Words fail me here... July, 1876

Saturday, July 1, 1876. Another tiresome day on the cars though we are the jolliest party imaginable. We got no breakfast till ten o’clock A.M. Tomorrow we expect to be in Phila. 

The Memorial Building, centerpiece of the Centennial Exposition.

Sunday, July 2, 1876. Yesterday, as soon as we got off the train, we went to the Centennial Ground. [The Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876 celebrated America’s hundredth birthday; over eight million people crowded through 167 buildings that housed over 30,000 exhibitors.] Grand so far, & very, very hot. We are at the Continental Hotel.
 
Monday, July 3, 1876. Everyone is getting ready for the 4th & how I dread the cannon &c &c. Yes, Derby & the other cadets are stationed here & we went to the Parade & brought Geo. back to supper. So, so happy to see him.
 
Tuesday, July 4, 1876. The wonderful 4th—the grand procesh! took place. The cadets did beautifully & oh! I was so proud of them (him).
 
Wednesday, July 5, 1876. Walked to Independence Hall this evening with the gentlemen. What an old relic, that building.
 
Thursday, July 6, 1876. Through the Centennial Grounds again & out to the parade grounds to hunt George & tell him to go with us to Cape May [America’s oldest seaside resort] tomorrow—he was not there—had left (so we heard) on furlough & was wretched, but when we got home that night, who should walk in but George—& said he would go. Hurrah!
 

Friday, July 7, 1876. Mamie & George Derby & we went to Cape May today. Arrived there & walked by moonlight on the beach. Had a hop at the hotel & we danced & had a gay time generally.
 
Saturday, July 8, 1876. We spent such a pleasant, pleasant day bathing &c, & went at night to hop at Congress Hall Hotel. Were introduced to three young officers, friends of George’s.
 
Sunday, July 9, 1876. Tonight—tonight indeed. Words fail me here…
 
Monday, July 10, 1876. We left this morn at 7 for Phila.—thence to Long Branch. Mamie & George D. left us at Phila. Reached L.B. [Long Branch, N.J.] tonight—very cold here.
 
Tuesday, July 11, 1876. Of course the first & all important thing at the sea shore is to bathe & bathe we did, you may be sure & I enjoyed although I had no George to pull me through the waves & defend my precious head.
 
Thursday, July 13, 1876. The Wiggins are here—like them so much. Life at L.B. is nearly always the same delightful routine—first music, then bathing, then at evening riding & at night a hop.
 
Friday, July 14, 1876. Had splendid bath & dance in the evening.

Saturday, July 15, 1876. Went driving with Mr. Wiggins today (the old gentleman, I mean). Aunt Bel joined us here today to spend Sunday.
 
Sunday, July 16, 1876. We expect to go to N.Y. tomorrow. Have met a family named Burbanks—two young Burbanks (gents.) are evidently rather englazé [besotted, smitten].                         
 
Monday, July 17, 1876. We all started for N.Y., including Charlie Burbank. He evidently would like to go to Europe with me. Reached N.Y. At the Gilsey. Saw Rob Semple & Jones [cousins] today in 34th St.
 
Tuesday, July 18, 1876. I went to Lily’s house (78 Madison Ave.) and she was gone. Oh! I am so sorry to leave N.Y. without seeing her.
 
Wednesday, July 19, 1876. Aunts Bel & Jule, Dr. Pallen, Rosanna & Mary Rigney, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Lamon came to see Monte [Mrs. De Montegue, the children’s governess], Mama, Henry, Mamie, Edgar [Ada’s youngest brother, age 8] & me off on the Cunard steamer Scythia at Jersey City, N.J. bound for Europe. Farewell, home.
 

Mamie,Henry, Edgar, Mama and Ada, 1876

Thursday, July 20, 1876. Very, very sick & so disgusted with every thing pertaining to ship life.
 
Friday, July 21, 1876. Sick still. Wish I could get to England tomorrow. Steamer is crowded. Was introduced to a jolly young Englishman by name Fred Bell by Mr. Riviere.
 
Saturday, July 22, 1876. A little better today & altogether ship life isn’t at all disagreeable. Took off mourning [probably for Ada’s grandmother, Mary Semple, who had died the previous year].
 
Sunday, July 23, 1876. Interesting discourse from the Bishop of Rhode Island [Thomas Francis Hendricken]. Great excitement caused by the snapping of the screw chain. Several new faces appear which have hither-to been confined to their rooms.
 
Monday, July 24, 1876. Oh! Oh! am I not an inexplicable character? I have actually fallen in love with an unknown being with oh! such eyes!!! I shall call him (H.S.). He is perfectly grand! 

Cunard liner R.M.S. Scythia

Tuesday, July 25, 1876. We know now a great many people on board, but the person (H.S.) I want to know I do not know. Was introduced to a funny English boy by name Frederic C. Bell, London, Eng., some days ago.
 
Wednesday, July 26, 1876. Did not get up till 12 o’clock A.M. It looks very like a storm today but still continues calm. At this moment someone (H.S.) passes & oh! my heart! Saw two whales. Just this moment gentlemen predict a storm—very, very cold.
 
Thursday, July 27, 1876. Fred Bell smokes a pipe—the horrid pig! & he composes Star Spangled Banner in this style—“Oh! the Star strangled banner / That floats in the breeze / Would be settled by a Brittisher / If he happened to sneeze.”
 
Friday, July 28, 1876. We have left the Scythia & are on our way to Cork by train. (H.S.) got off with us but goes I believe by boat to Cork—I hope I shall know him soon. Ireland is a fairyland! Mr. Bell & Fred are with us. Arrived at Cork safe. Stay at Imperial Hotel. [Added later]: With what strange feelings of regret mingled with gladness I left the Ship Scythia this morning & went in a smaller boat bobbing over the waves to Queenstown! What a beautiful country is Ireland! We have proceeded by rail to Cork and are now in a dear old fashioned hotel titled wrongly, I think, “Imperial” for every thing has about it a sweet simplicity, so common & prevalent among the Irish nation.
 

Blarney Castle

Saturday, July 29, 1876. Flowers given by Freddie Bell. Went to Blarney Castle this morning in a very nice wagonette. The castle is beyond description indeed—that is, the old one—the new castle erected & now occupied by Sir. Geo. Something is nothing remarkable. Saw (H.S.) at breakfast. Have packed all the trunks & sent all but two to London. [Flowers pinned to the page; also, a feather with the caption: “Bird’s feather gotten from the very toppest part of Blarney Castle, Cork, Ireland.”]
 
Sunday, July 30, 1876. Mr. Bell, Fred & we went to the Episcopal Cathedral this morning. Monte got sick & she & Fred left before service was over. Not seen (H.S.)—suppose he has gone to Killarney.
 

The Gap of Dunloe

Monday, July 31, 1876. Mr. Bell, Fred & we started for Killarney—gay time on the cars. You bet. Arrived at Killarney which is the loveliest place in all the world. Went immediately to make the round of the Lakes through Gap of Dunloe—5 miles on wagon, 5 on horseback & 4 in skiff on the Lakes. Very much pleased with all, but oh! crowning all, at dinner saw (H.S.)! Visited Muckross Abbey which is indeed the most beautiful, heavenly place I ever saw. At the Royal Victoria Hotel.