May 1, 1871
My first day at Otto's as a student. I don't know what to think
most of the girls are older than me and some of them are so condescending
that I want to scream. The teachers are nice and Emily was there
teaching her self defense class. I have to ask Lady Otto if I
can be in another mathematics class, the one I attended today
was a bit on the juvenile side. There was also a bit of a mixup
with the handbills they were delved to the offices and not the
warehouse where he boys meet to get their assignments or draw
their strike pay. They were moved but it was too late to get them
to the boys delivering papers today.
May 2, 1871
The handbills went out today with both papers. Mrs. Frazer seemed
to enjoy her first day of teaching class to the boys in the shipyard.
Edward mentioned that anyone being rude to Mrs. Frazer would be
nobbled but good.
May 3, 1871
The newsboys seem to have an unexpected ally McTeague, Burke,
Samsone & Sons an ink producer has announced their solidarity
with the Union. Several of the paper representatives visited the
union offices this afternoon. I spent the day with the rest of
the household at the great exhibition my head is ablaze with lots
of new ideas.
May 4, 1871
We signed with the Times and The Standard today. Both of them
seemed to want to get back to business as normal as soon as possible.
The Evening Standard was back on street corners within hours.
The Times should be out tomorrow morning. After they left we had
an interesting visitor. Mr. Jennings who runs the News stand at
the corner of Doris and Regent street showed up in our offices
asking if he could join the Union. Donny who was sitting behind
the desk at the time, looked thought the charter and saw nothing
that would prevent the owners of news stands from joining. So
we signed him up .
May 5, 1871
Edward went to visit Mr. Brown tonight. He just returned home
it was a draw. He made it to Mr. Browns window but the guard spotted
him as he was opening the bars. He had a nice visit with Mr. Brown
who was very curious about goings on in London.
May 6, 1871
This is a day for the books! All the newspapers have signed with
the Union with the exception of the Echo. We have had a flood
of news stands signing up with us as well word has gotten around
that they are welcome. I had better tell the negotiators to tone
down the insults about Mr Lomax.
May 7, 1871
We discussed not renewing the lease on the warehouse at the end
of the month. It's nice and big but it's also very expensive and
most of the boys now get their assignments from the union steward
at the paper. We now have 35 boys on strike pay with the money
coming in from dues we can hold out indefinitely against the Echo.
It's time to focus on the holdouts.
May 8, 1871
We directed the boys to picket outside Mr Lomax's offices today
he called for the constables several times but the boys were following
the letter of the law exactly. It also didn't hurt that the boys
shared their biscuits and tea with the Officer before he went
into the offices.
May 9, 1871
I picked up Namaste's copy of The London Illustrated Weekly from
Jack today he is playing blackleg for us. He passed on word that
Mr Lomax is looking for nobblers I thanked him and passed on his
strike pay.
May 10, 1871
Mr. Reed and worked on Sir A project today. It is quite fun just
to sit and build ships in your mind.
May 12, 1871
Sir John Herschel Passed away. His last paper was quite good he
will be missed.
May 13, 1871
Jack passed on that Mr. Lomax is still looking for his thugs.
Word from other sources say he is looking but the price he is
offering is absurdly low.
May 15, 1871
Back to Otto's today I have been moved to the advanced mathematics
classroom. It is nice having other people who understand me when
I explain engineering difficulties. The course on ballroom dancing
is nice but I don't think I will ever move as gracefully as Lady
LaFlamboy.
May 16, 1871
Jack sent word that Mr. Lomax was upset about spending a lot of
money on something. The boys on the picket line have been warned
Edward and George have been staying close.
May 17, 1871
Mr. Lomax was cheated if he paid a lot of money for those mollycoddles.
I spoke to Atlas last night. He was more than happy to come down
to the picket lines and serve hot soup to the boys at about the
same time Mr. Lomax's men showed up. George and I both took one
ruffian out while Atlas played with the other four. George said
that Mrs. Frazer could have taken any one of that lot. Sgt. Relf
who was patrolling the area saw most of the altercation and was
more than happy to run all of Mr. Lomax's strike breakers in.
May 18, 1871
Atlas seemed quite happy today. George mentioned that he had finally
stopped fighting against himself. I am not sure what that meant
by that.
May 20, 1871
I finally finished Mrs. Salmalin's Clockwork carriage. It is not
as elegant as Sir C but it's light enough that if she has to she
can remove it from a muddy rut herself. Edward spent most of the
afternoon showing her how it works and how to use the winder.
May 21, 1871
Nigel's play is doing well so well he wrote a parody of it and
it's playing at Les Cabaret Fantastique. The Daily Telegraph called
it both witty and charming.
May 22, 1871
I am at Otto's. Emily is upset that Mr. O'Flaherty didn't bring
her along to the fight. Her poor poor students.
May 24, 1871
Mr. Reed and Edward discussed some of the more outlandish plans
for the sinkable boat today. Both the lobster and the crab were
set aside for now. He was interested in using the leg designs
on possible powered diving suits.
May 25, 1871
Mrs. Frazer and I went to the reading room at the London Museum
today. She spent part of the time socializing with Mr. Ramsey.
I had to look up some legal matters.
May 26, 1871
Edward and George spent a lot of time out in the shop today. A
nice heavy rain blew up and Mrs. Frazer wasn't feeling well.
May 29, 1871
Nihilist!! Edward is a lot of things but he is not a Nihilist.
Oh, dear Sir C is looking for Edward I had better go talk to him.
May 30, 1871
Oh now the Echo is just reaching Lord G and his friends provided
some money. The Union is now self supporting. Half truths and
innuendo started this, how can one be so addle brained to think
that it will get him out of it. Mr. Lomax is the perfect example
of the inflexible dunderhead. It didn't work the last twenty times
but maybe it will work this time. Sir C is calling for me again
I must go.
May 31, 1871
Sir C went to see Lord Greyminister I hope I didn't cause a row
between them I will have to ask G about it. Tomorrow.
Proceed to A most flattering story
Return to Miss Brody's Diary Index
Contents of this page copyright 2003 by Michael
Yust. All Rights Reserved.
Sivan's Talking Watch, the mechanism and phonograph disc published
in De Natur page 32, 1895.