Transcribed by Philip Morehead
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The Diary of Rose Loveman transcribed by Philip Morehead Ismar and Rose B. Noa in the year of their marriage, 1869 THE DIARY OF ROSE LOVEMAN [This Album] Presented To Miss Rose Loveman By her True Friend S. Hirshberg [Christmas-tide 1866] I should have writen in here yet, day before yesterday, but I was too lazy. I am sory, as I do not not remember all I should have put down here. I shall endeavor this year to put everything down. As far as I know I dont think that I have ever spared myself in any shape or maner; last year, I might have forgotten things sometimes. Still I hardly think I forgot any things of consequence. Monday night, 31st of Dec: We had a german performance. It was a short piece, but splendidly played by Mrs. Seaman. The name of the play was Die weibliche Drillinge1. Mrs S took the three characters of the three sisters and O how well she played it. Before going, I had a regular time of it. The whole day I had my hair braided so tight that it hurt my poor head and I wore a towel on my head so they should not see my braids. And O how my head did ach. Well, when after I was dressed (pink dress and white waist, my hair hanging beautifully), comes Dave (cousin) and sais he would not wear that thin dress, it was not at all suitable, and so on. Well, I gave in & went and put my marine dress on. I thought then that I was all right. But no. I came in to the sitting room. Sais papa, I wish, he sais, you would put your hair up. I dont like to have you look so odd. Poor I! What I do? If I pleased one, I had to the other too. So in less time then you can think I unbottened my dress and put up my hair. I was not very sory that I did change when I got there, but I felt provoked at so much labor lost. There were not so many up there as would have been supposed, still there was a nice crowd. The piece was splendidly played. Mr Isrial2 looked horrid but played pretty well. At any rate, nobody had eyes or ears for any one but Mrs Seaman, she did so well. As I have to write this so late after I will have to make it as brief as possible. I had a good time genaraly speaking. [Saturday, January 5, 1867] Mr Isreal could not get to dance with me till the fourth or fifth dance. He did not feel quite sure wether I would dance with him at all, as you know, I was right mad at him. When I did dance with him, I told him I would prefer to dance a fancy dance, as I had something to ask. O, but that is a long story that I asked him about, so I will not now put it down, some other time, if I think of it. I would not dance till I asked the question. He looked surprised. What is it again? Well, he answer[ed] satisfactorily and so I danced with him. [Sunday, January 6, 1867] This is dreadful. I have began this friday night and was always disturbed. Yesterday I thought surely that I would finish, so I had company. I will try again. Well to go back… Nothing of importance has occured. Mrs Levy made me angry. She acted just as though I were not good enough to dance in the same set with. She was standing in a set and Mr Goldberg and I stood oposite. Then her husband and his 1 Probably the one-act vaudeville by Carl von Holtei (1798-1880), first performed in Berlin at the Friedrich- Wilhelmstdtisches Theater on Wednesday, November 8, 1848. 2 Julius Israel, who gave Rose the diary and a signature album for Christmas 1866. sister came. She wanted them to stand vis a vis her, so she, without a word to me, sais, Come Emanual, let us go in another set, and she went. O, Mr Goldberg was angry. He seemed to pitty [me] so much and he said in a voice loud enough for her to hear, I dont know what she thinks herself but she is anything but a lady. E Levy said to me, Come, Miss Rose, in to our set. No, I thank you, I said, just as though I cared so much for their set. The next day I called on Cousin Saly Katz and Rosa. Auntie was very sick. I went there with Hirshberg3 and Isrial. O yes. When we came home I told (from the ball) H and Isrial that D B4 had not asked me to dance with him. I was afraid he was angry, because twice already he could not get to dance with me, and I knew at the time that he was angry. I thought though that it was forgotten. So in the morning I told him I was insulted because he did not ask me to dance. Sais he, When a child gets burned once it [is] very much afraid of the fire. I put on as though I did not understand what he meant, but he came out and we had a regular scene of [it]. The trouble is, though, that even Mr Karger thought I was wrong. I told him that next time I should ask him myself for a dance if he would not refuse me. He said he never would refuse a lady. Going home, we went in to Adolphs5 store. Sarah6 was along and the woolen shawls were on the counter. Sais Sarah, Here are the shawls that Adolph said mamma might have one. I went and there was one very nice shawl, red but nice and larg. I wanted that of course but they all said mamma would not wear such a larg and red shawl in the house. I knew too she would not, but I knew that I would and I knew that ma would be glad if I got such a nice shawl, so I tryed my very best to get it, and I did. Mamma was very glad and I was delighted. As I came home, Mr Bernard was laying on the loung and it was nearly dark. He handed me a box. Here, Miss Rose, is your Newyears gift. I thought it was his handkerchief that I promised to work. I asked him so, too. He said, O no, very well I will think when I have seen it. To tell the truth, I did not think it would be very much. What was my surprise then when on opening it I saw a most beautiful Portfu?—. O, it is splendid indeed, I thought I was doing very well. In the evening I was very sleepy, so I went to bed. The next day when M Sax7 came to dinner. I guess I told him it was a shame for him to cheat me out of my cristmas and New Years gift too. He said he did not get any neither, and so fort[h]. Wednesday, Mr Is was at home all day. O my, what a lot of stuff he talked! He made me blush often, but then he is guarded. That is right. Friday night we went over to aunties house. Yesterday I had some company, Nettie8 and Mary. Last night I almost got angry. Mrs Kerger and I were fooling; she was turning me on my chair. Sais Mr Is, I will give you five cents 3 Simon Hirshberg. 4 David Bernard Loveman, Rose's brother and a prominent retailer in later years. "D. B. Loveman & Co. This well- known wholesale and retail dry goods house was established in 1875 by D. B. and H. H. Loveman, who started the business on a small scale. In 1877 Mr. Ismar Noa became a member of the firm, Mr. H. H. Loveman retiring. In the fall of 1886 this firm completed its present large and commodious business block, where they have since carried on their business. In January, 1887, Mr. I. Noa retired from the firm, and Messrs. J. N. Mills and William McDonald were admitted. David B. Loveman is a native Hungarian, born July 29, 1844, and came to the United States in 1853. He was reared to manhood on a farm in Michigan, and in 1860 came to Tennessee, where he followed clerking in Nashville, Atlanta, Rome (Ga.), and Tuscaloosa, Ala. He engaged in business for himself at Atlanta from 1869 until 1875 in the firm of Friedman & Loveman, also in the firm of William Rich & Co., when he came to Chattanooga, where he has since been actively engaged in business. June 18, 1873, he married Miss Eva Wolfe, of Baltimore, Md., by whom he had three children-one son and two daughters. He is one of the incorporators of the Chattanooga, Rome & Charleston Railroad. He is the originator and is one of the largest stockholders of both building associations of Chattanooga, and is vice-president in both. He is a Republican in National politics and independent in local affairs. He is an ancient member of the Masonic fraternity, and a good citizen." Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 5 Rose's uncle Adolph P. Loveman 6 Rose's sister Sarah Rachel Loveman (1856-1940), married in 1880 to Thomas Crutchfield of Chattanooga, TN. 7 Moritz Sax.