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Diary for 1949.
“The STANDARD DIARY”
Saturday, January 1, 1949.
32° to 55° to 42°30.08, 30.14, 30.04
The New Year begins with a bright, sunshiny morning, clear as a bell, and the N.W. wind has died down to a gentle breeze. This afternoon was very mild with a light breeze—up to 4—and then it began to get rapidly cooler.
This morning I did some letter writing and wrote and mailed some checks. About 12 I drove up to see our pastor, Rev. Clare M. Cotton, who has been down with a cold, but is much better and sitting up. I enjoy talking to him very much. Then I went by the Court Bldg. and got the mail. Lizzie has stayed at home all day. I took a good walk on golf course & tonight we listened to the radio & talked and read.
No word yet of / fine / Mr. Hayward Cates who disappeared three nights ago. He must have walked into a sink hole 6 miles So. of here. Sad.
Sunday, January 2, 1949.
38° to 60° to 51°30.04, 30.11, 30.08
A beautiful day. But I did not feel like going to church. Got up late.
This afternoon I went to see my good old friend, Mr. Cates—up in the 80s he is an interesting conversationalist. He is the great Uncle of young Heyward Cates whose mysterious disappearance last Wednesday evening has caused a long and fruitless search.
[ ? ] & Mrs. Cowles returned from N. Y. this afternoon and took dinner with us tonight. About 6:30 Henry Palmer and wife Elouise[?] dropped in also and stayed till yearly 8 oclock.
Monday, January 3, 1949
51° to 67° to 61°30.09, 30.14
Mostly clear.
We, Lizzie & I, with Walter Cowles, drove out to meet Annie—whose plane was an hour late. We got to the airport / at 10:30 / ten minutes late, on account of a freight train standing so long across the road. Otherwise we would have got there at 10:20. Annie’s plane landed at 10:30, just as we reached the airport. I took her bag, which was very heavy, out to our car & we got home about 10:45. Walter stayed till nearly 12 o’clock. Annie stood the trip well.
Tuesday, January 4, 1949. Inauguration Day.
50° to 68° to 58°30.15, 30.22, 30.18
Mostly cloudy with a light shower about 11:30. Quite warm.
Fuller Warren was inaugurated as governor about noon. I did not think the speaking would begin till 12 o’clock. So I went over to the Main lobby of the Capitol Bldg. about 11:35 and, instead of an informal reception there to the outgoing and incoming Governors, I found that out in the front Gov. Caldwell was already speaking. I went out to my seat on the platform and it began to rain & kept it up till Gov. Caldwell finished. Then the oath was administered to Fuller Warren by Ch. J. Thomas and the St. Seal delivered. Then Warren spoke for about 25 minutes. Both men made excellent speeches. The Crowd was enormous. I had trouble getting to my car and taking Annie home from the S.C. bldg.
Judge Strum attended the inauguration but I did not get to see him.
Wednesday, January 5, 1949. Rain
63° to 73° to 68°30.16, 30.08, 30.12
Misty & foggy & warm, with some drizzling rain. Worse than yesterday.
Pres. Truman delivered his “state of the Union” message to Congress today. It was a reiteration of his campaign speeches and the Dem. platform adopted last July—including the so-called Civil Rights & F.E.P.C., so repugnant to Southerners and Northern conservatives.
Terrible tornadoes in Arkansas and Northern Miss. & Texas, costing some 55 lives & great loss of property.
Coldest weather on record in So. California—25° to 27 degrees—doing terrific damage to crops.
Thursday, January 6, 1949. Trip to Jacksonville.
56° to 57° to 50°30.18, 30.14,
Clearing up and getting colder.
After attending to some matters up town and getting off some letters, I came home bringing Annie from the Sup. Ct. Bldg.
We had heard from Judge Louie Strum over the phone when he was here Tuesday that Mrs. Strum was in St. Vincent’s hospital; that her condition was very serious, and that he feared she was nearing the end in her fight with cancer. So Lizzie packed up during this morning, and we left by auto at 2:30 for Jacksonville and arrived at the Mayflower Hotel about 6:15. We got supper at Morrison’s Café and on returning to the hotel we saw Arthur Griner and I stayed down in the lobby smoking & chatting until 10 pm. & caught a cold from the breeze in the lobby.
Our room was on the 6th floor and was overlooking Bay St. and it was overheated also.
Friday, January 7, 1949.
Weather fine.
Lizzie got practically no sleep last night from the noise and the overheated room but after breakfast we phoned Judge Strum and he said he would call for us at 11 and take us to see Mrs. Strum, which he did. We, Lizzie, Judge Strum, Ophelia and I all made a brief call on dear Mrs. Strum, who put up a brave front. After a few minutes, knowing that Mrs. S wanted to talk to Lizzie alone, we left and went out on the porch overlooking the River & Lizzie had a good long talk with dear Mrs. Strum. The cancer has caused an enlargement of the liver which is giving serious pain and trouble. The doctors are considering another operation. We saw Mrs. John Martin at the hospital. She brings Mrs. Strum something every day.
Then Judge S., Ophelia, J., doing the driving took us out past Ortega to the Timiquana[?] Country Club facing the River, then we had a delightful lunch, and afterwards a drive several miles further So. to tremendous Jacksonville Naval Air Station where Grey Strum is administrative officer. Ophelia is a grand girl and a fine driver. They drove us back to our hotel, where we changed to a better room, and about 6 pm we drove with Judge S. and Ophelia to their home where we had a grand dinner and a good time till 8 p.m. when they drove us back to the hotel and they went to the hospital to see Mrs. Strum.
Saturday, January 8, 1949.
35° to 69° in Tallahassee / 54° at 11 p.m.
Weather still fine & clear.
We left for home this morning, at 10:30, after a good nights rest, and a breakfast with Al McQuillin and Arthur Driver from 9:15 to 10:15.
We drove to Lake City, and from there to White Springs where I took a brief look at the Gate House of the Stephen Foster Memorial and from there to Jasper, and from there to Madison over a good new road, but with one very bad 1/3 mile turnout. We got to Madison about 1:15, and had a fine lunch at the excellent restaurant there, and arrived at home at 4 p.m., after stopping at Richardsons’s grocery for some food-stuff.
The road from Lake City to White Springs is in bad condition, and from there to Jasper pretty bad.
When we got home we found our house very cold inside. Annie had spent the nights with the Cowles and it was very cold inside our house. We opened the doors, then after airing the house, we started the furnace and a fire. Then I went to walk on the golf course—it was clear & mild and delightful, and I felt much better when I got home. Took a nap after a good supper. So good to be back home safe.
Sunday, January 9, 1949. Lizzie’s Birthday
35° to73° to58°30.32, 30.34
Brilliantly clear and quite cool early morning, with warm weather, for this time of year, by 11 A.M. to 4:30 p.m.
My birth-day present to Lizzie was a dinner at the Wakullaa Springs Hotel for Lizzie / and myself / Annie, Henry Palmer & wife Elmira, at 1:30. We had a very nice dinner and a very pleasant time. It was pleasantly warm and clear. After dinner we walked around the grounds, talking & meeting friends. We left for home about 4 p.m.
Tonight, Lizzie & Annie attended birthday parties in Lizzie’s honor at Mary Mauds before our supper, and after supper, at the Cowles. I was not feeling well—and had some court work to do. So I stayed at home but did not feel at [all] well & didn’t do much work.
Monday, January 10, 1949.
46° to 80° to 66°30.34, 30.36. 30.34
Clear ands quite warm. A fine day.
The President’s budget message puts out Government expense for the fiscal year at nearly $42,000,000,000. & says we will have to increase taxes by about four billion or more. When this comes up for debate in Congress, the fur will fly.
Little accomplished today—Don’t feel like working. Still have a head cold.
Received a fine letter from Frances. Fran & her husband, Chris, and Caroline & Marion were all at home in Centerville, and Frances & Wilson had a grand time along with the girls. What a fine family.
The Chinese government is still losing ground to the Communists. Too late for us to help much now. We’ve waited too long.
Tuesday, January 11, 1949.
Weather the same as yesterday—Bright & clear and mild.
And yet I had developed a pretty bad cold which began in Jacksonville. So Lizzie put me to bed and dosed me with medicine. I felt pretty miserable.
Wednesday, January 12, 1949.
50° to 80° to 64°30.21, 30.18
Still bright & clear, but the wind is shifting around to the S.W. & West, and the barometer is falling. But today has been fine. We have had a week of beautiful clear weather.
I stayed in bed until about 4:30 this afternoon, when I felt so much better that I got up and took a walk to the club house and back, following some of my golf friends, & when I got home I felt better. Dictated some letters to Annie, & tonight after supper I passed on 3 or 4 cases written by the other judges. Now at 11 p.m. I’m going to bed. Good to be back to normal.
Thursday, January 13, 1949.
The fine clear, mild weather continues.
Thought I was about well last night, but my cold was worse this morning and Lizzie insisted I stay in bed. She went by Dr. Rhodes’ office and got a penicillin prescription and something for my cough—and I stayed in bed, but put in some time reading cases that came in from other Justice—cases that were argued when I was on the bench in December. The penicillin pills are to be taken only four a day. I have a very bad head cold.
Friday, January 14, 1949.
The clear, mild & beautiful weather continues.
Annie brought out another batch of cases for me to pass on.
Felt pretty bad, head cold still continues. Stayed in bed, reading cases, until about 5 p.m. Then I dressed and took a walk to the Club house & back watching some good golfers. I enjoyed the walk, but my head cold started again & I went back to bed. Have had a terrible running head cold. Not much in my chest. Passed on about four cases today. One was pretty tough. Pretty big record and long briefs.
Saturday, January 15, 1949.
50° to 75°
This is the 10th clear day—and mild—a wonderfully long spell of beautiful weather for early January. Too bad I caught this cold. I am getting better today, but Liz insisted I stay in bed, & finished the last of the cases—about 9 or 10 that the Clerk sent me by Annie. So I have not wasted all my time.
Took another walk on golf course, & sat up tonight after supper.
Sunday, January 16, 1949.
54° to 73° to 64°30.21, 30.24, 30.21
Some what cloudy this morning, but still mild. Southerly winds.
Mostly overcast and slightly cloudy all day.
It appears now that the Jews and the Arabs and the Egyptians may get together on some solution of the Palestine question without outside help. I hope so. The Jews have been better armed and equipped than their opponents.
In spite of the Penicillin, my head cold, while better, still continues.
The Communists continue their fight for control of all China, and with great chances of success. Pangpu[?] has been given up by the Chinese Nationalists and it looks like Peiping and Nanking, the capital, will fall soon. It’s a pity we are doing practically nothing to prevent Communist (Russia) conquest of all China.
Monday, January 17, 1949.
52° to 76° to 60°30.21, 30.25, 30.18
This morning the weather is much the same as yesterday morning.
A cold wave is spreading East and South from the Dakotas and Minnesota, where they are having sub-zero temperatures. May reach us. But we’ve had 11 days of mild and beautiful weather.
However the afternoon was mostly clear. Pretty strong Southerly breezes. I have felt much better today, and took a good long walk on golf course.
Tonight I had a visit from Dr. Miller, one of the Professors of Law in our U. of Fla. at Gainesville—a very bright young man of about 42. An old friend of Lawrence Salley.
Tuesday, January 18, 1949.
54° to 72° to 65°30.18, 30.26, 30.24
Clear morning, S.E. Winds, strong gusty winds from the S. E. & So., dying down in late afternoon.
Tried to do some work on a case I have to write an opinion in, but I found it very hard to concentrate my mind and didn’t accomplish much. And tonight I did not feel like [ ? ] anything.
I went up town this morning, and attended to a few matters and brought Annie home. This afternoon I took a walk to the country club watching four good golfers play—I enjoyed my walk.
Quit taking penicillin tablets last night.
Cold wave which hit the States of Dakotah & Minnesota is spreading Eastward & Southward.
My friend B. A. Ragsdale was elected City Commissioner today. Good.
Wednesday, January 19, 1949. Rain.
61° to 77° to 58°30.20. 30.24, 30.30
Dark, overcast early morning, with no wind, and very mild. First dark & cloudy morning in about 2 weeks.
Rain this afternoon, not very hard, but pretty steady.
The cold wave in the Central Northwest has spread Eastward and Southeastward and it is predicted that it will hit N.W. Florida by tomorrow morning, and then the S. E. seaboard during the day. No definite prediction as to the National Capital, where large crowds have gone to attend the Inauguration of President Truman tomorrow[.]
Have not felt very well today and accomplished very little. Had no office or stenographer, which is a great handicap. I have four opinions yet to write.
Thursday, January 20, 1949.
54° to 71° to 58°30.30, 30.36
Overcast early morning, but clear & fine the balance of the day.
A big day in Washington. The biggest crowd ever to attend a Presidential inauguration. President Truman made a good speech, which emphasized the relations of our Country and the balance of the world. / He went too far as to aid to all other countries that need it. / He condemned Communism in uncertain terms—and said we would put forth every effort to stop the efforts to impose Communism on other Countries. As to domestic affairs, he spoke in general terms.
Late this afternoon Mrs. Clair Perry and daughter Mallie—fine folks—came to see us & stayed till 8 o’clock and after supper the Cowles came & stayed till 11:15. I had a lot of court work to do, but didn’t get time to do anything but read one brief.
Friday, January 21, 1949
57° to 72° to 60°30.30, 30.34, 30.34
Foggy & misty.
Didn[‘]t get much accomplished today. No place in Supreme Court Bldg. for me to work. No office & no stenographer. So I’m terribly handicapped.
Moscow papers are in a rage over the President’s speech, in which he condemned communism and communistic aggression in vigorous terms.
Mrs. Chapman’s brother, Mr. Jim Lanier of Jacksonville, died last night. The last of her brothers. I knew him. He was a fine man.
Hon. Dean Acheson became Secretary of State today. There was some opposition to his approval, but I think he is a good and able man. He’s an able lawyer.
Saturday, January 22, 1949.
58° to 78° to 65°30.34, 30.38, 30.36
Foggy morning, but the sun came through about 12:30. Another mild and beautiful day.
Sunday, January 23, 1949.
58° to 80° to 65°30.34, 30.39, 30.38
Except for Jan. 19, No rain since Jan. 5th.
A bit foggy in early morning, but clear as a bell by 9 A. M.
Bright sunshine. Very mild breezes. A grand day.
I went to church this morning. We had a fine sermon by Bro. Clare M. Cotton, our pastor. I like him better than any preacher we’ve ever had.
This afternoon the Golf Club put on Scotch foursomes. There must have been some 15 or 20 foursomes. A little after 4 p.m. I followed one of them to the club house. Mrs. Bessie Porter and Mrs. Andrews in it. They played well. Miss Pauline Kelly was in one of them.
On my way home I saw Dr. Dodd and Judge Terrell in chairs on the lawn in front of Dr. Dodd’s and I joined them.
We had a fine time talking for nearly an hour.
Tonight we had a pleasant evening here at home.
Monday, January 24, 1949.
57° to 79° to 64°30.34 to 30.38
Continued clear weather. The same as yesterday. Beautiful.
The majority of the Senators in Wash’n are now trying to get through a rule by which a simple majority vote can stop or limit debate. In all our history debate on any bill has been free and unlimited in the Senate. This has proven a bulwark to the South against anti-Southern legislation, on several notable occasions. So practically all the Southern Senators will filibuster against this anti-filibuster move—whose proponents are in a majority and among this majority, I am sorry to say, is our Senator Pepper. The Southern Senators—17 or 18 of them—will filibuster against the anti-filibuster, or cloture, rule.