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ELLA C. KING : 1884 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN WHO IS FALLING IN LOVE WITH DENVER

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is an original, charmingly intimate, manuscript diary dated 1884 handwritten by Ella C. King from Pittsburg Pennsylvania but as the diary opens up on July 28th, 1884, we find Ella in Denver Colorado. While one would classify this as a travel diary in many ways it is more of an homage to the 'Mile-High City' as Ella is in love with the Rocky Mountains and on numerous occasions she mentions how she feels as though she might never visit this beautiful place again and becomes rather depressed at the thought. In fact at one point she is talking about how she is so in love with the mountains and says before she dies she will see them up close and follows that passage with…."If I only had one of the children and a horse of my own I would be so happy." In all she spends a little over 2 months in Denver. However while the 170 page narrative begins in the 5 ½" x 7 ½" notebook style journal a few days after her arrival later on the reader will realize this diary is very interesting on yet another level this being a sociological study: Ella is without her husband and children as she talks about them being back in Pittsburg. Why? Intriguing clues may make for an interesting research project into her motives. Here is an example in the last entry: "December 31st, The last day of the old year and I am all alone and in going over the past there is one little part I would clearly love to undo but as that is impossible it will be something for me to regret…..Good bye old year! I wonder where one year hence will find me." After her extended stay in Colorado, in the fall, she travels back home to Pittsburg. There she's a very busy socialite going to the opera, hospital fairs, democratic conventions, taking her children to dancing school and other social engagements. Historians and researchers of the era in Women's Studies will have an interesting time with Ms. King. The journal was kept in a beautiful marble covered journal which is now falling apart and needs some archival repair. Both the front and back covers have fallen off but are accounted for. But the inside pages are securely attached to the binding and it rather large for its size as diaries are concerned. Here are some snippets: 1884 "July 28th, Still very warm but breezy. I did little or nothing till morning. Indeed this is a very lazy life. In the afternoon I went to call on Mrs. Cinnamond, an aunt of Alex Morris. She is a widow and keeps boarders. In the evening Harry took us the loveliest drive and we saw the prettiest part of Denver. Beautiful residences and the sweetest cottages covered with vines. From Capital Hill we had a magnificent view of the mountains. They looked so grand and majestic with the snow on them and the sunlight too. Looked as though they were almost at our feet when they are more tan fifty miles away." "August 1st, I can write nothing but beautiful weather all the time. Jennie is something better, though very sick yet. Harry and I have been with her almost all day. The Dr. has prescribed pretty severe treatment and if carried out I know will prove very beneficial. The fever is broken and she feels better though she would rest tonight." "August 26th, Jennie has been more or less amused today watching young Stanchfield who is to be married this evening. I baked and was busy all morning. In the evening me and Mrs. Butler came and took me a lovely drive all over Denver. It looked so pretty with the electric lights all burning. We had the benefit of a sand blow coming up the hill. Mr. and Mrs. Yankee here in the evening." "August 7th, Jennie's birthday! I had just finished cleaning up the room when who should arrive but the Dr. He was perfectly furious at finding her in bed but she feels so weak and easily tired. She don't like to make an effort to get up. How ever she will have to rouse herself from this time but….Harry is putting up a tent for her to stay in during the day. Mrs. Kent here this afternoon killing herself over the Kennedy's having nothing to eat at the meeting." "September 1st, What a lovely day this will be at home. The children all getting ready for school with the first stroke of the bell they will be off. I am so glad they have all had such a nice summer. Letters will come telling us all about them. This is a big day here the exposition opens with a grand parade. All the neighbors have gone and we were congratulating ourselves that we wouldn't have any callers when Mrs. Jenkin's and Eva appeared……." "September 3rd, Still very warm. No change in the weather. Jennie wakened this morning with a very sore eye so painful she could not bear the light. It seemed too bad. She is getting stronger and able to go out. Harry took her a little ride this morning and it did her good. In the afternoon she with me and a guide took a little turn around the yard and sat in the tent for a few minutes….." "September 5th, Was more beautiful than yesterday. Jennie rested better last night than normal and got off without a chill but as soon as she was dressed and ready to go out the old chill came on and lasted until dinner time. In the afternoon we went out and sat in the tent and as usual had one visitor, Mrs. Kent Yankee and others. Jennie walked around several times and seemed very lively. A large drive of horses passed here today. Harry went to town and got some marketing and coming home finished the stable….." "September 18th, & 19th, Nothing in the world to write about. No one here. Jennie about the same…..A long letter from Maude with a full account of all their proceedings at home. That is all I have to look forward to, my letters." "September 22nd, Mrs. Kent called and gossiped for awhile. Made Jennie very angry repeating something she ought to have kept to herself……" "September 23rd, Busy all day. Jennie rode over to the Dr.'s but as usual he was not there. Went to the occultist to see about her eye. Oh, these grand mountains! And I cannot see them only at a distance and I do not suppose I shall get to see them. This time but if I live and prosper, I am determined to see more of this beautiful country before I die. If I only had one of the children and a horse of my own I would be so happy." "September 25th, Little Jim's birthday, seven years old. I got up this morning and did a bathing before getting ready for the exposition and had to hurry like everything as I must be ready by twelve o'clock. I went out and Mrs. Stachfield was not quite ready so I came back and got a little lunch and then we started in Mrs. Stachfield's buggy. Stopped at the store for her husband and then proceeded on our way. I had ever such a nice time. The building is very good built of brick and much after the plan of the old Pittsburg building. The display of ore and minerals were very fine but unfortunately I did not understand them. The prettiest thing I saw was the representation of a ranch at Palmer Lake close to the foothills and the scenery was very natural and pretty. It being pioneer day there was a wedding of an old pair of _____ who wanted to make themselves very conspicuous…The ball in the evening took the cake." "October 5th, I went to church and walked home with Mr. and Mrs. Mueller. They like myself are going back east. I hope to start the middle of the week. How I do long to see the children." "October 10th, A beautiful day. Mrs. Finney and I did up all the work and made our arrangements to go to town. We got all ready and waited on the "Herdic" but it came not, so we started and walked all the way to the Union Depot and from there to the "American House" where we dined and afterwards walked all over the principal streets going in any number of stores and made some few purchases and came home in the Herdic, very tired." "October 12th, Mrs. Finney wrote some letters and afterwards went with me for a drive. We drove to Wolff Lake where we sat in the buggy and watched the sun go down behind the Rocky Mountains. My last view. I ponder if I ever will see them again. When, where and with whom." "October 13th, My last day in Denver spent the morning packing and finishing up and in the afternoon went to pay some calls and say goodbye to Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Mueller and Mrs. Butler, Stanchfield, the "Yankee's". Started at eight o'clock on my way back to Pittsburgh. The car being full I had to take a state room all to myself and felt like a prisoner all day. Met a very pleasant lady on her way from San Francisco to New York……." "October 15th, St. Louis. Arrived at this place at seven o'clock. Got off the train and was surrounded with cab men. One came up and wanted me to ride in an affair that looked like the Black Menia, which I refused to get into, so finally got a carriage and went to the Southern Hotel and had a nice breakfast and after resting for a little while went out to Shaw's Garden. Came back had dinner and went to the exposition where I spent a pleasant afternoon. Went back to the hotel very tired had my supper and left on the Ohio….." "November 3rd, A very pleasant day. Fred and I took the early train this morning for Washington but did not reach there until twelve o'clock. The children were all getting ready to go to school for the afternoon and wanted Fred to go along but he did not feel so inclined. In the evening George got a buggy and took me up to Trinity Hall…….." "December 3rd, Maud's wedding day and a very pretty one. Florence and Annie went to town and bought them little presents. Mrs. Finney went to town to meet Brady. The children went to dancing school. I went with them as far as the Market House when I got out and walked all the way to Goettmen's to order the ice cream for Maude's wedding. Came home and met the Dr. at the door. He looks quite well. Miss Bissell and Ivie called in the afternoon. Henry Bissell and Daisy went to the cemetery. Mr. Byllesby came in the evening when we had an old fashioned wedding supper with huckleberry pie to please Fred. Will Hersperyer came at eight o'clock in a carriage

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