The weather was fine, cool & bright. Had lots of writing to do. Business was awfull dull this morning. I sent returns & checks to Union, Republican Springfield News Co. and paid Carley & Towne. Martha visited me in the shop, where we rushed the growler. I spoke with the librarian from Forbes Library & went to see Mr. Seelye, Pres. of Sm. College. Must call at him again to morrow forenoon. Received two letters from Mama and wrote to her and to my sisters Theoline and Tosca. The war seems to be going on in earnest now, for some 80,000 troops embarked from Tampa, Florida to go to Cuba. This the slowest and most expensive war I ever witnessed, it may take years from now and business is allmost at a stand still in most every branch, which is not connected with Army delivery or such things. We dont need to send food to Cuba or other places abroad, we need it badly ourself.
Editor’s note: Rush the growler is a term referring to the act of sending someone out to purchase beer in a growler – the verb rush, implies a sense of speediness.