.. they say, is a fine habit. My grandfather was perhaps one of the best. I have preserved many of his diaries and account books and it is a pleasure to see how diligently he maintained them. Sad that few people get to emulate it. He was well educated and his language speaks about it. He was a strict disciplinarian and worked in the administrative service of the state. Note the dates and years in these pictures. 1898 and 1900.
In the one below, read the last sentence.
This is an account book which he had in 1914. Note that he has paid some 130 rupees for Sunbeam Cycle on the left page near the bottom. That was the first instalment. The second inst. was 100 rupees which he has paid on the right hand page. I still use this BICYCLE! He accounted for every paisa/anna/rupee (a la pence/shilling/pound) and three columns were required.
This is a diary of 1924 which he probably used to jot down interesting passages from newspapers in the blank pages. Probably by that time, his diary writing had been on a wane. One great thing: his handwriting remained the same over the 25-30 years. Goes to show how important good handwriting was in those days. In unruled pages, he used to write immaculately straight, with equal spacing between lines! Mine too is somewhat similar.
Your Grandfathers journals are a wonderful peek into the past. I keep a journal of sorts but am not very faithful to it I fear since I often make entries only every other week or so and include a mish mash of poetry and such. And the only finacial records I keep up is the check book register. But it should make for some interesting reading for my grandchildren someday to see what life in these "old days" were like as history.
Are you following his fine example? I hope so!
I'm happy that I am following his example in more than one way. Not for nothing he gets to be remembered by the older generation. One thing I visualize while browsing his books is the peace that thrived in those days and that gives me some sort of pleasure - I can't explain clearly. I enjoy that. When I get to compare the lifestyles (though unfair) between these eras, I get a miserable feeling and envy the older era!
Yes, it is often the case that we compare the simpler times of our ancesters with a romantic sentiment but they would no doubt have delighted in so much that life today can offer. The delicate child of yesteryear could now probably lead a robust life with the advances in medicine and could you imagine your grandfather having the time to travel to play sports on a team schedule ? I too cherish the memories passed down of thos simple time but I do not think that once I got past the romantic notions that I would truly be happier living then than I am in the present.
I love the last sentence in that first page. And his handwriting is supreme! I wish I could write that well. Thank you for sharing.
This is a wonderful gift to pass down from generation to generation. This is memories of a real person that will continue on to everyone that reads it. What a terrific gift he left.
What a wonderful thing to have! I've dabbled in geneology a bit and as I look at all the names, dates, birthplaces and marriage dates, I've often wondered what those people were like, what they did for a living, what their lives were like and what they thought about. What a wonderful treasure you have there, Dinu. :)
Oh, Dinu, how fortunate you are to have a piece of family writing like this! That's wonderful, and so interesting. It's great you still use that bicycle, too - neat link in history!
Dinu, what a great treasure you have there. What an inspiration he must have been to you.
I noticed that the cycle payment was almost as much as the house payment. It must have been quite a costly purchase in those days, and pretty hardy too if you are still using it.
Thanks for sharing this little piece of your family history with us.
Oh,dear!
They are century-long treasures.
what a nice way to remember your grandfather and peek into his life. Much more telling than any picture could be. Dinu you have the neatest most perfect printing I have ever seen. Very perfect letters on the address for the seed exchange envelopes.
Fairyhunter, I think good handwriting has been a virtue in me from my young age itself... we used to have 'copywriting' in class [nowadays, this is not given its due importance :( ] and perhaps this might have helped. Also, my grandfather and father had similar handwriting. Mine is also close to it. No doubt, these have been an inspiration. In the office too, my colleagues want me to pen down certain things where the situation demands neat handwriting. Isn't that a feather in the cap?
Oh, that cycle... "Sunbeam". Owning a bicycle was a luxury those days. My g-father used it himself and he didn't like others using it. Neither do I. This cycle was in the attic for about a decade. I thought I must use it. So I got it all done to shape about 15 years ago.
How wonderful that you respect, honor and bring forward from the past such things as are not only efficient, but beautiful testaments to human invention and communication. We live today in what some have called a "disposable world," while all around us are things from the past that are not only still operable, but superior because of what they represent. Your grandfather would be so pleased to know that his purchase of the Sunbeam was well worth his sacrifice, and that his clear penmanship has inspired you to continue that art. It is indeed a feather in the cap that those efforts continue to bear fruit.
Let me tell you a little thing. That cycle had a gear-arrangement at the bottlm axle. That was worn out and I needed it to be replaced. Spare was not available, obviously. So, I thought of putting nut and bolt to a steel plate. When I took it to the machine shop, they could not make a hole in the plate! Another two failed. The fourth one was successful and it was mighty difficult. Such was the quality of material available in those times. Certainly, that was not a 'disposable world'!! Things were made to last.
