Elizabeth Smith Shortt diary 7

Mar [i.e. March] 1 [superscript: st] 1882
Such a queer life is boarding house life - & we are
perhaps a distinct type –not either [one word illegible] nor the fact that
after our good friend & landlady retires Miss R & I
with noiseless steps & lamp descend to the place where the
culinary operations are carried on - both as to manufacture
& to consumption - we forage - & where she bestows the finer
foods - any dainties such as pies or cake is a mystery to us
however bread & butter - syrup & meat - supper tonight. When we
went down last night we found two chairs barricading the
pantry & two the cupboard and over the bread can was a tin
pan placed so as to bang & the bell on top - but we are obtuse
to such gentle hints & gained access to the bread - & studied
very innocently after this "doin nothin” -
Mar [i.e. March] 11 [superscript: th] Heard Rev. Ramsford today in Convocation Hall -
he argues so broadly & so feelingly – his sermon goes home to
individuals – It is to each he speaks & to the heart. One of
those grand men, whose great heart is all aglow with
enthusiasm wh [i.e. which] never dies – whose life is a sermon, whose
soul yearns to do his fellows good - Heaven bless him & those
like him – who are able to stir us out of our apathy & make
us long to do good – make us for the time at least capable of
noble things. who make us long incessantly to enter on a new
life – to cast behind us the petty things that encumber our
better selves – to make as he said – “our lives a pulpit from

wh [i.e. which]– should emanate the truth of Gods [i.e. God’s] love to man.
I wish with all my heart I could hear such more often
especially these days for a selfish drowsiness seems to have
fallen on me & tho [i.e. though] I want to do good evil is present c [i.e. with] me
Oh I wish there were more like him – to lead us to purer
air – to enthuse us with grander aims in life – to make us
feel & know – “The individual withers & the world is more & more.”
that we could sacrifice self to do good to others – to make
our lives our true honor- not other mens [i.e. men’s] opinions
To see there before me – in the choir among the hearers - those
who in week day life jest at things pure & Holy – whose own
lives are not all unstained who are so greatly out of
joint with purity of purpose – & cleanliness of life - how
strange that they should go forth tomorrow & be ever the
same they were yesterday - how strange - & to look at
them & believe them each the object of family ties – mothers [i.e. mother’s] love
Mothers [i.e. mother’s] & fathers [i.e. father’s] hope – How strange that they so very few of them
At least should bow the knee to the Great Lord of All
or even try to please Him in their walk of life. - Where [underlined: is]
the root of it all- And when I think & think – I feel so
much of a mans [i.e. man’s] life is traceable to the mothers [i.e. mother’s] moulding
& then why will they not leave carping at womans
sphere and try by all means human & divine to mature - expand
ennoble the mind of every girl to try to lift their

thoughts to better things than the petty foibles that so enwrap
them - & men so flatter. To educate them into the broadest
sense of the term & make them grow in compass of thought
so that when the fuller promise of the next generation
shall blossom for mankind the young men may not be
the weak morally - the tainted physically or the dwarfed
intellectually - but a race of [underlined: men] & the young women
not the puny creatures whose cramped physique can but
support a cramped mind. - Indeed I feel strongly on
this point – I see gross evils & no attempt at remedy
So many fine dames in jewels & idleness raise their
pretty white hands in horror at women who do act & live
in reality because they overstep their notions of womans
sphere because they do not subscribe to their sense of the
fitness of things - of dallying in the primrose path of fat
idleness - & leave the children out - out on the street to
play with whom - when & how & where they choose – whose
delicate ears are disturbed by the voices of these same children
who are sent to school al [i.e. all] day – as soon as old enough - &
in bed at night to get rid of them - who when their
ungoverned - untutored passions rise & they fall out & chide
& fight – are punished indiscriminately – right or wrong
all round- for the offence of one - A saving of time &
patience on the parents part – [&?] - wh [i.e. which] - dwarfs the childrens
 

sense of right - justice - tenderness - love & care - oh
these same women - these censors of wrong doers? - these
“I thank the Lord that I am not as others are –“ These
monitors of Christians - these blind - blind women -
raise their voices in loud depreciation when one of their
sex so far betrays them as to long for more light - to
seek - nobler things than the creature comforts - of idleness
or the inactivity that [one word illegible] brings - - - - --
Mar [i.e. March] 13 [superscript: th] One of the superannuated Profs died today & so we
will have a holiday tomorrow –. Miss R. left this morning
at four – so that disturbed us somewhat.
Today – Miss B and I had an operation with Dr [Depuis?] and Mr
Stewart (a final man) taking off a frostbitten toe –
It was a severe strain & for two hrs [i.e. hours] after I felt very
queer – Did not get him properly under CHCl3 [i.e. chloroform] & he did
groan so and yell so – it was dreadful –
Mr Rell - calls & wants me to recite for the M.E.Church -
but I decline - Had another taffy party last night
am just sick of the sight of taffy - we ve [i.e. we’ve] had so much
this winter - The house seems deserted - only the servant
Mr Hall - the two children nurses & I here now but one
comfort - the air is not surcharged with treachery & deceit
Will be heartily glad to get into purer air & be free to speak sans
having everything distorted & enlarged - Going to Mrs Leslies

to tea tomorrow evg [i.e. evening] - that is one bit of clear air anyway.
Mar. 14 [superscript: th] - Exams Announced for next wednes [i.e. Wednesday] I study
now for everything – Sunday had the pleasure of
listening to McDonnell – Afterward went to Mrs. Leslies to
tea. C. Herald happened there also - We all went to hear
him again in the evg [i.e. evening] & was even more pleased than in the
afternoon – [underlined Monday] very busy – shopping in the morn’g [i.e. morning]
& to hospital to say goodbye - It really did me good to
see how much they cared for us. Miss Beatty & I were the only
two lady medicos left for the last week – Took dinner
c [i.e. with] Mrs Leslie & bade them adieu [French] – The dearest nearest -
friends I have in K & heldest highest in esteem a
noble woman – a pattern wife – a beautiful mother – She
seems to purify the atmosphere wherein she moves –
After dinner – Miss B. & I called at Prof [Professor] Mowats to see
Mrs M – who called on us – & who seems very clever to
talk – Then Dr Dicksons & then home – to receive caller
& had not been in long when Misses Day – Spooner & Fitz
called & then Fitz and I went on more shopping expeditions
& home again – so tired – to tea – to find I had missed three
gentlemen callers – Packed & to sleep at twelve – tired.
Up at three & away – oh that dreary ride of more than
a mile between town & depot all alone – Hall wished to go
with me to the station – so it was choice to be alone.

Sat [ i.e. Saturday] night too I refused to go hear “Patience” c - [ i.e. with] him
& glad enough was I that I did for the gas went out & it
must have been embarrassing from what I hear
They wanted me to recite in The M.E. church anniversary
Mondy [ i.e. Monday] evg [ i.e. evening] - but I refused on principle – excuse was going home
Had a very tiresome wait at the station of nearly 2 hrs [ i.e. hours]
T. Bertram was my fellow traveller up very glad was I
that he was – we had a very lively chat & it made the
otherwise irksome trip less so than it would have been
He is so young & fresh looking & so merry withal – he was
quite likeable – Arrived at H – went to [Jennie?] Woods &
waited for them to come for me – next day was at
dinner with [Alice?] & had quite a chat. Went out to
Dundas with Mrs Leslies parcel for her mother Mrs Holt
missed the car so went up to see Mrs Lawson and had a
nice chat with her – then had tea & spent the evg [i.e. evening] with
Cora Coventry – whose father died lately - leaving Cora
her mothers sole stay & comfort – – Mr Turner a teacher
in the H C I – & a Miss White happened in that evg [i.e. evening] too.
Next morning went out to Dundas & stayed to dinner
& returned by the 2 Oclock train & found E & Gertie
waiting for me & Gertie returning to school after being
absent a week c [with] mumps – they invited me to come home
& have mumps – but contrary as ever – I have not taken

March- ‘82 [i.e. 1882]
them – I know in fact that I don’t take things readily – never
did much in the pilfering line & have never accepted gifts
that would place me under obligations – if I could help it.
Here I am at home - & feel as tho [i.e. though] I had been here weeks not
merely days – mud – mud on every side & bleak gray skies
howling winds & frequent storms – stagnation point [superscript: as] to
the outer world -& since I have been home Mother has been
away at Bartonville – Aunt Lisbeth – Mrs Lacy – in part
for whom I was named – died Friday morning – Mothers
Aunt -& always to me “Aunt Lisbeth”. Such a terrible
winter [underlined: so] many passing away— poor human weaknesses
breaking down c [ie. with] the little extra weight of unfavorable
weather. I have applied for one of the situations vacant
at Easter in the P.S. in H — I think I can study
better there than here — There no household cares will
cause me to divide my attention & then too I’ll have the
advantages of the city— which one particularly misses at
this time of the year—I have been reading John Halifax
& like it [underline: very] very much – Alice lent it me [sic] - &c [i.e. et cetera]
I made 50 per ct [i.e. percent] in Botany on the exam – I have a [gt?] [i.e. great?]
amt [i.e. amount] of studying & reading to do this summer if I only can
have resolution enough to keep my mind to it – for
next year will be – a hard year

April –
The end of the second session in medicine is
past – Two years ago now Mrs Mac & I were together
beginning our medical studies – well do I remember it
when two years ago she & I learned the scapula as the
beginning of our professional work & maybe! we
learned it well. I only wish I had as vividly impressed
the other ossa [Latin: bones] on my mind as that first scapula, marked
“Betsy Carr” died at hospital 1871“ - & their own subjoined
disrespectful epitaph copied from somewhere - Poor Betsy
Carr hers gone away - Her would if her could - but
her couldn’t stay – She’d two bad legs & a baddish
cough - but her legs it was as carried her off --“ ---
Have been thinking & planning to go to St Thomas to
study c [i.e. with] Dr Corlis in June for two months. The city’s
other things make that Dr’s office more to my taste than
even ‘Johns’ principle among ‘other things’ being Fred
[Lundy?] - but of that more anon. Friday I drove up
for Myrtle & [Georgie?] Edith & we had a very pleasant
jolly time – dancing - playing cards croquet & [Georgie?]
is such a beautiful singer & one of the most aimable [French: lovable]
girls I know - She is one of from rare beings we read
of - & when we see think affected – but I don’t of her
Rec [i.e. received] letters from Herald, Lawson & Williams
& Dan who wants to take up the subject - The

Future of Canada & debate it with me – was amused at
first but am going to do so – & am reading Marshalls
Canadian Dominion with that in view – I argue for the bright
prospects the great future of this fine Country!!
Rec [i.e. received] a circular from Mrs Mac & her husbands [sic] – He is General
Manager of a Land & Loan Co. at Grand Forks. [D.I.]? I
hope he will not be worsted in the speculation – rife there
at present - - I’ve been “soarin” yes I actually did get
enough energy to write several pages on our topic- [Samantha?]
like - I felt stern duty a callin of me to speak out & I did
- wrote eighteen pages of a letter to that serious friend of
mine- Herald - Have a notion to read one of Dickens
stories am getting hungry again for fiction. Ernest has
about half a dozen men & boys at work now – mother is out
tying up some grapevines & Pa is trimming the orchard
so that I am ‘monarch of all I survey – my rights there
are none to dispute (i.e. when ma’s outdoors). I see Mary
Todd has passed successfully at the Normal.
Mary Lavall is teaching down this month at our school
& such teaching – it puts me out of all patience – seems such
waste time – not only that for some things wrongly taught
will take such a long time to unlearn. I do not think the
youngsters of the day are suffering because those like her can
not get a certificate but I beg her pardon I should not judge

In a letter received today I read this extravaganza
‘There is one lady in whose light all others fade away in
[three words crossed out: whose light all] into nothingness – I don’t care to know
any other’– What a luminous body- must be kind of
phosphorescent & consequently poisonous - I fancy he
will be at least chagrined by the reply.
Rec [i.e. received] letters from Maud & Alice – both pressing for
me to come & see them – “The earth is full of messengers
that love sends to & fro” – How well & yet how
little we can realize life to be earnest – to be real
There is a great happiness in feeling that within one
lies such a power for good in the world – One even
one poor mortal has so much within – is capable of
producing such untold results. Like a stone cast in
the ocean tho [i.e. though] the spot whereon it falls is small in
comparison to the whole - the motive power small - yet
look at the widening ever widening circles of waves
that roll away whither who shall tell?
And when one’s scene of action is changed so many
times & lives touch such numbers of others – the result
seems more incalculable – the individual withers &
the world is more & more. Surely the greatest & noblest
of all things is a ‘good life’ to make our lives [underlined: all]
our inherent natures are capable of – to bourgeon

Into the fullest blossom of manhood or womanhood
our God given natures permit – is this not all – the ideal
“Heart within & God overhead to use our power to the best
advantage we know to work toward some noble object
‘A sacred burden is the life we bear - & we should
Look on it – lift it – bear it solemnly – Stand up & walk
beneath it steadfastly” -
Rec [i.e. received] word yesterday that Miss B & I came first in
Chemistry - no percentage given - I was agreeably surprised
‘Cooper’ our Bassanio at H.C.I is preaching here
now - mirabile dictu! [Latin] Jennie Smith [superscript: from W.L.C] is home now c [i.e. with]
the sterotyped [i.e. stereotyped] number of pictures to frame & show - I
do not know whether the old dead tree c [i.e. with] the blue blue
sky is among them or not
May. 82 [ i.e. 1882]. What a beautiful sunny day it has been
I have been to the Mountain for a ramble with
Ernest Myrtle & Vi – for flowers – & ever & ever – what
memories of flowers – & woodland walks & birds &
sunshine & youth – that same woods will recall
One passage in John Halifax – repeats itself in my
brain today “nothing earthly ever repeats itself” & there
is much sadness in the thought - Even now these woods are
not quite the same – the old paths disordered and new ones
made - trees cut – or fallen that were so familiar

It is a somewhat heavy thought & we must recognize how
much it behooves us in the living present to “do our duty
faithfully & cheerfully – to bear our crosses faithfully &
cheerfully & to enjoy our privileges as we ought to do” &
Heaven help us so to do. How things in the past that
have been done amiss bring to us keen regrets for the time
misspent & the pleasant hours how ever fresh & lovely
if Heaven too will with “gracious tears wipe out the bad
And in the good be glad” -
Have read the ‘Fair Barbarian’ I often think of
Lucia Gaston in that book and think I must be sly too
sometimes- if that is what it means. Cecil has done so
more than well – Materials (Ogilvie & Smith) equal –
French (Smith first) – Zoology (Smith) Mechanisms (Smith)
Mechanics (Smith) Mathematics (Smith) English (Smith)
Surveying (Smith & Ogilvie) equal – Descriptive Geometry
[Granham?]-Smith – Experimental Physics – Ogilvie-Smith
How glad I was to see him - Never saw him coming
till he was in the dining room & then I was almost
smothered – but oh the size of him & oh the voice of him
I feel smaller than ever when near him – but when
he began to talk – later going down cellar I was so
overcome with the thoughts of it – the sound of it – I sat down
then & there & laughed & shook with laughing.

His voice not one bit like it was - nor himself looking
the boy he went away- so much older in experience & still
the same good boy that went away. He is just as merry &
‘studentish’ as one could imagine him & yet- best of all
without their general faults. I’ve not had a good talk
with him yet- he’s all over & any prolonged or quiet chat
is as yet out of the question -
Was at church today and heard a good sermon by Mr
Whitcomb “Ask and ye shall receive” as simile he said
what child but felt pleasure in asking of its father
if he knew he could give-- Said ‘some say of what use
is it to pray to God for things we wish when we believe
him Allwise to give us what is for our good. Viewing it
in that light, he said of what use were many things--
nay half the things of life were based on mere sentiment.
Nations have gone to war with nations – peoples
Striving c [i.e. with] peoples for a mere sentiment – Soon he said
All our land would be disturbed for a mere sentiment
All social moral and evil laws were based on sentiment
Take sentiment from our lives and we would be but little
better than the beasts that perish &c &c [i.e. etc.]
They are talking of having a bazaar at Stoney Creek &
have put me on a Com [i.e. committee] - so I have some fancy work in
prospect and worse – canvassing

Ernest finds that 2.5 acres of oats have rotted in the
ground – & is quite depressed in consequence.
Cecil leaves [inserted above: in] the morning for Thorold to assist the
Engineer on the [inserted above: new] Welland Canal he does not know how
long he will be there – Am going to stay most of the
next week with Edith & Georgie - I like writing
letters where I have anything to talk about & one of
my gentleman corres [i.e. correspondents] takes politics as his main topic
often another practises his sermons on me & a third
his debates – heu me miserum! [Latin: woe is me] Rec [i.e. received] a 20 page letter from
the divine – which annoys me, worries me & altogether
exasperates me – till I am doubtful whether I’ll answer
And Dan has written me a long article called Canad [i.e. Canada]
Future Greatness wh – [i.e which] as yet I have not-appreciated
I’m discouraged that I’m never free from unanswered
letters & every time I’m away more petitions for me
to corres [i.e correspond] – till I do not know what to say – next wk [i.e week]
sewing – dressmakers – Alice coming on Thurs [i.e Thursday] & ‘haps [i.e. perhaps]
Cora on Friday & I want to go to St Thomas soon
Gave Victoria her music lesson this morning & in the
afternoon Frank Lawson was down – his mother is
very ill – Next day ma & Vi & I were down to Geddes
The girls are as blooming & nice as ever – I always
liked Agnes. Ernest & I started for Hamilton

Wednesday morning – He to attend the Synod & I to go on
to Aldershot. How well I remembered then, those few
weeks that I taught there. The schoolhouse – the roads
recalled forgotten hours – that no doubt with all these
little things make the sum total of live [i.e. life] & its results
I notice – how much more vividly [underlined: place] recalls incidents
because names I could not possibly recall away – when
there came to mind uncalled – just as naturally as
the place to the eye - My Spirits did not soar to any
extent on the way – for it rained sans [French: without] intermission
nearly all the way – but I thought ‘well this is a sort
of introductory practice – I do look as tho’ [e.g. though] I had been
sent for – & feel – altogether quite professional – Of
course I found my friends the Rosses as nice as ever
& as happy – They are another happy instance of
contented and peaceful marriages it is good to see
Mr. Flatt the teacher boards there- & in the evg [evening] – Spencer
Douglas was over- & it was quite a bore. Poor “ [i.e. Spencer]
he can dress creditably and sing ditto. but has tried
several occupations- the latest is telegraphy
Ernest was to meet me there - come out by the 5 train
& we were going to drive up to Wilsons that night but
it rained & he did not come - got on the wrong train
& got off at Copetown & stayed at uncle Isaacs

that night & went next day to Guelph to the Model
farm - I drove to Wilsons alone. Early in the
morning - I see myself as I drove thro' [i.e. through] the mud-
not ‘alone & unobserved’ like Bunthorn [i.e. Bunthorne] - for
two youths in another buggy passed me - which did
not agitate me but did the horse I drove & it was
bent on passing them - I was not going to but kept
close behind - when they very suddenly stopped on
a bridge & not to run over them I drew the horses
head to outside - & somehow the wheels came
together which was the signal for a pair of very
amazed youths – a jump from my horse & a very
alarming whoa! from me - which was so terrifying
in its clearness that my horse took heart of grace
& bounded away down the plains road in the
best possible spirits & I so amused I smile even
now at the recollection - no harm done but I just
kept thinking of the little episode & the dialogue wh [i.e. which]
very likely followed in which I wager something
like “Just like ’em” was the basis of their remarks
Proceeded on to Wilsons. That evg [i.e. evening] was the entertainment
& Kennedy (Jake) came home with George - He is a brick
So quick-witted & carries himself c [i.e. with] such sang froid [French: poise]
The load of performers from Waterdown stopped

June 82 –
there on their way – Then we in two good loads went on
to the schoolhouse – The programme was fair had
some good songs from Misses Galloway of Burlington
& Harrison of Milton – but as is often the case – the most
-the majority – preferred the comic songs - After the evg [i.e. evening]-
entertainment the performers were given tea at Wilsons
& the night wore on to three Oclock [i.e. o'clock] before they left-
We were all very tired & sleepy & yet that good &
respected man their father called us up before seven
of course they told me to go on sleeping - but who could
when it would be such a sun there.
That morning was occupied chiefly in trying to keep
our eyes open So the afternoon Janet, Mary & I went
calling- drove - it rained but still we went on - rain
is so common now - getting used to it - made five calls
to see my old friends & indeed I was glad to see the
children - my former pupils - I saw them the night of the
entertainment. The dear children – passing into the lobby
among the crowd – the little arms were stretched out
toward me to see which could have the first shake of
hands – many kind things were said & I’m sure
their present teacher could not have been pleasantly
- They tell me she is very – but I would likely
be the same under the same circumstances