Tuesday, July 2, 1907.

I think I am about the laziest person alive! All I have the gumption to do is to sit and dream of what I would do if I tried and what I am going to do. I think I have the brains to be rather smart if I only stick to it. Here I have wasted two weeks of my holidays doing nothing when I could have been practicing music or sewing. Hope I will improve.

Marion Nicholson's 1907 diary contains little about teaching. She mentions her monthly teacher meetings which were either 'terrific' or 'lousy.' Mostly, she writes about her social life. She is 18, and like many young people, she is restless and moody--and feels that life is passing her by.  Everything is either 'wonderful' or 'horrible' -  or boring.

In winter, her social life centers around the skating rink! She sometimes goes to the theatre (not the Nickelodeon or motion picture show, since in 1907 this kind of entertainment was only just becoming available in Montreal).  There appears to be a café she and her girlfriends frequent (perhaps called Minto)  and of course, there are dances and ice cream socials and 'teas' given by older matrons as well as snow shoe tramps (very popular in the ET at the time) and sugaring parties in the spring. Click for page on 'skating' and pic of Marion's future husband at 18 on his hockey team..  Click here for Advice to Girls 1900 column in Gentlewoman Mag.

In her diary, introspection is kept to a minimum - as is typical for 'ordinary-people' diaries. 

The diary abruptly ends Sept 2 1907. I suspect this is around the time that she hears she has gotten a place on the Montreal Board--for she left Sherbrooke for Royal Arthur in Montreal that month - and nothing is mentioned in the diary except that she is offered a 60.00 raise to stay in Sherbrooke. This is also exactly the time the Nicholsons fell on hard times. Maybe Marion had no choice but to go to work in the city.

In 1907 the Nicholsons, a most respectable family, were disinherited by their rich maiden aunt and the story of Tighsolas begins. Norman, the dad, had 33 dollars in his bank account. Call me cynical, but I suspect that in 1907 Marion's many 'suitors' believed her to be wealthy.  Marion didn't marry until 1913--and even then, it was touch and go, for she had no money to bring to the marriage.

Despite her many beaus in '07, Marion isn't generally pleased with her love life. She's upset when certain men are too persistent and upset when other men are not persistent enough. Well, some things never change.

Marion, at 18/19,  was clearly suffering from the push-pull of biology and ambition. Ultimately, she managed to get in both a brilliant career and a family, but it wasn't easy. But, then, had her life been easy, she never would have felt the need to become a union activist. Her Richmond connections also likely helped her in her rise to the top, the town  produced many top Quebec educators, including J.C. Sutherland. Click for Edith Nicholson's history of St. Francis College, Richmond.

Monday 14^th of January

After school went home and worked on some songs to teach kids. Went to rink. Had dandy time. Danced with G.N.E. Came home as usual.

Tuesday 15^th of January
Went to rink. Band played. Had a good time. Montie came home with me. Asked me to go to next good theatre.

Thursday, 17^th January.

Did not go to rink as I had planned. Consequently had the blues.Bert S came up to see Irene who is sick in bed with grippe.

Friday, January 18.
Club met and went to rink. But I did not favour them with my presence. Stayed with Irene. Read Hearts and Masks.

Saturday January 19^th.
Went to the snow shoe club. Had a good time although GNE was not there. Rained like fury all the time.

Sunday, January 20^th.
Horrid Day. Went to church. G. saw me home.
Next Page