Memories, call them a memoir if you want, do differ from notes in a diary or journal. I happened upon a few notes for 1953 that might be of interest.
Monday, January 12: [Often I would include a comment on the proverb-of-the-day, which was printed on the top of each page of the diary I used. Sometimes I began with a notation about a current-event-of-the-day. The one written for today was, “Twenty-four are made Cardinals by Pope at Consistory” The Pope would have been Pius XII.] This afternoon several seniors took a preliminary scholarship test like the one we have to take the last day of January in Warren. On the whole, this test was easier; I think I knew more of the English literature than in the last one. The math section was harder. During the course of the test, I could have strangled Lamb, my physics teacher (who was monitoring the exam.) He did not have time to eat and so he ate while we were taking the test. And what was he eating? Carrots! I doubt if there is anything more distracting than, in a silent room, to hear snap, crunch, munch, munch, munch. I hope he enjoyed them.
Tuesday, January 20: [“Eisenhower takes oath to become 34th President of the United States.”] We got out as usual at 11:30 a.m., but today we did not have to be back until two o’clock. Therefore, I was able to watch the Inauguration on television. It was a very impressive sight. Dwight David Eisenhower looked quite grim before he took office, as if he was well aware of his new responsibility. But afterwards came the old Ike smile. Mr. Truman, however, seemed quite pleased with the whole proceedings. I wanted to watch the parade but I had to go back to school. This evening I watched the Inaugural Ball for a few minutes. I wonder how I will feel when I become President?
Saturday, January 31: Like today’s German Proverb [The art of silence is as great as that of speech] – today I was silent. However, I doubt if I was great. All events were held at Cathedral Latin but I did not go. [This was a reference to the NFL competitions held every Saturday.] Instead I racked my brains over a scholarship test at Warren G. Harding. It was twice as hard as the ‘48 and ‘50 preliminary tests here in Niles. Half of the literature I never heard, the history was all American history and modern stuff – after 1940, the algebra killed me, the science was mainly biology and the directions for reading, comprehension were worse than the test. The only compensation was I got to talk to Bill Pennell and Don Seaborn. [These were close friends from Mineral Ridge.] Don is still set on Ohio State – I can’t change him to Kent. This evening I saw the Dragons chew up Boardman 88 – 44 to set a new high scoring record. Pat Eschnoz and Janice McGown, who took Norm and my place in debate, lost all three rounds, but they came up against Massillon and Cincinnati! I’m glad Norm and I didn’t go!
Saturday, March 14: Today I went to Youngstown to see a three-dimensional picture called Bwana Devil with Nigel Bruce and Barbara Britton. The plot was lousy but it was very interesting to see things in three dimensions. You never notice regular movies to be two-dimensional until you see three dimensions. If this is true, perhaps there really is a “visible” fourth dimension, only we don’t have the right stereoscopic glasses to see it. Perhaps right now, a fourth dimensional character is looking over my shoulder laughing at my stupidity not to see him. If so, Mr. 4-D, just remember there might be a Miss 5-D watching you. [At the time, there was great hope for the third dimension as an entertainment technique. It never did catch on; perhaps it was the feel of the cardboard glasses with a red and a blue lens to bring the overlapping images into coherence. Now, of course, it’s “virtual reality.” It should prove fascinating to see what will be in vogue fifty years from now, in 2070!]
Wednesday, April 1: I received a very interesting letter on this April Fool’s Day. It was from the President of Kent State University. The letter offered me a four-year scholarship to Kent because of the results in the Senior tests. I was certainly surprised to receive it today. I was a little dubious about it on a day such as this.