away, except that it seems 
 strange to see everyone in good humor, for we 
 now have a sort of unwritten agreement to do all 
 we can to make the place run smoothly for 
 Charley Quinn, as he is probably at the peak of 
 his career and from now on will occupy a second- 
 ary position in life. I have a particular reason 
 for taking things easy, as I have no great interest 
 
 276
 
 December 277 
 
 in the future of a concern which has for a chief a 
 vindictive man who rewards good work with ill 
 treatment. 
 
 Dec. 2. The doctor coming again to-day to 
 see the children, and from what he says I guess 
 they have the whooping cough all right, as he 
 telephoned to the Board of Health and a man 
 came out and nailed a sign on the door saying 
 there was whooping cough within, $10 to $50 
 penalty for removing this sign. The man telling 
 Polly to be careful, as he just came from taking 
 the sign down at a house where a baby just 
 Conrad's age died of whooping cough, this up- 
 setting Polly so that after she told me about it I 
 thought some of going before the board and 
 getting them to fire an employee like that, but 
 decided not to do anything so rash, for the man 
 is probably good for nothing but tacking signs on 
 people's doors, and if the board fired him they 
 would get another like him for the money. The 
 children coughing a good deal, and Conrad 
 having more trouble with his meals, but game 
 about it and grinning after he coughs, as if he is 
 glad it is over till the next time, showing that I 
 have brought him up right and done my best to 
 overcome the inferior training of his earlier life. 
 
 Dec. J. Getting a wish-you-were-here card 
 from the chief, who is in Florida, showing that 
 while he was too sore to write me a letter he 
 probably got to worrying about how things were
 
 278 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 going back home here at the works and thought 
 he had better make himself solid with a few of the 
 more important department heads around the 
 place, as he is probably shrewd enough to know 
 that they are finding out how smooth the place 
 runs without him and is afraid he will have no 
 discipline when he gets back. Ellen and Fred 
 staying with the children while we went to the 
 dance, where we'd have had a good time if we 
 had not been worrying about my wife's sister's 
 sickly children, but a man cannot have every- 
 thing his way in this world, so I made no com- 
 plaint, as I am not that kind, merely saying to 
 Polly that it might be worse if we did not have 
 Ellen and Fred handy to help us take care of 
 them. Dancing with a woman named Mrs. 
 Harmont or something like that, who could not 
 keep away from my feet, and not enjoying the 
 evening very much, as a man will worry about 
 his sick children, even though he has sufficient 
 strength of character not to worry about his 
 impending discharge from a company to which 
 he has given his best years. 
 
 Dec. 4. Home early this afternoon with 
 presents for the children, as between the snow 
 and cold wind outdoors and their whooping 
 cough, they are shut in all the time and keep 
 Polly busy looking for new ways of amusing 
 them. After I reach home they get along all 
 right, as I am resourceful and merely have to
 
 December 279 
 
 draw on my large stock of stories and ideas to 
 keep them amused. Besides, it is then almost 
 time for them to go to bed, and they don't have 
 time to get tired of me as they do of Polly. That 
 girl Etta who used to hang around here is back in 
 school again, but comes in every afternoon for an 
 hour or two, and Polly has a colored woman in 
 three afternoons a week, so I guess she is not 
 faring so badly, especially if she stops to think 
 what might have happened if she had married a 
 husband like some of the men in this neighbor- 
 hood, who are hardly ever at home except to 
 sleep, and whose children hardly know them. 
 Polly telling me that the children are awake now 
 half a dozen times in the night, and that Conrad 
 wakens up and cries for me, so I deciding to 
 move his crib in beside my bed and take care of 
 him at night when he coughs. 
 
 Dec. 5. Conrad coughing about every half 
 hour last night and I thought two or three times 
 that he would choke to death, but I held his 
 hand and told him to be a good sport, and he 
 recovered each time, showing what a little en- 
 couragement will do for a baby that has been 
 brought up lately in the proper atmosphere and 
 got the habit of looking at the bright side of 
 things. He did not cry for me, however, but 
 cried for Polly, as naturally he would, being her 
 own flesh and blood, and no relation of mine 
 except by marriage and because I agreed to
 
 280 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 bring him up after his relatives acted as if they 
 did not care for him. Nothing said about 
 church this morning, but all stayed at home and 
 I took care of the children, reading to them from 
 the Bible and making them sit still except when 
 they had to cough, as children should be dis- 
 ciplined young, even though Polly and I have 
 words about how young to make them respect 
 authority. Several neighbors reporting other 
 cases of whooping cough in the neighborhood, 
 probably due to parental neglect of children. 
 
 Dec. 6. Taking care of Conrad again last 
 night, and when he brightened up about two 
 o'clock this morning and wanted to play I got 
 his basket of toys and we were settled for a good 
 time when Polly came in and laid down the law, 
 saying that I was teaching him bad habits and 
 he would want to put on the same stunt every 
 night, so I saying all right; but after she went to 
 sleep I found that Conrad was still awake and I 
 played with him for about half an hour, as in such 
 cases a man should humor a woman and not try 
 to argue with her in the middle of the night. Not 
 going to work to-day, as I was up most of the 
 night and decided to sleep this morning, merely 
 telephoning to the office that I was not feeling 
 well and telling them to go ahead as if I were 
 there. Intending to take care of the children in 
 the afternoon after I took a little nap, but Polly 
 forgot to call me and it was nearly dinner time
 
 December 281 
 
 when I wakened, and Conrad was in bed for the 
 night. Having a few neighbors in for a little 
 game, losing $3.80, as Herb Koontz had all the 
 luck, that being the only way he can win at 
 penny ante, as he gets sore when losing. 
 
 Dec, 7. Conrad putting in another bad night, 
 but I was up with him every time he coughed and 
 took the best of care of him, as it is by such 
 devoted care that many people survive an 
 illness which might otherwise be fatal. He 
 wanted to play again, but I remembered what 
 Polly said about him getting the habit, and I 
 would not play with him, although he cried 
 pretty hard, and finally Polly came in to see what 
 was the matter with him, and I having a few 
 words to say about not running to a baby every 
 time it cries, but letting it know that it must 
 stick to its schedule. Going to work to-day, but 
 taking things easy, as a man who has to spend his 
 nights taking care of his wife's relatives' children 
 should not be expected to set the world on fire 
 during the day. A heavy snow to-day, remind- 
 ing people that Christmas will soon be here, and 
 the papers full of advice to shop early, which a 
 lot of people swallow whole, as if it wasn't an 
 advertising campaign. Changing the children's 
 medicine, but for my part I agree with the doctor 
 that no medicine will cure whooping cough, but 
 may help some. Reading a magazine all evening. 
 
 Dec. 8. The children coughing much less
 
 282 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 last night, and I am beginning to believe that I 
 was right in the first place when I said that they 
 did not have whooping cough at all, but, even 
 so, we might as well go ahead and admit that 
 they have it, for the sign is on the door and we 
 get all the blame for it, anyhow. Having a few 
 words with Charley Quinn this morning when I 
 was reading the paper at the office and a couple 
 of dumb clerks were waiting for me to make 
 decisions for them which they should have made 
 themselves. Charley is all right within his limits, 
 but when he tries to hint to me that it is bad for 
 discipline to be reading a newspaper half the 
 morning he is out of his depth and probably 
 thinking how soon his department will go to 
 pieces if he did such a thing. The work in my 
 place is falling behind a little, but I will catch up 
 before the holidays, when it is next to impossible 
 to get any work out of my force, anyhow. Out 
 to lunch with Fred to-day and he telling me that 
 he and Ellen are out of debt forgetting the $50 
 I lent to them last summer, I guess and they 
 feel a lot better and are saving money to buy 
 a home. 
 
 Dec. 9. A letter to-day from Al Jackson in 
 California saying that he had a bad smash-up 
 with his car, costing him nearly $500 to make it 
 right, so he decided to sell it and come home by 
 train as soon as winter is over. He also said he 
 is in with a good bunch out there and likely to
 
 December 283 
 
 make a lot of money this year, and sold his car 
 partly to get capital to put into a little deal he 
 has on his hands. Showing the letter to Polly in 
 the evening and she saying that it is just like Al 
 to make $50,000 out there this winter, having 
 nothing to do but look for good investments 
 and investigate them thoroughly before risking 
 anything. Polly asking about how much money 
 we can afford to spend for Christmas, and she 
 and I having a few words about blowing a lot of 
 money on gifts that are no use to anyone, but 
 I saying finally that a hundred dollars ought to 
 cover everything, as I intend to give nothing at 
 all, but will economize, as I do not know very 
 much about the future and cannot be squander- 
 ing money on a lot of Christmas presents. But 
 the children are shut in and we'll have to spend 
 maybe $6 on them. 
 
 Dec. 10. Bob Pence's wife blowing in at our 
 place to-day without a word of warning, having, 
 I guess, heard from Polly that the children have 
 whooping cough and deciding that the least some 
 one down at Oakcastle could do was to come up 
 and see if they are getting proper care. After 
 she saw how sick they are and heard from Polly 
 about how I take care of them at night, her 
 heart was a little softer and she insisted upon 
 sending Polly and me to a show to get a little 
 relief, while she stayed at home and took care 
 of the children. At first I held out, being tactful
 
 284 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 about it, merely saying in a sort of offhand way 
 that the children required something more than 
 mere service when coughing violently, something 
 in the nature of an affectionate pat on the back, 
 but Polly assured me that they would get along 
 all right, so we went to the show and had a 
 fairly good time, although worried about the 
 children, and all the more worried when we got 
 home and found Bob's wife sound asleep in front 
 of the living-room fire, where she had probably 
 been since we left the house, so saying something 
 about the need of a sense of responsibility and 
 going to bed. 
 
 Dec. n. Pay day, and I spending most of the 
 morning figuring that if I buy no Christmas 
 presents and tell all my friends and relatives that 
 I do not expect any, and we spend only about 
 $6 or $8 on the children, I may be able to get off 
 at the $100 which I promised Polly in a rash 
 moment. That will buy something nice for her 
 and Ellen andleave a little for her to spend on the 
 house, so that matter is settled. Finding that 
 I am taking on a little weight, which is all right, 
 as I notice that most prosperous men have a 
 little fat on them, and it will never do not to look 
 prosperous, no matter what happens. It will 
 do me no harm to have people say that I look 
 prosperous, which will be the truth, as although 
 I have not made a million dollars, I have put by 
 a little for a rainy day and treated my family
 
 December 285 
 
 right. Home early with some fairy tales for 
 Louise and a box of blocks for Conrad to throw 
 around the house. Playing with the children and 
 in the evening down to Herb Koontz's to play 
 cards to celebrate his wife being away till after 
 the first of the year, and staying a little late. 
 
 Dec. 12. Going to church alone to-day, as 
 it does a man no harm to have people say that, 
 although his family is stricken with a dread 
 disease and he has many calls upon his time, 
 he is steadfast in his devotions and keeps up his 
 family's reputation for churchgoing and right 
 living. The preacher talking some about the 
 family being the cornerstone of society, and I 
 could not help looking around and noticing the 
 number of people who looked at me, as the 
 preacher himself did two or three times. Only 
 about twenty people at church, most of the 
 members being held up by the heavy snowstorm, 
 I suppose, being slaves to the weather and not 
 knowing that the worse the weather the better a 
 man feels when he goes to church and does the 
 right thing. Home to a good dinner, and when 
 things got a little dull in the afternoon I played 
 hide-and-seek with the children, Conrad having 
 the time of his life when he got on to the game 
 and Bob's wife acting as if shocked. Taking her 
 to the train at seven this evening and glad she 
 is gone, she being more trouble than one of the 
 children.
 
 286 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 Dec. 13. Well, the chief showed up to-day 
 without any warning whatever, dropping into 
 my place while I was reading the paper, and 
 saying that things in my department seemed to 
 be getting along all right without much executive 
 work. I said that I was merely looking at the 
 paper to see how the weather in Florida was, 
 where some people are lucky enough to be able to 
 go at this time of year. This getting his goat, 
 as he had no more to say along that line, but sat 
 on my desk and talked for an hour about catching 
 fifty-pound fish down there, probably with the 
 aid of a guide who showed him where the fish 
 were and how to catch them, and them pulled 
 in for him. He said that he wanted to have a 
 talk with me one of these days when he got into 
 running again. I said all right, showing that 
 I am a good sport and can take what is coming 
 to me without squalling. I asked him about 
 Minnie, and he said she was as happy as a lark, 
 so I suppose their marriage may turn out all 
 right, after all, though if it does Minnie will 
 deserve all the credit for it. After the chief got 
 through bothering me I settled down to work, as 
 things in my department are a little behind. I 
 ^bawled out a few of the clerks and got things 
 going all right again, as I am the man that gets 
 the work done around our place, and they all 
 know it. 
 
 Dec. 14. The children still coughing a good
 
 December 287 
 
 deal, and from what the doctor says they will 
 cough nearly all winter, if you can believe what 
 he says, which may or may not be true, depending 
 on whether they have the whooping cough, as I 
 am inclined to doubt, although they do cough and 
 whoop and have difficultieswith their meals. Who 
 should blow into the office to-day but those two 
 Lowder girls, looking like a million dollars apiece. 
 They wanted to know if I could find a place for a 
 girl friend of theirs from their home town, and 
 I said I could manage it, feeling that the chief 
 had probably sent them to me. Those two girls 
 have certainly stepped up in the world since they 
 struck this town, one with the manners of a wild 
 man, running away from our house after we had 
 befriended her, and the other with a stupid look 
 that should have queered her anywhere, and they 
 have me to thank for getting good husbands 
 for them, as it was probably my opposition to 
 Minnie's marriage to the chief that made her do 
 it, as she is stubborn. Telling Polly about it 
 and she saying those girls are no fools, which is 
 true. 
 
 Dec. 15. The children pretty sick again last 
 night, and I worrying a good deal about them. 
 They get along all right in the daytime, but 
 cough hard when they go to bed, as I guess the 
 night air is not good for them, although I keep 
 the furnace roaring and the house hot, so no one 
 can say that we do not take the best of care of
 
 288 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 them. I still take care of Conrad at night, as I 
 believe that when a man marries a woman for 
 better or worse he runs a chance of having 
 trouble with her relatives, and if the trouble 
 comes he should make the most of it, and not 
 grumble, but now and then taking pains to let 
 his wife know that he is wise to the situation 
 and deserves some-credit for his sacrifice. Read- 
 ing in a magazine about how to make a success 
 of life and finding that pep is the best policy, 
 something I could have told the author of that 
 article long before he was born. Ellen and Fred 
 up to our house, and very welcome, as the neigh- 
 bors are afraid of the whooping-cough sign on our 
 door, which deprives us of their company. Mrs. 
 Walker afraid, too, as she never had it. 
 
 Dec. 16. A big snowfall last night, so that 
 I had to get out early this morning and dig the 
 walks out, but that not bothering me much, as, 
 since my wife's relatives have the whooping 
 cough, I am used to being up all hours of the 
 night and am not bothered by disturbance of 
 my sleep, which would drive an ordinary man 
 from home. At the office to find a very con- 
 fidential letter from Al Jackson saying that, to 
 tell the truth, he is nearly broke and also the 
 people who took his house have wired that they 
 will give it up the first of the year, so he is coming 
 home, and needs a little money to see him through, 
 and could I send him $100. I spent most of the
 
 December 289 
 
 morning writing him a long letter of ad vice, telling 
 him that I would see him through for the sake 
 of his family, but hereafter I expected him to 
 use the advice of his friends in financial matters 
 and not make any more money until he had 
 learned to keep it. Showing the letter to Polly 
 in the evening, and she agreeing that perhaps I 
 was right in saying it was all luck in Al's case, 
 showing that she is getting some respect for 
 my judgment. 
 
 Dec. 77. Working hard at my place all day 
 and hinting to the chief that I am still listening 
 to a few propositions about going into business 
 for myself soon, but he changing the subject and 
 probably half afraid to put his personal grudge 
 into effect. The children doing better to-day, 
 but when it came to going to the dance to-night 
 Polly and I held out, thinking that it would not 
 look right for us to be dancing around, carefree 
 and happy^, when the children are stricken with 
 a serious malady, as they are, so instead of going 
 to the dance we asked Ellen and Fred up to the 
 house to play bridge, and things would have gone 
 all right if that bootlegger I left an order with 
 several weeks ago had not come to the back door 
 with the liquor. Polly answered the door and 
 called me, and I had to put up a bluff about not 
 knowing the man at all and saying that some of 
 my friends must have hatched a scheme to 
 embarrass me, and he started to argue, but
 
 290 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 evidently saw that I was in a tight place and left 
 the house without raising a rumpus, as I expected, 
 so I suppose I am on the bootleggers' blacklist, 
 which does me no good. 
 
 Dec. 18. With Christmas one week away it 
 looks to me as if the people have gone crazy over 
 Christmas presents, as when I was in the shopping 
 district this afternoon buying a dozen pairs of 
 socks I could hardly get through the crowds. 
 Home early to take care of the children while 
 Polly and Ellen went shopping, and having a 
 few words with them about the folly of Christmas 
 presents, as we are broke and cannot afford to 
 waste money that way; but they went ahead, 
 saying they were in a hurry. I suppose that 
 because I managed to scrape together $100 to 
 send to Al Jackson, Polly thinks I am holding 
 out on her and she will put a bulge in the charge 
 accounts. When Polly and Ellen got home they 
 were all in, so I did the right thing by getting a 
 bite to eat, the same being scrambled eggs, toast, 
 and coffee, with some oatmeal which I found in 
 the kitchen for the children. It is no trouble 
 at all to cook and run a house, and I would have 
 washed the dishes, too, but Fred insisted on doing 
 that, and I made no objection, as it was good 
 experience for him. Ellen and Fred back home 
 early and I reading my book of facts. 
 
 Dec. 19. Another snowstorm last night and 
 I was the first one in my end of town to have
 
 December 291 
 
 my walks clean, setting an example of civic 
 pride, as a man should who is a man of some 
 prominence in his end of town. Thinking of 
 going to church, but so many people failed to 
 clean their walks that I decided not to risk wet 
 feet and maybe a cold church, and I stayed at 
 home, as a man who works indoors all the time 
 should not take too many chances with his 
 health, and as a matter of fact churchgoing 
 is largely a matter of habit and a man should 
 not be a slave to any habit. Playing big bear 
 with Conrad until he laughed so hard that he 
 began to cough and I had to let up, although it 
 seems a crime that a man should not be allowed 
 to exercise his talent for amusing people. In the 
 afternoon making Pep play, too, as he is getting 
 lazy and fat from loafing in front of the living- 
 room fire too much and not getting to play 
 outdoors with the children. Getting my tackle 
 out and looking it over and seeing that I need a 
 larger tackle box, so thinking I will buy myself 
 one for Christmas. 
 
 Dec. 20. Walker on the car this morning, 
 having decided not to run his sedan in the snow, 
 and "I asking him how they are getting along at 
 his house, but not getting much out of him, as 
 would be natural, for a man of his standing would 
 not be likely to discuss his domestic troubles on 
 the street car, where he might be overheard by 
 by a lot of curious people who have not got to
 
 292 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 the point in the world where they know how to 
 mind their own business and let other people do 
 the same. Clerks in my place beginning to ask 
 if they can have an afternoon off to do their 
 Christmas shopping early, and I letting them go, 
 as I cannot be a hard-boiled slave driver all the 
 time, but must be human, even at my work, 
 especially when everybody is talking about what 
 they are going to give and get for Christmas, 
 many of them probably not knowing what 
 Christmas means. Polly was downtown again 
 to-day, leaving Ellen with the children, and Ellen 
 is going to-morrow. Between them I suppose 
 they will break Fred and me, but Christmas is 
 coming and I have the satisfaction of knowing 
 that I will not throw away money on fool- 
 ishness. 
 
 Dec. 21. Charley Quinn blowing into my 
 place to-day and asking what I knew about 
 salary increases the first of the year, but getting 
 nothing out of me, I merely intimating that I 
 knew about what was coming to the more 
 important department heads, but knew nothing 
 at all about him. He failed to get the point, but 
 laughed and went on out, probably feeling that 
 I would ask him how it feels to be a little frog 
 in a big pond again after being the whole works 
 for a few days. This evening telling the children 
 a good deal about Christmas, and Louise writing 
 a letter to Santa Claus which makes the $8
 
 December 293 
 
 limit on presents for her and Conrad a little 
 small. Saying something about it to Polly, and 
 saying that she had a new coat for Louise which 
 cost three times $8, but clothes are different, so 
 I saying nothing, as the coat is bought. Polly 
 also saying that she had ordered a Christmas 
 tree from the grocer and would I get decorations 
 for it? I suppose the chief has decided not to 
 spoil my Christmas with his news, not knowing 
 that I am man enough not to worry. 
 
 Dec. 22. Out shopping this noon for some 
 ornaments for the Christmas tree and getting 
 into a crowd of shoppers and wondering where 
 all the money came from. Buying about all that 
 I could get my hands on, as I figured that since 
 Polly had got the tree the least I could do was to 
 see that it is fitted up to look like a real Christmas 
 tree, so spending $4.35 on knicknacks for it, 
 including electric lights, which will do for 
 another year and should not be charged against 
 this tree alone, but only depreciation. Telling 
 Polly about it this evening and getting the 
 packages from the porch, where I hid them when 
 I came home, and she saying that it was money 
 well spent, as there are several items in Louise's 
 list which she will have to do without, including 
 a doll's bed and bureau, and Conrad will have 
 to do without a few things, too, including an 
 electric train and track, and a kiddy car, which 
 he can just as well do without until spring.
 
 294 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 I was tempted to say that perhaps we had 
 better do a little better, but I am nothing if not 
 firm in my decisions, so we will economize this 
 Christmas and not squander hard-earned and 
 much-needed money. 
 
 Dec. 23. Nearly everybody at my pla*ce ask- 
 ing to go shopping for an hour or two to-day, 
 and, although the children coughed a good deal 
 last night, causing me to lose a lot of sleep, 
 which always clouds my otherwise even and 
 quiet temper, I mastered my temptation to 
 announce that there would be nothing but hard 
 work around the place, and let the clerks run in 
 and out. It is none of my business if they insist 
 upon throwing their money away like that, but 
 it shows that they will never get any place in 
 the world, not having the thrift habit. The 
 chief stepping in and seeing that the place looked 
 as if some one had said it was infected with 
 smallpox, but saying nothing, as I guess he has 
 come to the conclusion that I know everything 
 he has in his mind and am letting up accord- 
 ingly. Looking the Christmas tree over this 
 evening and wishing to-morrow night were here 
 so I could show my skill as a decorator. Polly 
 showing the children's presents to me and saying 
 nothing about how few they were, but hinting 
 at it, but I saying nothing, as I have spent my 
 last cent on Christmas and will be glad when it 
 is over.
 
 December 295 
 
 Dec. 24. The children better last night, so 
 I was thinking a little about them to-day and 
 deciding that I would slip out during the after- 
 noon and buy them a little candy or something; 
 but at noon the chief came around and said to 
 let everybody go, as they probably would like 
 to get ready for Christmas, so I doing 
 some shopping, Christmas coming only once a 
 year, and buying the bed and bureau for Louise, 
 and also a fine doll and two smaller ones, also 
 a fine electric railroad for Conrad, with trains, 
 stations, and everything, which I can run for him, 
 and a kiddy car, drum, horn, pistol, and several 
 other trinkets, as well as a tie for Fred and a 
 wrist watch for Ellen, and, remembering that 
 Polly spoke of her clothes being run down, buying 
 her a $75 dress, and not trusting to any delivery 
 system this late in the day, but getting a taxi and 
 bringing the things home myself. Finding 
 Polly and the children upstairs, so making them 
 stay there till I got everything in the cellar, as 
 Christmas comes but once a year and no telling 
 what next year will be like. Spending the evening 
 fixing the tree beside the fireplace, where every- 
 thing is now ready for morning. 
 
 Dec. 25. Up at three this morning, as Louise 
 was so curious last night that I was afraid she 
 would get at the tree this morning without wak- 
 ing us. Rousing Polly, but she would not let 
 me disturb the children, as they need the sleep,
 
 296 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 so fixing the furnace to have the house warm 
 and darkening the living room, except for a 
 few coals in the fireplace, and waiting till I 
 thought it was about noon; but it was only a 
 little after five when Louise started pattering 
 around upstairs, so I rushing up and waking 
 Polly and Conrad and bringing all downstairs. 
 At first Louise thought Santa hadn't come, but I 
 told her to try the light switch, which she did, 
 lighting up the tree, and a prettier sight no one 
 ever saw, and no one can say that I did not do 
 the right thing by the children. Spending most 
 of the day running the railroad for Conrad, he 
 being too small to run toys like that, but liking to 
 look at them. Ellen was happy over her wrist 
 watch, and Polly liked her dress, but will exchange 
 it next week. As for me, I got four ties and 
 tackle box, the kind I wanted but forgot to get 
 for myself, though I may have mentioned it to 
 Fred one day. 
 
 Dec. 26. The Christmas presents still going 
 big to-day, we having to darken the room about 
 every hour and light the tree to make sure it is 
 still there. Conrad insisted on trying to pull 
 some of the ornaments off", pulling the tree over 
 on himself, but not getting hurt. Louise is as 
 busy with her dolls and their furniture as Polly 
 is with the whole house. Conrad and I playing 
 most of the day with railroad, he being so 
 anxious to find out how it runs that I had to
 
 December 297 
 
 strap him in his chair and run it for him, learning 
 a lot about electricity that I did not know, and 
 glad I got the present for him, as it is instructive 
 as well as entertaining, Fred having almost as 
 much fun with the railroad as Conrad did. If the 
 children did not get excited once in a while and 
 have to cough as if every breath was their last 
 one, they would be as happy as any two children 
 would be, but I will say that they don't seem to 
 mind the coughing as much as I do. Mrs. 
 Walker looking in the window and I feeling 
 sorry for her, having no children of her own and 
 having to enjoy Christmas through my children. 
 Dec. 27. Leaving all well, down to work to 
 find every one acting as if he had spent a strenu- 
 ous Christmas, some having what looked to me 
 like a hangover, and I giving a few orders about 
 getting caught up by the first of the year and 
 starting out with a clean slate, not behind, as we 
 were last year, and having to work overtime 
 and Sundays to catch up, for it will not do for 
 my subordinates to suspect anything. Christmas 
 is all right, and a man should have all the fun at 
 that time that he can afford to have, but when 
 it is over it is over, and I made that pretty plain 
 to everyone. Starting to figure out where I 
 stand, but deciding to let that go for a day or 
 two. The chief into my place with a little 
 package a handkerchief from him and his wife, 
 but he did not know what it was till I opened it,
 
 298 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 so I guess Minnie has forgiven me if the chief 
 has not. Showing it to Polly in the evening, 
 and she saying that it is very expensive and I 
 should put it away to wear on special occasions, 
 which I would have done if it had not fallen on the 
 floor, where Pep got it and tore it when Louise 
 tried to take it away from him, as any good dog 
 would do. 
 
 Dec. 28. Who should blow in to-day but Al 
 Jackson, looking the same as when he left, only 
 with a few more worry wrinkles in his brow. 
 He was surely glad to be back home, and I 
 finally got the truth out of him namely, that 
 he ran into a slick bunch out there and after 
 some difficulty managed to place his money with 
 them, but they were suddenly called home by 
 illness in the family or something and he was 
 unable to locate them later and finally found out 
 that he had been trimmed. I giving him some 
 advice about staying at home and holding on to 
 what money he can get hold of, and he said that 
 he was through fooling around and was glad to 
 get his old job back the first of the year and to 
 settle down to try to get as far ahead in the 
 world as he was a year ago. I saying nothing 
 about the $100 I sent to him, as a man should 
 not press his friends for money, merely intimating 
 that it would be welcome any time he can spare 
 it, as I have heavy investments which after the 
 first of the year generally need attention. The
 
 December 299 
 
 children much better this evening. Polly and 
 I talking about the Jacksons, who, after all, are 
 our friends. ' 
 
 Dec. 29. Turning much colder overnight, so 
 I was a little late to work this morning, having 
 stayed around the house awhile to see that every- 
 thing was warm and snug. Hardly ever am I late 
 to work. That has been one of the secrets of my 
 success in my chosen line of work always early 
 on the job and seeing that everyone gets down 
 to work and keeps at it all day. Jim Wilkins in to 
 talk automobile with me, he probably having 
 nothing else to do this time of year but keep 
 in touch with his regular customers, and I 
 telling him that from the way things look now 
 the only interest the automobile business has in 
 me is what harm I can do to it by selling a used 
 car to some one who might have bought a new 
 one, as I can see right now that if I do not 
 count the money sent from Oakcastle, which they 
 could not get out of sending if they had any 
 conscience at all, I cannot say much for my 
 finances this year, but, on the contrary, counting 
 the Liberty bonds I sold, I am worse off than 
 I was at this time last year, and my prospects 
 are also worse. It is a good thing that I am not 
 the kind to worry over money matters, or I 
 would be depressed. 
 
 Dec. 30. The thermometer down to fifteen 
 degrees below zero to-day and this evening there
 
 300 Sam Blick's Diary 
 
 was a piece in the paper about the cold New- 
 Year's Day being in 1 864, so I suppose that in 
 that argument I had a year ago with John 
 Hartman he was right and I was wrong, though 
 I doubt if he knew it, probably having had his 
 mind set on that date by some one. To-day the 
 man from the health department came and took 
 the whooping-cough sign off the door, saying that 
 the twenty-eight days have passed and officially 
 the children are well, which is far from the 
 truth, showing that it is time we had some new 
 officials in this town. But as soon as the sign 
 went down several neighbors came in to see the 
 children, and Polly kidded them along about 
 the children being well, as she has been lonely 
 for the company of some of her friends who have 
 shunned the house as if we had leprosy. Running 
 the electric railroad this evening after Conrad 
 went to bed and learning more about it all the 
 time. Also putting my tackle in my new tackle 
 box, which is the best of the kind I ever saw, and 
 should help me to catch the fish this summer. 
 Maybe at least I shall have lots of time to fish. 
 Dec. JJ. This is the last day of the year and 
 it turned out to be the best, the chief dropping 
 in to-day to say that beginning to-morrow I 
 would be his assistant at $100 a week, as he is 
 too busy to attend to all the details and needs a 
 man he can trust to take charge when he may be 
 called away to look after other plants owned by
 
 December 301 
 
 the same company. This was no surprise to me, 
 as I have long had such a job coming to me, and 
 I was right not to worry over offending the 
 chief in a personal matter, I telling him that I 
 hope he bore me no ill will for firing Minnie. 
 He laughing heartily and saying that my action 
 had forced his hand and made him realize how 
 much he cared. He was frank to say that I 
 was responsible for their happiness and that 
 Minnie realized this, too. Now I suppose that 
 as soon as my promotion is known I will have 
 stock and automobile and real-estate salesmen 
 chasing me, thinking that I will have a lot of 
 surplus money to spend, which is not the case, 
 but next year I intend to put by a little every 
 week, and at the end of the year have a lot 
 more money than many men making twice as 
 much though probably not earning it have. 
 Polly and I sitting up till after midnight talking 
 about it, and she agreeing that I did a good 
 day's work when I brought those two fine 
 people, although not quite of the same age, 
 together. 
 
 THE END